![A.J. Green Bengals return](https://sportsnaut.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/USATSI_11553607_168386999_lowres.jpg?w=788&h=444&crop=1)
The Cincinnati Bengals are not about to let an all-time great test the free-agent waters later this month.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Cincinnati will place the dreaded franchise tag on seven-time Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Green.
Green, 31, missed all of last season with an ankle injury and has played in a grand total of nine games since the end of the 2017 season.
Despite this, Cincinnati is more than willing to pay Green north of $18 million under the franchise tag next season. It’s an interesting strategy for a team that finished last season with the worst record in the NFL.