I like Bates. As others have said, Bengals have been trying to sign him for a while, now. Obviously, his agent and Katie have a very different view of his value.

Fact is, he doesn’t have the leverage he thinks he has. I don’t see how it benefits him, at all, if he skips training camp. Benefits him even less if he sits out this season.

His worth is NOT going to increase if he sits out.

But, Bengals have other contracts that are WAY MORE IMPORTANT to work on than his.

Obviously, whoever is whispering in Bates’ ear isn’t giving him the best advice.

Bengals had a contingency plan (via the draft) for this scenario.

(05-17-2022, 01:20 PM)oncemoreuntothejimbreech Wrote: Yeah, that was crazy. And he still might be suspended. So they still may need Mayfield although he wants out. It’s a three ring circus.

Being a Sooner, I feel horrible for Baker. He ended up in QB purgatory... At least he's young enough to get out of there and maybe salvage his career... Next up!

(05-16-2022, 09:45 PM)fredtoast Wrote: Actually, no, there isn't.  That is why we have the term "smoke screen".

I'll be concerned if Bates makes a public statement that he won't play under the tag this year.  Until then it is just the same second-hand anonymous BS we here from 90% of the players that get tagged.  None of them like it.  99% of them don't miss any games holding out.

It's rare players sit out a year with the tag. Bell did it. Maybe 1 or 2 others recently...but rare.

Worst case is he comes in and signs right before the season starts and misses all camp.

(05-17-2022, 01:21 PM)Graphicguy Wrote: Obviously, whoever is whispering in Bates’ ear isn’t giving him the best advice.

Just remember that Jessie has not said a thing about this.

"Whoever" is not whispering in Bate's ear.  Instead he is whispering to the media.

It is just the usual antics so far.  Don't get too excited over stuff like this.

(05-17-2022, 09:26 AM)jason Wrote: He's a douchebag right now.

It's just business 

The good news is we drafted depth at safety. If the worst case occurs, we will still likely have decent play at safety.

(05-17-2022, 12:22 PM)WeezyBengal Wrote: Reminds me of the Marvin Jones situation.

Or the Alvin Harper situation.

(05-17-2022, 02:51 PM)Crazyjdawg Wrote: The good news is we drafted depth at safety. If the worst case occurs, we will still likely have decent play at safety.

Dax is more than depth. This guy could be a top 5 Safety unlike Bates who has only shown glimpses of top 5 play.

His poor tackling at times makes him a mid tier Safety but Bates DOES have great range which is a major strength for him.

Thing is, Dax is a great tackler and has great range.

(05-17-2022, 03:41 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Dax is more than depth. This guy could be a top 5 Safety unlike Bates who has only shown glimpses of top 5 play.

His poor tackling at times makes him a mid tier Safety but Bates DOES have great range which is a major strength for him.

Thing is, Dax is a great tackler and has great range.

Which is why it's hard to value him. He occasionally plays like a Top 5 safety. Most of the time he's maybe a Top 15-20 Safety.

Paying him at Top 5 level is overpaying. But, it's probably what he wants.

(05-16-2022, 09:54 PM)leonardfan40 Wrote: Think some people are overreacting to this. It looks like this will be a long drawn out process. This is negotiating tactic. Odds of him not playing this year are very low. I don’t know how it ultimately plays out, but he’s going to be playing one way or another.

It’s best to just ignore this kind of “news” until something official happens.

Bates should get out in front of this.

He should be full aware of how this eventually plays out with the Bengals.  They will not change their position.

He is not going to sit, period.  If he does he's an absolute fool to turn down that kind of money for a position that the league no longer places a high value on.  So why drag your name through the mud with the fanbase over the next 6 months?  What is he going to gain, other than be seen as a malcontent on a team where all they talk about is the locker room.  Or worse, a malcontent that the rest of the league sees not worthy of a long term deal also.  Either way, it doesn't end well.  

And regardless of whether or not the locker room has his back it adds drama to the locker room, new rookies, etc.  The media and fans will be all over it.  Just sign a team friendly deal to make it go away.

Bates may come and play out of his mind headed into a contract year. But the more likely and history has shown, he'll come in in a funk and let it bother him all year. Hopefully the FO sees this and gives him the Dunlap treatment. Got to reset the standards for the new generation as far as what they will and will not put up with.

