Bengals 1st RD Pick could go back to College?

[Doc Brown]

15 minutes ago, Ya Digg? said:

Football is such a weird sport/business because it seems to be the only sport where fans OVERWHELMINGLY side with the billionaire owners. If he signs the current contract it does in fact potentially screw over future players. From what I understand the Bengals have made the wording intentionally vague. It does not say legal trouble makes it so they can void the entirety of the remaining contract, it just says trouble. So they could conceivably look at “trouble” as he showed up late to a couple of meetings, got fined, and now they can use that against him.

 

its an unnecessary thing they are trying to put into the contract. If no other player has ever had this in their contract, why should Stewart accept it in his? 

Usually because of the salary cap.  If a player doesn't take a team friendly deal they tend to get criticized (James Cook).

 

However, in this instance I think the majority of fans are on Stewart's side as it's ridiculous by the Bengals.

[RoscoeParrish]

14 hours ago, Watkins90 said:

No because then you ***** other players. Other teams will just stick the same contract language into other deals. You don't want to set the precedent. 

It's about language that the Bengals are trying to put in that would void guaranteed money in certain situations. This is language that isn't traditionally in contracts. So, he should stand his crown. ***** the owners, they always looking to screw the players out of money at any turn. 

This is not correct.

 

other teams have this language in their contracts.

 

the bengals never have.

1 hour ago, Ya Digg? said:

Football is such a weird sport/business because it seems to be the only sport where fans OVERWHELMINGLY side with the billionaire owners. If he signs the current contract it does in fact potentially screw over future players. From what I understand the Bengals have made the wording intentionally vague. It does not say legal trouble makes it so they can void the entirety of the remaining contract, it just says trouble. So they could conceivably look at “trouble” as he showed up late to a couple of meetings, got fined, and now they can use that against him.

 

its an unnecessary thing they are trying to put into the contract. If no other player has ever had this in their contract, why should Stewart accept it in his? 

See above.

 

other teams have this language. Just not the Bengals.

[Augie]

51 minutes ago, RoscoeParrish said:

This is not correct.

 

other teams have this language in their contracts.

 

the bengals never have.

See above.

 

other teams have this language. Just not the Bengals.

 

I don’t pretend to be an expert on these things, so I did a little digging. While I read that it’s not unprecedented, I don’t see anything that says how common it is. That is info that would matter to me. How many other teams have that language in the first round picks contract? I think that is important to know before I can form an opinion. 

 

I’m in a weird spot here. If the guy does some horrible stuff off the field, I’m OK with him not getting all of his “guaranteed” money.  Be a %$#&, lose your money. However, if I’m the player I can see holding out even if I’m a model citizen. “Why do the Bengals think they can start that with me?” 

 

Only because it’s the Bengals, I’d love to see him go back to college, collect some NIL and get drafted again next year. Unlike some here, I do not see any teams holding off on drafting him next year for that. You take good football players where you can find them, unless you know your team will also insist on that clause. I’m not saying it’s wise, I’m just saying I went to school in Cincinnati and I learned to dislike the owner intensely. It would amuse me. 😊

[Ya Digg?]

1 hour ago, RoscoeParrish said:

This is not correct.

 

other teams have this language in their contracts.

 

the bengals never have.

See above.

 

other teams have this language. Just not the Bengals.

Not an expert, but from what I have read/heard the difference between what the Bengals are doing and what other teams have done is the vagueness in the contract that the Bengals are using and the extremeness in terms of money. Essentially even trying to take back “guaranteed” money if they release him before the end of the contract 

[RoscoeParrish]

32 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

I don’t pretend to be an expert on these things, so I did a little digging. While I read that it’s not unprecedented, I don’t see anything that says how common it is. That is info that would matter to me. How many other teams have that language in the first round picks contract? I think that is important to know before I can form an opinion. 

 

I’m in a weird spot here. If the guy does some horrible stuff off the field, I’m OK with him not getting all of his “guaranteed” money.  Be a %$#&, lose your money. However, if I’m the player I can see holding out even if I’m a model citizen. “Why do the Bengals think they can start that with me?” 

 

Only because it’s the Bengals, I’d love to see him go back to college, collect some NIL and get drafted again next year. Unlike some here, I do not see any teams holding off on drafting him next year for that. You take good football players where you can find them, unless you know your team will also insist on that clause. I’m not saying it’s wise, I’m just saying I went to school in Cincinnati and I learned to dislike the owner intensely. It would amuse me. 😊

 

6 minutes ago, Ya Digg? said:

Not an expert, but from what I have read/heard the difference between what the Bengals are doing and what other teams have done is the vagueness in the contract that the Bengals are using and the extremeness in terms of money. Essentially even trying to take back “guaranteed” money if they release him before the end of the contract 

Abdul Carter, the third overall pick, has it.

