Official: Bears sign Roquan Smith

[UOK]

**Hypothetical question and not what I think is going to happen**
What happens if he just doesn't sign? Does he have to go back into the draft? Does he become a free agent and anyone can pick him up? Do the bears get any compensation if he never signs?

Per the CBA:

If a Drafted Rookie has not signed a Player Contract during the period from the date of such Draft to the thirtieth day prior to the first game of the regular season: (i) the Club that drafted the player may not thereafter trade to another Club either its exclusive negotiating rights to such player or any Player Contract that it signs with such player for the player’s initial League Year; and (ii) the Club that drafted the player is the only Club with which the player may sign a Player Contract until the day of the Draft in the subsequent League Year, at which time such player is eligible to be drafted in the subsequent League Year’s Draft by any Club except the Club that drafted him in the initial Draft. (After the Tuesday following the tenth week of the regular season, the player and the Club may sign a Player Contract only for future League Year(s)).

(a) Notwithstanding Section 4(b) above, if a player is drafted by a Club and, during the period between the Draft and the next annual Draft, signs a contract with, plays for, or is employed by a professional football team not in the NFL during all or any part of the 12-month period following the initial Draft, then the drafting Club (or any assignee Club) shall retain the exclusive NFL rights to negotiate for and sign a contract with the player until the day of the Draft three League Years after the initial Draft, and shall thereafter have a Right of First Refusal as described herein, and the player may receive offers from any Club at any time thereafter. The player shall notify the NFLPA and the NFL of his desire to sign a contract with an NFL Club and of the date on which the player will be free of his other contractual obligations of employment, if any. Within thirty days of receipt of such notice by the NFL or the date of the availability of such player, whichever is later, the NFL Club that drafted the player must tender a Player Contract as set forth in Section 3 above to the player in order to retain its rights to that player

[bearsfaninaz]

**Hypothetical question and not what I think is going to happen**
What happens if he just doesn't sign? Does he have to go back into the draft? Does he become a free agent and anyone can pick him up? Do the bears get any compensation if he never signs?

He'd re enter the draft. Though I think his draft stock would plummet. Idt we'd get compensation either.

[G08]

His ass will start puckering once those game checks get deducted from his guaranteed money.

Dude will be here before week 1 unless he's on some sort of bizarre crusade to change the landscape of NFL contracts.

[UOK]

@AaronLemingNFL
Judging by the reports that are out there, it’s looking like there’s a decent chance that Roquan Smith may not be signed before the end of preseason. Even so much, that this could actually drag close to week 1 if not longer. Unreal, man. #Bears

@AaronLemingNFL
38s
Replying to @AHSILLINI32
Campbell & Wiederer plus had another well connected friend say similar things this morning.

[mmmc_35]

Fuck him. Everything about this stinks. I would lose his number, and let them crawl back.

[DaSuperfan]

I'm over it. If he doesn't want to sign then don't. Stay at home this year, make no money and re-enter the draft next year and get what would presumably be a lot less.

[G08]

Yeah, smelled this shit from a mile away.

Fuck this dude.

[UOK]

[G08]

I mean it's cute to keep throwing that word/connotation around, but I really don't understand what is 'meatball' about being angry at a player that is actively hurting your team.

Do you think it's good that he's not in camp? Do you think it's not putting our defense in a bind? Did you watch John Timu attempt to play coverage last night (woof)?

I mean how you can be indifferent or not care or whatever about this, to me, makes zero sense. You can keep talking about rationing out your anger and all that cute stuff, but on a strictly logical sense it's on par with telling me the Earth is flat.

If you have a crystal ball that tells you he plays week 1 and wins DROY this season, then I'll be right there with you saying none of this matters. I just don't believe that to be realistic.

[UOK]

I mean it's cute to keep throwing that word/connotation around, but I really don't understand what is 'meatball' about being angry at a player that is actively hurting your team.

Do you think it's good that he's not in camp? Do you think it's not putting our defense in a bind? Did you watch John Timu attempt to play coverage last night (woof)?

I mean how you can be indifferent or not care or whatever about this, to me, makes zero sense. You can keep talking about rationing out your anger and all that cute stuff, but on a strictly logical sense it's on par with telling me the Earth is flat.

If you have a crystal ball that tells you he plays week 1 and wins DROY this season, then I'll be right there with you saying none of this matters. I just don't believe that to be realistic.

I am of the opinion that this is indeed bullshit that makes me unhappy, but to say "FUCK THIS GUY" is, in my mind, low class. Attacking his character, calling for his being traded, ripping into him with such vitriol, etc - all of it feels really dopey.

