The Bengals holding Stewart hostage...

[BACH]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...shemar-stewart-contract-holdout-trade-college

Haven't seen this posted, but has anyone followed the situation with Shamar Stewart - the 17th overall selection from the Bengals?

Some weeks ago Stewart was blasted in the media for not participating in rookie mini-camp and already holding out. All guns blazing on character issues etc. Same thing at the beginning of OTAs.

Turns out that was not exactly the case.

The Bengals are trying to push the legal interpretation of garanteed money in his contract and set a new precedent for all future contracts in the league of how much money is garanteed depending of circumstances.

I mean. WTAF!!!! You have a rookie 1st rounder playing the same position as your star hold-out and then you try to bully him into signing a contract that could change all future contracts. They are basicly giving him a choice of his dream by signing a $$$ NFL contract OR going against the player union and all other players in the league.

Whether the Bengals have a fair case or not, I do not know. But that discussion should be between the owners and player union and not forced onto a kid trying to sign his first contract.

 

[Zeem_Freeze]

Bengals are always a nice reminder that we struggle here with the Bidwills, it can absolutely be worse. I think we're barely north of the bottom 1/3 of NFL owners in terms of how well they manage the franchise.

Michael seems to be improving with the hires of Monti and JG..... or he is getting lucky lol

 

[Chris_Sanders]

The Bengals playing games with top talent while they are in their window is very Bengal like

 

[Cardinal88]

The Bengals playing games with top talent while they are in their window is very Bengal like

Yeah, seems kind of strange considering what they gave up for Watson. Maybe they are trying to learn something from the experience of his contract.

 

[kerouac9]

Yeah, seems kind of strange considering what they gave up for Watson. Maybe they are trying to learn something from the experience of his contract.

I think you're thinking of the Browns.

 

[Cardinal88]

I think you're thinking of the Browns.

Haha, oh yeah what do I know! The other Ohio team.

 

[oaken1]

Haha, oh yeah what do I know! The other Ohio team.

It's Ohio. Who cares.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Ohio does

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[jf-08]

Ooooffff....

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Shemar Stewart has many options, so he can not play for the Bengals:
1) Stewart can OPT OUT OF HIS CONTRACT, sit out for the entire 2025 season, and re-enter the #NFL Draft in 2026.
2) Section 6 states regarding a player returning to college: If a college football player eligible for the Draft before exhausting eligibility is drafted by an NFL Club and returns to college, the drafting Club retains exclusive negotiation rights.
3) Refuse to Sign and Demand a Trade: Stewart can demand a trade until August 5th, 2025
4) Play in Another League: Stewart could join a league like the CFL or UFL. If he plays in another professional league within 12 months of being drafted, the Bengals retain his NFL rights for three years post-2025 draft

 

[Mainstreet]

Ooooffff....

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Shemar Stewart has many options, so he can not play for the Bengals:
1) Stewart can OPT OUT OF HIS CONTRACT, sit out for the entire 2025 season, and re-enter the #NFL Draft in 2026.
2) Section 6 states regarding a player returning to college: If a college football player eligible for the Draft before exhausting eligibility is drafted by an NFL Club and returns to college, the drafting Club retains exclusive negotiation rights.
3) Refuse to Sign and Demand a Trade: Stewart can demand a trade until August 5th, 2025
4) Play in Another League: Stewart could join a league like the CFL or UFL. If he plays in another professional league within 12 months of being drafted, the Bengals retain his NFL rights for three years post-2025 draft

Option #2 wouldn't seem like a good option either if the Bengals keep his rights.

I thought the Cardinals might have traded the rights to a holdout quarterback years ago who refused to sign as a first round pick?

 

[RON_IN_OC]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...shemar-stewart-contract-holdout-trade-college

Haven't seen this posted, but has anyone followed the situation with Shamar Stewart - the 17th overall selection from the Bengals?

Some weeks ago Stewart was blasted in the media for not participating in rookie mini-camp and already holding out. All guns blazing on character issues etc. Same thing at the beginning of OTAs.

Turns out that was not exactly the case.

The Bengals are trying to push the legal interpretation of garanteed money in his contract and set a new precedent for all future contracts in the league of how much money is garanteed depending of circumstances.

I mean. WTAF!!!! You have a rookie 1st rounder playing the same position as your star hold-out and then you try to bully him into signing a contract that could change all future contracts. They are basicly giving him a choice of his dream by signing a $$$ NFL contract OR going against the player union and all other players in the league.

