Chicago Bears miss on key free agent the franchise was hoping to sign
The Chicago Bears are building a hard-nosed, blue-collar culture under new general manager Ryan Poles and new head coach Matt Eberflus. Poles has made it a point to sign a certain type of player this offseason — tough players who are mean and aren't afraid of playing physical for 60 minutes every Sunday. Offensive lineman […]
The Chicago Bears are building a hard-nosed, blue-collar culture under new general manager Ryan Poles and new head coach Matt Eberflus.
Poles has made it a point to sign a certain type of player this offseason — tough players who are mean and aren't afraid of playing physical for 60 minutes every Sunday.
Offensive lineman Lucas Patrick, who was signed by the Bears to a two-year deal earlier this month, is the poster boy for the type of player Chicago is targeting — nasty and has an attitude on the field.
“He’s a prick, and he knows it, and that’s how he survives, and that’s what we need up front,” said Poles of Patrick on Monday at the NFL owners meetings. “Just doing it myself, that’s contagious. Other people either have got to go with it or you just don’t fit in. That’s going to improve the rest of the group and we’re going to keep adding guys like that.”
The Bears hoped to sign another player like Patrick in offensive lineman Ryan Bates.
Chicago made a strong offer to Bates and it looked like he would be joining the Bears.
Bates, however, is a restricted free agent. And the Buffalo Bills decided to match the offer that Chicago made to Bates, which means the offensive lineman is heading back to the AFC East in 2022.
“It stinks,” said Poles of missing on Bates. “But that’s part of the (restricted free-agent) process. So we’ll adjust and we’ll keep adding players. It’s out of your control. It’s just part of the deal where you put your best foot forward and we did. We came strong, and that’s given back to their team, and it’s up to them whether they want to match it. It is what it is. We’ll adjust like everything else.”
Missing on Bates is another tough break for the Bears this offseason. Protecting quarterback Justin Fields has to be the top priority in 2022. Chicago needs to quickly find a way — either via trade or free agency — to continue to add to their offensive line.
Featured image via David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
