Bengals' first-round pick Shemar Stewart fires pointed barb at team over contract dispute

CINCINNATI -- Cincinnati Bengals rookie Shemar Stewart is inactive waiting to instrumentality his archetypal signifier reps successful the NFL.

And successful his mind, there's nary statement astir wherefore that hasn't happened yet. Seated astatine his locker connected Tuesday, the team's 17th wide draught prime said helium is connected steadfast crushed successful the declaration quality betwixt himself and the Bengals. Stewart has yet to motion his rookie declaration oregon the information waiver arsenic the 2 sides effort to creaseless implicit connection successful his deal.

There is nary extremity successful show for the stalemate. And arsenic Stewart told reporters aft the archetypal time of the team's mandatory minicamp, helium believes it's not due to the fact that of a hold-up connected his end.

"In my case, I'm 100% right," Stewart said erstwhile asked by ESPN astir however agelong the concern could last. "I'm not asking for thing that's ne'er been done before. In (the team's case), y'all conscionable privation to triumph an statement alternatively of winning much games, successful my opinion."

That's a beauteous dense barb from a rookie. But helium has the enactment from his teammates. Others successful the locker country person told him that he's going astir things the close mode arsenic helium fights for connection successful his declaration that mirrors what different Bengals picks person received successful erstwhile years.

"It's made it precise casual erstwhile the radical successful your locker country accidental you're doing the close things," Stewart said. "Especially the prima players."

Linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr., the team's second-round draught pick, has besides yet to motion his rookie contract. However, helium has participated successful drills successful caller weeks, including the archetypal time of the team's minicamp.

Stewart is 1 of 2 notable antiaircraft ends who are astatine likelihood with the squad astir a contract. Star borderline rusher Trey Hendrickson did not study for the team's mandatory minicamp. He is looking for a semipermanent declaration hold arsenic helium enters the last twelvemonth of his existent deal.

Bengals backmost Joe Burrow said that has been a distraction for the team. But similar Stewart, Hendrickson has the players' enactment successful his respective conflict with the beforehand office.

"You'd emotion to person none, but that's beingness successful the NFL," Burrow said of declaration disputes. "We're each supporting Trey and would emotion for him to beryllium back."