Jesse "Gamesaver" Bates

[THE PISTONS]

(01-21-2023, 04:40 PM)Forever Spinning Vinyl Wrote: If Bates is smart, he'd take a 2 or 3 year, home town friendly deal, it's still going to be a significant jump from his rookie deal. He's a 25 year old, 5 year vet. Get a couple of rings, show the NFL you're a team leader and then chase your huge contract as a 27, 28 year old FA. Laugh at the Jets for overpaying CJ Uzomah all you want. We all know that he provides a lot more to a team than just blocks and catches and the Jets season reflects that. If they didn't have the turmoil at QB, that's a playoff team that believes in itself. Bates can truly be that guy in a few years, maybe he feels that he's that guy now, I wouldn't blame him.

However, it would also be smart to sign as large of a FA contract somewhere else with a good chance of getting another one in 4 or 5 years. He's actually in a pretty good situation. Get a raise and continue playing with Burrow, Chase, Higgins . . . or get a huge raise and make serious bank on a team that wants to 'weaken' the Bengals.

So take a 2-3 year deal and win a couple Super Bowls?

I think the Bengals are capable of winning a SB, but it's by far not a sure thing. KC and Buffalo on the road are both tough. Those 3 teams will be good every year. Jax is ascending. It's going to be tough to get back.