No, Chicago Bears General Manager Ryan Poles didn’t shock drop his master plan for the team’s offseason.
But he gave us some nuggets. So rather than piece together a wordy intro, let’s just dive right in.
Ryan Poles shares hope for a quick resolution to QB decision
The Chicago Bears GM had one of those podium moments that made me go hmmm with an exchange basically went like this:
and I feel as if it hits all the right notes and c𝓰aptur𒉰es all the context of the situation:
“I would love to know as soon as possible. I would love to know but I know that’s not how the process works. Sure, before free agency would be good. Like I said, I’m also taking, if we were to do something with Justin, I want to do right by him and I know, again, living in that grey space, we would want to do something sooner rather than later. But just like I talk about with contracts, it takes two teams to figure that out, but at the same time, we’re also trying to figure out the draft process as well. There’s a lot of different things with different timelines going and that’s what makes it a little difficult.”
We have already explained why it 𝓡woul𒀰d behoove the Bears to work quickly to find clarity to their quarterback situation, so I won’t go down that beaten path. Instead, I want to focus on Poles’ handling of the situation. I like how Poles is keeping incumbent quarterback Justin Fields and his team in the loop instead of leaving everyone in limbo. Communication is king and we shouldn’t lose sight of that as we move through the offseason (and life, for that matter).
What if the Bears decide to draft a quarterback?
I’ll let ESPN’s Adam Schefter slide with clumsy wording of a tweet because it happens to the best of us. But I want to get to the meat of this:
REPORTER: If you decide to dr𝔍aft a quarterback, what is your motivation to trade Justin before free agency starts?
POLES: It just depends on what opportunities pop up. I will say this: I think you guys know me well enough now. If we do go down that road, I want to do right by Justin as well. No one wants to live in gray. I know that’s uncomfortable. I wouldn’t want to be in that situation either. So we’ll gather the information, we’ll move as quickly as possible. We’re not going to be in a rush and see what presents itself and what’s best for the organization.
I have a newfound appreciation for how Poles is taking Fields into account. The NFL can be a cold-hearted place, and I know that it gets lost in the sauce that so much of this is a people business. Folks can get lost in the numbers that come with stats and contracts and lose sight of the people who are wearing those jerseys, helmets, and pads. Few teams understand the people aspect as well as the Kansas City Chiefs, who happen to be Poles’ previous employer. And no head coach has a grasp of it like Andy Reid. Just something to keep in mind as we move along.
Was this a Freudian slip?
This clip was quick to make the rounds, so I figured I’d use this moment as a platform to discuss. First, here’s the clip:
REPORTER: You’ve made big trades before. Is there anxiety that comes with that for someone who would have to deliver that sort of news?
POLES: No, because I have faith in our ability to communicate with our guys. And when we do that, I think they’ll know it’s in the best interest of the team. I think, as we’ve moved along here, I think that the trust factor is there that they’re in good hands with however we decide.”
I think people are going to see that quote as a sign that Justin Fields is as good as gone. Whether he is or not isn’t why I brought up this clip. What stands out for me is Poles’ confidence in his ability to communicate and the comfort level he and his players have.
Trust is so important in the team-building process. And if you’ll recall, it wasn’t always like this. Remember how the Roquan Smith contract situation went down? There wasn’t much trust on either side of the aisle when both sides were airing out their dirty laundry. But it seems as if Poles has gotten it together on that front and it shows in what is being relayed right now. That “development isn’t linear” line we lean on when discussing players could also apply to the GM.
Jaylon Johnson extension watch
We have been banging the table for the Bears to come to🌠 an extension agreement with cornerback Jaylon Johnsꦬon for 439 days. Not that I’ve been counting or anything. But I did go back to see when our campaign began, and it turns out it was December 15, 2022. That was a tumultuous winter for many reasons, but I digress. Because here we are, 439 days later, and we’ve got Bears GM Ryan Poles saying the team is “coming strong” () with an offer.
Poles came off as optimistic when the conversation was about a potential Johnson extension. It sounds like the team is in the process of getting a deal done, so I can’t blame him for feeling that way. Chicago’s GM added that he hopes to avoid using the Franchise Tag on Johnson. The Bears have one week to avoid using the tag, as the deadline to designate Franchise or Transition Tag players is March 5.
