Non-NFLPA licensed agent has been contacting golf equipment on behalf of linebacker Roquan Smith, NFL administration council memo says

LAKE FOREST, Sick. — The standoff between the Chicago Bears and linebacker Roquan Smith over contract negotiations took one other flip Monday when the NFL administration council despatched a memo to all 32 groups stating {that a} non-NFLPA licensed agent has been contacting golf equipment on behalf of the previous first-round decide.

In accordance with a replica of the memo obtained by ESPN, the administration council was knowledgeable by the NFLPA “that an individual by the identify of Saint Omni, who shouldn’t be an NFLPA licensed agent, is contacting golf equipment indicating that he’s representing Roquan Smith, who’s underneath contract to the Chicago Bears.”

The memo states that “Mr. Omni is prohibited from negotiating participant contracts or discussing potential trades on behalf of any NFL participant or potential participant or aiding in or advising with respect to such negotiations.”

On Aug. 9, Smith launched a press release by way of NFL Media stating that he has requested a commerce after failing to work out a contract extension with the Bears. The linebacker claims that the supply prolonged from Chicago “is one that will be dangerous for myself, and for the whole LB market if I signed it.”

That very same day, Bears normal supervisor Ryan Poles reiterated his want to work out a take care of Smith and that the entrance workplace had bestowed a suggestion with “record-setting items.”

Smith shouldn’t be at the moment registered as a consumer of any NFLPA licensed agent.

The linebacker was not seen at apply on Monday. After reporting to coaching camp on time, Smith was placed on the bodily unable to carry out (PUP) listing for the primary 12 practices. He handed a bodily and was activated off PUP on Aug. 10 however didn’t take part within the following day’s apply or the Bears’ preseason win over Kansas Metropolis regardless of being current at each.

The administration council’s memo referenced Article 48 of the NFL’s collective bargaining settlement that states participant contracts are to solely be negotiated with the participant, if he’s appearing on his personal behalf, or the participant’s NFLPA licensed agent.

The memo ended with a reminder of the league’s anti-tampering coverage, which states that “no membership is permitted to barter with a participant underneath contract to a different membership, or along with his licensed agent, or to debate a possible commerce with out the direct written permission of the participant’s employer membership.”