Round 1 (17): Shemar Stewart, DE, Texas A&M

[Allentown21]

11 hours ago, ArmyBengal said:

Well Stewart and the Bengals can’t figure out a first round contract for some stupid reason the Bengals created out of thin air.

Murphy has been mostly unseen during his time here despite being a first round pick and is a complete unknown and maybe a bust.

Trey is working on his third offseason of demanding more and seeing the Bengals get dragged through the media, despite them giving him everything he’s asked for in each occasion.

Put me in the camp that even though this defense only needs to get to middle of the pack, they are going to have a hard time doing that. I like Al Golden, but he has his hands full.

The Bengals secondary has a lot of young talent that could breakout.... Same with the dline. 

 

 

[ArmyBengal]

Don’t get me wrong, I love the Bengals like most of these guys on this forum. Being on this site for over 20 years talking about them says enough. (Probably that we’re crazy)

So when I shit in their Wheaties, it’s just being realistic. The secondary has talent, but it all comes with issues. Dax Hill was a first rounder. He has great talent but has been hurt. DJ Turner the same.

CTB has talent with an overwhelming need to talk shit without backing it up.

If we get the last half of last season Geno Stone, that’s awesome. If not, that sucks. Who’s the other safety? Battle I guess, but he’s had ups and downs as well.

Newton is said to be taking over the nickel spot since Hilton isn’t coming back. Never thought much of him.

Again, Golden has his hands full.
I’m hoping all the stars align but it’s really going to take that to make this D get where it needs to be.

[Stripes]

I am confident that the defensive backfield will improve.

I am the opposite of confident that the pass rush will improve.

I am ambivalent about the linebackers.

[ArmyBengal]

I’m confident in Golden’s abilities.

Whether that pans out this year remains to be seen. I’m ever hopeful however.

[AMPHAR]

Maybe Lou was a Dick Lebeau.  Maybe he wasn't.   We'll see.   I think/hope we'll see across the board improvement in yards allowed and most importantly point allowed. 

Sack numbers are great but not a tell all.  First I think Trey plays and doesn't miss much time IF any through a hold out.  I don't see that path getting him much more at all and probably costs him headaches and millions.  

I don't think Lou went into games with getting to the QB as the priority of his game plan.  I think he wanted to avoid big plays and got stuck playing the same zone defenses even when it was clear the other OC/QB figured it out.   See Russell Wilson career half throwing to an empty middle over and over again.   

So again we'll see. 

 

 

 

[ArmyBengal]

I'm with you AMPHAR.  I'm hopeful we see the improvement.

That being said, I've spent most off seasons thinking, if the o-line could just hold up.
This is the first time that has shifted to, if the defense could just get off the damn field.

Honestly, I'm going into the season exceptionally hopeful Golden can make that happen.
However, the talent they have really needs to step it up and produce.

Speaking of Trey, has anyone seen some of the stupid ass trade scenarios posted out there?
If any of those are remotely possible, better to wait Trey out.  Sooner or later he's going to be the one to cave.
No way he doesn't play even at the rumored $28m for the season.  Take the bird in the hand Trey.
The Bengals won't blink.

[AMPHAR]

I don't even know if the OL can get it together so everyone will have a nice PFF grade.  Is it possible?  Given the way TC is conducted, game play calling, QB?  I don't know.   

I know they seem to play worse than normal in the first month of the season.  That goes hand in hand with the QB also struggling early.  

On one hand they've been top 10 offense missing a decent amount of snaps from Higgins with a bad OL.   Its just been so long from a time under Alexander were you could expect a sack a game average.  Now the 3 sack game people are applauding.    Does Joe need to throw away more, check down more?  

Obviously they don't fire a OL coach and replace two starters IF everything is just great.  Its been bad.  I just have my doubts fans are ever going to have on paper proof the OL is fixed.   Joe Burrow doesn't play that way and Zac doesn't call a game that way.    IF Higgins is on the field more often,  I doubt any of the play calling gets easier on the OL.   Production probably goes up tho. 

 

 

[ArmyBengal]

30 minutes ago, AMPHAR said:

Obviously they don't fire a OL coach and replace two starters IF everything is just great.  Its been bad.  I just have my doubts fans are ever going to have on paper proof the OL is fixed.   Joe Burrow doesn't play that way and Zac doesn't call a game that way.    IF Higgins is on the field more often,  I doubt any of the play calling gets easier on the OL.   Production probably goes up tho. 

