Bengals' Stewart Contract Dispute Stalls Practice

Cincinnati Bengals first-round pick Shemar Stewart remains unsigned and is not participating in offseason workouts due to a contract dispute over specific language in his rookie deal, especially regarding the training camp roster bonus and guaranteed money structure. Stewart seeks a contract consistent with previous Bengals first-rounders Amarius Mims and Myles Murphy, while the team references different benchmarks. Although most rookie contracts are preset by the NFL, certain negotiable clauses remain unresolved, causing the standoff. The situation is further complicated by ongoing contract issues with veteran defensive end Trey Hendrickson, while the Bengals' defense undergoes a rebuild under new coordinator Al Golden. Both Stewart and the team hope to reach an agreement before mandatory minicamp as pressure mounts with other top picks signing deals. Stewart continues to attend team meetings but is not practicing, which could affect his development and the team's defensive prospects.