Alshon Jeffery Drops Latest Hint of Unlikely Bears Return

The Chicago Bears chose not to franchise tag Alshon Jeffery for a second time. GM Ryan Pace knows the decision was a difficult one but stated that sometimes a player has to test his value before reaching a decision. His words were quite logical, stating that it's much easier to overcome not signing a player than it was signing him at the wrong price. Put simply Jeffery is going to be a free agent. What nobody knows for sure is whether the Bears still have a chance to keep him. The franchise does have a history of being able to do that. They did it with Olin Kreutz and Lance Briggs. It's all about determining what other teams will offer and seeing if Chicago can match it. What nobody has bothered to ask is whether this sequence of events has really been about money. Recent comments by the receiver himself would seem to indicate the desire runs a bit deeper than that.

SO LONG. FAREWELL

Jeffery himself has remained quiet on the subject leading up to free agency. There is still a belief that the Bears may yet be able to bring him back depending on what the market ends up being for him. However, based on recent comments by the receiver to Josina Anderson of ESPN, the odds of that happening are remote. The funny thing is it has nothing to do with how much money is involved.

“I don’t have any hard feeling towards the Bears; it’s all love…Whatever the next chapter is, I’m ready for it. I’m looking at the teams that obviously need a wide receiver, but also put me in the best situation to win a championship right now….I also want to see what other free agents may be attracted to the same teams I’ll be looking at, that can help that goal.”

ALL ABOUT WINNING

It's apparent by this statement that Jeffery clearly believes the Bears aren't anywhere near being ready to make a run for a championship. That's fair given the fact they just finished going 3-13 and haven't made the playoffs since 2010. It is easy to forget that Alshon has played in the NFL for five seasons now and never experienced a postseason game. After watching that same curse happen to his former mentor Brandon Marshall, odds are he doesn't want to experience the same fate. Word is three teams are expected to make strong pushes for Jeffery when the market opens. The San Francisco 49ers unsurprisingly lead the way given their weak receiver situation and abundant cap space. Right behind them are the Tennessee Titans and Philadelphia Eagles, both looking to arm their promising young QBs with a legitimate weapon. For the Bears it definitely alters their offseason plans. Wide receiver will likely rise up their list of needs in both free agency and the draft. Kevin White and Cameron Meredith have flashed potential at the position but aren't at the same level of proven ability as Jeffery. At least not yet. Expect Pace and his front office to add another body to the competition within the next couple months.