Jessie Bates and the Cincinnati Bengals are at an impasse.
The Bengals placed Bates under the franchise tag in March. But he hasn’t signed the one-year contract — and doesn’t plan to.
The safety has no intentions of playing the 2022 season under the franchise tag, a person close to the situation told USA TODAY Sports+. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.
Bates publicly discussed not wanting to be placed under the designation in February.
"That's something that needs to be discussed at NFLPA a little bit.