The Cincinnati Bengals have once again found themselves in an awkward spot over a contract dispute, but this time it involves their first-round draft pick. No one expected negotiations to get this complicated with Shemar Stewart, but leave it to the Bengals, a team with a history of fumbling these situations. Sure, it happens with stars like T.J. Watt, but with Cincinnati, it feels like a recurring storyline tied to a struggling franchise.
Bengals’ Contract Standoff With Shemar Stewart Sparks Mike Florio Rant
In a week when Jalen Ramsey was traded and Darren Waller came out of retirement, Mike Florio still made time on his “Pro Football Talk” podcast to focus on the Bengals’ front office. Few first-round rookies around the league have had any trouble signing their contracts, but Stewart is smartly holding out as the Bengals do him no favors.
“All of this, it’s just stupid. It’s about power,” Florio said. “It’s about you work for us, and we tell you what the roles are. You just shut up and play football. We don’t want to hear any backtalk or pushback; we just want you to sign the document and go to work. That’s the attitude. Screw that.”
Florio added, “It’s why the Bengals can’t get to their full potential, even with Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase and good players on both sides of the ball.”
He also brought up last season’s drama around Ja’Marr Chase’s contract. According to Florio, the Bengals nearly kept him out of the season opener. He said that if Chase had known more than 90 minutes before kickoff that he was cleared to play, they probably wouldn’t have lost that game.
While the Bengals closed the 2024 season on a 5-0 run, it still wasn’t enough to lock in a playoff spot. Their chase for a first Super Bowl title continues to feel like a distant hope as they struggle to sign not just Stewart, but also Trey Hendrickson. Loading up on offense is one thing, but Stewart and Hendrickson are crucial pieces if this team wants any shot at a postseason run.
The Bengals knew what they were getting with Stewart when they took him in the first round. He wrapped up the 2024 season with 31 total tackles, 14 of them solo. Yet here we are — another elite defensive talent stalled in contract limbo because of front office stubbornness. Only the Bengals could create this kind of mess after landing a potential game-changer for their shaky defense.