I don't disagree with this at all.  I think it's part of the reason I'm not as concerned about the o-line as in years past.
They (the coaches) seem to think the offense is going to be top end regardless.
I've just always been of the line of thought that I wonder how much better they could be?

If Joe is going to take the blame for last season's failure, when he turned in an MVP season, and thinks he could have done more, that more should be coming off the back of the offensive line.  That is literally the only way he could have done more.

[HoosierCat]

And then there were two. Jax inked Travis Hunter yesterday, so the only two first rounders left unsigned are Stewart and Jahdae Barron.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/45563825/travis-hunter-signs-4-year-4665m-deal-jaguars

 

[Stripes]

Just like old times.

[ArmyBengal]

I hate the thought of Stewart not getting any snaps until camp starts at the end of July.
With their first preseason game a touch over two weeks after the start of camp, it doesn't leave much time.

Even with him not being expected to earn the starting spot, this situation sucks.

[HoosierCat]

I don’t think Stewart has missed anything significant yet in terms of snaps. That will change if this stretches out into camp. On the flip side, that gives up more snaps from Murphy, Ossai, Sample and Johnson to look at and see if there’s anything new there — and really I’m not sure that isn’t more important. We already know that whenever Trey shows up, he’ll be fine, and that as a rookie Stewart’s impact was always likely to be limited. Someone else has got to step up.

[ArmyBengal]

Great points as well Hoosier, but is also something that has really irritated about this team regarding 1st round picks.
They don't make impact early on and some not at all.  Minus Burrow and Chase, there has been much.

2025- Stewart is missing in action and not thought to be a starter.
2024- Mims didn't start, but got in due to Brown's injury and was average as a rookie.  There's hope there though.
2023- Murphy is a huge unknown and could be a bust.  Has done almost nothing.
2022- Hill has had multiple position changes, has been hurt and don't next to nothing.
2021 and 2020- Chase and Burrow are next level awesome.  Thank you Washington for caving in Burrow's knee.
2019- Williams missed his first season and never lived up to draft position.
2018- Price was a bust and the best thing about him was getting BJ Hill in trade with the Giants.
2017- Ross was a bust and it's a shame on how much talent they missed out on with that pick.  It really is crazy.

So if we leave it at just that, you have 2 above average, 1 average for now, 1 below average, 2 possible busts and 2 locked in busts and one missing in action.  Don't get me wrong, getting two player out of 9 that are at least arguably the best players at their position is nice, especially with one being a franchise QB.  However, those misses are beyond excruciating.

The draft is a crap shoot though, but I just wish they would hit on some more of these guys.

[HoosierCat]

Oh no doubt the first round has been rough, to say the least. There is still a chance for Hill and Murphy but it’s got to be now, this year. I thought Mims was about as solid as could be expected for a rookie who got thrown into the fire, and I’ll be surprised if he’s not better for it this year. Stewart remain to be seen.

On a related note, another leaf for your tea-reading pleasure: Trey might not be signed, but is in Cincy working out. If he was in total FU mode I doubt that’s the case.

[COB]

I hope Trey signs soon.  Then we get the rookie signed and Al Golden at least has a chance to

1. Have his best defender in camp and

2. Develop his first rounder, a pick he undoubtedly influenced.  

If the FO dithers around with these dudes and doesn’t get them in here until week one, ala Chase last year, it’s not just screwing the players and the fans, it is royally screwing Al Golden.  

[ArmyBengal]

Stupid Shemar and his agent… lol

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/bengals-participation-agreement-kept-shemar-stewart-out-of-offseason-program

[HoosierCat]

The Bengals have never seen a roadblock they didn’t love.

I get it, though. It’s dumb, but I get it. The Bengals have been forced out of their comfort zone when it comes to spending, especially regarding guarantees. This is a reaction to that, a nitpicky, lawyer-y reaction attempting to limit payouts to only perfect circumstances.

But actually doing that would look awful in reality. Imagine Stewart suffers some season-ending injury in camp and then the Bengals use that to screw him over on his contract. Boy, that would make us a destination for players, huh? Like I said, I get it, but it’s dumb.

