LAKE FOREST (Ill.) — The standoff between Chicago Bears Linebacker Roquan Smith The NFL management council sent Monday’s memo to all 32 NFL teams, stating that a nonNFLPA-certified agent was contacting clubs for the 2018 first-round pick.
ESPN obtained a copy the memo. It states that the NFL Players Association informed the management council that “a person by Saint Omni, who’s not an NFLPA-certified agent, was contacting clubs to indicate that he is representing RoquanSmith, who is currently under contract to the Chicago Bears.”
The memo says that Omni cannot negotiate player contracts, discuss potential trades for any NFL player or prospective NFL player, or assist in or advise with respect to such negotiations.
Smith made a statement via NFL Media Tuesday that stated that he wanted to trade after not being able to agree on a contract extension. The Chicago offer was “unfavorable for me and the entire LB market if it is signed.”
Ryan Poles, Bears general manger, reiterated his desire for Smith to sign a deal and stated that the front office had made an offer with “record-setting parts”.
Smith is not a registered client of any NFLPA certified agent.
The linebacker wasn’t present at practice Monday. Smith was not able to report to training camp on-time and was placed on the physically unfit to perform (PUP), list for the first 12 practices. Although he passed a physical, Smith was activated from PUP Wednesday. He did not participate the next day in practice or in the Bears’ preseason win over Kansas City.
The memo from the management council referred to Article 48 of NFL’s collective bargaining agreements, which stipulates that player contracts must be negotiated only between the player and the NFLPA-certified agent.
The memo concluded with a reminder about the league’s antitampering policy. This states that clubs are not allowed to negotiate with players who are under contract to other clubs or with their certified agent.