A little bit earlier than 9 a.m. Wednesday, the Chicago Bears formally positioned linebacker Roquan Smith on the bodily unable to carry out (PUP) record, a considerably peculiar roster transfer that got here a day after normal supervisor Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus acknowledged Smith’s contract dismay and the chance it might have an effect on his availability throughout coaching camp.
Still, sticking to the script after Wednesday’s camp observe, Eberflus insisted one thing got here up throughout Smith’s group bodily Monday that led to his PUP designation. What particularly?
“I’m not going to talk about a bunch of injuries or this and that,” Eberflus mentioned.
Playfully requested whether or not an attention-grabbing contract extension may magically make Smith bodily in a position to carry out once more, Eberflus didn’t even crack a smile.
“Well, I know right now that he is on (PUP),” the Bears coach mentioned. “And that’s all I can say at this time.”
Look, by this level everybody is aware of what that is, regardless of how a lot misdirection the Bears attempt to run. Smith, coming into the ultimate yr of his rookie contract, needs a brand new deal that rewards him as some of the impactful defensive gamers within the sport. And till contract negotiations with Poles and the entrance workplace transfer in a route he finds palatable, Smith seemingly gained’t return to the Halas Hall observe fields.
That’s why he spent the early portion of Wednesday’s observe pedaling away on a stationary bike quite than going by means of stretching or drills. That may change into a well-known sight within the days and weeks forward.
By checking in to camp on time Tuesday, Smith averted an avalanche of fines that may have kicked in due to the collective bargaining settlement. But by conserving himself out of practices, Smith has a possibility to use added strain to the entrance workplace, even with Poles’ continued public emphasis that he believes in Smith as a participant and chief.
How issues may evolve from right here is anybody’s guess. Smith was once more unavailable to reporters Wednesday and won’t break his silence till he’s again on the energetic roster — which simply may require him to have substantial monetary safety and a contract that extends properly past March.
It’s additionally vital to emphasize that Smith’s present scenario is way from distinctive within the NFL. In San Francisco, for instance, receiver Deebo Samuel is looking for a big-time payday from the 49ers because the enters the ultimate season of his rookie contract. Samuel’s dissatisfaction spiked a lot this spring that he requested the 49ers to commerce him. But the boil of that scenario has since lessened, and there are indications a brand new deal for Samuel could possibly be coming earlier than Week 1.
Like Smith, Samuel checked in to coaching camp on time this week. Also like Smith, he’s not practising, as a substitute doing conditioning work off to the facet, in keeping with 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan.
(Unlike Smith, Samuel was not positioned on the PUP record.)
Last summer season in Pittsburgh, All-Pro cross rusher T.J. Watt staged the same “hold-in,” reporting to camp however declining to participate in group drills or on-field actions that included hitting. That was framed as Watt’s approach of defending himself bodily till the group gave him long-term monetary safety.
As Steelers defensive coordinator Keith Butler famous final August, “You don’t want to get hurt when you are trying to get your contract done. Then you lose some sort of flexibility in terms of what you can sign.”
In September, Watt agreed to a four-year, $112 million contract extension that included a $35 million signing bonus and $80 million assured.
For the Bears, it’d take a five-year extension within the ballpark of $100 million with a big chunk of that assured to assist Smith mix again into the protection. But there may be added complexity to Smith’s contract talks given he doesn’t have an agent.
For now, that is all only a minor inconvenience however a headache nonetheless for a rebuilding group that has so many different main points to be sorting by means of.
Eberflus was requested Wednesday what his communication with Smith has been like since Tuesday.
“He’s really in a good spot,” Eberflus mentioned. “We had a great conversation, just talking to him about where he is. He’s focused. He’s in meetings and he’s wired in in that way.”
Eberflus additionally emphasised his expectations for Smith whereas he’s off the observe subject.
“Stay involved. Be a leader. Be engaged,” Eberflus mentioned. “Which he is doing and will do. 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 a Chicago Bear.”
Eberflus and his coaches can be much more excited as soon as Smith is practising once more. But that timeline could possibly be contingent on how versatile and beneficiant Poles needs to be to make his standout linebacker completely happy contractually. And for proper now, that dance is being danced behind the scenes.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com