Why is Shemar Stewart holding out? Bengals rookie continues to miss time due to contract dispute

The NFL is simply a business, and players strive to beryllium compensated arsenic they consciousness is appropriate. We are accustomed to seeing prima players successful request of a caller statement measurement distant from practice, training camp, and minicamp until they unafraid a woody they want.

Fans saw this travel to a caput erstwhile erstwhile prima moving backmost Le'Veon Bell sat retired nan full 2018 play owed to a statement conflict pinch nan Steelers. The Bengals are well-acquainted pinch statement disputes, arsenic protect extremity Trey Hendrickson is owed a caller statement and has been absent from nan squad during summertime workouts. But he isn't nan only one. 

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Cincinnati is dealing pinch a uncommon rookie holdout arsenic first-round prime Shemar Stewart is holding retired owed to a statement dispute. Here is much connected Stewart's holdout pinch nan Bengals.

Why is Shemar Stewart holding out?

Stewart is 1 of nan fewer first-round picks successful nan 2025 NFL Draft who hasn't signed his rookie contract. Travis Hunter is astir apt nan biggest sanction who remains unsigned, but nan quality is that he is participating successful OTAs and mandatory minicamp.

Stewart said erstwhile mandatory minicamp began connected Tuesday that he would not return nan section until his statement business is resolved. 

He is conscionable not participating successful on-field reps, but is still going to meetings. Stewart said nan pursuing astir his business and what he is doing to enactment ready. 

"It's very important. You've sewage to get your assemblage somewhat prepared to play football, particularly maine coming from assemblage to the NFL. It's a measurement much beingness game, moreover though I played successful nan SEC, which is very physical, but thing compares to really playing successful the NFL. I thought I'd beryllium connected nan section by now, that's what I thought.

I still spell to meetings, return down nan correct notes."

Stewart and his broadside don't moreover sound for illustration they are worried astir nan magnitude of nan contract, particularly since nan draught slot has a predetermined cap. The broadside is concerned astir circumstantial connection successful nan woody and really it could harm nan protect extremity successful a fewer years. According to Kelsey Conway of nan Cincinnati Enquirer, nan problem lies pinch "language successful nan statement for their first-round prime that allows nan squad to void early guarantees."

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Shemar Stewart agent

Stewart's supplier is Zachary Hiller, who useful for LAA Sports.

The NFLPA website shows that he presently has 7 negotiated NFL contracts. He was nan supplier who helped Dalvin Cook get his hold successful Minnesota, arsenic good arsenic handled nan rookie statement for moving backmost JK Dobbins. Hiller represents Ravens WR Zay Flowers, Dolphins defender Cam Smith, and Bills moving backmost James Cook, who is going done his ain statement dispute. 

Shemar Stewart contract

Stewart was drafted pinch nan 17th wide prime successful nan 2025 NFL Draft. That slot had a pre-determined net cap of $18,942,634. Stewart and his supplier aren't disputing nan numbers that he is due, but much successful nan nonstop connection of nan statement that they are claiming is different than what they person done pinch past contracts. 

"I’m not asking for thing y’all person ne'er done before. But successful y’all case, y’all conscionable want to triumph arguments [more] than winning much games."

Cincinnati's first-round prime past twelvemonth Amarius Mims didn't motion pinch Cincinnati until July 22, truthful location shouldn't beryllium excessively overmuch interest astatine this point. 

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