NEWSLETTER
Allen Robinson II spoke to the Chicago media at Halas Hall for the first time since singing his Franchise Tag tender.
And I must admit, it was a mixed bag.
The good news is that Robinson is at mandatory minicamp and participating. This is a positive development, especially knowing how contract disputes can often lead to players passing up mandatory camps, opting to pay fines instead.
Moreover, Robinson says he will arrive at training camp on time. That counts as another tally in the positive column. As does word from Robinson that he is prepared to play on a one-year deal. So, not only is Robinson showing up despite playing on a one-year deal, he’ll also get a full opportunity to work with Andy Dalton and Justin Fields this summer. Every bit helps.
Unfortunately, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows on the Robinson front:
Allen Robinson said of his contract future: "I don't have any updates. At the end of the day, it's out of my control."
— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) June 16, 2021
It’s not unsurprising that Robinson and the Bears haven’t made progress on a new deal. The two sides have been far apart for quite some time. Robinson’s camp and the Bears haven’t talked about an extension since September. And while reports from February suggested Chicago would give it another try on the extension front before tagging him, it is evident the Bears blew their chance to extend Robinson last year and have fumbled the bag ever since.
But because I’m the type who likes to find silver linings in dark clouds, allow me to present a new angle.
The Bears have 29 days to sign Robinson to the type of extension he seeks. Otherwise, Robinson will play the 2021 season on the Franchise Tag. And while an $18 million pay day is nothing to sneeze at, a player with Robinson’s credentials deserves some job security. Right?
There are 29 days between now and the deadline to come to a long-term contract agreement with designated Franchise players. So circle July 15 on the calendar pinned to your wall or at your office desk. Set a reminder in your phone, tablet, palm pilot, or whatever you use to track important dates. Because, in the grand scheme of things, pressure pushes things and deadlines get deals done. There has been just one firm deadline for the two sides to care about. And with the Franchise Tag deadline from earlier in the offseason in our rear-view mirror, we can focus on what’s next. Now that we have a hard and firm deadline ahead of us, let’s keep our eyes open to any movement. Especially when we get closer to the July 15 date.
For more from Robinson, you can check out the video below:
