The Cincinnati Bengals’ Wednesday practice turned into pure drama when rookie defensive end Shemar Stewart shoved star quarterback Joe Burrow during a play. Things escalated fast, with Stewart charging in like it was game day, and the moment was caught on video — instantly going viral and sparking heated debates across the NFL world.
Former Super Bowl champion and outspoken analyst Shannon Sharpe didn’t hold back. Speaking on his Night Cap podcast with Chad Johnson, Sharpe blasted the rookie for crossing an unspoken NFL line.
“You never shove your own quarterback in practice,” Sharpe warned. “Every time you touch the quarterback, it’s gonna happen. But I like the alignment thing — that’s on us. If it’s a stunt, you already know, they pass it off.”
Sharpe then made it clear: the NFL is a whole different beast from college ball.
“This ain’t college. If you hit the quarterback, it’s not all hunky-dory — they’ll tear your ass up. They’re gonna get you. I don’t know how they taught you in school, but in the NFL, if you hit the quarterback, it’s gonna be a fight. Every single time,” he said.
Rookie Drama Before He Even Suited Up
Stewart, a first-round pick out of Texas A\&M, was drafted 17th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. But before he even hit the field, he missed weeks of practice due to contract negotiations.
His rookie deal — worth \$18.97 million over four years — came with a strict “conduct detrimental” clause, meaning if he gets into legal trouble off the field, his guaranteed money could vanish. Stewart is set to pocket over \$10.4 million as a signing bonus, with the rest tied to guarantees and performance incentives.
Wednesday’s practice was his very first with the Bengals after the deal was finalized. Head coach Zac Taylor still sees him as a key part of the defense as Burrow and company gear up for a Super Bowl run in the 2025 season.
