CHICAGO — Bears linebacker Roquan Smith said in a written statement that he requested a trade after contract negotiations between him and the organization reached an impasse.
Smith penned a statement that NFL Network shared on social media on Tuesday. ESPN has confirmed the validity of these messages.
The 25-year-old linebacker wrote that the “new front office regime doesn’t value me here” after Smith said he’s been trying to work on an extension since April.
“You have refused to negotiate in good faith,” Smith wrote. “Every step of this journey was ‘take it or leave it’. The deal sent to me would be bad for me and the entire LB market if I signed it.”
Since the Bears drafted him eighth overall in 2018, the former Georgia standout has 14 sacks while recording at least 101 tackles and one interception in every season he has played. Smith was expected to make $9.7 million in the last year of his rookie deal and was placed on the physically unfit list (PUP) when he reported to camp in late July.
Smith accused the Bears’ front office of “trying to take advantage of me” and that the organization “given me no choice but to apply for a trade that would allow me to play for an organization that really values what I bring to the table”.
In April, Smith expressed his confidence that he would remain in Chicago long-term with a new deal, attending voluntary workouts and mandatory mini-camps. In his statement, the linebacker said he wanted to stay with the Bears his entire career.
At the start of training camp, first-year general manager Ryan Poles, who expressed a desire to reach an agreement on an extension for Smith before the start of the regular season, reached out to the team, which is not yet executing a new deal for Smith.
“My feelings about Roquan don’t change at all,” Poles said on July 26. “I love the player and the person. And that’s not going to change. The only thing I’m going to ask everyone here is that I know I’m leaving.” get a lot of questions and i get it. I’m just not going to talk about contracts and all that, so I just wanted to make sure we address it. In terms of my feelings for him, nothing changes.
Smith was a daily attendant at Halas Hall during training camp and was often seen riding a stationary bike during practice. Trainer Matt Eberflus noted his expectations for Smith in July while he remained on the PUP list.
“Stick with it, be a leader, be committed to what he’s doing and will do,” Eberflus said. “He’s a pro. He’s been in the league long enough. He’s a really good player. We’re excited to have him as the Chicago Bear. And he will do that.”
In his statement, Smith apologized to Bears fans but expressed little confidence that negotiations would change.
“I haven’t had a chance to speak to the McCaskey family and maybe they can salvage that, but right now I see no going back to the organization, which I really love,” Smith said.