The Chicago Bears’ offseason got off to a difficult start two weeks ago. It felt like GM Ryan Poles landed a solid opening salvo when the team reached an agreement with defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi. The veteran was coming off a career year in Cincinnati, where he delivered seven sacks. He looked like the perfect three-technique interior pass rusher necessary for Matt Eberflus’ new 4-3 defense. Then not long after that, news broke that the deal had been declared null and void.
Ogunjobi had failed the team physical. Poles was unwilling to risk paying $13.5 per year to a player that still wasn’t healthy. Ogunjobi had suffered a foot injury in January during the playoffs. It became clear he still wasn’t fully recovered from it. The Bears GM couldn’t risk spending that kind of money on damaged goods. So he decided to back out of the deal. During a discussion with Bears media down at the NFL owners meetings, he admitted having that conversation was gutwrenching.
He also believes the entire process could’ve and should’ve been avoided.
THREAD: A ton to get to from a candid session with #Bears GM Ryan Poles, including him calling the Larry Ogunjobi ordeal "emotionally draining." He sat with Ogunjobi in the backseat of a car and explained to him why they couldn't sign him. "It tore me to pieces," Poles said.
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) March 28, 2022
Poles mentioned that he thinks "the process is flawed" and that teams should have access to medical information earlier. Mentioned that it's something that should be addressed in future league meetings.
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) March 28, 2022
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Poles also confirmed that Ogunjobi's failed physical was in regards to the foot. He didn't want to go into details, but did say: "It wasn't what it should have been, if that makes sense." https://t.co/350cVOgBBU
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) March 28, 2022
It speaks to the person Poles is that he was willing to meet with Ogunjobi in person to deliver the news. Not many GMs would probably do that. Especially not in a one-on-one atmosphere like that back of a card. A classy gesture, if nothing else. Nobody can say what the future holds for the defensive tackle right now. Teams might be waiting it out, giving the foot more time to heal. Poles even said he’d love to revisit signing him, but things haven’t reached that point.
After the Ogunjobi fallout, Chicago quickly pivoted to signing Justin Jones, recently of the Los Angeles Chargers. He had three sacks in 11 games last season and brought a reputation as an underrated run defender. While not the player they were hoping for, he should still be able to contribute.
Larry Ogunjobi fiasco showed Poles doesn’t fear tough decisions
Remember that move was the GM’s first big one of his tenure in Chicago. He’d only handed out minor contracts to depth players or shipped others out until then. Ogunjobi was supposed to be his first big acquisition. Some guys wouldn’t have been willing to take it on the chin publicly. Yet Poles adhered to his original philosophy. Medicals were going to be a driving force behind every significant decision they make.
Larry Ogunjobi is a good player, but the Bears’ doctors wouldn’t declare him fit to play football. So the GM made the tough (but correct) choice. Losing out on a good player is bad, but signing one that may never stay healthy is much worse. Poles protected the long-term interests of his franchise. That is commendable.
What happens next is anybody’s guess.
Thus far, the Bears have remained mostly passive in free agency. Jones, Byron Pringle, Lucas Patrick, and Nicholas Morrow make up the only notable moves they’ve made. They tried to sign guard Ryan Bates away from Buffalo, but that fell through. The team has plenty of work left to do before this roster can be declared ready for next season.
