It's a thin crop of UFA WRs and even thinner now so it makes some sense that some teams will eventually look at RFAs. We could have spend $2.9 mil and tendered him at a second round level giving us a pick to replace him with if we decided not to match the offer.
I though Pace might have done that just to chase away offers but sitting with the cap position he was in, and with Meredith coming off an ACL injury, he probably didn't feel the need. The risk here is will someone else make an offer averaging more than $3 mil per year for him?
Suppose someone does?
We have the cap space to match any realistic offer so it's tough to see Pace not doing it and it may actually benefit us in the long run if we do end up signing Meredith to a longer term deal now than what it may cost once he's due to become a UFA next year.
Pace just letting other teams do his job for him; and he gets final say on if he's okay w/the price. Meredith has value, but it's not to much, a team gives him stupid money let him walk.
Pace just letting other teams do his job for him; and he gets final say on if he's okay w/the price. Meredith has value, but it's not to much, a team gives him stupid money let him walk.
It could also be a situation with someone like Meredith (or possibly Fuller as well) where Pace makes what he believes is a legitimate market value offer and the other side wants more. The easiest way to determine market value is to go out and let the market tell you what you are worth. Then we can match, or not, depending on the outcome.
From the Bears perspective there is risk (look at the back loading of Fuller's contract). But it also could provide a positive impact as it removes emotions from the negotiations, where the parties act as adversaries and all the ill will that it generates.
Pace just letting other teams do his job for him; and he gets final say on if he's okay w/the price. Meredith has value, but it's not to much, a team gives him stupid money let him walk.
It could also be a situation with someone like Meredith (or possibly Fuller as well) where Pace makes what he believes is a legitimate market value offer and the other side wants more. The easiest way to determine market value is to go out and let the market tell you what you are worth. Then we can match, or not, depending on the outcome.
From the Bears perspective there is risk (look at the back loading of Fuller's contract). But it also could provide a positive impact as it removes emotions from the negotiations, where the parties act as adversaries and all the ill will that it generates.
Last part is the most important. Fuller had a great year last year, but he missed all of the prev season and wasn't great the year before that, so the Bears took the emotions out of it, w/the right to match any offer. Let these players find out what the NFL thinks and then if it falls into their beliefs match it. But imagine the negotiations saying hey we like you but you sucked and were hurt(fuller) or Cam your best year was mostly from the slot and then were hurt so we'll give you x even if your latest on the field play is y.
Cam is entering his prime years (he's 25). He's got talent that would be a help to most NFL rosters, not as a #1, but certainly he's a very good WR. My hope is that the Bears get players who can be with Mitchell Trubisky for years to come - guys who can really grow with Trubisky for the long-haul. Meredith could be that kind of guy here with T.
As far as Meredith's "worth" I tend to agree with the poster here who says a player's worth is what teams are willing to pay for his talent. That is his worth. If the Bears feel Meredith is healthy, and has something significant to add to Trubisky's growth at QB - then open up and pay the man.
One last thought. Meredith was productive with less than stellar offenses, OCs & QBs. He could be amazing with Trubisky in a Nagy offense with REAL weapons around him. I'd nail him down to a multi-year contract. JMO.
Cam is entering his prime years (he's 25). He's got talent that would be a help to most NFL rosters, not as a #1, but certainly he's a very good WR. My hope is that the Bears get players who can be with Mitchell Trubisky for years to come - guys who can really grow with Trubisky for the long-haul. Meredith could be that kind of guy here with T.
As far as Meredith's "worth" I tend to agree with the poster here who says a player's worth is what teams are willing to pay for his talent. That is his worth. If the Bears feel Meredith is healthy, and has something significant to add to Trubisky's growth at QB - then open up and pay the man.
One last thought. Meredith was productive with less than stellar offenses, OCs & QBs. He could be amazing with Trubisky in a Nagy offense with REAL weapons around him. I'd nail him down to a multi-year contract. JMO.
I agree JABF...but remember it takes two to tango in that equation. The Bears may have offered a long term deal, but Meredith feels he is worth more. If I were his agent I don't know that I'd advise him to sign an offer sheet, go out and play well this season and cash in next season. From a Bears perspective they probably hope he signs an offer sheet as whatever it is, it will probably be less than what he'd garner next off season...hence why they tendered him so low.
Post by tragicslip on Mar 20, 2018 12:16:51 GMT -6
I love Meredith, but no hindsight shoulda from me. If a team wants to pay him big bucks, i'd be surprised if the bears matched. If they try and offer him something reasonable for a solid #2, marginal #1, then I doubt Pace lets him go. Ultimately, Nagy will have the ability to push for Cam and I actually trust this coach to have looked hard at our skill players.
Well, with Allen Hurns release, Chicago should price him out. If Cam gets too big an offer, Hurns could replace him. Not what I want, but could slide right in nicely.
Well, with Allen Hurns release, Chicago should price him out. If Cam gets too big an offer, Hurns could replace him. Not what I want, but could slide right in nicely.
Yep. Just posted a thread on that. He could easily be a hedge against Meredith receiving an offer Pace doesn't want to match. IMHO if the price is right I might sign him anyway.