If it were up to Bears general manager Ryan Pace, wide receiver Alshon Jeffery would be at Halas Hall working out with his teammates. But Jeffery isn’t.
Pace said Jeffery remains in Florida for his training, even through the voluntary portions of the Bears’ offseason program have started.
It’s a peculiar move because Jeffery and the Bears remain in negotiations for a long-term contract. Jeffery signed his $14.6 million franchise tag tender in March.
A deal is not expected soon, but the Bears and Jeffery’s camp, led by agent Tory Dandy, have until July 15 to come to an agreement.
Pace, though, said he expects Jeffery to report for the mandatory parts of the Bears’ training since he’s technically under contract after signing his tender. Veteran minicamp opens on June 14.
“In a perfect world, would we like him to be here with his teammates and building those relationships? Sure,” Pace said Monday. “But I also understand it’s voluntary, and that’s the action he’s chosen to take.
“It’s kind of a day-to-day talk as we discuss things with him and his agent. Right now, it’s voluntary. It’s kind of his personal choice.”
Pace said the Bears’ training staff and Jeffery have worked together on his individual offseason program. Jeffery appeared in only nine games last season because of various lower-body, soft-tissue injuries, which started in training camp.
“He’s communicating with a plan that he’s doing, and it’s stressing how hard he’s working and some of the biomechanical things that he’s doing,” Pace said. “Talking to him and his agents, they understand the importance — as we do — of him having a healthy season. I know that’s in the front of his mind.”
Pace continued to describe contract talks with Jeffery as cordial, but offered no signs that a deal is imminent.
“It’s been productive, but not a lot of new information there,” Pace said.
Despite missing time, Jeffery still was the Bears’ best most productive last season, making 54 catches for 807 yards and four touchdowns.
It’s believed that Jeffery is looking for a new contract that’s in line with the big deals signed by Dez Bryant (Cowboys), A.J. Green (Bengals), Demaryius Thomas (Broncos) and Julio Jones (Falcons) last year.
The Bears, meanwhile, have looked at some of the top receivers in this year’s draft, including Mississippi’s Laquon Treadwell, a Crete-Monee graduate, Baylor’s Corey Coleman and Notre Dame’s Will Fuller.
Does Pace view Jeffery’s absence as a negotiating ploy?
“I think a lot of these franchise players haven’t reported to their teams,” Pace said. “I don’t know how I view it. I wish he was here, but it’s voluntary, so it is what it is.”
