The Chicago Bears immediately addressed their running back position upon opening free agency. They signed veteran D’Andre Swift, fresh off a 1,000-yard season in Philadelphia. GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus both felt he was the kind of versatile weapon the team lacked at the position over the past couple of years. Many people might be surprised to hear that they were just as active on another top free agent. That was former Pro Bowler Saquon Barkley.
Here is where it gets fun. The New York Giants hoped to bring Barkley back on a new deal but were reluctant to put up top money, having already overpaid to keep Daniel Jones. However, the latest episode of Off-Season Hard Knocks revealed that the negotiations hit a big snag. The price kept going up. GM Joe Schoen revealed in a clip that the Bears were responsible for that. As the Giants wrestled with that, Chicago then pivoted at the last season to grab Swift for $24 million over three years.
That took him away from the Eagles, who then decided to make a determined push for Barkley, stealing him from New York for $37.75 million. The hilarious part is the Bears likely knew their chances of landing the running back were slim, but they drove the price up anyway, knowing it would make life miserable for the Giants.
Manipulating the Saquon Barkley market was brilliant by the Bears.
It weakened one of their potential roadblocks to an NFC playoff berth. New York is forced to move forward with Devin Singletary as the primary back, which is a significant downgrade. Philadelphia managed to snag Barkley but lost star center Jason Kelce to retirement. So, it is difficult to tell what his impact will be. Meanwhile, the Bears casually came away with Swift on an affordable deal while messing with the NFC East from afar. It may not guarantee anything this season, but it is a reminder that Poles understands how to play the game.
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There are many ways to make life easier for your team. One way is to make it more difficult for others by driving up bidding wars for players you have no intention of signing or by putting out false information that you aim to draft a certain player. Former GM John Dorsey is famous for tactics like this. It seems Poles is the same way. Maybe he did have some interest in Saquon Barkley. Yet there is no way he would’ve stayed in the race despite knowing there was no shot unless he knew he could mess with the Giants.
@Dr. Melhus —
To mischaracterize the evidence, of Ryan Poles’ ineptitude and eschew it, as if it were my personal “bias” which you purport, “. .makes many of us prone to just ignore. .” it — does not refute the evidence I present.
You merely have self-identified as one of those “many of us” currently embracing ignorance.
Hello Dr. Melhus – – “Your bias makes your posts less meaningful, less impactful, and makes many of us prone to just ignore you!” – – Nicely done! Let me say this Dr. Melhus – – As a working professional, you have probably experienced more than a few colleagues in your profession (as I have), who “think” they are the smartest one in the room. They CRAVE attention, always the – squeaky wheel – but in the end they fall short, their LACK of overall knowledge on full display. Enter Tina Gena – – I’ll illustrate this another way: As… Read more »
@TGena: Or, maybe, the giants plan was to underpay Swift and Singletary, and Poles swooped in, realizing that Swift had more value, with a fair contract to get a versatile back who could make the Bears better without breaking the bank. You assume Schein’s evaluation is right and Poles’s is an overpay, but we have no evidence that is the case. As @HeHateMe pointed out, your bias makes your posts less meaningful, less impactful, and makes many of us prone to just ignore you.
Why am I supposed to care about the Giants? Or the Vikings internal personal issues that will have minimal affect on our season? Are you trying to kiss ESPN’s ass, Eric? Looking for a national job? I seriously don’t get it and don’t care to read this at all.
Rookies reported, Veterans in 2 days, HOF game in 2 weeks, Please find some good pertinent material to write on.
Oh the irony Tina Gina, who speaks of someone never learning.
Why can’t you follow your own advice and leave. That herpes cream isn’t working as planned. No one cares or reads your rubbish. We scan the comments and find you sticking out like a sick limb with all red negatives, like you failed your health checks.
Go get a second opinion on the packers page. You’re not wanted here.