The Chicago Bears struck a deal over the weekend, but it’s not the most anticipated.
The Bears handed out a three-year contract extension to Tariq Cohen, valued at 18.25 million. The deal turned out to be a semi-surprise, not because Cohen was not raised, but instead, the news of the deal we expected from Halas Hall had to do with Alan Robinson.
The hubbub around the receiver got all the press while the bears work quietly to pay Cohen. The ongoing deal should not stop Chicago from paying Robinson in the coming weeks.
In fact, Cohen suggested he take less to help pay Robinson.
“Regardless of whether I’m mine or not, it’s definitely time for it,” Cohen told the Chicago Sun-Times. “I also left some money on the plate. I took less so he could get more, so to speak. I’ll see my boy expand. Surely that means a lot to the team.”
Whether Cohen left a large chunk of cash on the table – or let a responsible agent run to do so – is inconsistent in this case. The notable factor remains Allen’s teammate stumping to get a new contract for him.
Cohen and others in the Lennon tax room have been at the forefront of management pressure to kill Robinson, one of the league’s most underrated offensive weapons. It’s no surprise that while talking about his own deal, Cohen continued the campaign to get Robinson a salary.
With a franchise tag at his disposal, Chicago will have Robinson in the city this year as well, but it will make the team beautiful to make a deal and keep their top offensive player happy. It will also please the rest of the locker room.
