Is Shemar holding out?

[George Cantstandya]

(11 hours ago)WeezyBengal Wrote: Does anyone know this dudes options if he were to NOT sign a deal with the Bengals?

Can he go back to school and play? Does he just sit out this year and then he goes back into the draft next year?

I just have a bad feeling about this one...

Per NCAA regulations he can no longer play in college.  When he declared for the draft he was required to sign a document renouncing all remaining college eligibility unless revoked within 72 hours. He would have to challenge that rule I guess through legal channels. 

And here is some info from the CBA about drafted players that do not sign:

https://nflpaweb.blob.core.windows.net/website/PDFs/CBA/March-15-2020-NFL-NFLPA-Collective-Bargaining-Agreement-Final-Executed-Copy.pdf

Quote:If a Drafted Rookie has not signed a Player Contract during the period from the date of such Draft to the thirtieth day prior to the first game of the regular season: (i) the Club that drafted the player may not thereafter trade to another Club either its exclusive negotiating rights to such player or any Player Contract that it signs with such player for the player’s initial League Year; and (ii) the Club that drafted the player is the only Club with which the player may sign a Player Contract until the day of the Draft in the subsequent League Year, at which time such player is eligible to be drafted in the subsequent League Year’s Draft by any Club except the Club that drafted him in the initial Draft. (After the Tuesday following the tenth week of the regular season, the player and the Club may sign a Player Contract only for future League Year(s)). 

Quote:If a Drafted Rookie has not signed a Player Contract by the Tuesday following the tenth week of the regular season, at 4:00pm New York time, the player shall be prohibited from playing football in the NFL for the remainder of that League Year, absent a showing to the Impartial Arbitrator of extreme Club or extreme personal hardship. The determination of the Impartial Arbitrator shall be made within five days of the application, and shall be based upon all information relating to such hardship submitted by such date. The determination of the Impartial Arbitrator shall be final and binding upon all parties. 

Also it looks like if a drafted player signs with a professional football team outside the NFL (example the CFL) the NFL team that drafted the player keeps the player rights for 3 years.

Quote:Notwithstanding Section 4(b) above, if a player is drafted by a Club and, during the period between the Draft and the next annual Draft, signs a contract with, plays for, or is employed by a professional football team not in the NFL during all or any part of the 12-month period following the initial Draft, then the drafting Club (or any assignee Club) shall retain the exclusive NFL rights to negotiate for and sign a contract with the player until the day of the Draft three League Years after the initial Draft, and shall thereafter have a Right of First Refusal as described herein, and the player may receive offers from any Club at any time thereafter.