Auden Tate seeking trade

[Whatever]

(09-20-2020, 04:48 PM)Wes Mantooth Wrote: One thing that I think may be slightly overlooked is the fact that Auden Tate may have a future here beyond the season.  John Ross does not.

Auden Tate is signed though next season.  I'd be shocked if John Ross were to be brought back.  Not only do I think the team would choose not to resign Ross, I don't think Ross, nor his agent, would want to come back.  I'm sure they're as anxious for a fresh start as the Bengals are for freeing up his cap space.

Now, I'm not saying this is reason alone to play Tate more, or for him to take reps from John Ross.  But I do think it's just one more reason why they need to get him some work.

This dude, from all accounts, has been the consumate professional since arriving here.  His work in the offseason, and in practice, as been praised by two different staffs, and the compliments about his work ethic have been consistent from year to year.

He's played special teams when asked, he's showed incredibly toughness coming back from that hit last season, and I've never heard a single bad thing about the dude.

I don't think we lose anything with not playing Ross.  People say he opens up the field, yet we haven't seen that yet.  He[s been non-existent himself.  Not to mention the fact that Alex Erikson takes up a spot to be an average at best punt returner.  Give PR to Ross, or to Bernard, or to Brandon Wilson.

There is no excuse for Auden Tate to be inactive for a game.  None.

Tate is not under contract next season, either.  He signed a 3 year rookie deal and will be a RFA next year.  The Bengals may decide not to tender him.  Given his current standing on the team, he is probably seen as not being a scheme fit.

Ross stated this off-season that he hasn't played up to his contract or draft standing and it is up to him to prove that he deserves to stay here beyond this year.  The assumption that he doesn't want to stay here doesn't seem accurate based on that.

As for character, Ross and his camp has never complained in the media about his usage.  Tate's camp has.  Tate has done nothing to refute his agent's claims, either.  Especially funny was the "he's not going to be a distraction" line when that's exactly what he's made himself.  From that standpoint, I wouldn't reward a guy with PT for his camp going public with crap like that.  It sets a very bad precedent and you'll soon have eery bench warmer on the team doing the same.