Over the years, Chicago Bears GM Ryan Pace has rewarded some of his young players with rich contract extensions, most recently with guard Cody Whitehair who signed a five-year extension on Sunday.
For former Bears safety Adrian Amos, who wasn’t a recipient of such an extension, there aren’t any hard feelings as he now joins the Green Bay Packers’ secondary.
“Of course you feel [disrespected], but it’s not hard feelings. I don’t hold any grudges or anything,” Amos said, via the Sun-Times. “There’s feeling there. But when it’s all said and done, none of that matters. It’s not like I’m going to [stick it to] Pace or anything like that.”
A fifth-round pick with the Bears in 2015, Amos has three interceptions, one touchdown, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a sack in his previous two seasons. Although it’s deemed to be more of a result of benefiting from one of the league’s best front sevens than anything else.
With All-Pro safety Eddie Jackson up for an extension after this season, the Bears couldn’t afford to pay Amos. The Packers, on the other hand, could, as evidenced by Amos’ four-year deal worth $36 million, including $14 million this season.
Meanwhile, the Bears turned to a former Packers safety to pair with Jackson in the defensive backfield in Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, who was much more affordable on a one-year deal worth $3.25 million.
For Amos, he understands that it’s just business.
“It was really hard at all [leaving the Bears],” he said. “It was my dream to get my second contract, and this is the team that wanted me. It’s been great ever since.”
While the Bears missed out on Amos, they’re hoping that Clinton-Dix ultimately proves to be an upgrade.
