-
Ben Child
CINCINNATI — Shemar Stewart smiled as followers shouted his identify as he ready to stroll throughout Central Avenue for his first apply with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Months of rigidity and heated back-and-forth feedback relating to a contract dispute between the sting rusher and the staff have been up to now. Stewart formally signed his rookie contract after three missed practices and a whole offseason through which he had no on-field participation.
So far as Stewart was involved, there isn’t a arduous emotions towards the Bengals given how the whole lot transpired.
“There was by no means me versus anyone,” Stewart mentioned after apply. “We simply did not see eye to eye at [that] level.
“On the finish of the day, I am comfortable to be a Bengal. I am comfortable that I received drafted right here. We’ve got an extended relationship forward of us. There is no unhealthy blood. It is simply how issues go generally.”
The 2 sides have been capable of come to an settlement Friday after three missed practices. In trade for the brand new contract language the Bengals wished to insert with the intention to probably void assured cash, Stewart acquired a greater payout construction than earlier Bengals first-round picks.
Stewart, the seventeenth choose on this 12 months’s draft and the final unsigned first-round choice, mentioned there got here some extent when he could not afford to skip any extra time.
“I simply wanted to be on the sector as quickly as doable,” Stewart mentioned. “I would like to begin studying, begin getting higher. It is a lengthy season forward. I wanted to be prepared.”
Whereas he was away from the staff, Stewart labored out along with his outdated teammates at Texas A&M throughout their prep for the upcoming season. And despite the fact that A&M power coach Tommy Moffitt pushed Stewart this summer time, Stewart nonetheless had his arms full in his first NFL apply.
He acquired a handful of first-string reps Sunday and was among the many gamers looking for respite on a scorching and humid day. All through the day, the defensive position tried to do something they might to remain cool, from dunking their heads right into a water cooler to having water-soaked towels draped over their heads between reps.
There was lots of hands-on route for Stewart, too. Bengals assistant Jerry Montgomery, the staff’s new defensive position coach, labored intently with the rookie all through the day. Stewart additionally acquired lots of route from assistant particular groups coach Ben Jacobs in studying the place to line up for defending area targets.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor mentioned the purpose is to get Stewart acclimated to the staff as shortly as doable. Taylor mentioned he believes Stewart has ample time to prepare for the season opener on Sept. 7 towards the Cleveland Browns. The staff’s first padded apply is scheduled for Monday.
“It is good to get him now once we can, as a result of we’ve not put pads on,” Taylor mentioned. “He is received seven practices earlier than our first [preseason] sport.”
The seventh-year head coach additionally echoed Stewart’s sentiments about shifting previous the acrimony between the 2 sides.
“That is a part of being an expert,” Taylor mentioned. “Simply put it behind you. He is part of our staff, so we assist him each step of the best way now. You simply put all that stuff behind you.”
Stewart mentioned he had no regrets with how the method turned out. With the contract settled, he can now flip his consideration to a pivotal rookie 12 months.
When the Bengals drafted him in April, there have been already a number of questions on Stewart’s lack of sack manufacturing at Texas A&M and whether or not that could possibly be fastened on the professionals. In three years with the Aggies, he had simply 4.5 whole sacks.
Stewart does not consider that the contract dispute with the Bengals locations any extra stress on him to carry out effectively and show why the Bengals believed he was price a premium draft choose.
“I simply put belief in myself, consider in what I might do, consider in my coaches, consider of their teaching,” Stewart mentioned. “I am simply coming daily able to work.”
The Bengals are nonetheless with out defensive finish Trey Hendrickson, who has not reported to camp as he seeks a contract extension.
