Chicago Bears free agency: Safeties

Eric Weddle, 31

It looks like the Eric Weddle era is over in San Diego. Weddle got into a nasty dustup with the Chargers’ front office, specifically the general manager.

Weddle was not allowed (though he still went) to see his daughter’s halftime performance at the last home game. He was injured and could not play the last game in Denver, but he was not even allowed to take the team flight.

Weddle is playing at an All-Pro level, but the Chargers do not want to pay him, fearing his body won’t hold up later in the new contract. It looks as if their plan was to try to sully his reputation, make him appear like a malcontent, to soften the blow of losing him.

Weddle is 31, and the Chargers are looking for his physical dropoff. It is a little similar to what the Bears felt about Matt Forte (minus the acrimony).

While I do not like how the Chargers had to try to make Weddle look like a bad guy, they may be right about his production. He went from an All-Pro, Pro Bowl player in 2014, where he recorded 114 tackles, to an injured, albeit still good (not great) player who recorded 76 tackles in 2015.

While he may not reach All Pro levels again, Weddle may still have three solid years left. There will be plenty of teams knocking on his door when free agency starts. Will the Chicago Bears be one of them?

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