I guess like I've said before about other things, I have only so many fucks to give about the Bears, and this feels like a drop in the bucket compared to the real pain of , say, losing to the Packers to start the season or Mitch Trubisky suffering a major injury.

All of this negotiation crap is none of my business, nothing that interests me, and I don't know enough about it to get all pissed off. While it hurts he's not on the field or in camp, I'd sooner he be doing this crap than getting his ACL blown out in some meaningless exhibition.

BUT HE'S MISSING INVALUABLE REPS
HE'S NOT MESHING WITH THE TEAM
HE'S BEING GREEDY
HE SHOULD PUT THE GAME AND THE TEAM ABOVE HIS CONTRACT

Meh. Eli Manning stomped his feet and kicked and screamed until he got what he wanted, and ultimately he's got a couple rings out of that. If all this posturing from Roquan's camp leads to an excellent career, I can deal. As will the Bears.

I have faith this won't go into the regular season. Bears will cave before then.

[G08]

but to say "FUCK THIS GUY" is, in my mind, low class

Why? People yell "fuck this guy" all the time when referring to some players on their favorite teams.

Hoge and Jahns nailed it at the end of their podcast: this agency represented Leonard Floyd and other players the Bears have, why is this an issue NOW with THIS player? "Roquan Smith should not be off this hook by any means".

If he wanted to be in camp, he would be in camp. Instead, he's holding out for a RIDICULOUSLY stupid precedent. I don't care who he is, it could be my best friend in the world and I would say "fuck this guy". I'd say it right to his face and tell him how stupid I think he is being. You don't have to agree with it, but at least I'm consistent.

This isn't about Roquan, he knows it, and he's actively going to miss all of Training Camp... with a brand new Head Coach whose season's mantra is the word: Obsession.

There's a bad look, and then there's Roquan Smith.

[BR0D1E86]

Sure, I guess. I don’t see why it’s meatball to be pissed off about this. He’s an idiot that’s letting his agents use him to make a ridiculous name for themselves.

If he wanted to be on the field, he’d demand his agents stop insisting on guarantees that nobody else expects and he’d be on the field. He apparently doesn’t.

[The Marshall Plan]

Does anybody remember Cedric Benson's holdout? I don't remember the specifics. Benson took a lot of shit for his.

[Rusty Trombagent]

He’s an idiot that’s letting his agents use him to make a ridiculous name for themselves.

what is it about him exactly that makes you question his intelligence?

fans are always so taken back by the idea of a player having any agency whatsoever.

[BR0D1E86]

He’s an idiot that’s letting his agents use him to make a ridiculous name for themselves.

what is it about him exactly that makes you question his intelligence?

fans are always so taken back by the idea of a player having any agency whatsoever.

He’s either being used by his agency to score them points with other clients or he’s making the decision to hold out for unreasonable and ridiculous non-standard contract language.

Either decision is powerfully stupid.

[Rusty Trombagent]

He’s an idiot that’s letting his agents use him to make a ridiculous name for themselves.

what is it about him exactly that makes you question his intelligence?

fans are always so taken back by the idea of a player having any agency whatsoever.

He’s either being used by his agency to score them points with other clients or he’s making the decision to hold out for unreasonable and ridiculous non-standard contract language.

Either decision is powerfully stupid.

why do you think the contract language he's holding out for is ridiculous and unreasonable?

[BR0D1E86]

He’s an idiot that’s letting his agents use him to make a ridiculous name for themselves.

what is it about him exactly that makes you question his intelligence?

fans are always so taken back by the idea of a player having any agency whatsoever.

He’s either being used by his agency to score them points with other clients or he’s making the decision to hold out for unreasonable and ridiculous non-standard contract language.

Either decision is powerfully stupid.

why do you think the contract language he's holding out for is ridiculous and unreasonable?

Why do you think it isn’t? He’s trying to change precedent. The time for that is during labor negotiations with the union, not now.

And I don’t find it even remotely unreasonable that teams withhold the right to void some of the guarantees in extreme situations. It tends to only happen for people like Aaron Hernandez.

[donkeykong]

He’s an idiot that’s letting his agents use him to make a ridiculous name for themselves.

what is it about him exactly that makes you question his intelligence?

fans are always so taken back by the idea of a player having any agency whatsoever.

He’s either being used by his agency to score them points with other clients or he’s making the decision to hold out for unreasonable and ridiculous non-standard contract language.

Either decision is powerfully stupid.

why do you think the contract language he's holding out for is ridiculous and unreasonable?

Why do you think it isn’t? The contract language he’s seeking at this point is tantamount to “I should be able to beat my girlfriend and while I’m suspended you keep paying me my guaranteed salary”.

