Today is the first day for the franchise tag

might of been; but they gave him his new contract in 2020, if they were seeing a massive dip 2 years after his injury and still gave him a contract that is on them. I think, more then the play, the fact that for 3 straight years he's played 14, 12 and 12 games is the real reason they let him go though. 14 games in a 16 game season is fine, but 12 in a 17 is closing in on to much.

He better

That's a good use of the tag.  It gives the Bears and JJ more time to work something out.  And if he plays the entire season under the tag, hey, it's not the end of the world.  Yes, Poles is disciplined with the money.  Hopefully, over the long haul we don't get back into cap hell here - with under-performing old vets.