CINCINNATI — A text from head coach Zac Taylor led Bengals All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson to head to Cincinnati, attend Tuesday’s optional team practice as a spectator and speak to reporters.

Hendrickson, the NFL’s sack leader and a product of Apopka High, is entering the final year of his contract that will pay him a base salary of $15.8 million this season. He has been seeking a new deal and also requested a trade. The Bengals’ front office hasn’t matched what he’s looking for.

On Monday, Taylor texted Hendrickson that he’d be fined if he didn’t report to mandatory minicamp next month.

That message frustrated Hendrickson, who held court with local reporters for 20 minutes during Tuesday’s practice. Hendrickson’s frustration with the Bengals and going public is a detour from the FAU grad’s usual demeanor.

Hendrickson’s off-field personality is a complete reversal from that of his game-day persona as a ferocious attacker of NFL quarterbacks. He’s a mild-mannered, quiet family man off the field and he prefer’s to not be at the center of media attention.

“A little bit transpired between me and Zac,” Hendrickson said. “We’ve tried to keep it the least amount personal as possible, but at some point in this process, it becomes personal. Being sent 30 days before mandatory camp or how many ever days it is that if I don’t show up I will be fined alludes to the fact that something won’t get done in that time frame.

“The lack of communication post draft made it imminently clear to my party — meaning my wife, my son and my agent, a small group of people — that this might not work out.”

Hendrickson led the NFL with 17 1/2 sacks last season and was selected as an All-Pro. He said that as the defensive end market escalates, he’s looking for a new contract that matches what top pass rushers are getting paid.

Hendrickson is scheduled to earn $15.8 million in base salary and has a cap number of $18.7 million.

The Bengals haven’t budged from their stance, and the two sides haven’t been able to find a middle ground. That’s led to frustration coming from Hendrickson, who released a statement to ESPN on Monday about the lack of communication since the NFL draft concluded on April 26.

“I think over the last week or so, it’s become personal unfortunately,” Hendrickson said. “When there’s a lack of communication in any relationship, where it’s a business or personal relationship, lack of communication leads to animosity, and that leaves my narrative only to me with no clear direction.

Hendrickson led the NFL with 17 1/2 sacks last season and was selected as an All-Pro. He said that as the defensive end market escalates, he’s looking for a new contract that matches what top pass rushers are getting paid.

The Bengals haven’t budged from their stance, and the two sides haven’t been able to find a middle ground. That’s led to frustration coming from Hendrickson, who released a statement to ESPN on Monday about the lack of communication since the NFL draft concluded on April 26.

“I think over the last week or so, it’s become personal, unfortunately,” Hendrickson said. “When there’s a lack of communication in any relationship, whether it’s a business or personal relationship, lack of communication leads to animosity, and that leaves my narrative only to me with no clear direction.”

While both sides appear to be deadlocked, Hendrickson did say he thinks the current relationship with the Bengals can be repaired over time with a new deal. Hendrickson cited Myles Garrett’s demands to be traded out of Cleveland earlier this year before he agreed to a extension worth $160 million, including $123.5 million guaranteed.

“He’s done great things for his family and obviously providing on and off the football field. He’s tremendous. But I think that relationship will repair with time. And same with this,” Hendrickson said.

“This is just the uncomfortable business side that we’ve unfortunately had to deal with for the last couple years, and, quite frankly, I think we’re all spent.”

Chris Hays of the Sentinel contributed to this report.