Nov 20, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Injured New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan walks off the field with quarterback Jameis Winston (2) at the end of their game against the Los Angeles Rams at the Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Saints’ Cameron Jordan, Bengals’ Jessie Bates III fined

The NFL apparently didn’t take too kindly to a pair of players allegedly attempting to fake injuries during their Week 13 games.

Multiple media outlets reported Saturday that the league fined the New Orleans Saints $350,000, head coach Dennis Allen $100,000 and defensive line coach Ryan Nielsen and defensive end Cameron Jordan $50,000 for their respective roles during a delay in Monday’s 17-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The NFL also docked Cincinnati Bengals safety Jessie Bates III $50,000 for allegedly faking an injury during his team’s 27-24 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

Per ESPN, all parties will appeal their fines.

Jordan, 33, opted to take a knee and pointed to his lower leg to force a stoppage in play midway into the fourth quarter. The stoppage came as the Buccaneers appeared poised to run an offensive play on fourth down. Tampa Bay, instead, elected to punt once play resumed.

Jordan vented on social media Saturday after receiving his fine.

“Are fines made by nfl open to public? I just feel like this should be public knowledge. ‘Cause some of the fines are silly but this 1… ridiculous. Anyways & for what a “deliberate action to delay game” before a (team) punts?”

Bates, 25, was spotted falling to the ground without contact as two Bengals defenders rushed onto the field while the Chiefs came to the line of scrimmage. Bates missed one snap before returning to action.

The fines come one week after the NFL sent all 32 clubs a memo that emphasized the importance of upholding the integrity of the game. The memo also listed the minimum fines of $350,000 for clubs, $100,000 for a head coach, and $50,000 for players/assistant coaches for violating the rule.

–Field Level Media

Feb 13, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Jessie Bates (30) celebrates an interception against the Los Angeles Rams in the second quarter of Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Holdout S Jessie Bates joins Bengals, signs franchise tender

Holdout Jessie Bates is back with the Bengals, but the safety might not be on the field for Cincinnati any time soon.

The franchise-tagged Bates met with the team brass on Tuesday morning before joint workouts with the Los Angeles Rams were scheduled to begin. He signed the franchise tender, but he will need to be cleared physically before an upramp toward playing in the regular season can begin.

Progress to reach a long-term deal before the July 15 deadline fell apart because of limited guarantees in the deal, NFL Network reported. Since then, the safety market was reset by the four-year, $76.5 million contract the Los Angeles Chargers gave Derwin James.

Bates told the team in February he had no intention of reporting to training camp or playing under the terms of the franchise tag, which was applied by the Bengals to keep him from unrestricted free agency. The one-year tender for safeties under the rules of the franchise tag brings a 2022 salary of around $13 million.

However, Bates said during Super Bowl media interviews that injuries and the lack of guarantees or bonuses in the franchise agreements make them a high-risk proposition.

Bates, 25, has started all but two games for the Bengals since entering the league as a 2018 second-round draft pick. A second-team All-Pro in 2020, Bates has compiled 408 tackles, 35 pass breakups, 10 interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries over four seasons.

Bates added two interceptions in the 2021 playoffs, including one of the Rams’ Matthew Stafford during Super Bowl LVI, along with six pass breakups.

–Field Level Media

Feb 13, 2022; Inglewood, CA, USA; Cincinnati Bengals safety Jessie Bates III (30) against the Los Angeles Rams during Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Contract deadline passes, Bengals S Jessie Bates could be holdout

Safety Jessie Bates and the Cincinnati Bengals did not reach an agreement on a long-term deal before the Friday deadline facing players retained on the franchise tag.

What that means for Bates and the Bengals stands as a cliffhanger.

USA Today reported Friday that Bates has no intention of reporting to training camp or playing under the terms of the franchise tag, which was applied in February by the Bengals to keep him from unrestricted free agency. The one-year tender for safeties under the rules of the franchise tag brings a 2022 salary of around $13 million.

Bates said during Super Bowl media interviews that injuries and the lack of guarantees or bonuses in the franchise agreements make them a high-risk proposition.

