08-23-2022, 01:28 AM
(08-22-2022, 09:48 PM)samhain Wrote: Bates is suffering for making a bad hire when he brought his agent on board. His leverage is non-existent. He's not giving up 12 mil to sit out. He can't afford it. It's significantly more than he's ever made, and the result of not playing the year would be disastrous if his long term goal is a big contract and freedom to test FA (spoiler alert: it is).
He's allowing this guy to play hardball against a front office that has always been thoroughly unimpressed with aggressive agents. They've been in similar positions, and they don't really lose, ever. Negotiations were once considered their Super Bowl.
You need leverage to force someone to give you something you want. With Hill in the fold and playing well, any leverage Bates, which wasn't much to start with, is out the window. His best bet is to come in an have a great season, then collect a big contract for betting on himself. These histrionics are of no benefit to him outside of missing camp, and that's debatable if he doesn't come back ready to play at a high level.
It is not about leverage for a new contract.
Bates is just skipping training camp because he can with no financial penalty. That is a big benefit to NFL vets. They would all love to skip training camp.
So even with no new contract in the works Bates and his agent are winning.
