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2 days ago
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Shemar Stewart's agent goes public about Bengals contract standoff
The Cincinnati Bengals are closing in on Shemar Stewart being the only unsigned first-round pick in the NFL. Updates on the contract standoff over the team attempting to insert new language in regards to voiding guarantees continue to trickle in, too. Advertisement Next up are public comments from Stewart's agent, Zac Hiller. 'Obviously my job, and all agents' job, is to protect the players,' Hiller said on SiriusXM NFL Radio (h/t Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk). 'Simply put, Shemar would, of course, love for his contract to be as protective as the rest of his Bengals teammates in the past. And, simply put, the way the contract currently reads is not as protective.' RELATED: Bengals, Shemar Stewart nuclear option includes 2026 NFL draft route Hiller added this, per Florio: 'If you want to make changes to your precedent, it should be a negotiation. It should be give and take. It shouldn't just be, 'Hey, we're changing this and sign it or go scratch.'' Advertisement So, at least from the player's side of things, the Bengals have attempted to change their longstanding contract precedent on this front without any sort of counterbalance to make it work. That, or what they're offering isn't good enough and justifies this very public, messy standoff. At this point, we're in he said, she said territory. Not that the Bengals say much about anything, really. What's interesting from Stewart's side is that had he been drafted elsewhere, these language quirks would've likely already been in place and none of this would've happened. Ditto for his choosing, unlike other unsigned rookies, to not participate at all this spring and early summer, before bashing the team in an interview and leaving minicamp early. Interesting from the Bengals' side, of course, is the sudden desire to change contract precedent and whether or not they're offering enough to make it worth it for Stewart to be the first. Advertisement As always, this likely ends in one side blinking and reaching across the aisle to make it work. RELATED: Bengals standouts after mandatory minicamp includes surprises This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Shemar Stewart's agent goes public about Bengals contract standoff
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3 days ago
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Shemar Stewart's Agent Rips Bengals for 'Sign It' Or Else Contract Offer
Shemar Stewart's Agent Rips Bengals for 'Sign It' Or Else Contract Offer originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Cincinnati Bengals have their biggest contractual problem with a superstar as they are reportedly resuming talks with Trey Hendrickson. But that isn't the only contract issue they have with a pass rusher. Advertisement Shemar Stewart, taken at slot No. 17 overall in the recent NFL Draft out of Texas A&M, is exercising an unusual holdout for a rookie, sitting out all offseason workouts ... because the team is doing something unusual. Stewart and agent Zac Hiller are refusing to agree with the team's contractual language regarding any "what if'' occurrence. Some think that before he ever lines up for an official NFL snap - before he even hits the practice field - he could be traded. No team has failed to sign their first-round pick before trading them, making this scenario one without much previous context if it comes to fruition. Advertisement The latest as of now? Hiller is going public and ripping Cincy for its approach. "Contracts are based on precedent,'' the agent said (hat-tip here via SiriusXM.) So, when Shemar has never asked for anything more or less protective than any of his teammates, it's a simple fix. It's just say, 'Hey, this is the precedent. Let's keep the precedent.' "It's essentially that when a player signs his contract and it's guaranteed, it should be completely, fully guaranteed. Obviously, if there's certain circumstances that happen, the team should be able to void. However, again, if you want to make changes to your precedent, it should be a negotiation. It should be give and take. "It shouldn't just be, 'Hey, we're changing this and sign this or go scratch.'' Advertisement "Go scratch,'' essentially meaning, "Go to hell.'' In all likelihood, Cincinnati will try to resolve the contract dispute and retain their rookie defensive end, but each passing day allows for more rumors to circulate about a potential trade. ... and about more disgruntlement from all involved. Is a trade really possible? According to the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement, the team has until 30 days before the first game of the regular season to trade an unsigned draft pick. This year, the first game is a Thursday bout between Dallas and Philadelphia on Sept. 4. That makes August 5 the deadline for a Stewart trade. Advertisement After that point, he cannot be traded at all this season, whether he signs or not. If Stewart decides to sign sometime during the regular season, he has until the Tuesday after Week 10 to make his contract official and be eligible to play the rest of the season. A third option would see Stewart hold out the entire regular season, and choose to wait until the 2026 Draft begins, where he would be eligible to re-enter the pool of prospects. He could be drafted by any team other than the Bengals - if they would even want him at that point, anyway. Stewart profiles as a player with untapped potential. He didn't blow away stat-keepers during his college career, but his 6-5, 290-pound athletic frame earned him the right to be drafted ... but to this point, not to get a standard contract offer from the Bengals team that picked him. Related: ESPN's Adam Schefter Rips Bengals With 'No Excuse' Take On Contract Dispute This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 24, 2025, where it first appeared.
