The lead man speaks.
The Cincinnati Bengals front office is engaged in two public disputes with edge rushers Trey Hendrickson and Shemar Stewart. Both players are in the middle of contract negotiations with the team that, for lack of a better term, has been ugly.
Hendrickson wants a raise, while Stewart wants language regarding the voiding of guaranteed money changed in his deal.
Fans can’t stop talking about it. Reporters can’ stop reporting on it. But what do the players think?
Center Ted Karras is the undoubted leader of the Bengals locker room. As an NFLPA representative, 10-year veteran and a vocal leader, Karras has found himself talking to the media in situations like this and this spring is no different.
When speaking to the media Thursday, Karras stated that the contract issues with both players are not having a negative impact in the locker room.
“I don’t thinks there’s any resentment from players.” Ted Karras with some insightful and thoughtful commentary as Bengals player rep, team captain on the Shemar Stewart dispute. pic.twitter.com/egtaQpE8iX
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) June 12, 2025
“It’s not the best-case scenario of how the spring could have gone for our first-round pick, but there is a pretty serious business aspect to our profession. And he’s taking counsel from his camp,” said Karras.
“The main thing I want to say is, I don’t think, to either of our defensive ends, that there’s any harboring resentment in this locker room to them, and I really hope that both camps can figure this out because we have a really good team. We’ve had a super productive spring, and you just don’t want this to carry over into summer.”
Like all parties involved, Karras hopes to resolve the situation before the team arrives for training camp next month, but the Bengals locker room seems to be in a good place.
Now, we just hope he doesn’t have to have these same conversations when training camp arrives in just over a month…