Chicago Bears GM Phil Emery’s Spy Games Helped Land Jared Allen

Feb 20, 2014; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery speaks during a press conference during the 2014 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Phil Emery was his usual Phil Emery self when the Bears GM introduced his latest acquisition at Halas Hall the other day.  Like a proud papa, Emery shows off his players like they’re his own children.  Emery takes us into the process like none other.  In fact, part of the process that allowed the Bears to get Allen was the secrecy about which they pursued Allen.

Like in hunting, the element of surprise is a key to nabbing the prey.  Maybe that’s what appealed to Allen, a noted outdoorsman, who joked that the Bears “sniped” him.  He wasn’t kidding. No one really knew this move was happening and that’s just the way Phil Emery wanted it and he believed it was a key to landing Allen.

"‘‘The fact that we were able to do this quietly removed the counter [proposal] per se,’’ Emery said at an undisclosed location — OK, Halas Hall — on Monday. ‘‘We were able to get it. Jared felt that we were the right fit and we were going to continue through without getting out in the papers and allowing others to advance in terms of countering during the [negotiations]. It certainly helps.’’"