Bengals executive calls out Shemar Stewart

A top Cincinnati Bengals executive had a firm message for rookie Shemar Stewart amid Stewart’s ongoing absence from training camp over a contract dispute.

Bengals player personnel director Duke Tobin took aim at Stewart’s representation when speaking on the subject Monday. Tobin said he did not understand the contract dispute, and dismissed the notion that the Bengals have treated Stewart unfairly in negotiations.

“I think Shemar needs to be here,” Tobin said, via Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. “I’m not going to blame Shemar. He is listening to the advice he is paying for. I don’t understand or believe or agree with the advice but I’m not the one paying for it. If I felt we were treating him unfairly as it relates to all the other draft picks in this year’s draft then maybe it would be a different story. But we are not. I don’t really understand where things are there.”

Stewart has been at odds with the Bengals for months now. The team has tried to insert language into his contract that would allow them to void future guarantees, which the 17th overall pick and his representation have balked at. Stewart remains the only unsigned first-round pick in the NFL at this stage of the offseason.

The Bengals have opened themselves up to criticism of their negotiating tactics this offseason. In addition to the issues with Stewart, the team is at odds with star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, who has also been highly critical of the organization.