Bengals Rookie Sparks Brawl at Training Camp
A notable incident occurred at the Cincinnati Bengals’ training camp on Wednesday, involving rookie Shemmer Stewart, their first-round draft pick. During an 11-on-11 drill, Stewart lost his balance and collided with quarterback Joe Burrow, knocking him to the ground.
The NFL typically emphasizes the protection of quarterbacks to prevent injuries, and even if Stewart didn’t mean any harm, the offensive line responded with frustration, heightening tensions within the team.
The scuffle garnered attention, though it didn’t develop into anything too serious physically. After practice, several offensive linemen expressed their discontent with Stewart’s actions. Center Ted Callas commented, “Just be smarter… a great player, but we need to do better as well.”
Right guard Lucas Patrick acknowledged some responsibility, saying, “We have to protect No. 9, and I’ll start with that.” He noted that improving his performance is crucial but emphasized that hitting Burrow is not acceptable.
It’s noteworthy that Stewart’s situation has drawn attention beyond the brawl; he had been hesitant to sign his rookie contract due to concerns about its guarantees and had even skipped a mandatory minicamp over it. After some negotiating, he eventually agreed to his deal shortly after this incident.
Reportedly, the Bengals were looking to change how they handle first-round rookie contracts, which could potentially affect guarantees in the future. Stewart expressed dissatisfaction about his situation in June, stating that he was merely seeking what others had received before him, hinting at a frustrating atmosphere fueled more by arguments than focused on winning games.
While Stewart attended some minicamp events, he missed the beginning of training camp. Coach Tobin stated, “I think Shemmer needs to be here,” recognizing that while he didn’t necessarily agree with the advice Stewart was getting, the rookie’s absence from the field was not ideal.
Just last week, Stewart marked a milestone by recording his first NFL tackle during a preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles and is now adjusting to the rigors of professional football.
