I love it.
I am going to suggest that Jake Bates will 100% be kicking in the NFL at some point next season. Will that be with the Lions? No idea. But his skill set and leg strength will be too much to ignore once kickers start missing key kicks or injuries happen. I would actually suggest both Bates and Bagman will both be kicking in the NFL for some team next season. And maybe both will get time with the Lions due to any assortment of events.
How is that for not picking sides…LOL.
I think the misses late in the UFL season, kind of changed the slam dunk of him kicking in the NFL.
You must pick sides. It’s mandatory. Welcome ro the Internet.
Hey look it’s a monkey…
My gut says that Money Badger wins the job and we keep Bates on the PS until he finds that consistency. I believe both will kick for us this season.
Bates on the PS is tricky cause anyone can claim him. He either makes the opening day roster or he’s not a Lion IMO. Although if he missed several preseason kicks then maybe we could get him on the PS.
Tell him to miss badly on purpose in preseason and pay him to develop.
Problem solved.
For a bald guy… pretty good idea. 
Jake will win the competition. He’s incredibly accurate indoors and far more accurate from 55+ yards out. I believe learning to read the wind is a teachable skill to improve his outdoor accuracy.
On top of that when you move to the 65-70 yard range Jake is 100% more accurate than the Moneybadger.
Can someone here please lease explain the love that this staff has for Badgley? The guy is a career 5-13 over 50 yards. He does not appear to have strong leg but makes up for it apparently by not being very accurate either. (Only 77% career make percentage 40-49 yards).
The Lions get rid of Turner who could have provided some real competition. I don’t have a high hope for Bates. Not that he may not be good enough, but because someone on the Lions staff has a love affair with Badgley. Maybe it’s Dan who likes Badgley’s weak-ass leg because it gives him an excuse to go for it all the time once he gets inside the 40.
My gut tells me the Lions have been secretly working with the guy and like him a lot and he shows out in training camp sending the badger to the waiver wire.
I think the 2024 season (Badgley vs Bates) will be a repeat of the 2023 season (Badgley vs Patterson). Lions will want to give Bates his shot but when things start to go sideways they let him go and bring Badgley back into the fold.
I think Bates does win it just because he has the bigger leg and a Dan Campbell kind of attitude.
And if he falters during the year, the Lions will do what they’ve always done - bring Badgley back.
This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.