July 30,2018
Bears LB Roquan Smith is one of only two first-round picks that have not signed contracts with their teams yet. There was a lot of speculation as to why he was holding out so long, especially when training camp is now under way. Multiple news outlets are reporting that Smith holding out is related to the NFL’s new helmet rule. According to these outlets, Smith wants it written into his contract that he won’t lose any guaranteed money if he is suspended as a result of the new rule.
The new helmet rule prohibits players from using their helmet to initiate contact with an opponent. This was obviously put in place in an ongoing effort by the NFL to reduce potential injuries, but specifically injuries to the head. The goal is to keep players safer on the field, and reduce the amount of head injuries that can result in players being diagnosed with CTE later in life.
I don’t believe Smith is in the wrong here. He is looking for specific language in his contract that protects him if he needs it down the road. In fact, other players from the Bears and other teams have gotten similar language put into their contracts. The issue is that the Bears don’t want to use a very specific language in Smith’s contract that sets a precedent for other players to demand the same thing down the line. Smith and his camp are just trying to make sure that he doesn’t lose money over a potential accidental hit to an opponent’s head.
Since this is a new rule, nobody is sure how the refs will be calling it throughout the season. You can’t blame Smith for wanting to make sure he doesn’t lose a bunch of money in case he gets unrightfully called for this foul.
At the end of the day, I think Smith is making the right decision to protect himself and guarantee he gets paid what he deserves. It just doesn’t make sense for him to sign without this language in his contract, and potentially lose a lot of money due to bad calls. This kind of holdout will become more common as time goes on since more rules regarding hits to the head will undoubtedly be created. I think the Bears need to hurry up and get this contract done, so they can get their potential defensive leader on the field.
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