Falcons trade Jessie Bates to Jaguars, fall in Madrid

We're talking about a huge trade that was announced by the Atlanta Falcons. They're going to be home next Sunday. Atlanta's defense is going to look a lot different in their next game when they take to the field. The Falcons are agreeing to trade Jesse Bates to Jacksonville. Here's what Atlanta gets in return. A second-round draft pick in 2027 and a fifth-round pick in 2028. The deal comes ahead of tomorrow's NFL trade deadline. Bates joined the Falcons back in 23, earned a Pro Bowl selection that year. Through nine games this season, he has recorded 60 tackles, three forced fumbles, and an interception, but he's also in the final year of his contract and could become a free agent. So that is some big news to talk about as we bring in the Waterboys to talk about this huge trade. The trip by the Falcons overseas to Spain where they fell into the Cincinnati Bengals 34-17 against Joe Burrow in Madrid. Trey and B. Rich, guys, first of all, reaction to the announcement this morning that the Falcons are going to trade Jesse Bates to Jacksonville. Well, for me, Tom, it was a big shock when I woke up this morning and I saw that he was traded. But, you know, Jesse Bates is getting up there in age, and this is the last year of his contract, so we would have to renew his contract. So we got some value in it. We got a good second-round pick for this coming year's draft, and we got a fifth-round draft pick in 28. So I can understand why the Falcons made the move. We did get some value back for him, but Jesse Bates was a great Falcon. Thank you for talking. He stood, you know, he was the face of what a Falcon's supposed to be. He made plays. He was a good to talk to, and he was a positive Falcon. So I hate to see him go, but I understand the business of football and understand why the Falcons did it. Oh yeah, Jesse Bates is everything that you want in a free agent. When you bring somebody in, you pay them big money. You want it to be somebody who's going to come in and produce. And he produced every single year. He is unquestionably, in my opinion, the best defensive player on this defense right now before this trade happens. But hey, at the same time, this tells me two things about the organization. Number one, it shows me how they feel about the future of this season and where they think this season is going. And then it also shows me, number two, that the new guys who came in, Ian Cunningham and then Matt Ryan as well, they're not afraid of making big changes and doing the unpopular move. All right, let's talk about the Falcons' international trip over to Europe in Madrid, falling to the Bengals 34-17. Joe Burrows, they're talking about today, might be one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. So you give away 88 yards. On 12 penalties against Cincinnati, who owns that Monday morning? In other words, is Kevin Stefanski doing some Monday morning quarterbacking, if you will, as to what happened over in Madrid? Oh, everything starts from the coaches on down. Let's get these guys disciplined. There were too many drives that were stopped and hampered by penalties we got behind the sticks. That's one thing. Then on defense, we're pleased the real Atlanta Falcons defense stand up. They're not standing up. It's right up on the screen right now. Atlanta penalties, 12 flags, 8-8 yards. Your quarterback, who's already been kind of struggling coming off of last week, it doesn't help him get into the type of rhythm that he needs to get into. And it's just undisciplined behavior. And that comes down from the head coach. the form of his leader, and so I'm going to put that all on Kevin Stefanski. Now, at the same time, these guys are pros, and they need to learn how to be disciplined themselves, but it starts up top. We need to get these things together. We will not continue to win if we play undisciplined football. Yeah, I blame this loss on the coaching, Stefanski and Tommy Reese. And, of course, the defense didn't look good. But they couldn't keep up with Cincinnati's offense. We should have been in a shootout. Our offense should have been able to sustain the pace it was going. We could have ran the ball up and down. Cincinnati has not been known to stop anybody rushing the football this year. I don't understand why we couldn't keep up. I'm very disappointed in this loss, and I'm kind of concerned about the season right now. So everybody in Atlanta knows Joe Burrows. I was looking, you know, to really, I guess if you're on a big stage like that over in Europe, and by the way, I don't know if you guys saw, but that stadium over there was absolutely packed in Madrid. They love the NFL over there. A lot of people really have an affinity for the Falcons, too. I understand that in places like Germany and Great Britain, they love the Falcons. So, Jamar Chase. How does Chase still get 142 yards before halftime without the Falcons finding an answer? Well, Jamar Chase is that dude, Tom. We had a chance to draft him the year we drafted Kyle Pitts. He went to pick right after we drafted Kyle Pitts. So Jamar Chase is that dude. He showed us. He's always been a fantasy football favorite for a lot of fantasy players and just a stat demon when it comes to the real NFL. Thank And he has a great quarterback. I mean, you just said it. Joe Burrow, man, like he showed America what? What a good quarterback was. He was just dropping dimes all over the place, man. But, yeah, Jamar Chase that dude, and Joe Burrow is definitely