The pursuit of Mike Glennon was potentially more difficult than other free agents, which was good news for the Chicago Bears. Things have changed just before the free agency period.
The free agency tampering period begins today, and lasts two days until actual free agency starts. Teams are permitted to contact agents and discuss various details about contracts, but can’t actually commit to a contract. Before yesterday, this posed an interesting dilemma for free agent Mike Glennon.
According to @gregauman, QB Mike Glennon has hired David Dunn as his new agent. This gives him the chance to start negotiating tomorrow.
— Aaron Leming (@AaronLemingNFL) March 6, 2017
Glennon’s new agent, David Dunn, represents Aaron Rodgers and has negotiated two of the richest contracts in NFL history. The combination of seeing Aaron Rodgers’ name and an agent with the propensity for negotiating massive contracts should be enough to scare away the Chicago Bears’ front office, not to mention turn the stomachs of fans.
Hiring an agent just days before the tampering period is a smart move by Glennon. Simply put, without an agent, teams may enter into negotiations with agents, but not players. So no agent means no discussions until two days after all other free agents. With an agent, however, teams may enter into negotiations with players via their agents. And that appears to be an act for which Chicago may be preparing.
When the tampering period begins, expect the #Bears to make a major push for FA QB Mike Glennon, and I'm told Chicago is his preferred spot
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 7, 2017
What’s the old saying? Something like, “Be careful what you wish for, because if you wish hard enough you’ll get it”? Buyer beware. Glennon is expecting huge money.
Report: Buccaneers offered Mike Glennon $8 million per season https://t.co/omjfzuy9IV #Bucs pic.twitter.com/nwbW8cRXVI
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@TampaBay_News) March 3, 2017
What would suffice? $10M per year? $12M per year? He must have put up some great stats to expect that kind of windfall. Think again. He only threw 11 more passes than Kyle Long last year, and the year before he tore it up with a TD/INT ratio of 10/6. (Note: That’s roughly the same ratio as Jay Cutler’s last few years.)
So to recap, the Bears are targeting a free agent whose throwing shoulder is covered in cobwebs, whose agent dives into gold piles like Scrooge McDuck, and whose resume includes sitting behind both Josh McCown and Josh Freeman?
The Chicago Bears would have been better off if he didn’t sign that agent. It would give them two more days to think twice about pursuing Mike Glennon.