Little continues to change about the nature of the story surrounding the Cincinnati Bengals and star safety Jessie Bates ahead of the July 15 franchise tag deadline.
According to Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer, both parties remain at a “standstill” in regards to a long-term extension.
On July 9, another report shared similar sentiments, though general fan interest kicked back up recently because Bates sent a rare, albeit cryptic tweet on Twitter.
As always, the stance from Bates and his reps continues to be that of due diligence while using what little leverage they have left while aiming for a long-term deal that aligns with the top of the safety market (around $18 million per yer vs. his $12.9 million tag). The current CBA means that while Bates might go ahead and hold out of training camp if a deal doesn’t get done, he’ll still suit up next season and play under the tag.
The #Bengals and safety Jessie Bates remain at a standstill in contract negotiations. Nothing has changed. A long-term deal is not expected to be in place by the franchise tag deadline on Friday at 4 p.m., per a source familiar with the situation.
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) July 13, 2022
