The Roquan Smith saga has just gotten a tad more interesting and quite a bit more bizarre.
The Chicago Bears and their fifth-year linebacker are currently engaged in a standoff of growing proportions after Smith publicly requested a trade on August 9. The 25-year-old LB said in a statement that the Bears “have left me no choice other than to request a trade that allows me to play for an organization that truly values what I bring to the table.”
The Bears have not yet given Smith permission to seek a trade, and first-year general manager Ryan Poles responded to the LB’s trade request by doubling down on the team’s plans to keep Smith in Chicago.
Smith has been rumored to be negotiating on his own behalf and isn’t believed to have an agent representing him. But now, according to NFL insider Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, “a person purporting to represent Smith has been calling other teams in order to gauge potential trade interest.”
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Florio: ‘Potential Tampering Trap’ Is Being Set
While the Bears not giving Smith permission to seek a trade is one issue, another problem is that the person said to be calling other NFL teams on Smith’s behalf “isn’t an NFLPA-certified agent.”
This could present a potential tampering situation for teams that spoke to the individual claiming to represent Smith.
“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,” Florio wrote, adding:
“It’s unclear whether Smith would have any problems for attempting to instigate tampering. But this is far different than a team reaching out to a player or his agent. This is a player, who isn’t represented, trying to generate trade interest at a time when his current team has not authorized trade talks.”
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Smith Needs an Agent, Stat
Per the NFL’s anti-tampering policy, violations include: “Any public or private statement of interest, qualified or unqualified, in another club’s player to that player’s agent or representative, or to a member of the news media,” or “Any interference by a member club with the employer-employee relationship of another club or any attempt by a club to impermissibly induce a person to seek employment with that club or with the NFL.”
If Smith does get in trouble with the league for tampering, it would be for the latter infringement. “Any violation of this Anti-tampering Policy will subject the involved club and/or person to severe disciplinary action by the Commissioner,” the policy also notes, so Smith could be in some hot water.
Arguably, what he needs is an agent.
Smith operating without representation has not expedited or helped the process of getting an extension signed. Poles admitted on August 9 that it made the process more “difficult.”
Ryan Poles on negotiating with Roquan Smith without an agent: “It’s difficult. There are emotions involved. It’s tough.”
Perhaps former Bears safety Cam Worrell, who was with the team from 2003 to 2006, summed Smith’s situation up succinctly on Twitter:
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‘Potential Tampering’ Scandal Facing Bears Amid Roquan Smith Drama