The Bengals have accomplished their goal of shoring up the offensive line this offseason, but the ongoing situation with safety Jessie Bates remains unresolved. According to Tyler Dragon of USA Today Sports, the two sides remain far from a long-term deal being agreed upon. 
That would have significant consequences in both the short- and long-term, as Dragon further states that Bates “has no intentions” of signing his franchise tender. The one-year tag would pay him just under $13MM, but Bates has been vocal about his desire for a multi-year extension since he became eligible for one. The sides have not made any progress on a deal, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com notes. Although these situations often push toward the July 15 extension deadline, a Bates-Bengals standoff is certainly one to monitor this year.
The 25-year-old was the subject of contract talks last offseason, but negotiations stalled. Bates had established himself as an integral part of the Bengals’ defense to that point, earning second-team All-Pro honors in 2020. The regular season this past year was his worst statistically, though he notched a pair of interceptions during the team’s run to the Super Bowl. It came as no surprise, then, that the team was eyeing an extension in late March.
Not long after that was reported, however, it came out that the two parties had yet to engage in contract talks. While they appear to have done so now, Dragon reports that negotiations have “stalled”. As a result, he adds, Bates could remain absent through OTAs and training camp. While that would add urgency to the situation, it could also allow the team to turn its attention to defensive back Daxton Hill, whom the team drafted in the first round.
The Bengals are generally viewed as being capable of repeating as AFC champions this year, but their chances of doing so would change significantly if they remain unable to bring Bates back into the fold. With most of its other offseason business taken care of, this situation certainly bears watching in the coming weeks.
This is no surprise at all to anyone paying attention. Bates wants top money but isn’t worth it. He’s never even made a pro bowl. Bengals dominated the AFC North last season with little to no contribution from Bates. Thus, the notion that not having him hurts their chances of success is absurd. Bengals drafted 2 safeties, Bcs they knew this was coming. It’s time to move on from him. Bengals have built too good a locker room culture to allow an ego driven player to disrupt it. He’ll be difficult to trade, as I don’t see many teams being willing to sign him to what he’s demanding. Gotta do it tho.
Why is it ego driven to bargain for a big contract when you work a job that could cripple you for life before you get a second chance to negotiate a contract? Is it ego driven that the Bengals are historically cheap?
Don’t be a clown. Bengals aren’t cheap when it comes to retaining their own players. But they placed a value on him, he wants more than they value, and they’re ready to move on. I hope he gets every penny he’s asking for but it won’t come from the Bengals. Burrow has $50m+ coming his way. Cheap? Get outta here
So their market rate spending is a theoretical thing that hasn’t happened yet.
Boyd, Mixon, Uzomah, Hubbard, BJ to Hill are a few of their own they retained at market rates in recent seasons. they made Carson Palmer the highest paid QB. Andy Dalton got paid. Chad Johnson. AJ Green. He’ll even stiffs like Bobby Hart got extended
I didn’t mean market rate for middle of the pack guys. Hubbard got, what, $10 million in total guarantees? Boyd got about $9 million? Andy Dalton’s deal had under $20 million guaranteed. All of these are relatively small potatoes. Even the big deal for Green was significantly lighter in guarantees than the Julio deal from the same year.
In recent memory, they’ve given out lighter guarantees and mostly signed and retained guys who aren’t near the top tier of their positions. Keep it to the last decade: How many of those guys were ever sniffing a franchise tag? Green and….? They shop in the middle class, because they won’t compete in guarantees. One would hope they’d do it for Burrow and Chase (and even Higgins), but we’ll see.
So what you’re saying is after I gave you multiple examples you’re moving the goalposts. Cool. Either way, they carry less dead money on the salary cap than most every team year after year, meaning they’re paying more money in salary than most teams YEAR AFTER YEAR. Old fashioned? Sure. Backwards in many ways? Yup. Should they change the way they structure deals to offset more “guaranteed” money? Maybe. But cheap on salaries? Nope
You’re just making stuff up now. Show me where their actual payrolls are actually consistently high. They’re not. They sign mid level free agents and retain players who are willing to take low guarantees.
They are historically, cheap. Paying mid level players with few exceptions, “market value” is the least that any team can do. Now the deals that will truly define them is when it’s time to pay Higgins and Chase and ultimately, Burrows. Mike Brown is a dinosaur but maybe he’ll step up to the next level. Time will tell.
Well, the Bengals never really had top players at their position in some time. I think the Bengals actually spend their money well. They keep the good players and sign decent free agents. They needed OL this year and rather than sign one pro bowlers for 20 million, they actually signed 3 decent OL. They have solid linemen but no great ones
I like their offensive line signings. I still see no precedent of them spending competitively for top free agents or spending competitively in guaranteed money to keep their own top free agents. That worked out fine in losing Jackson and Lawson. They’re not gonna keep Burrow and Higgins without ponying up more guaranteed money and years than they normally do.
Andrew Whitworth was extended thru his age 35 season. Geno Atkins. Carlos Dunlap. Gio Bernard got extended. Burfict (for whatever it’s worth). Where’s your evidence they DON’T?
You couldn’t be more wrong. Not sure if you really don’t pay attention or are just trolling, but either way, be gone with you.
With how this and others like him played out looking for paydays his trade value is reduced. Teams will get him for a deal on a decent player at this rate. Then after a one year deal to prove to a cap friendly team he will try again.
I don’t know about the Bengals dominating the division. They didn’t clinch until after the 16th game and finished 4-2
They played the last game resting all key starters, so really 4-1. That is division domination. Don’t confuse it with domestic domination, which is elementary to your dear Watson.
So you want to count the game they rested their players but not the game they beat Baltimore when Baltimore was missing 14 starters? 4-2 is 4-2
Yes. Baltimore was still trying to win and fielded the best team possible. Nice try though.
So you’re saying that the players that played for the Bengals last game of the season weren’t trying to win? The Bengals were 10-7. They didn’t dominate anything. Pittsburgh finished a half of game back. Bengals had a nice season but will not repeat unless the other teams have the injuries they had last year. Even you have to admit that most everything went the Bengals way
Regardless of how the Bengals season goes they won’t be losing fans to that dreadful baseball team in town.
This is why NFL contracts suck. I get that Jessie wants, and deserves, to get paid and the Bengals want him back in 22 but they made him an offer he refused, they picked up the 5th year option on Jonah Williams, and now need to make sure they have enough $ for Burrow’s massive extension after this season. Franchise tag was supposed to be a compromise but no one wants to play on that in case they get hurt
Flip him for picks. No different than GB and KC flipping proven vets for younger players this year. Will Bates bring a haul like the 2 WR’s no, but you clear up your books and have draft ammo during the season or next offseason when you see a problem on your roster.
The team getting Bates will have to agree to sign him before the trade. Nobody is going to give you much for a guy that can walk.
I agree, but there are foolish teams and those in desperation as well. M Brown has one 1,000 yard receiving season (in 3 years) and he netted the Ravens a 1st. Eagles traded for Brown, then gave him $100m and no one is sure of their QB situation. Those types of deals are always out there.
Willing to flush 13M down the toilet?
Thats crazy, IMO
Bengals are also having problems with….
NORMAN BATES !!
In my opinion Bates was average maybe plus in the regular season but great in the playoffs. that still counts in my book. they’re contenders. Try to lock him up for three years. if he declines then they need to move forward.