Possible Pace Long-Term Strategy on Meredith & other re-signings

[Starion]

https://dawindycity.com/2018/04/07/chicago-bears-ryan-pace-big-picture-free-agents/

Please read the linked article for FULL CONTEXT.

...Sure, telling these players to seek the best deal they can get and matching it might slightly inconvenience the Chicago Bears in some ways—maybe they have to fork up more guaranteed money than they want to, or that money is staggered in ways they wouldn’t have drawn up.

But it shows these free agents two things: that Pace respects their right to get paid as much as they can and that the Bears have no problem investing in them if they want to keep them around.

Pace is paying that little bit of extra money for the goodwill and respect of his players. For one thing, he has the cap space to do that. And moreover, he’s trying to make the Chicago Bears a franchise people want to play for...

 

[xer0h0ur]

Yet people still want to clown on Pace like he hasn't done anything right.

 

[RochBear]

https://dawindycity.com/2018/04/07/chicago-bears-ryan-pace-big-picture-free-agents/

Please read the linked article for FULL CONTEXT.

I have hopes for this approach. Heck, with luck the Bears become a highly desired landing spot for vets and like the Patriots get a lot of bargains in the process. The whole approach might not even cost cap space in the whole.

 

[Starion]

Good business means treating people right. It might cost a wee bit more in the short run, but pays immeasurable dividends in the long run.

Especially when pro athletes and their personalities are involved. Even if simply pragmatic, a player will want to join a team that gives a guy not only a better shot at earning the bigger/longer contract, but a better shot at winning.



On another note, it's interesting how in baseball, players are traded like crazy and never seem to get all dramatic about it, but in NFL everybody freaks about the rumor of a guy getting traded or let go even if simply due to differential fit or cap hits. (ie, Forte or "they LET Alshon go"). :facepalm:

 

[Bearly]

For those that don't think this is needed, all you have to do is look at last year's FA. Alshon and Marshall have been spreading crap and Pace needed to turn that into fertilizer.

 

[gilder121]

That's all fine. Just understand that other teams aren't stupid. If your team has the right of first refusal, the other team knows they have to outbid your maximum salary, so if they actually want the player, and aren't just helping you negotiate, they have to put the contract beyond what they think you will match (at least high enough to make you question it). Because of that, you have to be prepared to lose the players if another team decides to try that.

If you do lose him, understand that it happens after the majority of free agency, so your options to replace tend to be more limited.

 

[Visionman]

That's all fine. Just understand that other teams aren't stupid. If your team has the right of first refusal, the other team knows they have to outbid your maximum salary, so if they actually want the player, and aren't just helping you negotiate, they have to put the contract beyond what they think you will match (at least high enough to make you question it). Because of that, you have to be prepared to lose the players if another team decides to try that.

If you do lose him, understand that it happens after the majority of free agency, so your options to replace tend to be more limited.

Its definitely a risk...but a calculated one. And obviously Pace determined the rewards outweigh the risk. So far, he has been correct.