Bears GM Addresses Roquan Smith's Trade Request, Wants to Sign LB to New Contract

Ryan Poles acknowledged in a press conference that there is no guarantee that Roquan Smith will stay with the Bears.

Poles said his job was to build a roster that would sustain success for a long time. We have to do what's best for the Bears.

The GM said that he wanted to make sure Roquan was on the team.

The comments came in response to Smith publicly announcing a trade request.

The new regime doesn't care about me. Smith said that they've refused to negotiate in good faith and every step of the journey has been "take it or leave it."

The Bears have just one winning season in the last nine years and Poles is trying to change that. The team had to replace their head coach and general manager.

Some veterans are leaving in free agency under the new administration. Mack was traded to the LA Clippers in March.

Smith has earned second-team All- Pro honors in each of the last two seasons.

He added three sacks and a pick-six to his 163 tackles and ranked fifth in the league.

The Bears will have to make a decision on whether to sign Smith to an extension, trade him or let him go next year.