While Trey Hendrickson skipped the Bengals’ mandatory minicamp, first-round pick Shemar Stewart still hasn’t practiced, refusing to do so. Although it’s common for rookies to practice before they have a signed contract, he has opted not to. This is an unusually hardline stance, but the Bengals also share the blame on this one.
Reportedly, the Bengals are angling to shift their rookie contract structure. According to Mike Florio, the issue comes down to training camp roster bonuses. Basically, large training camp bonuses allow the player to earn more of his money upfront, which is a bigger deal for rookies.