All-Pro Linebacker Roquan-Smith requested an exchange Chicago Bearsaccording NFL Network. In a lengthy letter to the city of Chicago and Bears fans, Smith expressed his desire to stay with the organization for his entire career, but, as he puts it, “the new front office regime doesn’t value me here. “.
Smith, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract, showed up for training camp but did not practice as he sought a new contract. He added that the Bears did not negotiate in good faith and pressured him to simply accept whatever deal is on the table or leave it.
“To the City of Chicago and to all Bears Fans around the world, I have officially requested a trade; just writing these words is deeply painful.
I am a kid from Macon County, Georgia. When you grow up playing football, you dream of one day reaching the NFL. However, playing the position of Linebacker, you NEVER imagine being drafted in the Top 10 by the Chicago Bears! I’m a home bear! A dream came true for me to have the opportunity to put on the Bears helmet, to wear the same jersey as the legendary LBs, it’s an indescribable feeling.
As you walk through these corridors over the past four years, you can feel the spirit, you feel the pressure to live up to this timeless story, this great legacy. I dreamed of playing like Wilber Marshall, Singletary, Briggs, Urlacher, Butkus! From the day I was drafted, I swore to play this position at a level that lived up to the standard that was set before me, to uphold that respect and honor, and I did.
Unfortunately, the new front office regime does not value me here. They refused to negotiate in good faith, every step of this journey was “take it or leave it”. The deal sent to me is one that would be bad for me, and the whole LB market if I signed it. I’ve been trying to do something fair since April, but their focus has been trying to take advantage of me.
I wanted to be a bear my whole career, help this team bring a super bowl back to our town. However, they left me no choice but to apply for a trade that allows me to play for an organization that truly values what I bring to the table.
I haven’t had a chance to speak to the McCaskey family, and maybe they can salvage this, but right now I can’t see a path to the organization I truly love.
I hope and pray that you can all understand, I am deeply sorry that it has come to this.
Sincerely,
Roquan-Smith
According NFL Network, the Bears gave Smith a delayed offer that wouldn’t make him the highest-paid linebacker by actual salary and included proposed de-escalations that no non-quarterback with a contract of $15 million or more has. . This type of offer offended Smith and helped lead to this trade request.
Despite the current situation of both teams, new Bears general manager Ryan Poles said he plans to keep Smith in the fold.
“Right now my intentions are to make sure Roquan is in this team,” Poles said, by Ian Rapoport.
The 25-year-old has spent his entire career in Chicago after the club selected him with the No. 8 overall pick in 2018. NFL Draft out of Georgia. For the past two seasons, Smith was named a second-team All-Pro and is widely considered one of the best linebackers in the league.
Last season, Smith notched a career-high 163 tackles to go along with three sacks and three pass breakups.