When asked about Bates on Wednesday, Burrow said, “Jessie’s business is his business.” But there’s been no indication that he’s close to returning to the team. He hasn’t yet signed his franchise tender, so technically Bates is not under contract and isn’t subject to fines.īates attended the Bengals’ preseason opener last week, sitting in a suite.
Bates, 25 years old, hired top NFL agent David Mulugheta of Athletes First to negotiate this contract.The biggest story from Bengals training camp has been quarterback Joe Burrow‘s appendectomy.īut safety Jessie Bates, one of the team’s defensive leaders, has been absent for all of training camp. What is clear is that Bates feels he’s worth more than what Cincinnati has put on the table for him. Specific contract details like that are rarely shared with the public. It’s unclear what Bates is seeking in his new deal and what the Bengals offered him. What does the safety market look like in the NFL? All eyes will be on Bates when the Bengals open training camp on July 27. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the Bengals final offer to Bates only guaranteed $4 million more than what he would get if he eventually signs the franchise tag.īates has no desire to play on the tag and his future with the Bengals looks like now comes into question. It’s not uncommon in the NFL for players who are experiencing displeasure with their contract negotiations to hold out and show up for training camp. on Friday to finalize a long-term extension and failed to do so.
And those fruits are gonna come, whether it’s here or somewhere else.”Īfter placing the tag in March, the clock started to tick. But I keep telling him those fruits are gonna come. “I obviously want him to get paid,” Bengals defensive tackle DJ Reader said of Bates. Several players spoke in favor for their teammate to receive a new deal. The Bengals placed the tag on Bates to give themselves more time as the tag guarantees the player will play one more season under contract with his team.īates opted not to show up for the Bengals’ voluntary offseason program and train on his own. A deal was not agreed on by March 8, the NFL’s deadline for clubs to place the franchise tag on a player. The next opportunity for the Bengals and Bates’ camp to engage in contract negotiations was following Super Bowl 56. Bates, not only a star player on the field, is also one of the most well-respected players in the locker as he was named a team captain last season. The Bengals view their former second-round pick as a key piece in the foundation head coach Zac Taylor is building. How the Bengals and Bates got to this position:Ĭincinnati’s front office and Bates tried to get a contract extension done in the offseason of 2021.
After a year's worth of contract negotiations, the Bengals and Bates' camp were unable to reach an agreement on a long-term deal. If Bates doesn't sign the tag, he would turn down a fully-guaranteed $13 million contract and won't be able to play for any NFL team this year due to the rules of the franchise tag. 15 deadline, he'll have to sit out the remainder of the NFL season. deadline and now it waits to be seen if the veteran safety will show up to training camp.Ī source close to the situation told The Enquirer that Bates has no intention of signing the franchise tag. If he does not sign the tag by the NFL's Nov. Jessie Bates and the Cincinnati Bengals failed to agree to a long-term contract extension ahead of Friday's 4 p.m.