Posted June 2, 20223 yr NFL Insider Provides Interesting Update on Rumored Eagles-Bengals Trade By Mike Greger Updated May 31, 2022 at 12:01pm Getty: Bengals S Jessie Bates There is still guarded optimism that the Philadelphia Eagles might swing for the fences on a trade for Jessie Bates. The All-Pro safety is unhappy with his contract and could push for a one-way ticket out. Bates hasn’t requested a trade at this point, but he has been skipping voluntary workouts with the Cincinnati Bengals. Some feel the Eagles should be blowing up the phone lines in southern Ohio to get a deal done. But don’t expect that to happen. Inside the Birds’ Adam Caplan recently explained that the Bengals don’t operate that way. They are probably going to franchise Bates and keep him in Cincinnati as they continue to negotiate a contract extension. Why? They rarely trade players. Period. "Them walking away with Jessie Bates would not make a lot of sense,” Caplan said. "The Bengals, the way it’s explained to me, by a lot of teams who have dealt with the Bengals over the years, they simply do not trade players. They don’t do it unless they absolutely have to.” Caplan was quick to provide an example of the Bengals’ stubbornness. Teams kept calling them about former first-round pick John Ross — the fastest man to ever run the 40 — and they refused to trade him. "They would not trade him,” Caplan said. "They decided to let his contract run out. How ridiculous is that?” Bates Doesn’t Want to Play Under Franchise Tag The Bengals may want to franchise Bates, but he doesn’t have to sign the tender. He could decide to sit out the year. Or he could have his agent demand a trade out of Cincinnati. Either way, Bates appears to be ready to dig his feet in the sand. He told Tyler Dragon of USA Today that he has "no intentions” of playing on a franchise tag. Meanwhile, NFL teams are deep into the process of tagging franchise players. The Cleveland Browns did it to David Njoku, then inked him to a four-year $56.75 million extension. The deadline to complete an extension or ink a franchise tender is July 15. Eagles Keep Hyping Up Veteran Safety Marcus Epps What the fans want and what the Eagles do are usually on opposite sides of the spectrum. The organization has been calculated and savvy this offseason. They have plugged major holes via smart trades, creative contract restructures, and free agent signings with high upside. One thing they keep saying publicly is how much they like Marcus Epps. He’s the leader in the clubhouse to replace Rodney McLeod alongside Anthony Harris at safety. Defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon sees a hungry young player ready to fill a void. "Just like any young player, a guy that hasn’t been a full-time starter, is just consistency,” Gannon said of Epps. "He’s played at a high level the times that he’s played for us, and you have to be able to do that over the long-haul snap after snap. Really excited to see him play this year.” https://heavy.com/sports/philadelphia-eagles/jessie-bates-eagles-trade-update/
June 2, 20223 yr Why would the eagles, who addressed every other area of need, "hype" up Epps if they didn't believe he could be a productive starter? I think the eagles what they saw with Epps development last year and feel he can be the starter. This Jesse Bates talk is media created because he wants a new contract and the media believe the eagles need a safety......so they just started a rumor. The eagles will go to camp to see how Epps plays, and whether or not the backups are sufficient. They may pick up a veteran safety after all the cuts are done. They didn't and won't overpay for a safety.
June 2, 20223 yr 19 minutes ago, birdman#12 said: Why would the eagles, who addressed every other area of need, "hype" up Epps if they didn't believe he could be a productive starter? I think the eagles what they saw with Epps development last year and feel he can be the starter. This Jesse Bates talk is media created because he wants a new contract and the media believe the eagles need a safety......so they just started a rumor. The eagles will go to camp to see how Epps plays, and whether or not the backups are sufficient. They may pick up a veteran safety after all the cuts are done. They didn't and won't overpay for a safety. You hype up the incumbent in order to create the impression that you aren't desperate and not willing to over pay to make a move. I have no opinion about the Bates talk.
June 2, 20223 yr Author We did a really good job filling quite a few holes this offseason. We had more than should be reasonably expected to address in a single offseason. Epps has a golden opportunity in front of him - I hope he rises to the challenge and earns the right to start. At the very least he should serve as a serviceable bandaid for a year. Either way S needs to be addressed next offseason - Harris is only signed for the 2022 season. Would be huge if Epps proves to be a reliable starter such that we only need to add 1 new S next offseason.
June 2, 20223 yr 43 minutes ago, time2rock said: We did a really good job filling quite a few holes this offseason. We had more than should be reasonably expected to address in a single offseason. Epps has a golden opportunity in front of him - I hope he rises to the challenge and earns the right to start. At the very least he should serve as a serviceable bandaid for a year. Either way S needs to be addressed next offseason - Harris is only signed for the 2022 season. Would be huge if Epps proves to be a reliable starter such that we only need to add 1 new S next offseason. It really has been a pretty amazing off season, on paper. If things break right this season, mostly depending on Hurts proving out and not needing to draft a QB in Round 1, they'll be loaded to address the holes. Secondary is probably the most glaring need: Harris and Bradberry are both on 1-year prove-it deals, and Slay is 31 and only signed through 2023, then voidable years. The only other real hole is interior DL. Have to figure Cox is done after this year and Hargreaves contract voids out after this year, too.
June 2, 20223 yr 4 hours ago, Erie said: You hype up the incumbent in order to create the impression that you aren't desperate and not willing to over pay to make a move. I have no opinion about the Bates talk. I"m not buying that in at the NFL level.....no NFL GM is going to be fooled by fake hype. I just think the eagles think that Epps can do the job.
June 3, 20223 yr I like how Epps played last season and I think I read somewhere on here before that he had the most snaps or second most on the team. I still want to see if Wallace can play also. Guy can't catch a break with the injuries so far. Personally I'm not really interested in bringing in another high profile guy on defense this year since there's already been so much turnover. Consistency and familiarity as a team are underrated and critically important in this league. I can see the need for another body though since McCloud isn't around anymore. I don't know anything about Blankenship but hopefully him or one of the 50 young CB's on the team can fill in the rotation. Guess we will know soon enough.
June 3, 20223 yr The Eagles tried to sign Marcus Williams and had interest in Justin Reid. That showed they wanted to upgrade at Safety, they just couldn't get it done. Highly unlikely they trade for Bates, though.
June 3, 20223 yr 18 hours ago, birdman#12 said: I"m not buying that in at the NFL level.....no NFL GM is going to be fooled by fake hype. I just think the eagles think that Epps can do the job. Whether or not is effective, observationally, it seems that all GM's play the "fake hype" game, even if it performative. Even if Epps can do the job (and I'm rooting for him), the Eagles have to scan for obtainable upgrades.
June 4, 20223 yr He's not going to end up in Philly. I just don't see us giving up what it would take and Cincy, as the article says, really don't trade players.
June 9, 20223 yr On 6/3/2022 at 7:51 AM, Erie said: Whether or not is effective, observationally, it seems that all GM's play the "fake hype" game, even if it performative. Even if Epps can do the job (and I'm rooting for him), the Eagles have to scan for obtainable upgrades. Absolutely.........but upgrades have a cost and I think they feel that cost may not be worth it based on how they about Epps.
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