Whether the Bengals have a fair case or not, I do not know. But that discussion should be between the owners and player union and not forced onto a kid trying to sign his first contract.

From what I understand and what I've read previously, this is just something new with the Bengals, not new to NFL contracts. Other teams have included similar language for some time, it's just the first time the Bengals have attempted it.

 

[daves]

Option #2 wouldn't seem like a good option either if the Bengals keep his rights.

I believe it should state that the Bengals keep his rights until next year's draft, when he would be taken by a different team. (Or I suppose the Bengals could pick him again! ) And he wouldn't care since he'd be playing for TAMU.

The part that's new to me, but not surprising given all the changes regarding college athletes getting paid, is that he'd still be eligible to play college ball after retaining an agent and being drafted.

 

[Mainstreet]

I believe it should state that the Bengals keep his rights until next year's draft, when he would be taken by a different team. (Or I suppose the Bengals could pick him again! ) And he wouldn't care since he'd be playing for TAMU.

The part that's new to me, but not surprising given all the changes regarding college athletes getting paid, is that he'd still be eligible to play college ball after retaining an agent and being drafted.

Without looking it up, I think in the NBA once you declare for the draft and retain an agent, a player can't return to school and play in that particular college sport in regard to eligibility.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

NIL money is good enough you don't need to rush to the NFL and where you don't want to play

 

[DVontel]

Walter Nolen was going to be Cincy’s pick.

Tough.

 

[oaken1]

Walter Nolen was going to be Cincy’s pick.

Tough.

And Stewart was going to be Steve Keims pick...
We dodged a bullet with that whole "New GM" thing

 

[Mainstreet]

NIL money is good enough you don't need to rush to the NFL and where you don't want to play

This is a good point. I bet Stewart can get good NIL money if he returns to college.

 

[BACH]

From what I understand and what I've read previously, this is just something new with the Bengals, not new to NFL contracts. Other teams have included similar language for some time, it's just the first time the Bengals have attempted it.

The Bengals are implementing new language in order to move the needle on terms for fully guaranteed money. Basicly voiding the entire contract instead of the standard 1 year if e.g. injured off the off-field. Other teams do it, but they are changing their precedent with Stewart. All the contracts given by the Bengals in this off-season don't have this language.

Check the Mic podcast had a whole episode on the contract hold-outs (15 min in). According to them the Bengals chose this specifically because the agent has few clients and a reputation for being difficult. So they are deliberately pushing this because it's a weaker agent, where they thought they had the upper hand in the media spin.

They are quoting unnamed sources from other teams saying that everyone in the league knew the second that Stewart was drafted that it could become an issue, because it was the least flexible team and least flexible agent matched.

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HUGE recommendation for this podcast BTW. The level of detail across all 32 teams is the highest I have come across.

 

[BACH]

And Stewart was going to be Steve Keims pick...
We dodged a bullet with that whole "New GM" thing

Not fair to Stewart IMO. He's not doing anything wrong.

 

[oaken1]

Not fair to Stewart IMO. He's not doing anything wrong.

But he was over rated as a draft prospect and graded with a high bust potential.

 

[BACH]

But he was over rated as a draft prospect and graded with a high bust potential.

I agree, but depending on the eyes.

Same podcast had an hour discussion on him basicly. Limited production, but only two players that have ever grated similar to him are Myles Garrett and Mario Williams, so where to take him? Their semi consensus conclusion was low 1st range

 

[Ronin]

Elko: Unsigned Bengals pick not returning to A&M

Texas A&M coach Mike Elko quashed speculation about Shemar Stewart potentially seeking a return to college amid the rookie's contract dispute with the Bengals.

www.espn.com

 

[BACH]

But he was over rated as a draft prospect and graded with a high bust potential.

According to whom? All depends on the eyes.

You could also make the argument that he wasn’t drafted high enough. The Raiders spend the #7 overall pick on a worse profile.

If he goes back to college and produces 12 sacks and shows the same metrics next combine he’ll be a top 5 pick

 

[Zeem_Freeze]

This is insane drama for someone who recorded 1.5 sacks last year.... 4.5 sacks in college career

Bengals gonna Bengal.

 

[kerouac9]

This is insane drama for someone who recorded 1.5 sacks last year.... 4.5 sacks in college career

Bengals gonna Bengal.

Literally the only place I hear about this is here