One of the weirdest early subplots of the 2021 offseason for the Chicago Bears centers on GM Ryan Pace. Common knowledge to this point says he is under contract for one more season. That makes him a lame duck for this year. A dangerous decision by team chairman George McCaskey given it will present challenges for the team luring any free agents.
Yet rumors have surfaced recently that at some point the organization quietly added one year to Pace’s deal. This in order to line him up with head coach Matt Nagy’s contract which runs through 2022. Where it gets weird is that the team refuses to discuss the topic. McCaskey, team president Ted Phillips, and Pace himself all dodged the question multiple times during their respective press conferences.
It is such an odd thing to be defensive about.
So what is the truth? Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune stated last week his belief that Pace received that one-year extension two years ago. A stance he reiterated again this week. While there is no public confirmation, his sources continue to insist the belief is the Bears gave the GM another year to ensure he’s lined up with his head coach.
“Before the 2019 season, a league source said the belief was the team at some point tacked a year on to Pace’s deal to sync with Nagy’s. That source reiterated the belief this season based on what he has been led to believe — not a declaration of fact. The team website states Pace is signed through 2021. Again, I’ve been told it’s 2022.”
Does the team think they might get in trouble for not announcing the extension? That is unlikely. Maybe they don’t want the fans to find out because Pace’s popularity has been on a steady decline since the start of 2019. If that information surfaced now? The backlash they’ve already received would only get hotter.
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Ryan Pace is on the hot seat with or without that extra year
McCaskey made it clear the two are expected to get the Bears to the next level. Making the playoffs two out of three seasons is fine but neither trip came away with a postseason win. They’ve also finished 8-8 two-straight years. Pace has gotten them to this point but prior mistakes have held the team back from truly making a run at the Super Bowl.
Nowhere is that more evident than quarterback. Mike Glennon? Flop. Nick Foles? Waste of time. Mitch Trubisky? A major disappointment. Pace’s failure to figure out that position has left the Bears mired in mediocrity. Yet the team is still willing to give him another chance. This despite limited cap space and no top 10 pick. This paints a clear enough picture of what is coming.
He’ll likely mortgage the future once again to save himself.
That either means trading picks to secure a top veteran or trading picks to move up in the 1st round to secure a top prospect. Keep in mind Ryan Pace already gave up several future picks in deals for Trubisky, Anthony Miller, Khalil Mack, and David Montgomery. It’s difficult to maintain a roster without a steady diet of highly-drafted players.
McCaskey basically gave the green light to this GM to do whatever he feels necessary. Even if it could cost the Bears down the road.
