NFL Insider Adam Schefter says the Cincinnati Bengals are taking too long to act on their first-round pick Shemar Stewart

Detailing the contract issues between Shemar Stewart and the Cincinnati Bengals became a huge topic of discussion at ESPN’s NFL Live session. The session was hosted by Laura Rutledge, an American reporter for ESPN.

The discussion was titled “Shemar Stewart left Bengals minicamp with a rookie contract still unsigned.” Rutledge added an opening line to it, “Shemar Stewart, who they drafted to bolster their D-line, had been there. He’s now left in the midst of a contract dispute.” But before NFL Insider Adam Schefter could step in, Rutledge played a video clip of Bengals head coach Zac Taylor. Just to give more fodder for this huge topic of discussion!

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor understands the frustration caused by the rookie defensive end Shemar Stewart in the locker room

Since Shemar Stewart did not show up for the final day of the mandatory minicamp, Bengals coach Zac Taylor was asked about him on June 13, “I think for all the rookies, you’d like them to be on the field, but certainly, there’s things that happen over the course of an NFL career, and this is one of them right now.

He’s been in the meetings. He’s been positive that way. He’s been learning. He’s been a good learner, and we look forward to getting him back on the field quickly. There’s education that happens with all the rookies, and we do our best to educate them. Number one, we wanna protect our team in our locker room. So I understand when there’s frustration there, but that’s how he chose to do it, and that’s his prerogative, and we look forward to getting him back in the field.”

NFL Insider Adam Schefter says Shemar Stewart hesitated and refused to sign an injury waiver, which most rookies just go out and sign as it protects them in the event of an injury at a minicamp

Laura Rutledge asked the NFL Insider, “Adam, what more can you tell us about Shemar Stewart’s contract talks?”“This is an unusual situation. It should not be difficult to get a deal done with a rookie first-round draft picking. In this particular case, for various reasons, it is. We start out with the fact that the Bengals are trying to get language, but they haven’t had in their contracts before that other teams have used that would void guarantees if, essentially, he got cut at some point during his career.

Also, Shemar Stewart has hesitated and refused to sign an injury waiver, which most rookies just go out and sign that protects them in the event of an injury at a minicamp. So, he hasn’t signed the waiver.”

Adam Schefter stresses the fact that the Cincinnati Bengals are taking too long to sign a relatively simple first-round draft pick

Adam Schefter, American Sports Writer and Reporter, says the Bengals’ drawn-out contract process of Shemar Stewart has led to Stewart leaving the mandatory minicamp. “They’ve asked for language that other teams have used that they haven’t used before, and it’s led to a situation where today, Shemar Stewart removed himself from the mandatory minicamp.

When some would have wondered why he was there even to begin with, being that he hadn’t signed his contract or signed the waiver. So, this whole situation has gotten more and more muddled as it has gone along and shows no signs of ending soon. Despite the fact that it should be relatively simple to sign a first-round draft pick.”Also Read: Jacksonville Jaguars HC Liam Coen speaks highly of QB Trevor Lawrence for taking work home even though he has a new baby girl at home | NFL News - Times of India