Bears All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith wants out of Chicago.
On Tuesday morning, Smith released a lengthy statement requesting the team trade him because he feels they didn’t “value” him there and negotiated his new contract in bad faith.
Among the frustrations detailed:
— Roquan Smith has lost trust by what he believes are their attempts to take advantage of him.
— He feels this entire process hasn’t been a negotiation, just the Bears trying to strong-arm him with a take-it or leave-it deal https://t.co/E3tqyU6eAe— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 9, 2022
“Unfortunately, the new front office regime doesn’t value me here,” Smith wrote. “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. I’ve been trying to get something done that’s fair since April, but their focus has been on trying to take advantage of me.
“I wanted to be a Bear for my entire career, help this team bring a Super Bowl back to our city. However, they have left me no choice than to request a trade that allows me to play for an organization that truly values what I bring to the table.”
“I haven’t had the chance to talk to the McCaskey family, and maybe they can salvage this,” he wrote, “but as of right now I don’t see a path back to the organization I truly love.”
According TO NFL network’s Ian Rapoport Smith’s contract had “de-escalators” included that no other contract of that magnitude featured
Via NFL Network
NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported that Chicago’s backloaded offer offended Smith because it wouldn’t make him the top-paid LB in actual salary and included de-escalators that no other NFL contract of that magnitude featured.
