Shemar Stewart rookie contract standoff with Bengals explained
Shemar Stewart has yet to sign his rookie contract with the Bengals. Here’s an explanation of where the situation stands.
Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown addressed the Trey Hendrickson contract situation July 21 at the team’s annual media luncheon.
Hendrickson, the NFL’s sack leader last season, has been seeking a new contract with the team. Hendrickson did not attend mandatory minicamp in June, but resumed contract talks shortly after.
At the Bengals’ annual media luncheon July 21, Bengals owner Mike Brown expressed optimism that the team will be able to sign Hendrickson.
“I think it’ll get done,” Brown said, according to ESPN’s Ben Baby.
“It’s been a long negotiation. Trey Hendrickson is a fine player. He’s a good guy. We want him here. Dealing with him is sometimes not so easy, and that’s alright. He’s got the right to argue his case,” Brown said according to a video posted by The Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway. “We’ll try to make sense of it from our perspective. We’ll see. I’m not persuaded that it isn’t going to get done. As far as I’m concerned, the sooner the better.”
The Bengals have made a push to give Hendrickson a new deal heading into training camp with several offers, including a recent one over the last couple of days, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport.
The Bengals granted Hendrickson’s request to seek a trade earlier this offseason. The four-time Pro Bowl defensive end publicly voiced his frustration with the organization in May due to the lack of communication after the draft.
Hendrickson attended but did not participate in Bengals practice May 13 but told reporters afterward that he would not play the upcoming season on his current deal. Hendrickson is entering the final year of his contract and is set to make $15.8 million this season.
The Enquirer will update this story.