“For example, the third overall pick, Abdul Carter, signed his contract, which includes the now-controversial provision.”

 

https://stripehype.com/this-hidden-detail-might-explain-shemar-stewart-bengals-standoff

 

They don’t want to pay Stewart if he has a Henry Ruggs situation. Seems reasonable to me.

Edited July 16 by RoscoeParrish

[QCity]

18 hours ago, Goin Breakdown said:

And get picked in the 5th round. 

 

...by the Bengals!

 

Everything I've read says he's just working out at the A&M facilities, he's not doing anything with the team (although it makes for a great headline).

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

Probably get paid more at A&M!

[Augie]

1 hour ago, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

Probably get paid more at A&M!

 

A few years ago I heard the ‘Bama QB made more than the Eagles QB. That takes some getting used to. I don’t give a rip about college basketball anymore. I’ll still enjoy the NCAA tournament, but I no longer travel to see “my team.” I’ll watch on TV only if it’s convenient. 

 

EDIT: I’d still like to know the actual number of first round contracts that have that language. It could be 2-3, or it could be all of them. Are the Bengals just late to the party here, or on the first wave? I’m curious. Sorry if I didn’t follow along close enough. 

 

 

.

Edited July 16 by Augie

[YoloinOhio]

This franchise should be folded by Roger 

[Goin Breakdown]

1 hour ago, QCity said:

 

...by the Bengals!

 

Everything I've read says he's just working out at the A&M facilities, he's not doing anything with the team (although it makes for a great headline).

Good offseason distractions 

[billsfan89]

I honestly think Burrow is asking out at best after next season. I can't see him wanting to be that deep into his 30's and putting up with a consistently bad offensive line, cheap ownership, and a terrible defense. The Bengals ownership just can't afford to have a QB on a big contract and have the other money needed to keep up at least a solid team around him. They won't fire coaching as evidenced by how long Marvin Lewis hung around, they don't spend on the little things, and just handicap themselves too much. 

[Big Blitz]

2 hours ago, billsfan89 said:

I honestly think Burrow is asking out at best after next season. I can't see him wanting to be that deep into his 30's and putting up with a consistently bad offensive line, cheap ownership, and a terrible defense. The Bengals ownership just can't afford to have a QB on a big contract and have the other money needed to keep up at least a solid team around him. They won't fire coaching as evidenced by how long Marvin Lewis hung around, they don't spend on the little things, and just handicap themselves too much. 

 

He’s an Ohio boy and he’s got the best WR locked up plus Higgins.  
 

He will ask out some time around the 2029 season.   

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

3 hours ago, Augie said:

 

A few years ago I heard the ‘Bama QB made more than the Eagles QB. That takes some getting used to. I don’t give a rip about college basketball anymore. I’ll still enjoy the NCAA tournament, but I no longer travel to see “my team.” I’ll watch on TV only if it’s convenient. 

 

EDIT: I’d still like to know the actual number of first round contracts that have that language. It could be 2-3, or it could be all of them. Are the Bengals just late to the party here, or on the first wave? I’m curious. Sorry if I didn’t follow along close enough. 

 

 

.

 

 

Since you mentioned college basketball, yeah, I've become the same way.  Between the one and done's to the point you don't know anyone who's on the team, with so much changing of the roster there's little teamwork as the players aren't together long enough to figure things out, plus they are pretty much all terrible shooters these days. 

 

Living in Western NY for a long time I followed Syracuse pretty close every year.  Moved down to  NC almost 20 years go, still followed them until there last few years.  But it's tough to follow a team that has been losing as much as they have and because of the losing, isn't on nearly as much TV as they used to be and much less media coverage.  

 

So in general don't follow the sport that much, but will watch March Madness, but even that not as intently as I use to as don't know who anyone is anymore.  In all honestly I follow the NBA now more than college.

[RoscoeParrish]

15 hours ago, Augie said:

 

A few years ago I heard the ‘Bama QB made more than the Eagles QB. That takes some getting used to. I don’t give a rip about college basketball anymore. I’ll still enjoy the NCAA tournament, but I no longer travel to see “my team.” I’ll watch on TV only if it’s convenient. 

 

EDIT: I’d still like to know the actual number of first round contracts that have that language. It could be 2-3, or it could be all of them. Are the Bengals just late to the party here, or on the first wave? I’m curious. Sorry if I didn’t follow along close enough. 

 

 

.

This article has what you seek.

