When the Bears waited as long as they did to announce they were placing the Franchise Tag on Allen Robinson, there was a belief they were doing so in order to squeeze out some last-ditch extension talks before doing the inevitable.
As it turns out, that didn’t happen:
Just got off the the phone with #Bears WR Allen Robinson before his afternoon workout. "As far as I understand we haven't had talks on a contract since September, but I am not anxious about it."
— IG: JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 15, 2021
Robinson has made his displeasure about the contract talks situation known, most notably in February when it was reported that “at no point have the Bears presented a deal that his camp deems reasonable.” That we’re still here one month later is unsettling.
So, essentially, this means the Bears didn’t even try to talk shop before putting the Franchise Tag on him. Which … isn’t a great way to go about doing business. Not with your best offensive player. And not when you’re trying to paint your situation as one that quarterbacks would want to join. I suppose the Bears were wise to use whatever leverage they had with the tag, but at what point does it become counterproductive to work like this?
Maybe the Bears are waiting for a team (Jets?) to make a sweetheart deal that sends worthwhile draft-pick capital to them in a Robinson deal. Or perhaps the Bears are playing patiently, letting the market settle, allowing *EVERYTHING ELSE* to get squared away, and then talking shop. Even if that’s the case, it’s an awful risk at a time when this front office should be asserting itself in the market.
Sigh. If only this could’ve been avoided a year ago at this time….