The Cincinnati Bengals are in a bit of a pickle with their latest draft pick, defensive end Shemar Stewart. The problem? A disagreement over contract language. The Bengals want to make sure that if Stewart messes up in any year, all future guarantees in his contract vanish. They believe their current contract language already covers this, but they're pushing for a change anyway.

This isn't the first time the Bengals have faced this issue. Last year, they signed tackle Amarius Mims with a different contract language. So, why not just use that language for Stewart? It would solve the problem quickly. But the Bengals want to change their usual practice, which means they need to offer something else in return. Maybe a tweak to the signing bonus schedule or something similar.

The Bengals' stubbornness has already cost Stewart the offseason program. If they can't sort this out before training camp, he might miss that too. This delay means Stewart won't be as ready for the first week of the season. And who's to blame? The Bengals, for letting contract disputes hold back their players.

The Bengals have a history of letting these squabbles affect their players' readiness. In 2024, losing just one extra game kept them out of the playoffs. This situation with Stewart could easily be resolved, but with the Bengals, simple solutions often seem out of reach.

The Bengals need to ask themselves: Is this contract dispute worth risking Stewart's readiness for the season? And is it worth potentially missing out on the playoffs again? Sometimes, the best move is the simplest one. Maybe it's time for the Bengals to take their own advice and drop the issue.

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