Why the **** is Jessie Bates not signed yet?

[CJD]

(08-23-2022, 01:06 PM)XenoMorph Wrote: Trade watch is officially on

As he stated he would not play on this deal previously

Well, he has no real choice now. He either plays on it, or he doesn't play. And now that he's signed the tender, if he doesn't play the Bengals will just fine him every week, meaning he would lose all his money.

The fact that he signed it is a signifier that he intends to play.

As for trade watch, that will begin next off season. He can't sign an extension even if he is traded, so he is going to make the franchise tag money whether he's traded or not. From his perspective, there's no real benefit to being traded as it does not affect his money, so he would most likely want to stay in Cincinnati, play in the defense he's familiar with, have a great year and then sign a huge contract next off season (or be tagged and traded)

Being traded when he's playing for a new contract would be risky because what if the next team doesn't utilize him to his strengths or he doesn't fit their defense as well? He'd be taking on a huge risk for no reason at all.