Bengals' intransigence could cost them big time as Shemar Stewart holdout continues

The Shemar Stewart saga up in Cincinnati is apparently still without any sign of a finish line, as mandatory minicamp has begun and Stewart and the team are still at an impasse. It didn't take long after the star DE was selected 17th overall for some news to come out that Stewart was holding out over some language in his contract.

On first blush, this was a bad look for a rookie who has yet to prove anything at the professional level, but once more details emerged, Stewart's case was more understandable. Shemar was simply asking for his contract to look the same as other rookies around the league, but Cincinnati was hoping to get away with stiffing him on some of the guaranteed money.

This is not the first time that Cincy has tried to pull this kind of stunt, as other people have noted. They're currently robbing their fanbase of the joy and high-level play that Stewart could bring, and it could end up costing them big time.

Shemar Stewart continues holdout as mandatory minicamp begins for Cincinnati Bengals

Ari Meirov reports that Shemar Stewart is continuing his holdout amid his rookie contract negotiations with the Bengals.

As star DE Trey Hendrickson is doing the same with an eye towards the Bengals, it's more understandable that Stewart is doing what he's doing. This is a front office with a pretty poor track record of doing right by their players, and it appears they thought they could get away with pulling one over on Stewart.

Luckily, Stewart saw that move for what it was and is continuing to remain steadfast in his convictions. If the Bengals thought they could get some value on his contract due to his inexperience or maybe his relatively low production in college, then they shouldn't have selected him in the first round.