It’s been a rollercoaster of a week for Bears fans.
Following a miraculous fourth-quarter comeback against the Lions — which featured 21 unanswered points in the final quarter — Allen Robinson’s frustrations with contract negotiations soon dominated headlines.
After Robinson scrubbed his social media accounts of all Bears references, his teammates took to Twitter to voice their belief that Robinson deserves to get his extension and there were even trade rumors swirling amid frustrating contract negotiations.
But Bears chairman George McCaskey gave an encouraging update on WGN Radio on Friday regarding Robinson’s contract situation.
“Ted (Phillips) gave me an update yesterday and we’re very optimistic,” McCaskey said.
#Bears chairman George McCaskey on @wgnradio on Allen Robinson's contract situation:
"Ted (Phillips) gave me an update yesterday and we're very optimistic."
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) September 18, 2020
Now, that’s certainly no guarantee that a deal will be happening anytime soon, or even at all. But it sounds like the Bears are doing everything they can to make sure they sign their best offensive player to a long-term deal.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano shined a light on where contract negotiations were being stalled. The Bears were looking to pay Robinson around $15-16 million per year, which is in line with what the Rams paid receiver Cooper Kupp recently. Meanwhile, Robinson wants to be paid in the $18 million per year range, which is what guys like the Chiefs’ Tyreek Hill and Browns’ Odell Beckham Jr. have received.
If the Bears aren’t willing to pay Robinson what he feels he deserves, it’s believed he’d ask to seek a trade to a team that will.
We’ll see whether or not the Bears manage to get something done ahead of Sunday’s game against the Giants.