07-18-2022, 03:49 PM
(07-18-2022, 03:02 PM)higgy100 Wrote: Exactly.Impossible for any of us to put ourselves and our rather meager way of thinking (no insult to anyone but none of us are professional athletes in this rather lucrative industry with multi billion dollar TV contracts, huge streaming deals, billionaire owners,etc.).
Bates has been a hell of a player in this league for years and, yes, he while he was rather pedestrian to the naked eye a season ago,the cream rose to the top when it mattered most in the post season and he was an absolute TOP DOG in this defense when they needed him most. When an athlete sees their peers that they are an equal to, better than or maybe just a tick below then they certainly want/feel they deserve to be in that neighborhood of compensation.
Does ego play a part? You betcha it does and it's hard not to have an ego to some degree when a guy like Bates has played football in front of millions of people and billions of people from a TV standpoint.There's a reason only 1400 or so people in a world of multi billion get to play football.
You make an interesting point, but leverage is a huge factor here and Bates just doesn't have any. His agent is making statements and threats that will do absolutely nothing to pressure the front office to give his client what he want.
Bates is great and I want him here, but context is key to every situation. Will it sting not to have Jesse around in 2022? Yes, but it's probably not a backbreaking loss. He's not a quarterback or a number 1 wideout, and his replacement is clearly in house right now.
We aren't looking at an owner that's being greedy or cheap. We're looking at an organization that is planning to lock up a massively expensive franchise quarterback and a couple of high-end receivers sooner than we think.
Again, if Jesse follows through, he's hurting himself more than anyone. Do I think he's earned a shot at long term financial security and a big contract? Absolutely. He's just in the worst possible scenario to get it from the team he's currently with. He just doesn't have anything to threaten them with that will motivate them to give him what he wants.
