Chicago Bears: 3 takeaways from Roquan Smith’s first interview

After nearly a month-long holdout, Chicago Bears rookie linebacker Roquan Smith addressed the Chicago media for the first time during training camp. Here are three key things Smith mentioned in the interview.

Some fans of the Chicago Bears grew very concerned as first-round draft pick Roquan Smith continued his contract holdout four weeks into training camp. It seemed as if the front office, Smith, and his agents were deadlocked over contract specifics regarding the new hitting rules implemented by the NFL this season. Smith finally signed his contract on Monday.

The contract is a four-year, $18.4 million deal that includes very specific language about how some of Smith’s guaranteed money is protected in the event he is suspended because of any of the NFL’s rules for defenders, including the new rule additions. As long as Smith isn’t suspended for three games or more because of a penalty, the Bears cannot void any of his guaranteed money.

It’s extremely unlikely that Smith will be suspended three or more games just because he violated a defensive rule. The only NFL player to be suspended for that length just for violating on-field rules is Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict, who has quite the reputation of being a dirty player.

With Smith finally at practice, fans and media were eager to see what he had to say about his holdout and his goals for getting into football shape for the upcoming season. Here are three key takeaways from Smith’s conversation with the media.