Lake Forest, Ill. — The confrontation between the Chicago Bears and the linebacker Roquan Smith Contract negotiations took another turn Monday when the NFL governing body sent a memo to all 32 teams that an NFLPA-uncertified agent has contacted clubs on behalf of the 2018 first-round pick.
According to a copy of the memo obtained by ESPN, the board was informed by the NFL Players Association that “an individual named Saint Omni, who is not an NFLPA certified agent, is contacting clubs indicating that he represents Roquan Smith, who is under contract with the Chicago Bears.”
“Mr. Omni is prohibited from negotiating player contracts or discussing potential trades on behalf of an NFL player or prospective player, or from assisting in or advising on such negotiations,” the memo said.
On Tuesday, Smith released a statement via NFL Media saying he requested a trade after failing to work out a contract extension with the Bears. The linebacker said an extension offer from Chicago “would hurt me and the entire LB market if I signed.”
That same day, Bears general manager Ryan Boles reiterated his desire to sign Smith and said the front office made an offer with “record-setting pieces.”
Smith is not registered as a client of any NFLPA-certified agent.
The linebacker was missing from Monday’s practice. After reporting to training camp on time, Smith was placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list for the first 12 practices. He passed a physical and was activated from the PUP list on Wednesday, but did not participate in practice the next day or in either of the Bears’ win over Kansas City.
The executive committee’s memo refers to Section 48 of the NFL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, which states that player contracts must be negotiated only if the player is acting on his own behalf or with his NFLPA-certified agent.
The memo concluded with a reminder of the league’s anti-spoofing policy, which states that “no club is permitted to negotiate with a player under contract with another club or discuss a potential trade with his certified agent or without the express written consent of the player’s employer club.”
