Bengals’ Cashius Howell gives refreshing contract status comment

The Cincinnati Bengals avoided some major contract drama with top rookies over the last week or so.

Cashius Howell and Tacario Davis were the only two rookies who hadn’t signed contracts for minicamp.

What they did do, though, was sign participation waivers that let them get on the field for work with their teammates, anyway.

Howell got asked about this last week and threw out a comment that onlookers will enjoy.

"I love football,” Howell said, according to WDTN’s Kayler Smith. “Regardless of the contract not being negotiated fully, doesn't really matter to me."

It’s impossible not to draw comparisons between Howell and Shemar Stewart, the Bengals’ first-round pick last year. They’re both edge defenders who worked together at Texas A&M.

Stewart’s long contract drama with the Bengals one year ago started roughly around the time he didn’t sign that same participation waiver.

This isn’t a totally fair comparison on the contract front. Howell was a second-round pick who doesn’t have nearly as much leverage. The Bengals were trying to implement a new contract detail, starting with Stewart himself, too.

Even so, it’s going to be hard for fans not to enjoy this commentary from Howell, given the context.