Bengals’ Shemar Stewart Breaks Silence with Fully Guaranteed Deal—What Sparked the Sudden Turnaround?

Stewart’s Bengals teammates also wanted things to resolve sooner rather than later.

Stewart, on the other hand, left Cincinnati’s mandatory minicamp in June over the issue, and did not report to the first days of training camp while negotiating the deal. The team was experimenting with the clause this season by putting it into all of the incoming rookies’ contracts. Only Stewart, Cincinnati’s first-round pick, pushed back on it.Advertisement”From what I heard and what I’ve seen, he wants to be here, he wants to play — so I feel bad for him that it’s not working out,” fellow edge rusher Joseph Ossai told Yahoo Sports’ Jori Epstein this week. “That rookie training camp is important. It helps you grow. It helps you knock out a lot of the rookie mistakes, so to speak.

“From what I heard and what I’ve seen, he wants to be here, he wants to play — so I feel bad for him that it’s not working out,” fellow edge rusher Joseph Ossai told Yahoo Sports’ Jori Epstein this week. “That rookie training camp is important. It helps you grow. It helps you knock out a lot of the rookie mistakes, so to speak.

Advertisement”I think Shemar needs to be here,” Tobin said. “I’m not going to blame Shemar. He is listening to the advice he is paying for. I don’t understand or believe or agree with the advice but I’m not the one paying for it.”

Bengals owner Mike Brown was less than complimentary about the situation earlier this week, admonishing Stewart for his “foolishness” in the standoff. Brown also explained his logic for the deal, framing it as practical.

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As part of the deal, the Bengals have reportedly changed a controversial clause that was the basis of Stewart’s standoff. The clause would have allowed Cincinnati to void Stewart’s guaranteed money if he engaged in “detrimental” conduct.

That takes care of one contract holdout for the Bengals while another still remains in veteran pass rusher Trey Hendrickson. He has yet to report to training camp as he looks for an extension that will likely make him one of the highest-paid players at his position.

Bengals general manager Duke Tobin also spoke about the issue on Monday, pointing blame toward Stewart’s agents.

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The clause was not dropped entirely, per multiple reports, but was softened enough that Stewart agreed. In exchange, the Bengals reportedly will pay 0,000 of Stewart’s signing bonus up front, instead of in December, as part of the compromise.