All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith said the Bears have “refused to negotiate in good faith” and that the team has left him “no choice” but to request to be traded.
Smith penned a statement that was posted to social media by NFL Network on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old linebacker wrote that the “new front office regime doesn’t value me here,” after Smith says he had been trying to work on an extension since April.
“They’ve refused to negotiate in good faith,” Smith wrote. “Every step of this journey has been ‘take it or leave it.’ The deal sent to me is one that would be bad for myself, and for the entire LB market if I signed it.”
#Bears All-Pro LB Roquan Smith has requested a trade. pic.twitter.com/x4vmOMhROt
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 9, 2022
Roquan Smith has requested a trade from the Bears, saying they’ve “refused to negotiate in good faith” during contract talks @brgridiron pic.twitter.com/MA7qGcTRPF
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) August 9, 2022