Roquan Smith caught a lot of people by surprise when he hatched his plan to go public with his grievances against the Chicago Bears. He wasn’t happy with how GM Ryan Poles approached negotiations and requested a trade. Poles expressed surprise at the statement, believing the two sides had worked amiably up to that point. It was the latest indication that Smith not having an agent was making this situation far harder than it needed to be.
Well, better strap in then. As if the saga with the young linebacker wasn’t weird enough, it just took a left turn into Toon Town. According to Mike Florio of NBC Sports, somebody claiming to represent Smith is calling other NFL teams to gauge trade interest. That might not sound like such a big deal, except it is. Florio explained two big reasons why this can be a hazardous situation both for Smith and the teams he might be trying to entice.
“Per a league source, a person purporting to represent Smith has been calling other teams in order to gauge potential trade interest.
It’s a problem for two reasons. First, the person isn’t an NFLPA-certified agent. He can’t represent Smith or any other player. Second, Smith has not received permission to seek a trade.
Basically, the person is setting up a potential tampering trap for any team that either engages in conversations regarding Smith or fails to promptly notify the Bears of the impermissible contact.”
It’s is clearer than ever that Roquan Smith is getting bad advice.
Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reported he was being advised by a “family member.” Whoever that person is doesn’t seem to have a firm grasp of the NFL rulebook. They’ve given the 24-year-old instructions that make him look more and more detached from reality. His rumored contract demands are upwards of $22 million per year, which is more than $3 million more than Shaquille Leonard. Smith is good, but he’s nowhere near that good.
Now comes the trade request, followed by calling other teams without permission from the Bears. Somebody has lost control of the situation, and it’s making things worse. The Bears removed Roquan Smith from the PUP list, ending their obligation to pay him. They’ve maintained a friendly tone with him all off-season. That is gone now. Poles’ stance is hardening, and Smith’s minimal leverage evaporates with remarkable speed.
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If he doesn’t hire a proper agent soon, things will go off the rails completely.
