(05-21-2022, 04:50 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: There were 12 safeties whose contracts averaged $10m+/yr in 2021. The only one of them to win a playoff game was Tyrann Mathieu as the 7th highest paid.

Safety just doesn't seem like a smart position to be paying guys Top-5 money to. Let alone one who is not consistent in quality of play. If you had an Ed Reed or a Troy Polamalu, sure, but otherwise it really seems like RB where it's just a poor place to allocate top dollar to.

(05-22-2022, 11:23 AM)2MinutesHate Wrote: Yep.  Even come next year, what teams with a top 10 paid safety have a good shot to make the playoffs?  Titans (Kevin Byard), Chiefs (Justin Reid), Cardinals (Budda Baker) and maybe the Ravens and Broncos. 

In our division, I don't think Watson sees the field this year (or sees a lengthy suspension), Pittsburgh doesn't have a QB and Lamar has been figured out.  I'd much rather have another decent guard and an average Safety than Jessie Bates.

As an employer, I know what it's like when one of your employees begins stirring up the pot because he believes he's being underpaid.  It spreads to the rest of the group and causes dissension.  Most times, that person moves on and the rest of the group stays.  I wish we would've traded Bates last season, but I believe they have a plan.  Where are the Raiders when we need them?

(05-23-2022, 10:27 AM)Graphicguy Wrote: According to this, Bates has no intention of playing on the franchise tag…..AT ALL!

(05-23-2022, 01:30 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: Here's James Rapiens opinion FWIW.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkQhzl7vaUk

(05-23-2022, 01:51 PM)fredtoast Wrote: Not the biggest fan of Rapiens, but he is basically saying the same thing I did.  Don't trade Bates for a draft pick that will make us weaker this year but maybe better in 2-3 years. Only do it if you get a player that will start this year.

(05-23-2022, 01:51 PM)fredtoast Wrote: Not the biggest fan of Rapiens, 

Quote:but he is basically saying the same thing I did.  Don't trade Bates for a draft pick that will make us weaker this year but maybe better in 2-3 years. Only do it if you get a player that will start this year.

(05-23-2022, 06:19 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: Agree that the time to trade Bates was pre-draft.

Tading him for picks now weakens us, though a player could help.

(05-21-2022, 04:50 PM)TheLeonardLeap Wrote: There were 12 safeties whose contracts averaged $10m+/yr in 2021. The only one of them to win a playoff game was Tyrann Mathieu as the 7th highest paid.

Safety just doesn't seem like a smart position to be paying guys Top-5 money to. Let alone one who is not consistent in quality of play. If you had an Ed Reed or a Troy Polamalu, sure, but otherwise it really seems like RB where it's just a poor place to allocate top dollar to.

(06-15-2022, 01:29 PM)Crazyjdawg Wrote: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34096621/pittsburgh-steelers-make-minkah-fitzpatrick-highest-paid-safety-nfl-history

Welp. That's that. I think Bates is not going to sign an extension with us. That is now two data points in the "absurdly expensive" contracts now that Minkah is making over 18M AAV.

I was really hoping that Minkah would sign closer to 15M which would be the guiding light for Bates' contract but, alas, no.

Good thing we drafted Hill :).

(06-15-2022, 01:29 PM)Crazyjdawg Wrote: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/34096621/pittsburgh-steelers-make-minkah-fitzpatrick-highest-paid-safety-nfl-history

Welp. That's that. I think Bates is not going to sign an extension with us. That is now two data points in the "absurdly expensive" contracts now that Minkah is making over 18M AAV.

I was really hoping that Minkah would sign closer to 15M which would be the guiding light for Bates' contract but, alas, no.

Good thing we drafted Hill :).

(06-16-2022, 01:30 AM)puddycat Wrote: What makes anyone think Bates will play great this year? Some players don't perform well in contract years. I don't think that that necessarily translates to bad under pressure, but he has already shown that not having a contract is a distraction. In fact, it was his worst season. Paying someone a franchise tag salary for another year like he had last year is just stupid. Sign him for multiple years or pull the tag.

(06-16-2022, 01:30 AM)puddycat Wrote: What makes anyone think Bates will play great this year?  Some players don't perform well in contract years.  I don't think that that necessarily translates to bad under pressure, but he has already shown that not having a contract is a distraction.  In fact, it was his worst season.  Paying someone a franchise tag salary for another year like he had last year is just stupid.  Sign him for multiple years or pull the tag.