Unless I’m completely missing something he’s seeking guarantees now that protect him from any off-field suspensions as well. That’s garbage! The Bears organization already said we’ll keep paying you if you do something while playing on the field and you get suspended. Fantastic! How can you ask for anything more? You don’t get a guarantee that you can do anything you want to whoever you want, whenever you want, however you want and we’ll just keep paying you. Thanks for playing for us Roquan, here’s $20,000,000, please don’t be a wanton criminal.

That is not reasonable to me. Why is it reasonable to you?

[Middleguard]

Does anybody remember Cedric Benson's holdout? I don't remember the specifics. Benson took a lot of shit for his.

I do, too well perhaps, because it is causing me to reflexively dislike Smith.

Benson did take a lot of shit. He was ostracized in the locker room and was tormented on the practice field. He was injured in practice and claimed it was intentional. I believed him. Urlacher was the primary culprit in the injury and the ringleader of the shit-givers.

I didn't initially dislike Benson because of his holdout. But I came to realize that he had some personality problems (clearly aggravated by his teammates) that probably played a role in his holdout. I worry now that Smith also has a personality that will prevent him from becoming a team member.

[Rusty Trombagent]

He’s an idiot that’s letting his agents use him to make a ridiculous name for themselves.

what is it about him exactly that makes you question his intelligence?

fans are always so taken back by the idea of a player having any agency whatsoever.

He’s either being used by his agency to score them points with other clients or he’s making the decision to hold out for unreasonable and ridiculous non-standard contract language.

Either decision is powerfully stupid.

why do you think the contract language he's holding out for is ridiculous and unreasonable?

Why do you think it isn’t? The contract language he’s seeking at this point is tantamount to “I should be able to beat my girlfriend and while I’m suspended you keep paying me my guaranteed salary”.

Unless I’m completely missing something he’s seeking guarantees now that protect him from any off-field suspensions as well. That’s garbage! The Bears organization already said we’ll keep paying you if you do something while playing on the field and you get suspended. Fantastic! How can you ask for anything more? You don’t get a guarantee that you can do anything you want to whoever you want, whenever you want, however you want and we’ll just keep paying you. Thanks for playing for us Roquan, here’s $20,000,000, please don’t be a wanton criminal.

That is not reasonable to me. Why is it reasonable to you?

pretty soon people are going to start saying around here that roquan is demanding his entire salary be guaranteed even if he goes on a murdering spree. Bunch of god damn bootlickers.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/fo ... story.html#" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Initially, it centered on whether the Bears could attempt to reclaim Smith’s guaranteed money if he were suspended for an illegal hit with his helmet.

At some point during training camp, though — exactly when is unclear, but it’s believed to have been near the end of July — the Bears agreed to tailor language in Smith’s contract to protect his guaranteed money from being reclaimed in that scenario.

The Bears hoped that concession would prompt Smith to sign and report to camp. But Smith’s representatives dug in further, seeking financial protection for a broader range of on-field conduct outside the parameters of a football play, such as shoving an official or getting into a fight. The Bears, on the other hand, want to limit protections of Smith’s guaranteed money to violations involving football plays.

[46Blitz]

I don't care about any specifics in the terms of the contract, just get the fuckin thing done already. For real.

[Mikefive]

He’s an idiot that’s letting his agents use him to make a ridiculous name for themselves.

what is it about him exactly that makes you question his intelligence?

fans are always so taken back by the idea of a player having any agency whatsoever.

He’s either being used by his agency to score them points with other clients or he’s making the decision to hold out for unreasonable and ridiculous non-standard contract language.

Either decision is powerfully stupid.

why do you think the contract language he's holding out for is ridiculous and unreasonable?

Why do you think it isn’t? The contract language he’s seeking at this point is tantamount to “I should be able to beat my girlfriend and while I’m suspended you keep paying me my guaranteed salary”.

Unless I’m completely missing something he’s seeking guarantees now that protect him from any off-field suspensions as well. That’s garbage! The Bears organization already said we’ll keep paying you if you do something while playing on the field and you get suspended. Fantastic! How can you ask for anything more? You don’t get a guarantee that you can do anything you want to whoever you want, whenever you want, however you want and we’ll just keep paying you. Thanks for playing for us Roquan, here’s $20,000,000, please don’t be a wanton criminal.

That is not reasonable to me. Why is it reasonable to you?

My response to this is that you're getting all pissed and judgmental based on what? Media reports, which don't even agree with each other. Initially it was reported that the hangup was about losing guarantees because of helmet to helmet stuff. Then it was reported that the Bears caved to that, but then it was about losing guarantees due to off the field stuff. During the first preseason game, the sideline reporter said it was about helmet to helmet stuff. Now the Trib says it's about fights or pushing a ref. And absolutely nobody has ever put the actual wording out there.

