Is Jessie Bates striking out on a new contract? The Cincinnati Bengals safety stayed away from voluntary workouts and is demanding a long-term working paper.

Munich – Cincinnati Bengals safety Jessie Bates has failed to show up for the team’s voluntary workouts. While this is not unusual, many players rejoin the team later in the offseason. But Bates’ absence is for a specific reason.

The 25-year-old doesn’t want to sign the franchise tag the Bengals offered him, according to USA Today. Bates apparently doesn’t want to suit up for the team again until he is presented with a longer-term contract.

The franchise tag would have tied him to this year’s Super Bowl contenders for another year and would have paid him about $12.9 million. Not enough for Bates, apparently.

Are Bates and the Cincinnati Bengals coming to terms?

Both sides are said to be still interested in working together, even though negotiations have reached a “deadlock” at the moment. An agreement on a longer contract, however, is said to be a distinct option, according to the report.

Bates was drafted in the second round by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2018 and has since collected ten interceptions.