 

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/agents-take-breaking-down-exactly-why-bengals-shemar-stewart-remains-only-unsigned-2025-first-round-pick/

[SoonerBillsFan]

17 hours ago, Ya Digg? said:

Not an expert, but from what I have read/heard the difference between what the Bengals are doing and what other teams have done is the vagueness in the contract that the Bengals are using and the extremeness in terms of money. Essentially even trying to take back “guaranteed” money if they release him before the end of the contract 

He is the cheapest owner in the NFL and counts on the revenue more than others. It doesn't shock me to see him pull a $#@! move like this. Go back to school kid, get the NIL Money and get drafted next year.

[JP51]

14 hours ago, billsfan89 said:

I honestly think Burrow is asking out at best after next season. I can't see him wanting to be that deep into his 30's and putting up with a consistently bad offensive line, cheap ownership, and a terrible defense. The Bengals ownership just can't afford to have a QB on a big contract and have the other money needed to keep up at least a solid team around him. They won't fire coaching as evidenced by how long Marvin Lewis hung around, they don't spend on the little things, and just handicap themselves too much. 

I would normally say no freaking way...  but if they screw this up, Hendrikson up, keep a sieve for an OL and not make the playoffs again this year... I mean... who could blame him... 

[BillsShredder83]

On 7/16/2025 at 4:19 PM, RoscoeParrish said:

 

Abdul Carter, the third overall pick, has it.

“For example, the third overall pick, Abdul Carter, signed his contract, which includes the now-controversial provision.”

 

https://stripehype.com/this-hidden-detail-might-explain-shemar-stewart-bengals-standoff

 

They don’t want to pay Stewart if he has a Henry Ruggs situation. Seems reasonable to me.

My main reason for taking Stewarts side (besides it being the Bungholes), is the vagueness.  Thats a huge problem.  List out a bunch of specific scenarios?  Sure.  But not some open ended excuse for the Bengals to try and pull guaranteed.

 

The weirdest part to me, is doing this to a guy with 0 off-field issues... but now that I think about it, its probably the exact reason they picked him to try.  If you try and break this clause out with a, say, Mike Green type character.  Of course youre going to get a fight.  Hes a dirtball, and dirtballs do dirtball stuff. So a character clause isnt going to go-over well.  But if you try and set precedent with a squeaky clean dude, hope the kid says 'sure whatever, i wont be getting in trouble, lets go ball'. Then you can argue down the road with future troubled talents "hey we made Shemar sign it."  Precedent is what's important.

 

If thats the case, I get what theyre trying to do here.... but they should've just pulled it quietly behind the scenes, instead of instigating a full blown public brawl -- then proceeding to double and triple down.

 

How is this team planning to field FA's next year? L-O-L!

How many draft prospects are going to tell their agent, Im not even interviewing with Cinci?

How are they even going to field a team????

 

You think squeaky clean players are going to want to be subjected to that?  How about the Tyreek dudes of the world?  Absolutely the dumbest crap I've seen since --- well --- Hendrickson L-O-L!! 

[DrDawkinstein]

Texas A&M coach was on ESPN earlier and clarified that yes Sanders is working out at their facility, but fully intends to return to Cincy and the Bengals for camp and will not be on the A&M team this year.

 

Which was nice of him to break the news for us, but it totally sandbags whatever little leverage his boy Sanders was holding over the Bengals in trying to get this deal done! I'd be a little pissed at coach if I were Sanders.

[QCity]

1 hour ago, DrDawkinstein said:

Texas A&M coach was on ESPN earlier and clarified that yes Sanders is working out at their facility, but fully intends to return to Cincy and the Bengals for camp and will not be on the A&M team this year.

 

Which was nice of him to break the news for us, but it totally sandbags whatever little leverage his boy Sanders was holding over the Bengals in trying to get this deal done! I'd be a little pissed at coach if I were Sanders.

 

Returning to play college ball was never really an option, as per the CBA the Bengals would then still retain his rights next season. Sitting out the season and not playing in another professional league is the only way he could become eligible for the 2026 Draft.

 

I wonder if it ever gets to the point where college recruits start declining interviews with the Bengals.

[DrDawkinstein]

11 minutes ago, QCity said:

 

Returning to play college ball was never really an option, as per the CBA the Bengals would then still retain his rights next season. Sitting out the season and not playing in another professional league is the only way he could become eligible for the 2026 Draft.

 

I wonder if it ever gets to the point where college recruits start declining interviews with the Bengals.

 

I saw that. Was it ever determined what the difference was between him and say Bo Jackson? Was it because Bo didnt go back to school (since the Bucs blew his eligibility which was why he refused to go to Tampa)?