Is Shemar holding out?

[George Cantstandya]

(Today, 01:29 AM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: I think he might just become a 2025 free agent then. If you retract the offer, you're giving up rights to him. I don't believe a team can sit on a drafted player's rights while refusing to offer him at least the bare minimum of the rookie contract slotted for his pick.

(Today, 08:46 AM)XsandOs Wrote: Based on what I have read, retracting an offer forfeits the Team's rights to the player. The said player can re-enter the draft in the following year.

If I understand the CBA correctly if the Bengals retract their offer Stewart would become an undrafted rookie and can sign with another team. I think he would still be subject to waivers though??  

Quote:If the Club does not make or withdraws the Required Tender, the player immediately becomes an Undrafted Rookie, with the right to negotiate and sign a Player Contract with any Club, subject to the applicable provisions of Article 7, and any Club is then free to negotiate for and sign a Player Contract with such player, without any Draft Choice Compensation between Clubs or First Refusal Rights of any kind, or any signing period. 

Quote:For a player to whom the drafting Club retains the exclusive NFL rights pursuant to Section 4(a) above, the Club must tender a four-year NFL Player Contract for the Minimum Active/Inactive List Salary for such League Years, within the thirty-day period specified in Subsection (a) above. If the player is released through waivers, the player immediately becomes an Undrafted Rookie, with the right to sign an NFL Player Contract with any Club, subject to the provisions of Article 7, and any Club is then free to negotiate for and sign a Player Contract with such player, without any Draft Choice Compensation between Clubs or First Refusal Rights of any kind, or any signing period. 

In the above case I think he would lose his 1st round pick guaranteed salary if signed with another team.

Stewart could enter the draft again next year if he refuses to sign and does not sign a contract with another professional football league, like CFL.  In the later case the Bengals would retain his rights for 3 years.  If for some reason he was permitted to play in college again this year and does so the Bengals would still have his right next year. 


EDIT:  I was looking at the wrong section of the CBA in the quote above.  See my other post below for more info.