Shemar Stewart couldn’t have been happier to join the Cincinnati Bengals as the 17th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Not only will he presumably get a chance to learn from the NFL’s reigning sack leader Trey Hendrickson, he’ll have a chance to play a key role on a potential Super Bowl contender.
Yet, the Bengals are kicking off their first mandatory practice session of the offseason during minicamp, and Stewart is refusing to practice. Why? Because the Bengals are being stingy when it comes to his rookie contract, which is still unsigned.
Now, Stewart is showing his extreme frustration by publicly trash-talking the way the Bengals handle contracts. Stewart didn’t elaborate on the specific issue, but he did admit it’s “something very simple to fix. It’s kind of disappointing.”
“I’m 100% right. It should be a no-brainer. In Trey’s case it should be a no brainer, too. … I’m not asking for nothing y’all have never done before. But y’all (Bengals) just want to win arguments more than winning games in my opinion”
Some very frank and direct comments from Shemar Stewart, and why he continues to feel he’s 100 percent right to sit out. Clearly very upset and frustrated with Bengals that he is not signed and on the field. pic.twitter.com/WawvWU8QKu
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) June 10, 2025
It’s worth noting that Hendrickson, the Bengals’ top pass-rusher, is also absent from the start of the Bengals’ mandatory practices while angling for a raise and a long-term extension.
Even after all he had to say, Stewart proceeded with, “I can’t say what I really want to say. It’s their contract. They can do what they want with it.”
It’s clear that Stewart is upset with the Bengals, which is far from an ideal way to start his NFL career. Yet, chances are it will all be forgotten the moment he can step foot on the field and start chasing after quarterbacks again.
Related: 5 best Trey Hendrickson trade landing spots from Cincinnati Bengals
