When/how will Shemar Stewart’s impasse with the Bengals end?

Cincinnati – The contract negotiations between the NFL team and the rookie are generally rather mediocre.

This money will be slotted according to the terms set forth in the collective bargaining agreement between the team and the NFL Players Association. As soon as a draft order is set up, you can project all future dollars onto every rookie, from the first pick to the unrelated Mr.

But what’s going on between the Cincinnati Bengals and defender Shemmer Stewart is not mediocre. Stewart did not participate in offseason training due to differences in opinion over his rookie contract. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, he was in the session without attending until Thursday when he suddenly left camp.

This is the first major rookie dispute since 2016 when Joey Bosa held a training camp for the Chargers until the contract was signed.

“I’m trying to get out there as soon as possible,” Stewart said Tuesday.

However, after departing on Thursday, the team finished a three-day mini-camp and it wasn’t that easy before it broke in the summer.

Bengals reporter Ben Baby answers four big questions, including options for both sides. National reporter Jeremy Fowler cooks out what he hears about the league about when the league may end.

What is the controversy?

According to sources with knowledge of negotiations, a fixed point is the language of contracts and could void guaranteed money in future years. For example, if Stewart is interrupted, even field reasons such as leading the helmet crown or other similar penalties could eliminate future guarantees.

It is worth noting that in recent years the amount guaranteed as a roster bonus has increased significantly. – baby

What are you listening to around the league?

This gaze never ends. This makes some people around the league familiar refrain: the same old Bengal. Cincinnati is also in a standoff with Trey Hendrickson, who vowed not to play on his current contract after leading the NFL with the sacks last year. Atlanta Falcons All Pro Safety Jesse Bates III left Bengal in March 2023 after a contract dispute.

“They’re happy with the uncomfortable people,” said a well-known NFL agent who previously negotiated with the Bengals front office. “They are not just forgiving.”

Stewart and his agent Zach Hiller appear to be dug up as well. As several teams have pointed out, Stewart is in a difficult position as he endangers the trajectory of a young pass rush. But they also said that cooler heads will win normally around training camps, and that perhaps late July will bring clarity to both sides. – Fowler

Is this situation unique to Bengal?

of seeds. Sources with knowledge of negotiations say Bengal is looking into similar languages ​​for other newcomers around the NFL, and considers the contract to be a standard rookie deal. However, part of Stewart’s disagreement is that the Bengalis are trying to set a precedent for void language and guaranteed money in this year’s draft class.

Stewart isn’t just an unsigned draft pick for the Bengals. The team’s second rounder, linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr., hasn’t signed it yet. However, unlike Stewart, he signed an exemption and took part in a mandatory minicamp.

“I’m just the right thing to do,” Stewart said Tuesday. “Do the same way you’ve done it.

“I don’t care what no one else is making. I don’t care how much money they make. I don’t care. Tell me what you’re giving to everyone else.” – baby

What are the options for Stewart and Bengal?

This is where things can become interesting. The Bengals retain Stewart’s rights, but the negotiation agreement signed between the league and the NFLPA allows several scenarios that can be deployed.

If the Bengalis fails to sign Stewart by August 5th, 30 days before the start of the NFL regular season, Cincinnati will not be able to exchange him.

The next major deadline is November 11th. It’s similar to a franchise tag. If Stewart has not signed a contract by then, he is not eligible to play for the rest of the season.

If Stewart doesn’t sit signing the season, he can re-enter the 2026 draft. There, all teams are entitled to choose him except for him – the Bengals. If Stewart tests the NCAA rules and tries to return to college or plays in another professional league, such as the CFL or XFL, Bengal retains his rights.

When asked by ESPN about such a scenario on Tuesday, Stewart said he was unaware of them. – baby

What do the Bengali people say?

After the team’s mini-camp, Bengali coach Zach Taylor said he had a “positive conversation” with Stewart, but the team remains optimistic about their future with the club. Taylor compared Stewart’s absence to the 2020 season, when there was no offseason training due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“It’s still time to work, so I’m excited to have him do it,” Taylor said.

Ted Callas of the Bengals Centre said he was not resing towards Stewart in the locker room.

And as Vice President of the NFLPA, Karasu knows why Stewart is so stubborn to protect as much of the guaranteed money as possible.

“It’s very subtle,” said Karasu. “I think it’s a body [an NFLPA] Point of view, we always do not want negative language or contracts for players when it comes to guaranteed money. We’re always trying [maximize] The amount of guarantee a man gets. ” – baby