[HoosierCat]

So here’s a breakdown on the situation worth reading from Breech over at cbs.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/back-to-school-back-to-the-draft-shemar-stewart-could-exploit-loophole-in-chaotic-rulebook-to-burn-bengals/

A couple points that really haven’t been discussed before. The first, money.

Quote

The Bengals are playing hardball with Stewart, and in the past, that has usually worked for them, but this time around, Stewart does have at least one bit of leverage that rookies in the past didn't have: Money.

For most of NFL history, rookies were generally broke when they entered the league, so many of them would quickly sign their first contract so they could get the signing bonus in their pocket. That's not the case with Stewart, though. The former Texas A&M star collected plenty of NIL money in college, so he definitely isn't broke, which means he can afford to wait things out until he can get the Bengals to cave, if that's what he wants to do. 

Second, could he go back and play another year in college? Maaaaaaybe.

Quote

During Monday's episode of the Cover 3 podcast, CBS Sports college analyst Bud Elliott noted that Stewart has actually been working out at Texas A&M this summer. 

"A guy who has had some good A&M stuff in the past, he hit me, he's like, 'Hey, Shemar might end up back here,'" Elliott said.

Elliott then said his source had a few more nuggets.

"'He's been at College Station, he's been fully involved in workouts, He's holding out from the Bengals, (the) relationship is toxic. He could try to come back and play again this season and go into the draft again next year.'"

The NCAA has rules against a player returning to college once they've been drafted, so he would likely be facing a legal battle if he went this route, but it could be something that he's considering. And as Elliott noted, it seems that everything with the NCAA is subject to litigation right now, so Stewart could certainly come out victorious if he decided to go to court. 

That would be something to see.

[COB]

I heard he’s going to petition the Florida High School Athletic Association and go back to play for his high school team.  

[AMPHAR]

Shemar's team loves drama and not too smart.   

Quote

Second, could he go back and play another year in college? Maaaaaaybe.

Sure.

1. Fight NCAA.   Incur legal fees and hope for a quick resolution in time for the college season.   If you believe that is viable...point 2.

2. Fight United States labor laws.  Because the NFLPA CBA says his rights remain to Bengals if he plays college football or any other league.   More legal fees and still need a fast resolution in time for college or CFL season.  If you believe points 1 and 2 are still viable or need another "yeah but'...

3. He sits out. Doesn't play and reenters the draft.  That will show the Brown family!  So if you believe any portion of 1,2 or 3 is viable then point 4:

4. Over half the league uses the clause on their current first round picks.  But maybe your sitting here thinking its only half the league and with his NIL money that hasn't been spent on legal fees from 1 and 2 he still could come out ahead or slightly damaged its worth the fight vs. the evil Brown family well then point 5:

5. Clause doesn't change his money.  It only changes the timing and form of payment.  So say he agrees to all clauses and negotiates a favor payment schedule.  Violate a clause he doesn't lose money at that point.  It converts to salary which he earns.   OH YEAH! THAT's the whole point he could get screwed by the fucking Brown family.... So at this point if you think points 1,2,3, and 4 could favor hims and its worth avoiding the Brown family scheme in point 5 just so they can cut him without cause OK point 6:

6. IF the Bengals unjustly cut Shemar before his rookie deal because he violated a clause.  If he's under 3 years vested he hits wavier wire so any claiming team picks up remaining contract.  If he's over 3 years he hits FA free to get paid.    So if your still sitting here thinking that Shemar has any power left or this fucking contract drama would still be worth it point 7:

7. I can't recall the Bengals ever cutting a 1st, 2nd or 3rd round pick during their rookie deal that ultimately wasn't universally agreed upon by the fan base.  Meaning you must suck and even still I don't recall them cutting to many.  But if your still beating this drum and its not the reality that matters its the principal that Brown family can't keep doing this then point 8:

8. You'll always be trolled by bad reporting.   It has hit the fucking stupid stage.   It 100% a dumb agent team.   

[ArmyBengal]

TROLLED

[Stripes]

Shemar Stewart is not real until week 1. There is nobody with that name. It’s just sounds in a random sequence.

[HoosierCat]

1 hour ago, ArmyBengal said:

TROLLED

He has one job…

 

[COB]

If getting trolled by evil cabal of bengals-hating media is wrong, I don’t wanna be right.  

[AMPHAR]

2 hours ago, COB said:

If getting trolled by evil cabal of bengals-hating media is wrong, I don’t wanna be right.  

We know.