Bears fans woke up to rather a shock on Tuesday when star linebacker Roquan Smith officially askedfor a trade. While the presumption was agreement settlements weren’t going well — offered Smith prepared on “holding in” at training camp — it was evenworse than we thoughtof.
In a detailed message shared by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Smith stated he lost trust in the company in their tries to take benefit of him throughout agreement settlements. He likewise feels like it hasn’t been so much as a settlement rather than them pushing him with a “take it or leave it” offer.
General supervisor Ryan Poles dealtwith the circumstance following Tuesday’s Family Fest practice, where he revealed his intents to indication Smith.
There was plenty to absorb from Smith’s trade demand. Our Bears Wire personnel is sharing their responses to Smith askingfor a trade and what it might indicate for the future.
Roquan Smith demands a trade from Bears
AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh
While we all understood things weren’t going well with Roquan Smith’s agreement scenario, I puton’t think we anticipated it to reach the point where he officially askedfor a trade. That wasn’t something I was anticipating to wake up to, particularly thinkingabout GM Ryan Poles stated it was a toppriority to get Smith re-signed. And the preliminary response was, “Wow, so things actually intensified rapidly.”
Obviously, it’s a settlement strategy by Smith, who is browsing agreement settlements without an representative. He required a method to voice his annoyance about how things stalled with an deal he’s not going to take, and he truly put the spotlight on Poles.
Smith actually drove the knife in deep with his remarks about how he doesn’t feel valued, how he feels like he was being taken benefit of and even calling on George McCaskey to come to the rescue. I will offer Poles credit for stepping in front of this and freely attendingto the media when he might’ve kept peaceful (we all kind of got utilized to that with previous GM Ryan Pace). And it sounds like he desires to get a offer done. So that’s motivating.
I’m securely in the camp that Smith isworthyof to be paid like a leading linebacker duetothefactthat he is one of them. He isworthyof in the variety of a Shaquille Leonard or Fred Warner, however not more. Some individuals will disagree duetothefactthat his position isn’t as valued as others in the league. But when looking at what Matt Eberflus’ defense needs, the WILL linebacker is one of the most crucial positions in this defense. Eberflus requires somebody like Smith. Why overpay for somebody in complimentary firm when you have Smith right there on your lineup?
With that stated, if Ian Rapoport is right and Smith might bring a first-round choice, it’s absolutely an deal the Bears must not just thinkabout however make. Not that I desire to see Smith gone, however that deal is just too great to refuse for an off-the-ball linebacker.
Do I believe Smith will eventually indication with the Bears? Yes. Can I state that I’m 100% positive in it? No.
AP Photo/Jason Behnken
Like basic supervisor Ryan Poles, I was shocked and dissatisfied to hear of the trade demand on Tuesday earlymorning. Smith, while not practicing with the group, hasactually been at Halas Hall every day of camp, working with the linebackers and taking part in conferences. That indicated to me that possibly the 2 sides weren’t as far apart as we when believed. But Smith’s trade demand was a container of cold water on that concept.
While the public trade demand came as a surprise, I wasn’t as stunned when it came to the variation in what Smith desires versus what the Bears are ready to pay him. When he was snubbed for a Pro Bowl election and missedouton out on making First-team All-Pro over the last 2 seasons, I understood that would expense him at the workingout table. Smith is an elite off the ball linebacker, however that doesn’t mean he must be the greatest paid at his position. He must, nevertheless, be making more than $17 millio