Roquan Smith still isn’t signed. The eighth overall pick in this year’s draft is the last remaining unsigned pick, and there’s no end in sight to the impasse between the linebacker and the Bears. Although issues like total guaranteed money and signing bonuses are predetermined in rookie contracts, things like offsets and when guarantees will void can still be haggled over.
To help better understand the process, Andrew Brandt of SI.com took a look at the rookie contract process, and spoke with a handful of agents. Brandt, a former Packers executive, writes that it’s a “system tilted heavily toward management” and that the players have little leverage now due to the 2011 CBA. Brandt writes that teams have become “emboldened” by their newfound power in negotiating rookie deals, and that “teams like the Bears are looking to invalidate future guarantees based on discipline for on-field conduct.”
The Bears want to be able to void guaranteed money from Smith’s contract if he were suspended for on-field conduct like an illegal hit, and Smith is fighting back. It will be fascinating to see how the situation plays out. Here’s more from around the league:
- The ex-girlfriend of LeSean McCoy issued a new statement yesterday, saying that she is still waiting for “justice to be served.” McCoy has consistently denied any wrongdoing and has not yet been punished by either the Bills or the NFL.
- Odell Beckham Jr. didn’t play in the Giants’ preseason opener, but his absence had nothing to do with his contract. Although the two sides are still negotiating a contract extension which should make OBJ the highest paid receiver in the game, coach Pat Shurmur said he wasn’t going to play his star in the first game anyway, according to Tom Rock of Newsday.
- Aaron Donald missed the August seventh deadline to report and will become a restricted free agent after the season, but the deadline was mostly irrelevant writes former NFL agent Joel Corry of CBS Sports. Since the Rams will certainly franchise tag Donald if the two sides can’t agree on an extension, it doesn’t really matter whether he’s a restricted or unrestricted free agent after this year, and there was no reason for Donald to report.
About the roquan Smith/bears things, wasn’t there another article a couple weeks ago that said only 6 rookies had that language taken out? it seems like everyone is singling out the bears though
funny how it is a former Packers exec that is painting the bears as some kind of monster.
If you’ve been a Bears fan for more than 50 years as I have then you have heard many stories about how cheap the organization has been throughout it’s history. George Halas was a great owner and coach but he never parted with a nickle willingly. That legacy has stayed with this team ever since.
The irony is that they wouldn’t have to play scrooge with players like Roquan if they didn’t overspend on guys like Mike Glennon who provided nothing in the way of value.
Pretty much sums up the stupidity of the Bears ownership/front office and the NFL in general. Lucky for them the NFLPA has been run by a bunch of buffons and yes men throughout its existence.
So rookies can have a guaranteed 4 year contract that pays upwards of $30 million and even if they suck the team still has to pay them. look at Kevin White and tell me the Bears don’t want a do over or better yettt some protection during that 4 year contract.
It cuts both ways. The league has it’s Kevin White’s but there have also been players under rookie contracts (like Aaron Donald) who were ridiculous bargains for owners.
I don’t think they are playing scrooge. I think they are protecting their interest and legacy. If a player is a cancer on the field, a really bad image for the team, or runs the risk of seriously injuring another player why would any team want to continue to pay said player even if they have been released from the team?
None of those qualifiers you mention apply to Roquan though. If the front office thinks he is a risk of some sort then why didn’t they simply use their first round pick on someone else?
Hey now! Andrew Brandt calls them as he sees them…..
^Packers fan.
Last I read, the Bears were willing to guarantee on field incidents, but not off field incidents.
Same agents that held out Bosa last year.
I think most of the off field issues fall under policies that the NFL and players union have jointly established. Suspensions and fines are generally automatic if those are violated but the voiding of guaranteed money falls into a grey area. The league will probably need outside arbiters to judge each instance separately to resolve this contentious issue.