Bengals’ rookie Shemar Stewart leaves camp as contract feud gets messier

Bengals’ rookie Shemar Stewart leaves camp as contract feud gets messier

The Bengals sure have a penchant for drama when it comes to players’ contracts.

First-round pick Shemar Stewart has left the team’s mandatory minicamp since the sides have not come to an agreement on the particulars of his deal, according to ESPN.

The Bengals want to establish a “new precedent” with rookie contracts that allows the franchise to void future guarantees, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Bengals rookie Shemar Stewart. AP

Cincinnati is already dealing with a holdout from star pᴀss rusher Trey Hendrickson after previous tension with standout receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins before they signed new deals.

The NFL’s rookie salary structure is designed to make negotiations easy since there’s a descending pay scale where players drafted higher make more than those selected with lower picks.

The amount is not the issue here, which is why this situation has escalated.

Stewart wants his contract to have the same language as the team’s last two first-round picks, offensive tackle Amarius Mims (No. 18 in 2024) and defensive end Myles Murphy (No. 28 in 2023), per the outlet.

The organization instead wants to make alterations.

“I’m 100 percent right. I’m not asking for nothing y’all (the Bengals) have never done before,” Stewart said Tuesday. “But in y’all’s case, y’all just want to win arguments (more) than winning more games.

Stewart is reportedly one of five first-round picks who have yet to sign a deal.

He said he’s been talking sporadically with coach Zac Taylor, although owner Mike Brown is likely the one who has to sign off on any contract.

“I’ve been doing this for most of my whole life, and then all of a sudden it’s gone over something very simple to fix,” Stewart told reporters. “It’s kind of disappointing.”

The Bengals selected Stewart with the 17th pick. Getty Images

The Bengals could be playing a dangerous game with Hendrickson and Stewart, considering the team’s defense often had a matador-like approach to stopping opposing offenses last year.

Cincinnati can score with the best of them, but allowing the eighth-most points per game (25.5) cost the team several wins and prevented a playoff berth.

Bengals owner Mike Brown. Kareem Elgazzar-Imagn Images

Stewart could also use the reps since it seems his game needs further development after he totaled just 4 1/2 sacks spanning his three years with Texas A&M.

“It’s very important,” Stewart said of the missed time. “You got to get your body somewhat prepared to play football, especially me coming from college to the NFL is a way physical game, even though I played in the SEC, which is very physical, but nothing compares to actually playing in the NFL.

“I thought I’d be on the field by now, that’s what I would (have) thought.”

Related Posts

NFL rocked by Super Bowl scandal with around 100 players facing possible suspension

NFL rocked by Super Bowl scandal with around 100 players facing possible suspension

At least 100 NFL players, as well as coaches and staff from around half of the 32 teams, have been accused of violating league rules by selling…

Bengals rookie Shemar Stewart to sign .9M deal and end contract standoff over ‘unfair’ clause

Bengals rookie Shemar Stewart to sign $18.9M deal and end contract standoff over ‘unfair’ clause

The Bengals’ standoff with Shemar Stewart is over after the rookie agreed to a four-year, $18.97million contract with Cincinnati. Stewart was selected with the 17th overall pick…

The real reason why Travis Kelce went Instagram official with Taylor Swift after Chiefs star’s smitten pH๏τo dump

The real reason why Travis Kelce went Instagram official with Taylor Swift after Chiefs star’s smitten pH๏τo dump

Travis Kelce finally posted Taylor Swift on social media this week to show how serious their relationship has become, an insider has claimed. The Kansas City Chiefs…

Travis Kelce posts unseen pH๏τos from behind the scenes of Happy Gilmore 2 after ‘surreal’ Netflix cameo

Travis Kelce posts unseen pH๏τos from behind the scenes of Happy Gilmore 2 after ‘surreal’ Netflix cameo

Travis Kelce has given fans a glimpse behind the camera of Happy Gilmore 2, with the NFL legend posting several pictures from the set of the Netflix…

NFL star Joshua Hines-Allen reveals his seven-year-old son has been battling cancer

NFL star Joshua Hines-Allen reveals his seven-year-old son has been battling cancer

Jacksonville Jaguars star Joshua Hines-Allen has revealed his seven-year-old son Wesley is nearly cancer free after battling leukemia for the past seven months. Hines-Allen, who did not…

New York Giants guard with iconic SNF intro adored by fans retires from football at 35

New York Giants guard with iconic SNF intro adored by fans retires from football at 35

Former New York Giants first round pick Justin Pugh has announced his retirement from the NFL. The offensive guard and Pennsylvania native, who turns 35 in mid-August,…