Bengals safety Jessie Bates spotted working out with Tampa trainer Yo Murphy (via IG/yo.murph) pic.twitter.com/pNIlzJqNyG

— Ben Baby (@Ben_Baby) May 17, 2022

Hope they come to an agreement with him sooner then later as this doesn’t help the bengals cause for the upcoming season. I wonder how bates would feel if the bengals extended bell for another year or two and extended Pratt. Is bates really prepared to sit out a season - I doubt it

I was told directly that he has no plans on sitting out . But that’s all I know

So I’m just calming the waters https://t.co/i7um8ZNUvv

— Malik Wright (@Wrightreportt) May 17, 2022

He’s not going to sit out. He has $13 million reasons not to.

(05-17-2022, 03:41 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Dax is more than depth. This guy could be a top 5 Safety unlike Bates who has only shown glimpses of top 5 play.

His poor tackling at times makes him a mid tier Safety but Bates DOES have great range which is a major strength for him.

Thing is, Dax is a great tackler and has great range.

 Dax could be a top 5 safety in 3 years IMO.

(05-17-2022, 04:46 PM)THE PISTONS Wrote: Which is why it's hard to value him. He occasionally plays like a Top 5 safety. Most of the time he's maybe a Top 15-20 Safety.

Paying him at Top 5 level is overpaying. But, it's probably what he wants.

True. The thing is he isn't a top 5 Safety at all consistently and that is what he needs to be for top 5 money.

Get much better at tackling and his play last year early in the season was bad, wasn't even decent.

(05-17-2022, 04:48 PM)Daddy-O Wrote: Bates should get out in front of this.

He should be full aware of how this eventually plays out with the Bengals.  They will not change their position.

He is not going to sit, period.  If he does he's an absolute fool to turn down that kind of money for a position that the league no longer places a high value on.  So why drag your name through the mud with the fanbase over the next 6 months?  What is he going to gain, other than be seen as a malcontent on a team where all they talk about is the locker room.  Or worse, a malcontent that the rest of the league sees not worthy of a long term deal also.  Either way, it doesn't end well.  

And regardless of whether or not the locker room has his back it adds drama to the locker room, new rookies, etc.  The media and fans will be all over it.  Just sign a team friendly deal to make it go away.

Agreed Daddy-O. This type of shit might work with the Browns but it isn't working with the Bengals especially the way they 
drafted for insurance in case of Bates ******* agent. Dax Hill is already a much better tackler and has similar range and is very
smart and smooth to boot. It is in Bates best interest to play out the tag or even take a top 15 Safety salary for a couple years.

Sure isn't in his best interest to do what his agent is doing in letting this out there. The Bengals do not flinch and do not get 
pressured, they get offended and move on and sometimes to their own demise.  Not this time though, the Bengals are in the
best position, not Bates agent or even Bates if he listens to him.

(05-17-2022, 04:52 PM)jj22 Wrote: Bates may come and play out of his mind headed into a contract year. But the more likely and history has shown, he'll come in in a funk and let it bother him all year. Hopefully the FO sees this and gives him the Dunlap treatment. Got to reset the standards for the new generation as far as what they will and will not put up with.

Yes, we all saw how he played when he didn't get a contract before the season started and he even said it was in his head.

I think it is best for all involved to move on after this BS from his agent. Dude is messing with Jessie. Feel sorry for him as he is a
player I wanted us to draft before we drafted him and he is a great person. Damn agents really screw with these good young men.

Sucks.

(05-17-2022, 06:39 PM)pulses Wrote:  Dax could be a top 5 safety in 3 years IMO.

Maybe in 2, wouldn't surprise me. Dude is as pro ready as I have seen a Safety honestly.

(05-17-2022, 03:41 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Dax is more than depth. This guy could be a top 5 Safety unlike Bates who has only shown glimpses of top 5 play.

His poor tackling at times makes him a mid tier Safety but Bates DOES have great range which is a major strength for him.

Thing is, Dax is a great tackler and has great range.

He was a top 5 safety in 2020 and he was the defenses best player in the playoffs. 

If he was seriously considering some sort of hold out or attempt at strong-arming a trade, the time to pull that stunt would've been during the first wave of free agency. There is not a single team out of 32 that would seriously consider giving Bates more money than the Ravens paid their guy at this point. 

I dont think they want to pay Bates what he is asking and after drafting Hill, they would be crazy to give Bates top 5 money. It may be better at this point to let Bates go and sign Bell to another deal. Bell is one of the team leaders, he's and OSU boy, and wont be a bank breaker. Great role model for the young guys to learn under

(05-17-2022, 06:18 PM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote:

I was told directly that he has no plans on sitting out . But that’s all I know

So I’m just calming the waters https://t.co/i7um8ZNUvv

— Malik Wright (@Wrightreportt) May 17, 2022

He’s not going to sit out. He has $13 million reasons not to.

13 (Million) Reasons Why - New season coming to Netflix!