Bears linebacker Roquan Smith is at Soldier Field for the team’s Family Fest, which comes hours after he formally requested a trade as contract negotiations have reached an impasse.
In a detailed message shared via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Smith said he lost trust in the organization in their attempts to take advantage of him during contract negotiations. He also feels like it hasn’t been so much as a negotiation rather than them pressuring him with a “take it or leave it” deal.
Smith has been trying to get a “fair” deal done since April, but he’s at the point where he feels “the new front office regime doesn’t value me here.”
Smith mentioned that he hadn’t spoken to the McCaskey family yet, and it almost sounds like a call to intervene on his behalf.
“Maybe they can salvage this, but as of right now I don’t see a path back to the organization I truly love,” Smith wrote.
For now, here’s a look at Smith — in his practice jersey — on the sidelines at Soldier Field:
Ro in the building! 🐻⬇️ pic.twitter.com/wl8Lac95Px
— Terence M. Young (@Terence_M_Young) August 9, 2022
Hey, it's Roquan Smith. pic.twitter.com/BQV8c5iK08
— Nicholas Moreano (@NicholasMoreano) August 9, 2022
Smith was placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list before the start of training camp, where he’s remained involved during team meetings and taking in practices on the sideline.
While Smith requesting a trade doesn’t signal the end of his time in Chicago, it’s certainly shined a light on a situation that was apparently much worse than anyone expected.
Follow along with updates from the Bears’ Family Fest below:
