NEWSLETTER
We’ve obsessively kept an eye on an Allen Robinson II extension all year, only to see nothing happen.
And soon, the free-agent-to-be will simply just be a free agent:
Allen Robinson said one could speculate on his feelings with a potential franchise tag from the Bears: "I plead the fifth on that."
— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) January 11, 2021
"Right now, everything is on the table." – #Bears WR Allen Robinson when asked about what's next.
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) January 11, 2021
"I feel like we've had an opportunity to get something done over the past 365 days." #Bears WR Allen Robinson on his upcoming offseason without a contract.
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) January 11, 2021
It sure sounds like Robinson (1) wants nothing to do with the Franchise Tag and (2) is ready to embrace free agency. And that makes sense. It’s absolutely understandable why Robinson would want to avoid the Franchise Tag. He’s still in the prime of his career and should want long-term contract security. And it makes sense as to why he would be willing to put everything on the table, as his play should be enough to merit the type of contract he desires.
What’s frustrating about this whole situation is that it should’ve never come to this. We, as a site, have been discussing the need to get a Robinson extension done sooner, rather than later since November 28, 2019.
That’s 410 days for those of you keeping track at home. Robinson, himself, first expressed an interest in signing an extension with the Bears on December 18, 2019. That’s a span of 390 days, if you’re still keeping tabs. GM Ryan Pace has preached patience, which is a sentiment echoed by Head Coach Matt Nagy. We’ve taken stabs at what a deal could look like, explored how the market has changed with other receivers signing deals, and even written through times when there was optimism surrounding the possibility of a deal.
But let’s be honest, the Bears should’ve never reached Allen Robinson extension saga phase. A deal should’ve been done long ago, and Robinson is expressing that by saying: “I feel like we’ve had an opportunity to get something done over the past 365 days.”
I sure hope this isn’t the first sign that we’ve seen the last of Allen Robinson II wearing a Bears uniform (and it doesn’t help that massive front office changes could (should?) be on the way).
