Cincinnati Bengals DE Shemar Stewart's agency responds to contract issues
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Cincinnati Bengals DE Shemar Stewart's agency responds to contract issues
There are a lot of things that the Cincinnati Bengals need coming into the 2025 NFL season, but disgruntled rookies who aren’t even signed yet? That’s not one of them. First-round pick Shemar Stewart made news on Tuesday when he voiced his frustration with his situation and Bengals’ ownership specifically. Stewart is attending mandatory minicamp, but he still hasn’t signed his rookie contract and isn’t practicing on the field.
Former Vice President of the Green Bay Packers Andrew Brandt made comments about the nature of the holdup on X, although he got the picks mixed up.
“Bengals want more stringent default language in their rookie contracts than what they had last year, with 17th pick, and are trying to impose on Shemar Stewart, the 18th pick,” Brandt tweeted on X. “Stewart and agent have good reason to fight it and not sign, for now. We will see come training camp.”
Stewart’s agency, LAA Sports & Entertainment, responded to correct Brandt.
“Other way around,” the agency responded. “Shemar is the higher pick at 17.. they want his contract different even though he is the higher pick.. last year they picked 18.. even more reason.”
Whether or not commenting publicly on the situation was a good idea is up to anyone’s individual opinion. But, it’s almost the middle of June and Stewart still isn’t signed, so they probably aren’t hurting anything.
Stewart went quasi-nuclear after practice Tuesday
LAA’s comments on X are actually tame compared to what Stewart unleashed yesterday. Stewart is clearly getting frustrated, and who could blame him? The Bengals already have a superstar at his position named Trey Hendrickson. You may have heard of him. But, he’s holding out too because the Bengals can’t manage themselves. So, what is a rookie supposed to think?
“In my case, I’m 100% right,” Stewart told ESPN. “I’m not asking for nothing that’s never been done before. In [the team’s case], y’all just want to win an argument instead of winning more games, in my opinion.”
This should be a red alert (it won’t be) to Bengals’ ownership/management that this rookie is already sick of how they do business and he’s not even officially on the team yet.
Stewart mentioned his teammates too
Not sure that looping in teammates is a great idea here, but that’s where Stewart went. It’s admirable that you want to stick up for Hendrickson, but it’s not that difficult to connect the dots that you and your teammates are quietly complaining about how the team is run.
“It’s made it very easy when the people in your locker room say you’re doing the right things,” Stewart continued. “Especially the star players.
“We all agree Trey is right, right?” Stewart told reporters. “But, technically he’s still 1% wrong, for being under contract. I’m 100% right so it should be a no-brainer. In Trey’s case, I think it should be a no-brainer too. I mean, he had 17 sacks for two years back to back…”
Then again, who cares if he mentions his teammates at this point? Everyone in that building is probably well aware by now that the players don’t like how the Bengals handle their business. He’s not providing any new information.
But, Stewart wasn’t done there, he took the next step.
“I mean, If I was the GM, if I was the owner,” Stewart continued. “‘Take all my money’… but I guess they don’t operate like that.”
Oh, they certainly don’t, Shemar.