Chicago Bears: Roquan Smith, team finally agree on contract
Reports have the Chicago Bears and Roquan Smith coming to terms on a contract. Now Smith can get to the business of helping the defense dominate.
The long wait is over. Chicago Bears fans can now breathe a sigh of relief. The team and its first-round draft pick and eighth overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft, Roquan Smith, finally came to terms on a contract, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Smith and the Bears were locked in a battle concerning contract language. He missed rookie training camp and full training camp that ended last Saturday. He was the last draft pick to sign.
Head coach Matt Nagy said in July that the reason for the impasse was the new helmet rule. The Bears wanted to be able to use Smith’s guaranteed money should he be suspended and/or fined. There were also other reports of Smith not wanting guaranteed money to be taken in the event he got suspended for off-the-field problems. Neither side would budge and it ended up as a 29-day holdout.
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The Bears expect Smith to slip right in and help a top-10 defense last season become even better. The team has a history of great linebackers and many view him as the next in line.
Some doubted if both sides could come to an agreement before having the situation affect the regular season. Nagy spoke about how that could happen if Smith didn’t sign soon. He expressed hope that with the coaches’ help things would work out (per NFL.com):
"But I have full confidence in [defensive coordinator] Vic [Fangio] and his staff that, when [Smith] does get here, they’ll get him up to speed… That’s why we all get paid as coaches — to try to help our players out as much as possible — and that’s kind of where we’re at."
With him signed now, however, the only question is if he plays in the Bears’ Week 2 preseason game against the Denver Broncos (probably not).
Things were on the verge of getting personal, but things were finally smoothed over. I don’t think it affects Smith’s play. Remember, the Los Angeles Chargers (then in San Diego) and their 2016 first-round pick (third overall) Joey Bosa had a long contract dispute. It didn’t hurt him. Even though he missed the first four weeks (due to the contract dispute and a hamstring issue) of the season, he still became the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year.
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Fans and coaches can now concentrate on Smith helping the defense and this saga could be long forgotten soon.