CINCINNATI (WKRC) – It almost seems absurd that $500,000 more in up front signing bonus money finally got Bengals first-round pick Shemar Stewart to sign his initial rookie contract after a protracted — and at times ugly — holdout. But give him credit for wanting to get something done in enough time to get ready for the regular season.

Stewart signed his contract on Saturday, one week after rookies were slated to report to training camp, and participated in his first practice on Sunday.

The 6-foot-5, 267-pound Stewart had been holding out due to language in his contract that allowed the Bengals to void future guarantees in his four-year deal if he did something that raised to the level of being criminal, but that language remained when the team ponied up a bonus it was going to pay this December when Stewart signed the deal.

Both sides took shots at the other during the process, with Stewart saying on June 10 that he thought management wanted, “to win arguments (more) than winning more games, in my opinion,” and the team’s director of player personnel Duke Tobin saying on July 21 that Stewart was getting “bad advice.”

Bengals team president Mike Brown said that same day that negotiations between the sides had reached a level of “silliness.”

Stewart praised his agent Zac Hiller on Sunday for being a “pit bull” in the negotiation process, but that he finally decided on his own that it was time sign a deal and report to training camp.

“I just needed to get on the field as soon as possible,” said Stewart. “I needed to start learning, start getting better. There is a long season ahead. I needed to be ready. I just feel like we came to a good compromise.””

He took part in the entire practice on Sunday and got roughly 10 reps in 11-on-11 team sessions, including some with the first team.

“It wasn’t that much, but it was a good start,” said Stewart. “I got to get acclimated to the playbook and stuff. Getting to play the game I love again for the first time since last year for real was a great feeling. It’s time for all football now. I don’t got to worry about anything else but football. It was great.”

Taylor said there is more than enough time for Stewart to get ready for the regular season.

“Get back in here, get him acclimated,” said Taylor. “It’s great just to get him in individual (drills) and the fundamental stuff. We got him some reps. We’ll watch the tape and keep building from there, but again, it’s just good to get out here Day 1 and get him back acclimated with the team. (Monday) we get the chance to put the pads on, to get a chance to feel what that feels like again. It’s just good to go full speed with him.”

Said Stewart: “”I have to go out there and work my tail off, but I’ll be ready. I’m just confident in my coaches, I’m confident in my ability to play football and confident in my physicality. It’s just nothing but work.”

Stewart got a couple of “welcome to the NFL” moments in his first practice. On his very first rep there was a screen for tight end Tanner Hudson in which three different players came to block him. “That’s football, you know. You just got to man up, get up off the ground, dust yourself off, and on to the next play.”

Soon after, massive left tackle Orlando Brown was blocking him. “Yeah, I’m like, ‘Time to buckle up, then he put his hands on me, and I’m like, ‘You know what, this ain’t right,'” said Stewart.

Taylor was asked what he’d like to see from Stewart in the first few days he is in camp.

“Improve every day,” said Taylor. “Just like any rookie, be a consistent guy and don’t make the same mistake twice. We know there are going to be some mistakes. There are going to be some install overloads early in the process. It’s just making sure, ‘OK, I made a mistake on this, and I’m going to make sure it’s corrected and I’m better at it.’ He’s got plenty of time. It’s good to get him now when we can, because we haven’t put pads on. He’s got seven practices before our first (preseason) game.”

While there was animosity in the negotiation process, Stewart said he has put all of that behind him and that it isn’t hard to do that. He also has no regrets in how things transpired.

“I try to live my life with no regrets,” said Stewart. “There was never no me vs. anybody. It was just we weren’t seeing eye to eye. At the end of the day I’m happy to be a Bengal. I’m happy I got drafted here. We have a long relationship ahead of us. There’s no bad blood. It’s just how things go some times. I’m here to work, I’m fully locked in. No distractions. I can’t wait to put on for you all this season.”

Taylor said it’s a clean slate for everyone involved.

“That’s part of being a professional,” said Taylor. “He’s a part of our team, so we support him every step of the way now. You just put all that stuff behind you.”