![\"Not](\"https:\/\/www.the-sun.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/05\/texas-ms-shemar-stewart-cincinnati-989840587.jpg?strip=all&w=960\")
<\/p>\nThe Cincinnati Bengals are insisting on including a clause in the contract of rookie first-round pick Shemar Stewart that could void his deal under certain circumstances.<\/p>\n
It is the strongest accusation. It is the worst fear.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
What if your team isn’t really trying to win?<\/p>\n
The\u00a0Cincinnati Bengals\u00a0are insisting on including a clause in the contract of rookie first-round pick Shemar Stewart that could void his deal under certain circumstances.<\/p>\n
There is not much precedent for this, as we understand it … and as Stewart understands it.<\/p>\n
So his holdout, as he has been skipping the practice portion of organized team activities (OTAs) and, now, minicamp.<\/p>\n
Oh, and he’s not quiet about what he thinks is wrong.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m 100 percent right,\u201d Stewart said of his stand. \u201cI\u2019m not asking for nothing y\u2019all (the B Bengals) have never done before. But in y\u2019all case, y\u2019all just want to win an argument instead of winning more games.\u201d<\/p>\n
Oh my.<\/p>\n
The Bengals can argue that they have earned the benefit of the doubt against n accusation that they are not prioritizing “winning more games” by noting their recent monster signings of receivers\u00a0Ja\u2019Marr Chase\u00a0and Tee Higgins.<\/p>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_8640,h_4860,x_0,y_900\/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images\/ImagnImages\/mmsport\/all_bengals\/01jgecn25mhxr5g3eacr.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Or … the organization can get ripped for now taking care of superstar edge rusher\u00a0Trey Hendrickson, who is holding out from mandatory minicamp.<\/p>\n
Said Stewart: “In Trey\u2019s case, I think it should be a no-brainer, too. He had 17.5 sacks for two years back-to-back. If I was the GM or I was the owner, take all my money. But I guess they don\u2019t operate like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Bengals just invested the 17th pick of the\u00a0NFL Draft in Stewart. Why the sudden lack of faith? Why even allow the perception – a well-established one over the years in Cincy – of an ownership looking to pinch pennies?<\/p>\n
\u201cSomething very simple to fix,\u201d Stewart admitted. \u201cIt\u2019s kind of disappointing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stewart pledges that he’s working out in anticipation of a done deal.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m always ready to go,\u201d Stewart said. \u201cI\u2019ve been staying ready to go. It\u2019s my job now, I have no choice but to be ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Cincinnati Bengals are insisting on including a clause in the contract of rookie first-round pick Shemar Stewart that could void his deal under certain circumstances. It… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":25463,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25462","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cincinnati-bengals"],"yoast_head":"\n