Allen Robinson has said for months now that there hasn’t been any sort of meaningful communication between him and the Chicago Bears. At least in terms of discussing his contract extension. Now with free agency just over a month away, fans are getting understandably nervous. Would the team actually let their star wide receiver walk? It’s known they have salary cap issues but that seems like a poor excuse to lose your best offensive player.
Rumors have circulated for some time that Robinson wants to be compensated like a top receiver in the NFL. After back-to-back season over 1,000 yards despite iffy quarterback play? It’s easy to understand his reasoning. Most think the Bears have dragged their feet. Yet the reality is nobody knows for sure what the demands are.
One thing that is beyond a doubt? Robinson puts the blame on the organization.
Take his recent interview for SiriusXM NFL Radio. They of course asked him about the contract situation and whether he’d consider a return to the Bears or even heading back to Jacksonville. Where it gets interesting is in his reply. Towards the end of this clip, one might notice the phrasing he uses. It could be a coincidence, or it could be a subtle dig at Bears GM Ryan Pace.
Free Agent WR Allen Robinson on a possible return to Chicago or signing somewhere else in 2021.
"As everything stands today, I would be open to everything on the table"
👇 Audio #Bears #DUUUVAL pic.twitter.com/IQSGnupD8V
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) February 11, 2021
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For those who don’t recall, the phrase “Everything is on the table” should seem pretty familiar. That’s because Pace used it multiple times during his end-of-season press conference last month. He said it once in regards to the team’s conviction to get the quarterback position right and again when the idea was broached of bringing back Mitch Trubisky. Robinson is a smart guy with a strong social media presence. It’s possible he chose those exact words for a reason.
Allen Robinson is going to dare the Bears to blink first
Either they make an offer closer to what he wants (whatever that is) or they franchise tag him. Obviously, that is not a scenario the receiver would be happy about. Expectations are he’d sit out team activities and even training camp if necessary. Pace has just over a month to go before the new league year begins on March 17th. He’ll have to make a decision on the tag a week prior to that.
It might be possible that Allen Robinson is waiting to see what the Bears do at quarterback. He’s had to live through some real turns in his career. Blake Bortles, Mitch Trubisky, and Nick Foles. One can understand if he had reservations about chaining himself to another four years in Chicago. Not without at least some confidence they have a plan at that position.
Robinson has made it crystal clear his goal is to win a Super Bowl.
That doesn’t happen these days without a solid quarterback. If Pace is able to secure somebody of note, that might convince Robinson to work with them on a deal that is favorable to both sides. Until then it appears the standoff will continue. Remember that March 9th will be the franchise tag deadline. Expect clarification by that point.
