Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Shemmer Stewart has not shown up for training camp with the team’s rookies on Saturday. He remains the only first-round pick from this year’s draft class who has yet to sign his rookie contract.
Stewart, the 17th overall pick out of Texas A&M, missed all offseason training because of a contract disagreement concerning wording that could potentially nullify the guaranteed money in his deal. Prior to Saturday, Stewart and linebacker Demetrius Knight were the only players from Cincinnati’s six-man draft class who had not signed rookie contracts.
However, Knight completed his contract signing Saturday afternoon, just before training camp started. The contract details reveal a significant gap in negotiations between the two rookies. Sources close to the matter said Stewart was not offered the same percentage of his signing bonus upfront as Knight, whose bonus is estimated at $3.2 million according to OverTheCap.com, while Stewart is anticipated to receive a $10.4 million signing bonus.
Earlier in the week, Texas A&M coach Mike Elko stated on “Sports Center” that Stewart does not intend to return to college football. According to the NFL Players Association and NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, the team drafting a player retains their rights through the next year’s draft. Having entered the draft after his junior year, Stewart would have to take legal action against the NCAA to regain eligibility for his final college season.
Cincinnati’s veteran players are expected to arrive Tuesday, one day before training camp officially begins downtown.
Fan Take: This contract standoff highlights ongoing tensions between rookies and NFL teams over guaranteed money and contract terms, raising important questions about player rights and team leverage. For fans, Stewart’s absence is a reminder that even first-round prospects can face significant hurdles entering the league, potentially impacting team performance and the overall player-team relationship in the NFL.
