This is horrible news for the Chicago Bears. Star linebacker, Roquan Smith, wants out of the team only a few weeks before preseason starts as contract negotiations have gone really sour.
I can’t believe the Bears have fumbled these negotiations. Roquan Smith was one of the Top-10 best linebackers in the NFL last season, which was one of the few bright spots in the Bears disastrous 2021 regular season.
His 111 solo tackles ranked in as the 6th most in the NFL last season, while his 45 assisted came in as 4th most in the NFL. That kind of defensive production is invaluable to Super Bowl contending NFL teams, which is why Roquan wants out of Chicago. The Bears are anything but contenders.
Out of the past 12 years, the Bears have only made the playoffs three times (2010. 2018, 2020). Only one of those times (2010) did the Bears actually win a game (they made it to the Conference Finals against the Green Bay Packers). For such a historic franchise, that is an awful record.
Now, the main complaint coming from the Smith camp is that the Bears have not “negotiated in good faith” with the linebacker.
In fact, Smith himself said, “They’ve refused to negotiate in good faith. Every step of this journey has been ‘take it or leave it.’ The deal sent to me is one that would be bad for myself, and for the entire LB market if I signed it” about the Bears front office.
If that is true (which I believe it is), the Bears upper management should be ashamed of themselves.
Why are they offering ‘take it or leave it’ deals to their most valuable player? Do they want to get better and actually challenge the Packers for the NFC North Division title in the next 5 years? Or do they want to continue to be the laughingstock of the NFL?
Smith is only 25 and his production has steadily increased since his 2018 rookie season. Offering ‘take it or leave it deals’ should only be used for aging veterans and rookies. Not valuable members of a young core (which Smith most certainty is).
Nevertheless, it seems that relationship between the Bears and Smith may be broken beyond repair. With the Broncos and Ravens both interested in acquiring the linebacker, it may be in Chiago’s best interest to let him go for some future draft capital.
Images Source: Featured Image:
