Is Shemar holding out?

[ERIC1]

(06-11-2025, 02:17 PM)ochocincos Wrote: Let's just put it out there...
Stewart hadn't been overly productive in college.
He needs work to learn how to finish better.

A pressure is fine, but a hit/sack is preferred.
Same with TFLs.

Stewart only had 12 TFLs across 37 college games.
Let's compare that to the other DEs on the roster from when they were in college:
Hendrickson - 42 TFLs across 40 games
Ossai - 31 TFLs across 36 games
Murphy - 37 TFLs across 38 games
Sample - 22 TFLs across 46 games
Cedric Johnson - 23 TFLs across 46 games

Stewart just flat out needs as much coaching as possible to get him to become effective in the NFL.
As long as he continues to hold out, the longer it's delaying that.

Obviously the thing I care about most is Bengals winning and getting back deep into the postseason, but I also want to see Stewart put up some stats to justify his draft selection.
I'm not being overly harsh when I ask for 4+ sacks, 5+ TFLs.
Jared Verse, taken 19th overall last year, had 4.5 sacks and 11 TFLs last year.
Laiatu Latu, taken 15th overall last year, had 4.0 sacks and 5 TFLs.
Chop Robinson, taken 21st overall last year, had 6.0 sacks and 8 TFLs.

Bengals, with all the money they are pouring into Burrow, Chase, and Higgins (and maybe Hendrickson?), need their early-round picks (especially 1st rounders) to contribute more immediately so they don't fall back into middle-of-the-pack and stay there now that they can't go all out for defense in FA like they did when Burrow, Chase, and Higgins were on rookie deals.

This isn't all on Stewart either. Yes, he should want to be out there so he can better hit the ground running come Week 1, but Bengals invested a premium draft pick into him vs addressing another area of value, so it's in their interest too to get as much out of him this year as they can.

Nolen just signed..pick number 16...stewart will sign shortly..he will get plenty of work in the summer..all is good...i promise