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2020 has been a year to forget for A.J. Green, and that was painfully evident during the Bengals’ loss to the Ravens on Sunday.
Early in the game, Joe Burrow tried to hit Green in the middle of the field but overthrew him, and the ball was intercepted. Green made no effort to help out his rookie QB and try to bat the ball down or even attempt to tackle Marcus Peters, who made the pick.
AJ Green just looks lost pic.twitter.com/ejwg0j0ex3
— Faux Joe Burrow (@FauxJeaux) October 11, 2020
Later, Green suffered a hamstring injury that knocked him out of the game during the second half of play.
Then in the fourth quarter, Green was seen talking on the sideline and appeared to say “just trade me.”
I’m not a professional lip reader but does he say “just trade me” at the end of this? #Bengals pic.twitter.com/Yh6jxSmx1J
— Kyle Smith (@Kyle_Smith1087) October 11, 2020
So yeah, this was a really bad day at the office for one of the best to ever don Bengals stripes.
Today, Green opened up about the debacle in Baltimore and said he does not want to be traded. His hamstring is also fine, and he should be able to push through it, despite having hamstring issues that cost him most of training camp.
More importantly, Green said he wants to remain with the Bengals and help continue building something special.
A.J. Green said the loafing on the interception and the frustration caught on the cameras was out of character for him: "I just can't put that out there."
— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) October 15, 2020
More Green on Sunday in Baltimore: "I get in my head. I think the frustration just took over."
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) October 15, 2020
Said he has a great line of communication and relationship with Zac Taylor and they've talked through it.
"He understands my frustrations."
A.J. Green on cameras allegedly catching him mouthing “trade me” on the sideline last week: “I don’t know if that’s accurate. I think they are just trying to reach for something...People are gonna say whatever. It was just a lot of frustration.” #Bengals
— Tyler Dragon (@TheTylerDragon) October 15, 2020
A.J. Green, on if he wants to be here after the trade deadline: "Yeah, of course." Said he believes they're building something special in Cincinnati and wants to be a part of the team.
— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) October 15, 2020
It’s certainly been a frustrating start for the Bengals, who are now 1-3-1 after finishing 2-15 last season, so you can’t blame Green for letting his frustrations affect him. He wants to win and to do so in Cincinnati.
Here’s to hoping he’s around long enough to help this franchise get back to winning and competing for a spot in the playoffs, however long that may take. And hopefully, that begins this week against the Colts.