This is a battle between lawyers about specific legal language, which nobody outside of the parties involved has seen. It's like arguing about stuff that everybody is guessing about. Pretty tall order to pass judgement based on that in my view.

[donkeykong]

He’s an idiot that’s letting his agents use him to make a ridiculous name for themselves.

what is it about him exactly that makes you question his intelligence?

fans are always so taken back by the idea of a player having any agency whatsoever.

He’s either being used by his agency to score them points with other clients or he’s making the decision to hold out for unreasonable and ridiculous non-standard contract language.

Either decision is powerfully stupid.

why do you think the contract language he's holding out for is ridiculous and unreasonable?

Why do you think it isn’t? The contract language he’s seeking at this point is tantamount to “I should be able to beat my girlfriend and while I’m suspended you keep paying me my guaranteed salary”.

Unless I’m completely missing something he’s seeking guarantees now that protect him from any off-field suspensions as well. That’s garbage! The Bears organization already said we’ll keep paying you if you do something while playing on the field and you get suspended. Fantastic! How can you ask for anything more? You don’t get a guarantee that you can do anything you want to whoever you want, whenever you want, however you want and we’ll just keep paying you. Thanks for playing for us Roquan, here’s $20,000,000, please don’t be a wanton criminal.

That is not reasonable to me. Why is it reasonable to you?

My response to this is that you're getting all pissed and judgmental based on what? Media reports, which don't even agree with each other. Initially it was reported that the hangup was about losing guarantees because of helmet to helmet stuff. Then it was reported that the Bears caved to that, but then it was about losing guarantees due to off the field stuff. During the first preseason game, the sideline reporter said it was about helmet to helmet stuff. Now the Trib says it's about fights or pushing a ref. And absolutely nobody has ever put the actual wording out there.

This is a battle between lawyers about specific legal language, which nobody outside of the parties involved has seen. It's like arguing about stuff that everybody is guessing about. Pretty tall order to pass judgement based on that in my view.

But I’m not pissed or passing judgment! The question I responded too was “why do you think the contract language he’s holding out for is ridiculous”. That was my response. I didn’t say Roquan was a POS, didn’t say he was a loser, didn’t say I hated him, didn’t say I never want to see him in a Bears uniform. My response was, and I even clarified unless I was missing something, I thought it was garbage he’s seeking protection from off-field activities. Nothing more! I even implied...I could be wrong...as in, unless I’m missing something; maybe I didn’t get the facts straight go ahead and correct me.

If the reports change, they change, but again; I never said anything negative about the man himself. However, if the report was accurate that he’s seeking off the field protection...I stand by every word of my statement.

To be quite honest I find it quite ridiculous he’s seeking protection from things like hitting a ref or opposing player if that in fact is the new disagreement. He’s not playing for the local Boys and Girls Club! He’s a professional playing in a professional league, there should be expected conduct. I doubt Brady has a “pay me if I punch a ref clause”.

Right or wrong, I just want this over! I want to see what/who we drafted as an impact player and DO NOT want to see Timu starting Sunday night week 1.

[Rusty Trombagent]

we all absolutely are dyin to see this kid play. we're bears fans, and if there's one fetish that unites us, it's incredible linebacker play.

but people need to remember, every bad implication we hear about roquan and those tasked with representing him are coming from somewhere, and that somewhere is the organization that is diametrically opposed to the players. even that article i linked above in their attempt to appear even keeled carries water for the nfl.

Still, talk to enough front-office executives over the years and consistent themes become apparent. Oftentimes, contract conflicts aren’t about that specific player at all. Instead, as previously noted, they are about an agency finding ways to recruit next year’s clients and setting precedents to create leverage on future deals. When an agency decides a big-picture principle is worth fighting for, they sometimes use their powers of persuasion to convince a player or two to stand behind them to the end. No matter what. It’s quite possible that’s at the root of this issue.

Oh, you say nfl execs have the balls to admit that they orgs they have to negotiate with are often negotiating in bad faith? that is a brave stance to take, nfl! thank you for your service!

so when you hear "roquan wants to be sure that if he beats the shit out of his girlfriend he'll still get his paychecks" you need to ask yourself, where would something like that come from?

[Umbali]

Just want this over with. No energy to be pissed about it. I am disappointed but I am also a Bears fan so Im used to disappointment :P

[Knuckles]

I'm starting to get annoyed with Smith...

