Bengals rookie defensive end Shemar Stewart left Cincinnati’s mandatory minicamp on Thursday due to a contract disagreement. Stewart, who was the Bengals’ first-round draft pick, has not taken part in any of the team’s offseason training sessions.
A source revealed that the disagreement revolves around how certain language in the contract might impact guaranteed money.
“He wasn’t here today, so we focused on the players who were present,” coach Zac Taylor said after the Bengals wrapped up their three-day minicamp.
Taylor shared mixed feelings about the former Texas A&M standout. The seventh-year coach mentioned he had “positive conversations” with Stewart during the dispute and noted that Stewart has attended meetings, maintained a good attitude, and worked hard to learn as they prepare for the upcoming season.
“You want all rookies on the field,” Taylor stated. “But there are situations that come up in an NFL career, and this is one of them.”
However, Taylor also suggested he wasn’t entirely happy with Stewart’s remarks from earlier this week. When asked by ESPN on Tuesday how long he thought the contract issue would last, Stewart claimed he wasn’t asking for anything different from what previous Bengals draft picks received.
“In my case, I’m 100 percent right,” Stewart said. “I’m not requesting anything that’s never been done before. But in [the team’s] view, it seems like they prefer to win an argument instead of focusing on winning more games.”
On Thursday, when asked about Stewart’s criticism of the front office, Taylor mentioned that he and Stewart had “good communication” after those remarks.
“First and foremost, we want to protect our team in the locker room,” Taylor explained. “I get that there’s frustration involved. That’s how he chose to express it, and that’s his choice. We are excited to have him back with us.”
Stewart isn’t the only Bengals pass rusher dealing with a contract issue. Trey Hendrickson, a four-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro last season, missed the entire mandatory minicamp while seeking a long-term contract extension.
He has stated that he does not plan to play out the final year of his current deal.
Bengals center Ted Karras recognizes the importance of both situations and understands why each player wants to protect their own interests. While speaking to reporters on Thursday, Karras noted that this feeling is shared by the rest of the team as well.
“The main point I want to make is that neither of our defensive ends should feel any resentment from this locker room,” Karras said. “I really hope both sides can resolve this because we have a strong team. We’ve had an incredibly productive spring, and we don’t want this issue to linger into summer.”
