Roquan Smith Returns to Bears Practice; Plans to Play out Contract amid Trade Request

According to the team website, Roquan Smith returned to training camp for the first time on Saturday.

Smith is holding out of practice in order to get a long term contract extension. He asked for a trade from the Bears on August 9.

Ian Rapoport reported Saturday that Smith will play out his contract and move forward.

Smith said that this is the last year of his contract and that he would bet on himself.

Adam Jahns @adamjahns

“I thought it was very distasteful.” — Bears LB Roquan Smith on the process of negotiating with the team.

The Bears were interested in making Smith the highest-paid LB in the league. Rapoport reported that Chicago's most recent offer to the veteran isn't a real highest-paid offer.

My understanding is that they could make him the highest-paid LB in the league. It is not a real high-paid offer. The last year has a high number and it makes the average high but it isn't real. They have asked him to do things that he doesn't want to do.

Smith wrote that the Bears have refused to negotiate in good faith when he made his trade request public.

This journey has been all about taking it or leaving it. Smith wrote that he would be bad for himself and the LB market if he signed the deal.

Ian Rapoport @RapSheet

#Bears All-Pro LB Roquan Smith has requested a trade. pic.twitter.com/x4vmOMhROt

Bears general manager Ryan Poles told reporters after Smith made his trade request that the team would still try to negotiate a deal for the veteran.

I have always believed that we should take care of our own talent in the front office. We pay them, we take care of them, and we also take everyone for what they have done and what they can do in the future. There's record-setting pieces of this contract that I thought was going to show him the respect that he deserved, but that hasn't been the case.

Rapoport reported during an appearance on 670 The Score that Smith wants a deal worth more than the one Leonard signed.

Smith was selected by the Bears in the first round.