The Sports Xchange

A.J. Green is the next star wide receiver in line for a big contract, and talks between the Cincinnati Bengals and Green reportedly have intensified to the point that a deal might be done before the team travels to Oakland for the season opener.

On Thursday, NFL Network and ESPN.com both reported the sides were nearing agreement. ESPN.com said a deal could be done before the Bengals fly to Oakland on Friday.

Green, 27, is looking for a better deal than the six-year, $71.25 million contract the Atlanta Falcons gave receiver Julio Jones, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports.

Jones’ deal, reported on Aug. 30, included $47 million guaranteed and a $12 million signing bonus.

That contract followed the five-year, $70 million extensions signed by Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant and Denver Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas earlier this summer.

Green — drafted No. 4 overall in 2011, two spots ahead of Jones — has caught 329 passes for 4,874 yards and 35 touchdowns in 60 games. Last year, despite being hobbled by a foot injury, he caught 69 passes for 1,041 yards and six touchdowns in 13 games.

In July, Green said he is confident the Bengals will take care of him.

“I don’t get into all the ‘I need a contract’ stuff,'” he told ESPN.com then. “I’m not here for money. I’m not broke. So I’m fine. I can wait until the end of the year to get a contract, but I know that time is coming.”