Trey Hendrickson is currently embroiled in a contract disagreement with the Bengals, but he’s not the only one dealing with complications.
While the team is working hard to ensure they have a strong edge rush, they have taken a different approach regarding unsigned rookie defensive end Shemar Stewart.
“I think Shemar needs to be here,” Bengals executive Duke Tobin mentioned on Monday. “I can’t blame him for following the advice he’s getting, even if I don’t quite understand or agree with it.”
Cincinnati drafted Stewart with the 17th pick back in April. However, he hasn’t signed his contract yet due to concerns surrounding the contract guarantees.
The crux of the issue seems to be that Stewart and his representatives want to avoid situations where the team could reclaim guaranteed money.
Bengals owner Mike Brown also weighed in on Stewart’s circumstances, expressing his disagreement with Stewart’s stance. He pointed out that the matter isn’t solely about finances—it’s about the guarantees related to on-field conduct.
“It’s unique. If something were to occur that puts him in violation of league discipline, that could be a problem,” Brown stated. “It’s never happened in my memory. If there’s severe misconduct, why should we foot the bill?”
As a rookie, Stewart should have begun his training camp, but instead, he shared a photo on his Instagram story showing him working out with a former teammate at Texas A&M.
Meanwhile, the Bengals are also addressing Hendrickson’s contract situation, which seems to be developing, though there’s little movement concerning Stewart’s case.
“We find ourselves discussing things that seem quite distant,” Brown commented. “But we are doing it, and eventually, we need to move past this.”
