Is Shemar holding out?

[BritishBengal]

Seeing a lot of news stories following Shemar's decision to not yet sign his contract and hold out from hitting the field. What's the buzz on the ground in the US about this? Something to be concerned about or just typical off-season hysteria.

[George Cantstandya]

Looks like 21 of the 1st round draft picks have not signed yet:

https://www.nfl.com/news/2025-nfl-draft-first-round-pick-signing-tracker

I'm not worried about it.

[XsandOs]

Waiting for Walter Nolen to sign.

[BenZoo2]

This is nothing to really worry about, yet. His contract is slotted, as is all the first round picks. There can be some minor structure issues but that’s about it. He’s just not risking injury until he’s signed

[*jason*]

Looks like his troubles finishing aren't confined to the football field... I kid.

[BFritz21]

(05-11-2025, 11:03 AM)XsandOs Wrote: Waiting for Walter Nolen to sign.

(05-11-2025, 11:38 AM)BenZoo2 Wrote: This is nothing to really worry about, yet.  His contract is slotted, as is all the first round picks.  There can be some minor structure issues but that’s about it.  He’s just not risking injury until he’s signed

If you'd listen to the national media, they make it sound like we're the only team in the NFL that haven't signed their first round pick, but the fact that so many first round picks haven't signed yet, especially Nolen right in front of him, make it a non-issue.

It makes me mad because I figured that all of this holdout shit taking this long was over with the rookie wage scale, but hopefully it gets done soon and he gets on the field soon.

Also, it's not like he's not working out on his own and the team really isn't doing too much right now that he can't catch up on quickly.

[Luvnit2]

(05-11-2025, 09:04 AM)BritishBengal Wrote: Seeing a lot of news stories following Shemar's decision to not yet sign his contract and hold out from hitting the field. What's the buzz on the ground in the US about this? Something to be concerned about or just typical off-season hysteria.

Click bait

They are all slotted now, old days are over of 1st round picks holding out or threatening it.

[Housh]

No

[reuben.ahmed]

why is he not signing though, let's see the details if we may

[George Cantstandya]

(05-11-2025, 03:54 PM)reuben.ahmed Wrote: why is he not signing though, let's see the details if we may

There isn't much to negotiate these days with rookie contracts but one is timing of the signing bonus and when it will be paid out. The other is offset language.  For example the signing bonus can be paid immediately or over months or years.  The other is offset language, I'll let this website explain that:

https://www.profootballrumors.com/2019/05/offset-language-in-the-nfl-explained

Quote:For example, if a player has $4MM in guaranteed money remaining on his contract and is cut, he’ll still be owed that $4MM.

However, if a team has written offset language into the contract, that club can save some money if and when the player signs with a new team. For example, if that player who had $4MM in guaranteed money left on his contract signs with a new club on a $1MM deal, his old team would only be on the hook for $3MM, with the new team making up the difference. If there’s no offset language on that first deal, the old team would continue to be on the hook for the full $4MM, and the player would simply earn an additional $1MM from his new club.

My guess is it is the payout schedule for the signing bonus holding things up. 

It isn't unusual even with the mostly set structure of rookie contracts for rookies not to be signed by this time of the year.  As noted above the majority of 1st round draft picks have not signed yet. 

[*pally*]

the over reaction of the year

He won't do on field drills until he signs a contract. That will likely happen early this week

[George Cantstandya]

(05-11-2025, 06:39 PM)pally Wrote: the over reaction of the year

He won't do on field drills until he signs a contract.  That will likely happen early this week

Or he might sign later.  Of note, recently Mims didn't sign until July 22nd last year.  Burrow didn't sign his rookie contract until July 31st.  Chase didn't sign his until June 2nd. Other recent 1st round picks Murphy and Hill did sign mid May.  But yes there is nothing to be alarmed about. 

[Soonerpeace]

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/bengals-offer-to-shemar-stewart-was-lacking-as-to-training-camp-roster-bonuses

[Tiger Teeth]

He'll sign, they'll all sign.

[TKUHL]

(05-11-2025, 11:47 AM)jason Wrote: Looks like his troubles finishing aren't confined to the football field... I kid.

Well played :)

[THE PISTONS]

It's funny...draft was a couple weeks ago.

In the 90's, it would be 2 weeks into the season before guys got close to signing!

[THE PISTONS]

(05-11-2025, 11:02 PM)Soonerpeace Wrote: https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/bengals-offer-to-shemar-stewart-was-lacking-as-to-training-camp-roster-bonuses

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Bengals tried to get Stewart signed. As we understand it, the talks bogged down regarding the percentage of compensation in future years to be paid as a training-camp roster bonus.

The training-camp roster bonus has become a device for putting a sizable chunk of the player’s pay in his pockets in future years, early in the season. In this case, the numbers offered by the Bengals reflected a lower percentage than the 17th overall pick received in 2024.

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/bengals-offer-to-shemar-stewart-was-lacking-as-to-training-camp-roster-bonuses

[BFritz21]

(Yesterday, 11:50 AM)THE PISTONS Wrote: Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Bengals tried to get Stewart signed. As we understand it, the talks bogged down regarding the percentage of compensation in future years to be paid as a training-camp roster bonus.

The training-camp roster bonus has become a device for putting a sizable chunk of the player’s pay in his pockets in future years, early in the season. In this case, the numbers offered by the Bengals reflected a lower percentage than the 17th overall pick received in 2024.

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/bengals-offer-to-shemar-stewart-was-lacking-as-to-training-camp-roster-bonuses

Sad because I thought that Mike's way of running things was over and we wouldn't be the cheapest franchise in sports anymore, but it sounds like we're still penny pinching.

[George Cantstandya]

(Yesterday, 12:38 PM)BFritz21 Wrote: Sad because I thought that Mike's way of running things was over and we wouldn't be the cheapest franchise in sports anymore, but it sounds like we're still penny pinching.

I don't know if penny pinching is exactly accurate in this case.  The money paid is set.  How and when some of that money is paid out is what can be negotiated. So from my understanding it isn't how much are they going to pay Stewart but when those payments are made.  Of course the player will want as much that money as possible right away instead of it being paid out over time.

[Housh]

(05-11-2025, 01:46 PM)Housh Wrote: No

Well oops

Maybe he is