3 NFL stars who skipped opening day of training camp
Tuesday saw the start of NFL training camp, with teams welcoming their veteran stars to begin work for the 2022 season. Rookies will be working with senior players for the first time in close quarters, while coaches will finally be able to see what their pieces look like on the field rather than on the whiteboard.
That said, this is a time when contract disputes are becoming all the more unpleasant. Players can refuse to turn up to training camp if they’re looking to secure a better contract or a trade.
While it is rare for elite players to not have these situations resolved by the time training camp begins, several stars skip the opening day every year, and 2022 is no different.
Ahead of the start of the 2022 NFL Season, many players have refused to turn up to training camp. Here are the three biggest NFL stars who skipped training camp.
#1 – Jessie Bates (Cincinnati Bengals)
Jessie Bates was one of the stars of the Cincinnati Bengals defense that reached the Super Bowl last season, although he wouldn’t be as widely appreciated as the team’s offensive stars.
The entire offseason has been spent trying to tie Bates to a long-term contract in Cincinnati, yet no agreement could be reached by Tuesday morning.
This has led to Bates refusing to turn up on the opening day of training camp, which may force the hand of the front office with regards to a new contract or a trade.
As expected, #Bengals star safety Jessie Bates didn’t report to training camp, per source.
Bates hasn’t signed his $12.9 million franchise tender and thus isn’t subject to fines for his absence, which could go on for a while.
Coach Zac Taylor remains hopeful that the issue will be resolved before the end of training camp.
"I don't want to make any predictions. I've talked to Jessie and that's up to him when he shows up and we will be ready for him,” Taylor told WKRC-TV.
The New York Jets have emerged as a possible trade destination for the safety, with their backfield looking to get even stronger after the arrival of Sauce Gardner.
Given his numbers, Bates is one of the best safeties in the NFL and deserves to be paid like one. The Bengals have a contingency plan in the form of Daxton Hill, their first-round selection in 2022, who could take Bates’ place, but still, hope to find an agreement with Bates.