The Cincinnati Bengals find themselves in a contentious situation with first-round pick Shemar Stewart as training camp unfolds. The organization is expressing frustration over Stewart’s unwillingness to accept their contract offer, which features restrictive language regarding the voiding of guarantees, a departure from what has been previously offered to other players.
Bengals director of player personnel, Duke Tobin, has openly criticized Stewart’s agent, Zac Hiller, implying that the advice Hiller is providing doesn’t align with the team’s standpoint. “I don’t blame Shemar. He’s listening to the advice he’s paying for. I don’t understand the advice… We’re treating him fairly,” Tobin remarked.
In a counter-response, Hiller asserted that Tobin is out of the loop when it comes to the negotiations and that he believes the complexity of the discussion should involve higher-level negotiations, indicating that Tobin’s commentary is somewhat misaligned with the actual decision-making processes at play.
The heart of the contention lies in the Bengals’ insistence on a more stringent contract structure for Stewart compared to previous draft picks like Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, without offering any compensatory adjustments to balance these changes. Critics argue this is a power play tactic to assert control and pressure Stewart into compliance.
As training camp continues, both sides are encouraged to find a common ground and potentially revise the terms to facilitate a more amicable resolution. This scenario serves as a reminder of the often complex dynamics between NFL teams and their draft selections, but with open dialogue, there’s hope for a constructive way forward.