In the latest episode of Sports Mockery’s Bears show, Bears Film Room, Dave and Ficky break down a major controversy currently surrounding the Chicago Bears. Here’s a look at what they discussed—and you can watch the full episode below.
Collusion At The Highest Level
The Bears are entangled in a growing NFL controversy after a report from Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio and journalist Pablo Torre. A previously undisclosed ruling from January 2025 by system arbitrator Christopher Droney reveals that the NFL Management Council—backed by Commissioner Roger Goodell—urged all 32 teams, including the Bears, to limit fully guaranteed contracts for veteran players. This directive was reportedly given during a March 2022 owners meeting.
The 61-page ruling, which had been kept confidential by both the NFL and NFLPA, indicates the league's intent to avoid massive guaranteed deals like the $230 million contract Deshaun Watson received from the Cleveland Browns.
The Bears, notably, have never given a veteran a fully guaranteed contract. While they have guaranteed money in rookie deals for players like Caleb Williams, those smaller commitments appear to follow the league's broader strategy. The team’s current dispute with their 2025 second-round picks over guaranteed compensation underscores their conservative approach.
Florio and Torre broke the story on Pablo Torre Finds Out, highlighting key testimonies in the ruling from Goodell, quarterbacks Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray, Russell Wilson, and eight NFL team owners. Although Droney ultimately ruled that the NFLPA didn’t provide enough evidence to prove collusion, he did confirm that the league actively encouraged teams to steer away from full guarantees—raising major concerns over players rights and the legality of such guidance.
