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Former A&M DL Shemar Stewart may challenge the NCAA's policy of retaining eligibility
Posted on 7/15/25 at 1:56 pm
Posted on 7/15/25 at 1:56 pm
After signing with an agent and being drafted by a NFL team.
Shemar Stewart might blow up the entire NFL draft
Also, the professional players' unions have come out against the House settlement:
Shemar Stewart might blow up the entire NFL draft
quote:
On the Cover 3 Podcast, CBS Sports’ Bud Elliot reported that 2025 first-round pick Shemar Stewart has been participating in team workouts with his former college program, the Texas A&M Aggies. According to Elliot, Stewart believes there’s a path for him to return to the college level even after being selected by the Cincinnati Bengals.
quote:
On paper, it’s the perfect storm for a first-round pick to test his case at retaining his college eligibility, despite having already signed with an NFL agent. Whether or not he’ll be able to win his case is unknown, but the NCAA has been taking many losses in court over the last decade — including a recent ruling that seasons spent in junior college do not count against a player’s NCAA eligibility, as the NCAA does not oversee the sport at that level.
Also, the professional players' unions have come out against the House settlement:
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Posted on 7/15/25 at 1:59 pm to TideSaint
Cheap arse Bengals.
Posted on 7/15/25 at 1:59 pm to TideSaint
quote:
After signing with an agent and being drafted by a NFL team.
This was always a stupid rule.
Posted on 7/15/25 at 2:00 pm to TideSaint
F all of this if he is successful
Posted on 7/15/25 at 2:01 pm to TideSaint
Dumbass keeps it up and no NFL franchise is going to touch him.
Posted on 7/15/25 at 2:02 pm to gamecockman12
I wasn't surprised Stewart went in the 1st, but I was surprised it was to Cincinnati. I don't consider myself much of an NFL enthusiast these days and even I knew the Bengals needed OL help. There was still plenty of OL talent on the board when the Bengals selected him.
Posted on 7/15/25 at 2:02 pm to TideSaint
How does this happen with the NFL rookie wage scale? Is he asking for more than his slot or are the Bengals trying to pay less? Seems like an easy deal to make.
Posted on 7/15/25 at 2:02 pm to Imber
quote:
Dumbass keeps it up and no NFL franchise is going to touch him.
The Bengals are actually the ones at fault in this situation. They put verbiage in his contract that all of his guarantees are null and void if he gets into legal trouble.
I don't blame him for not signing it.
Posted on 7/15/25 at 2:04 pm to SEC Doctor
quote:
How does this happen with the NFL rookie wage scale? Is he asking for more than his slot or are the Bengals trying to pay less? Seems like an easy deal to make.
quote:
Stewart, notably, is holding out in Cincinnati over default language that the Bengals want him to sign, which would void all the guarantees in his contract if he ever ran into a legal matter. It’s also worth noting here that the Bengals are known for playing hardball with their players, most recently with pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, who is essentially renegotiating his contract on a year-to-year basis because Cincinnati won’t tear up his deal and give him a new multi-year extension.
The Bengals did not ask for this default language in Amarius Mims’ contract last year, their 2024 first-round pick. Stewart was also picked earlier in April’s draft than Mims was last season.
Posted on 7/15/25 at 2:04 pm to SEC Doctor
(no message)
This post was edited on 7/15/25 at 2:05 pm
Posted on 7/15/25 at 2:04 pm to djsdawg
For what it is worth, the Bengals are being universally panned for what they are trying to do with his contract. Basically, they are trying to introduce a never before seen clause in a first round rookie contract that would make his supposedly guaranteed contract not really guaranteed.
He's right not to sign it.
And I can't imagine what grounds someone could argue that he shouldn't be allowed to play college ball given what the Bengals are trying to pull, and especially given the current state of college sports.
He's right not to sign it.
And I can't imagine what grounds someone could argue that he shouldn't be allowed to play college ball given what the Bengals are trying to pull, and especially given the current state of college sports.
This post was edited on 7/15/25 at 2:07 pm
Posted on 7/15/25 at 2:05 pm to TideSaint
quote:How are they at fault for that? Seems like a pretty standard employment clause. If he has a problem with that then it’s a MASSIVE red flag
The Bengals are actually the ones at fault in this situation. They put verbiage in his contract that all of his guarantees are null and void if he gets into legal trouble.
I don't blame him for not signing it.
This post was edited on 7/15/25 at 2:06 pm
Posted on 7/15/25 at 2:06 pm to Henry Jones Jr
quote:
Seems like a pretty standard employment clause. If he has a problem with that then it’s a MASSIVE red flag
It's literally never been used in such a contract. Ever.
Posted on 7/15/25 at 2:13 pm to TideSaint
If he does that and wins case, he will be blackballed by NFL teams, he will never be drafted or play a down in NFL, not a good look
Posted on 7/15/25 at 2:16 pm to grich31
quote:
If he does that and wins case, he will be blackballed by NFL teams, he will never be drafted or play a down in NFL
That's 100% wrong. As I said, the Bengals have been universally panned for what they are trying to pull with Stewart's contract.
Posted on 7/15/25 at 2:17 pm to Hugh McElroy
quote:
That's 100% wrong. As I said, the Bengals have been universally panned for what they are trying to pull with Stewart's contract.
If he wins a lawsuit that says players who enter the draft can go back to college, NFL teams will be pissed, regardless of what the Bengals are doing with Stewart.
Posted on 7/15/25 at 2:25 pm to TideSaint
quote:
Stewart, notably, is holding out in Cincinnati over default language that the Bengals want him to sign, which would void all the guarantees in his contract if he ever ran into a legal matter. It’s also worth noting here that the Bengals are known for playing hardball with their players, most recently with pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, who is essentially renegotiating his contract on a year-to-year basis because Cincinnati won’t tear up his deal and give him a new multi-year extension.
The Bengals did not ask for this default language in Amarius Mims’ contract last year, their 2024 first-round pick. Stewart was also picked earlier in April’s draft than Mims was last season.
Thanks. I wonder if they asked for this clause with all of their 2025 picks. Is it a change in how they want to operate going forward or a specific concern they have for a guy who showed low character at A&M.
Posted on 7/15/25 at 2:26 pm to lsufball19
Which is why the other owners and NFLPA will tell the Bengals to drop the clause from the contract and move on.
Posted on 7/15/25 at 2:27 pm to SEC Doctor
I don’t know honestly, but I’ve heard it discussed as a test case for future inclusion in a guaranteed contracts.
And I honestly can’t think of anything Stewart’s done to get in any trouble. I don’t think he was ever arrested or suspended while at A&M, but maybe I’m forgetting
And I honestly can’t think of anything Stewart’s done to get in any trouble. I don’t think he was ever arrested or suspended while at A&M, but maybe I’m forgetting
This post was edited on 7/15/25 at 2:30 pm
Posted on 7/15/25 at 2:42 pm to Hugh McElroy
quote:
And I honestly can’t think of anything Stewart’s done to get in any trouble. I don’t think he was ever arrested or suspended while at A&M, but maybe I’m forgetting
I think the clause in question is actually about Shemar defaulting under the contract, which basically means if he breaches the contract, he may void guaranteed money. He could breach by getting arrested, but it's broader than that because he could also breach by participating in activities that are prohibited under his contract (e.g., riding ATVs during the season).
This type of clause isn't unheard of in some player contracts, however, I think the issue is that 1st round picks don't have these types of clauses in their contracts.
Supposedly the Bengals tried to include this language in the past (e.g., in Myles Murphy's contract), but it was negotiated out.
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