After missing the entire training camp portion of his first NFL offseason, the eighth pick in the 2018 NFL Draft Roquan Smith will finally be under contract after holding out due to the off-set language of his rookie deal.
And that’s all that matters.
The contract is for four years, $18M, with $11M in potential bonuses.
The drama of Roquan’s hold out was well documented, though, falsely documented at first. The initial report was that Roquan and his team wanted the Bears to nix any language that would withhold guaranteed money to the rookie, should he be the victim of the NFL’s new “helmet rule.” The Bears later released a statement debunking the first report. They stated they wouldn’t hold back any money contractually due to on-field punishment. Instead, Roquan’s agent asked that the Bears apply the same nixing of any off-the-field punishment Smith would/could incur.
This, to no surprise, was a big “no-no” to the front office in Chicago.
The drama even called some fans to label Smith as a “bust” already. Some even insisted the Bears shouldn’t sign him and let him walk. I’m not sure those fans know that the earliest Roquan would be eligible to sign with another team would be in the 2019 NFL Draft (face-palm).
It’s still not clear what the language states in the contract in terms of on-or-off-field punishment. All that matters is this is coming to an end. We won’t have to see John Timu as a potential starter…
Per Adam Schefter, Smith could report as early as tonight and make his NFL debut Saturday night against Denver. If that’s the case, and also depending on Smith’s physical condition, this would set him up to be the starting inside-backer Week 1 against the Packers. If he plays to the potential we all know he can, all the hold-out drama will be forgotten. Fans that called to “trade” him (face-palm again) can eat their words.
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