Roquan Smith's contract impasse is over a behavior clause — and not NFL's new helmet contact rule

Bears linebacker Roquan Smith
Photos of Roquan Smith, who the Bears selected with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft.
David Haugh David HaughContact Reporter
Chicago Tribune
In an effort to end the contract impasse with first-round draft pick Roquan Smith, the Bears conceded they won’t go after his guaranteed money if the linebacker gets suspended under the NFL’s new rule legislating helmet contact, the Tribune has learned.

The Bears made this concession even before the recent public disclosure of the major sticking point, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. They are one of eight NFL teams willing to include contract language protecting a first-rounder’s guaranteed money if he’s suspended for an illegal hit, a source said.

But Smith remains away from training camp because his representatives at CAA Football have insisted the Bears go even further and include contract language protecting the player from discipline for behavior outside the realm of a football play. The Bears’ reluctance to do so revolves around their fear of setting a precedent for future contracts and has nothing to do with concerns about Smith’s character, the source said.

The growing urgency as training camp opened two weeks ago compelled the Bears to approach Smith’s agents to say they were willing to compromise their original position on the helmet issue as have other teams such as the Bills, Jets and Giants. The teams acquiesced because of the widespread ambiguity in interpreting the NFL’s new rule legislating helmet contact and prohibiting “using any part of a player’s helmet to butt, spear, or ram an opponent.’’

The Bears initially balked at excluding all such language — as coach Matt Nagy’s comments Saturday in Bourbonnais indicated — but eventually compromised their position because it pertained to a football play. And such plays also were rare: NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said only three plays out of 40,000 reviewed during the 2017 season would have resulted in an ejection under the newly adopted guidelines.

A source familiar with negotiations said the Bears never intended to default Smith’s guarantees over a football hit and the team introduced its 2017 experience with Danny Trevathan as evidence. Trevathan served a one-game suspension for an illegal hit on Packers receiver Davante Adams, but the Bears never tried to recoup money.

CAA has declined to comment on Smith’s contract negotiations.

Part of the Bears’ motivation to find common ground with CAA was their strong desire to get Smith, the No. 8 selection, into camp and ready for Week 1.

Now the urgency is increasing. Smith possesses the explosiveness and athleticism to start immediately. The frustration over Smith’s continued absence expressed by defensive coordinator Vic Fangio on Tuesday has been felt throughout the organization. Smith is the only one of the 256 players drafted in April who has yet to sign his contract, making the Bears the target of widespread criticism.

But only four teams in the league have written contracts going as far with protections as Smith seeks, a source said. The other 28 have avoided setting such contractual precedent, perhaps out of a fear of unintended consequences. It’s not a common demand, according to one longtime agent who has negotiated NFL deals.

The Bears open the exhibition season Thursday in Canton, Ohio, against the Ravens on national television. Smith won’t attend the game, but the Bears hope this is the last game the linebacker will miss.

Wow he wants insurance to act like a douchbag. Looks like I was right he is a head case and FavreFan is a moron.

It's David Haugh so I am loathe to believe anything he writes, but if that is the case then he's a tool and the Bears shouldn't cave in.

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It also sounds like something the Bears would release to a friendly reporter to try and turn public opinion in their favor.

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thats kinda what I was thinking.

Hopefully it gets over soon.

I want the kid to be good so Bob has to eat his words

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Stop attacking the messenger!!!

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

If this is true- why is it up to the Bears to decide? The league decided discipline and should set the rules.

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Why are only 14 percent of black CPS 11th-graders proficient in English?

I will NOT!

David Haugh is a terrible person.

Probably kills small animals in his spare time.

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with pit bulls

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

and Pitbull

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Now I dont know who to believe. This is so stupid.

The Bears putting a hit out on their first round pick. Believe Nagy and Smith.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Nagy needs to take over the org. I have no doubt he was behind the day 2 picks that rescued the off-season.

This coup needs to happen. He is the best football mind they have by a huge margin.

CAA is overplaying their hand here. Get the topic on the table of public opinion for next year's draft picks, but sign the fucking contract and don't rape anybody.

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"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

In fairness I think Pace is not happy with the situation either. Clearly not his doing. This has McCaskey/Phillips written all over it.

It's his guaranteed money for chrissakes.

But it doesnt seem like it is about money. If it was then no doubt it is Phillips behind it all.

Crazy situation.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Won't be necessary, I have been proven right. This kid is a nut job. Bad pick.

Whether this is a bad pick will be determined by what he does on the field. Nothing Else.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

He's already making trouble. Dude wants a free pass so he can do shit like slug his girlfriend and not get his $$ taken.

Day 20 of the holdout. Tremaine Edmunds would look dope on this defense.

parkins was kind of funny yesterday... spent all day Tuesday giving it to the bears for not caving on the suspension/helmet issue... then spent yesterday after the haugh report saying tom condon is trying to stick it to the bears, what is he doing? flip floppy

Waddle and Jurko in different camps on this. Waddle backs the Bears, Jurko backs Smith.

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Rick Hahn is the best GM in baseball.

This holdout is beyond pointless. It's a pure power play for each side trying to address a CBA issue with a single player.

You watch, he will eventually get in to camp and end up with a soft tissue injury that hampers him the entire year.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Awful pick

Hate to say it because I liked the pick at the time but Bob is right. This guy is drama and like dolphin said, something will go wrong with him physically as soon as he gets on the field. Da Bears.

Good Dolphin is correct in that this is a symptom of some issues with the overall CBA..that being said...I will go back to what Urlacher said this weekend "I told my agent, I won't miss camp".

The agent works FOR THE PLAYER, not the other way around. At this point, we should absolutely question this kids passion for the game. It obviously does not mean as much to him as it does others.

Urlacher also played in an era when rookie contracts were all about money. I stand with the worker on this.

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Be well

GO BEARS!!!

Smith's money is guaranteed(slotted). Lach's wasn't. So it makes Smith look even worse. We drafted a bum

At first I was sympathetic to Smith. Be a good client, take the extra week and wring out some concessions which other players can use as precedent.

But at this point, fuck him. Until he shows up to camp and plays well enough to make me think that he'll have a better career than Dante Jones, he's Stan Thomas or Curtis Enis.

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"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal

I'm not sure that Smith's agents agree with you. They seem to be heading towards the Scott Boras approach, where the player is expected to feel fortunate that Boras will consider representing him.

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"When people want their version of the truth, they go find it, no matter how baseless their beliefs." -- Ken Rosenthal