that dude as well. Hey, look, we give you praise when you do well, you. and we have to tell the truth when you don't do well. We've been talking about Jeff Ulbrich. Jeff Ulbrich is going to be a head coach. He's this, he's that. The defense is this. The defense is leading the way. It's pulling the wagon. Way to go, defense. The defense did not show up at all. The defense just did not show up at all. From the front to the back, they were not getting enough pressure on Joe Burrow. They were not stopping anything on the back end. And to Beard's point, Jamar Chase is that dude. They left A.J. over there on the island when I think A.J. needed some help. Yes, A.J. is looked at as your number one cornerback, but Jamar Chase, unfortunately, he got the best of him in college, and he got the best of him again in the pros. And so I feel like Jamar Chase needed someone leaning to his side to give him help. But then you have T. Higgins on the other side. The Atlanta Falcons defense, they had a long day, a very, very long day. Four drives for the Bengals in the first half, all scoring. Touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, field goal. Bye-bye, ball game. All right, tell them what Jamar said in the press conference. Oh, yeah, Jamar Chase, he had nerve to come out and say, laughing afterwards at his press conference day when Joe Burrow saw. With A.J. Terrell on him, he got happy. He said A.J. plays too low. So it's something about the way A.J. lines up that Jamar Chase, him and Joe Burrow feel like they have the advantage over A.J. Terrell. And you just don't want to hear that about one of your players, especially one of your stalwarts, a guy that we know personally and have a lot of respect for. All right, guys. Well, let's take a step back for a second and talk about we're 3-6 now. You've got Kansas City coming up next. Now you're trading Jesse Bates down to Jacksonville, which was announced this morning. From what you've seen so far, what's up with the Falcons? Should we kind of start losing hope? Are they tanking? Is there hope for this team? What do you see? Hey, man. The Atlanta Falcons, in my opinion, are tanking like the R&B singer. I wish I knew some of Tank's greatest hits right now. But for the ladies out there who love Tank, the Falcons are doing their best Tank impression right now. I won't say that the Atlanta Falcons are going into this saying, hey, we're going to lose every game that we play. I believe the Atlanta Falcons still plan on going out and trying to compete somewhat. But they do understand, in my humble opinion, that they're not headed where they really want to go. This is not a team that's going to get them to the promised land or take them to a Super Bowl. They're going to go out and play the games, and if they can get assets and they can get things to use in the future for some of the pieces they have right now, they're going to sell those things off, and I do believe they are looking to the future. I feel like this, Tom. I'm very disappointed after listening to Kevin's stance. Kevin Stefanski's press conference yesterday. I don't feel too good about the future of the Falcons this year. It feels like they're kind of packing it in. I want to see something different from Stefanski and the coaching staff. After watching the Falcons play this year, they seem like they can play. They seem like they can compete. I've seen plays. We beat San Francisco. I don't see why we weren't able to go down and beat Cincinnati in Spain. I just don't understand it. I feel like we're I don't feel good about the season. With three and six, we're still in it as far as our division because we have one of the weakest divisions in the NFL. But I don't understand what's going on, and I'm kind of afraid about the rest of the season right now. Tom, and one last thing, Kevin Stefanski came out today about an hour ago and said that he believes that our fans are smart enough to know that we're not tanking. No, I believe our fans are smart enough to trust their eyes and what they've been seeing. That's what I believe. Yeah, or at least they want some answers. I mean, you could say the trouble kind of started down in, or perpetuated down in Tampa after that horrible game. Um, you know, where the rain was falling, it was just a disaster on so many levels. Uh, but we need some, we need some good energy. We need some motivation, Trey, and we're counting on you to, to fill our sails with some wind here. Counting on you, Trey. Okay. I'm gonna try. I'm gonna try guys. It's a real tough spot. Okay. Falcon fans, old Falcon fans, how much more can I take? Our Falcons got beat down in Spain again, and then this morning they went and traded Jesse Pates. But even though this team always breaks my heart, I still can't leave them alone. So I'll be in the building this Sunday morning, rooting for them to beat down Patrick Mahomes. Oh, yeah. One of the best sports bars ever delivered right here. Guys, thank you so much. We know you'll be watching the Falcons Sunday. You can find the Waterboys anytime on YouTube. They have a great YouTube channel, the Waterboys Show 404. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, they're all over the socials too. And TikTok, at the Waterboys Show. We still got life left in them, guys. It ain't over, right? All right. We may be down, but we're not defeated. That's right, Tom. There you go, Tom. Thanks, Trey. Be rich. Good to see you guys. We'll see you on Friday. All right, Tom. Take it down. Have a good rest of the afternoon.