By this point most Chicago Bears fans were losing hope. Alshon Jeffery, the best receiver the team has ever drafted in the Super Bowl era, could be leaving. After failing to use the franchise tag on the 26-year old for a second time, it seemed like GM Ryan Pace was content to let him walk. Inexplicable thinking from the perspective of others.
You're bringing in a new quarterback and letting your best receiving threat leave at the same time? Does not compute. However, it seems the thread isn't cut just yet. Ian Rapoport indicates the two sides haven't broken off contact just yet.
Initially there is a surge of relief and hope at that news. However, as logic begins to set in one realizes there are a number of possibilities in play. Not all of them in favor of the Bears. Two scenarios stick out as the most likely.
HALF FULL: MARKET IS COLDER THAN PREDICTED
The assumption throughout the past few months was that Jeffery was destined for a huge pay day when free agency opened. At least one team would mean his asking price, which many feel shoots above $15 million per year. A number the Bears aren't willing to meet. However, are people not giving the rest of the NFL enough credit? No team knows Jeffery better than Chicago. So if they're not willing to pay him that much, what do they have in terms of inside information that an outsider wouldn't? Then there is the fact that he's not exactly hitting the market on a high note. The past two seasons he's missed 11 games (7 for injury and 4 for a PED suspension). He also hasn't reached 1,000 yards for two-straight years. [video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Jay-Cutler-hits-Alshon-Jeffery-in-the-head-with-a-pass-Bears-vs-Vikings-2016.mp4"][/video] Not exactly the conduct of a #1 wide receiver. Sean Wagner-McGough of CBS Sports broke down how the Bears may have played this angle perfectly."But maybe Pace is onto something. By not tagging Jeffery, he’s letting Jeffery see what kind of offers he can garner on the open market, which sorta seems like a stupid move because the Bears have a ton of cap space and very easily could’ve tagged Jeffery for a second straight year. But it also could end up being a smart move. If the Bears had tagged Jeffery, they probably wouldn’t have reached a long-term agreement with him, because he likely would’ve wanted to test his worth in free agency after the 2017 season. By letting Jeffery test his worth now -- after a disappointing season that included a suspension -- the Bears are betting that he won’t find the kind of money he’s anticipating. And that could drive down the price Jeffery is asking the Bears for, which would increase the likelihood of them signing him at a price they have in mind. In short, this could be the best time for the Bears to let Jeffery test the market."The rest of the NFL saw what the top of the market will look like when the Steelers gave Antonio Brown his new extension. A five-year deal worth $68 million at roughly $17 million per year. Right below him is A.J. Green at $15 million per year. Teams will see right away that Jeffery is nowhere close to the same level of production those two have been. At this point it becomes clear Alshon won't get the huge raise he'd expected. Thus his renewed talks with the Bears.
HALF EMPTY: AGENT IS USING BEARS TO DRIVE UP PRICE
Then there is the much shadier business angle that could be in play. Agents have one job: do anything and everything in their power (legally) to get the best possible deal for their client. It's not unrealistic to think that Jeffery's representative didn't care for some of the numbers he was hearing when sending out feelers to other teams.At risk of ending up with an offer below their hopes, he decides to employ a creative tactic. How does one force other teams to increase their prices? By making them think that their target is beginning to lean towards returning to his current team. So he leaks some information to a respected insider (Rapoport) indicating that he's met with the Bears. It went very well and a potential reunion is quite possible. Now the more desperate teams are forced into a decision: call the bluff or up their offer. Odds are good that at least one of them will approach the number that Jeffery wants. It's a somewhat dirty tactic from the Bears' perspective. Yet it's all part of what makes up the business of pro sports. As March 9th and the opening of free agency approaches, a clearer picture will begin forming as to which idea is more likely.
