"This is not college. They tear your a*s up": Shannon Sharpe blasts rookie Shemar Stewart for shoving Joe Burrow at practice

The Cincinnati Bengals' Wednesday practice ahead of the Washington Commanders preseason game against the Washington Commanders turned intense after rookie defensive end Shemar Stewart shoved quarterback Joe Burrow during a play. The scuffle escalated within seconds as Stewart seemingly lost control and went all-in to tackle Burrow. The clip quickly went viral and sparked strong reactions from fans and analysts across the NFL.

Former Super Bowl champion and veteran analyst Shannon Sharpe reacted to the incident on his "Night Cap" podcast with Chad Johnson. Sharpe said you never shove your own quarterback in practice because it can easily escalate.

“Every time you touch the quarterback, it's going to happen. But I like the alignment thing. That's on us. If it's a stunt, you already know, they pass it off,” Sharpe said on Wednesday night. [Timestamp - 1:00]

Sharpe added that the NFL is very different from college, where amateur athletes might get into heated practice scuffles, especially when a player like Shemar Stewart is fresh out of school

“This ain't college. If you hit the quarterback, everything's hockety-dory. They'll tear your ass up. They're going to get you. I don't know how they get that in your school, but in the NFL, if you hit the quarterback, it will get you out. Listen, it’s gonna be a fight every time. You'll fight every time,” he added.

Shemar Stewart had a brief negotiation with Bengals before showing up at practice

The rookie defensive end coming out of Texas A&M was the Bengals’ first-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft, going 17th. Shemar Stewart had missed several weeks of practice due to brief contract negotiations.

A clause in his deal restricts him from receiving guaranteed money if he is found guilty of off-field trouble or faces legal action.

This “conduct detrimental” clause reportedly gives the team the ability to indirectly withhold pay from his four-year, $18.97 million contract. Stewart is slated to receive more than $10.4 million as a signing bonus, with the rest coming in guaranteed money and incentives.

The negotiations have been resolved, and Wednesday’s session marked Stewart’s first practice with the team. Coach Zac Taylor sees him as a vital piece of the Bengals' defense as Burrow and company aim for a Super Bowl run in 2025.