Things haven’t gone to plan when it comes to extending Allen Robinson’s contract and time in Chicago. We’ve been discussing the idea of extending the Bears’ best pass-catcher since the winter of 2019. And yet, despite ample opportunities to make something happen in the 17 months since we first got the ball rolling, nothing has come to fruition.
And because there hasn’t been movement on a new deal, there have been some quiet concerns whether a lack of an extension — or even using the Franchise Tag — would lead to some level of animosity spilling over into a holdout. Instead, the plan is for Robinson to show up at Halas Hall as scheduled:
Bears WR Allen Robinson plans to be at minicamp tomorrow, per source—https://t.co/6sPMGaNj1J
— Jason Lieser (@JasonLieser) June 14, 2021
A source has informed Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times that Robinson will be at mandatory Bears minicamp starting on Tuesday. And that breeze you felt was a sigh of relief from Bears fans, who have seen holdouts throw a wrench into things both near and far.
Robinson sat out voluntary workouts and OTAs, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t been on the grind:
When it's time to battle, I'm the first one at the doeee!!! pic.twitter.com/EhCPj4GK9p
— Allen Robinson II (@AllenRobinson) June 14, 2021
This looks like the work of someone looking for a new contract. But also, looks like something we have come to expect from Robinson.
We saw how his work ethic helped prepare him for his first season with the Bears. Remember, he came to Chicago after injuring his ACL in his first game of his final year in Jacksonville. Then used that offseason to vigorously rehab. And the result has been the best single-game postseason performance from a Bears receiver in Year 1, followed by consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Making Bears franchise history while catching passes from Mitchell Trubisky, Chase Daniel, and Nick Foles is Impressive stuff.
Four years later, Robinson still works with the same effort and intensity. That’s impressive. To take things a step further, I hope others in the wide receivers room are watching and taking notes. Frankly, that 60-second clip serves as a reminder of why the Bears should be trying to re-sign Robinson. Players with high skill and strong work ethic don’t grow on trees. And if Robinson puts up another 100-catch and 1,000-yard season, the Bears better be ready to pony up.