Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery will play the 2016 season under the franchise tag, as expected.
The NFL deadline for players under the tag to sign long-term extensions passed at 4 p.m. EDT Friday, and the negotiating stalemate between Jeffery's camp and the Bears front office did not end.
That means the standout receiver will make $14.6 million this season in a second consecutive contract year. With Friday's deadline past, Jeffery and the Bears cannot finalize a long-term deal until after the season. But the Bears will have plenty of time to negotiate with Jeffery exclusively, if they so desire, before free agency begins in March.
Jeffery led the Bears with 54 catches and 807 receiving yards last season and scored four touchdowns, but injury issues with his calf, hamstring and groin persisted. He missed seven games and never played in more than four in a row.
Jeffery, 26, wants to be paid like an elite receiver. A year ago, the Broncos' Demaryius Thomas and Cowboys' Dez Bryant signed five-year, $70 million deals with at least $43 million guaranteed just before the franchise-tag deadline. But the Bears would like Jeffery to better prove his consistency, durability and playmaking prowess before making a new investment.
The risk for general manager Ryan Pace is if Jeffery delivers a Pro Bowl-caliber season in 2016, his asking price on a new deal will rise _ perhaps significantly with the salary cap continually increasing. But that's a gamble the Bears are willing to take and a hypothetical problem they would love to be facing in six months.
After skipping the offseason strength and conditioning program and failing to attend three weeks of voluntary organized team activities this spring, Jeffery returned to Halas Hall for minicamp in June. The reserved receiver continued to downplay his contract situation and offered little insight into what would satisfy him.
He was not concerned that his offseason absence would create a serious rift with his bosses.
"The team is always first," Jeffery said. "I'm on the Chicago Bears. I'm still under contract. Whatever else happens, that will take care of itself."
Jeffery was asked whether he was still interested in signing a long-term deal with the Bears.
"That's the goal," he said. "But that's between Mr. Pace and my agent."