NFL Network reported on Friday that Bates’ total guarantee in the final contract offer he received from the Bengals was $4 million higher than the guarantee he stands to receive on the franchise tag.

Bates has started all but two games for the Bengals since entering the league as a 2018 second-round draft pick. A second-team All-Pro in 2020, Bates has compiled 408 tackles, 35 pass breakups, 10 interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries over four seasons.

Bates added two interceptions in the 2021 playoffs, including one on Matthew Stafford during Super Bowl LVI, along with six pass breakups.

In an interview with NFL Network in February, Bates said he hoped not to be tagged.

“Some of the top guys got hurt under a franchise tag. It’s tough,” Bates said. “You only get one shot at this. You just gotta play your cards right.”

–Field Level Media

Feb 13, 2022; Inglewood, CA, USA; Cincinnati Bengals safety Jessie Bates III (30) against the Los Angeles Rams during Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Bengals S Jessie Bates III doesn’t want to be hit with franchise tag

Cincinnati Bengals safety Jessie Bates III would like to return to the AFC champions for next season but said Wednesday that he does not want to he hit with the franchise tag.

Bates, one of the team’s postseason heroes en route to a Super Bowl appearance, just completed his four-year, $4.95 million rookie deal. He is slated to become a free agent but the Bengals could place the franchise tag on him prior to the March 8 deadline.

The tag is estimated to be worth approximately $13.5 million for safeties in 2022.

“That’s a conversation I think that we’ll have with my agency and my team,” Bates told NFL Network. “I put a lot of trust in them with this whole process. I’m just trying to stay focused, control what I can. We’ll see.

“Hopefully I’m not under a franchise tag. That’s something that needs to be discussed (with the) NFLPA a little bit. Some of the top guys got hurt under a franchise tag. It’s tough; you only get one shot at this. You just got to play your cards right, I guess you could say.”

Bates, who turns 25 on Saturday, would prefer to stick with the team that surprised all of football by reaching the Super Bowl before losing to the Los Angeles Rams.

“There’s some interesting conversations that will be coming up here soon,” Bates said. “Hopefully I’ll still be a part of that there in Cincinnati. But there’s just something special about the group — the young guys that we have in there. There’s a lot of good things to come there in Cincinnati whether I’m there or not.

“There is a business side of this. And I’m happy that I’m able to experience it at 24 years old. A lot of people come in drafted at 24 and they don’t really understand the process of this. It takes time. You’re not just gonna get exactly what you want whenever you want it. It’s just something that’s gonna happen — I know it will. I put the work in. I’ve done my part. The rest of it is in God’s hands. So we’ll see.”

Bengals coach Zac Taylor has stated that the team wants Bates to return.

Bates had three interceptions in each of his first three NFL seasons before having just one in 2021.

But the former second-round choice from Wake Forest picked off two passes in the postseason, including one in the Super Bowl.

Bates said he isn’t looking to break the bank, but he does want his fair worth.

“I’m not too worried about the ego part of being the highest paid safety,” Bates said. “But I do know value over cost and I think that is something that … we are going to continue to evaluate over this next couple of weeks. So this is an exciting offseason. I have to continue to get better and level up I think.”

–Field Level Media

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (85) runs with a catch during training camp practice at the Paul Brown Stadium practice facility in downtown Cincinnati on Thursday, July 29, 2021.Cincinnati Bengals Training Camp

Bengals WR Tee Higgins (shoulder) ruled out vs. Jaguars

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins will miss his second straight game with a shoulder injury, the team announced Wednesday.

Higgins and safety Jessie Bates III (neck) have been ruled out for Thursday night’s game against the visiting Jacksonville Jaguars (0-3).

Higgins, 22, totaled 10 catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns in the first two contests before sitting out Cincinnati’s 24-10 victory at the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

Bates, 24, has recorded 22 tackles in three starts this season for the Bengals (2-1).

Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (groin) and guard Xavier Su’a-Filo (knee) are listed as doubtful for Thursday’s game.

–Field Level Media