The Bengals’ first-round draft pick has still not reported ahead of training camp starting Wednesday.
Cincinnati Bengals first-round draft pick Shemar Stewart has still not reported ahead of training camp starting on Wednesday, and that’s not sitting well with director of player personnel Duke Tobin.
“He’s (Stewart) listening to the advice that he’s paying for,” Tobin said during Monday’s media luncheon. “I don’t understand the advice. I don’t agree with it. I’m not the one paying for it, but that’s where it is.”
In response, Stewart’s agent, Zac Hiller, clapped back at Tobin.
“Duke Tobin has had no involvement in this negotiation,” Hiller told ESPN. “It seems to be above his pay grade.”
Bengals owner Mike Brown also weighed in.
“We’ve been here for a long time, it’s never happened, and that’s holding up this contract,” Brown said of Stewart. “From our vantage point, it’s a form of foolishness. It just ought to get done.”
Bengals rookies reported Saturday, but Stewart was not among them. His absence is due to the Bengals wanting to change the default language in their contracts.
Second-round draft pick, linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr., signed his rookie contract on Saturday and is set to go for camp.
The Bengals’ first-round pick is not here in Cincinnati, and he is missing out on valuable reps with what should be his first training camp just two days away.