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.
Cincinnati is already dealing with a holdout from star pass 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 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.
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.”