There’s still no end in sight to the Bengals/Shemar Stewart standoff. While there’s been some recent speculation that the rookie will eventually have no choice but to report to his new squad, it sounds like the pass rusher’s camp continues to take a stance against the Bengals sudden contract machinations.
The Bengals are attempting to set a new precedent by turning a contract default in any given year into a void of all remaining guarantees. While this is a relatively common inclusion to rookie pacts with other organizations, this is the first time the Bengals are trying to pull off this specific contract language with a first-round selection. Recent Day 1 picks Myles Murphy and Amarius Mims had more traditional language that would only void the season in which the default occurred.
“Contracts are based on precedent,” agent Zac Hiller said during a recent appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio (via Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com). “So, when Shemar has never asked for anything more or less protective than any of his teammates, it’s a simple fix. It’s just say, ‘Hey, this is the precedent. Let’s keep the precedent.’”
Hiller noted that Stewart is simply seeking a contract that would be “protective,” and he believes that the Bengals’ push for voided guarantees should have been accompanied by some kind of concession.
“If you want to make changes to your precedent, it should be a negotiation,” Hiller said. “It should be give and take. It shouldn’t just be, ‘Hey, we’re changing this and sign it or go scratch.’”
Stewart has continued to state his desire to play with his new teammates, but with no resolution on the horizon, the first-round pick departed team facilities during the final day of Cincy’s minicamp. While the pass rusher could look to skip the 2025 campaign in an attempt to enter next year’s draft, the efforts may not be in Stewart’s best financial interest.
“All he wants to do is be a Cincinnati Bengal,” Hiller said. “This guy was so excited to get drafted by Cincinnati. All he wants to do is be a Bengal. All he wanted to do was be on the field and show the Cincinnati fans the incredible specimen, person, football player that this team was lucky to draft where they drafted. And he’s not been allowed to do that.”