If he wants to make a statement then do it when you have some NFL pull not straight out of college it makes you look like a Ben$on. I'm totally in favor of him getting what he wanted with the new helmet rule but enough is enough. The NFL is run by a bunch of assholes for the most part. I get it... I read a article (forget where) and a good point was brought up. The NFL being able to change rules in the middle of the CBA term creates a HUGE problem. What the NFL should've done in this situation is void the ability for teams to fine players $$ for the new rule until the next CBA where they can debate and install an agreed upon rule and discipline. You're going to see a lot of players next year hold out IMO after they see how the teams higher ups react to the rule this year and how many players are voided money based on the rule. The guy in the article said (and I agree again) that there's no way the 2022 season (when the CBA is up) isn't a strike year because of this particular rule change.

Smith got the main thing he wanted... Now accept your FN 15 million and get to work. Take all the knowledge from this, play the game, earn your stripes, become a advocate for players and attack the NFL in 2022. Just my 2 cents on this... It's hard to get behind a rookie in a situation like this no matter how good he was in college.

[Mikefive]

what is it about him exactly that makes you question his intelligence?

fans are always so taken back by the idea of a player having any agency whatsoever.

He’s either being used by his agency to score them points with other clients or he’s making the decision to hold out for unreasonable and ridiculous non-standard contract language.

Either decision is powerfully stupid.

why do you think the contract language he's holding out for is ridiculous and unreasonable?

Why do you think it isn’t? The contract language he’s seeking at this point is tantamount to “I should be able to beat my girlfriend and while I’m suspended you keep paying me my guaranteed salary”.

Unless I’m completely missing something he’s seeking guarantees now that protect him from any off-field suspensions as well. That’s garbage! The Bears organization already said we’ll keep paying you if you do something while playing on the field and you get suspended. Fantastic! How can you ask for anything more? You don’t get a guarantee that you can do anything you want to whoever you want, whenever you want, however you want and we’ll just keep paying you. Thanks for playing for us Roquan, here’s $20,000,000, please don’t be a wanton criminal.

That is not reasonable to me. Why is it reasonable to you?

My response to this is that you're getting all pissed and judgmental based on what? Media reports, which don't even agree with each other. Initially it was reported that the hangup was about losing guarantees because of helmet to helmet stuff. Then it was reported that the Bears caved to that, but then it was about losing guarantees due to off the field stuff. During the first preseason game, the sideline reporter said it was about helmet to helmet stuff. Now the Trib says it's about fights or pushing a ref. And absolutely nobody has ever put the actual wording out there.

This is a battle between lawyers about specific legal language, which nobody outside of the parties involved has seen. It's like arguing about stuff that everybody is guessing about. Pretty tall order to pass judgement based on that in my view.

But I’m not pissed or passing judgment! The question I responded too was “why do you think the contract language he’s holding out for is ridiculous”. That was my response. I didn’t say Roquan was a POS, didn’t say he was a loser, didn’t say I hated him, didn’t say I never want to see him in a Bears uniform. My response was, and I even clarified unless I was missing something, I thought it was garbage he’s seeking protection from off-field activities. Nothing more! I even implied...I could be wrong...as in, unless I’m missing something; maybe I didn’t get the facts straight go ahead and correct me.

If the reports change, they change, but again; I never said anything negative about the man himself. However, if the report was accurate that he’s seeking off the field protection...I stand by every word of my statement.

To be quite honest I find it quite ridiculous he’s seeking protection from things like hitting a ref or opposing player if that in fact is the new disagreement. He’s not playing for the local Boys and Girls Club! He’s a professional playing in a professional league, there should be expected conduct. I doubt Brady has a “pay me if I punch a ref clause”.

Right or wrong, I just want this over! I want to see what/who we drafted as an impact player and DO NOT want to see Timu starting Sunday night week 1.

I guess I made a mistake. I interpreted your writing as emotional and after re-reading, I now see that it wasn't the judgmental invective of my earlier perception. So sorry about that.

The discussion about the "punch a ref" clause is interesting and is one of those potentially problematic rules. It interesting that you phrase it in that way when it is against the rules to TOUCH a ref. A touch could occur in many ways that are not malevolent, but are still against the rules. As an example, it's happened before when a player is walking one way and looking elsewhere engaging in a discussion and collides with a ref. So I can see the player's agent going for protection against some misunderstanding happening like that, particularly since there are game clocks that players must abide by and must move reasonably quickly, even when a play isn't in progress.

[UOK]

@AdamSchefter
Bears and first-round pick Roquan Smith working to put finishing touches on agreement and have deal done by end of day, per source. Holdout looks to be coming to an end shortly.

[docc]

Just heard on 670..
Mr Smith comes to Chicago..

[G08]