Report Says Caleb Williams Wanted No-Tag Clause with Contract
![Caleb Williams steps and fires during passing drills at Bears offseason work. Caleb Williams steps and fires during passing drills at Bears offseason work.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4453,h_2504,x_0,y_374/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/bear_digest/01j30zdxs50kr9m73qnc.jpg)
Caleb Williams reportedly sought something never given players as he tried to continue to fit the maverick mold.
Williams, who had bucked the trend by not getting a physical at the combine, wanted to have a clause put in his rookie contract saying he couldn't be given the franchise or transition tag, according to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio.
Veteran players have negotiated such clauses, but not rookies. The Bears never did it. No rookie player has ever had this. So Williams got his money but no clause when he officially signed his contract on Wednesday.
Caleb Williams asked for a no-tag commitment in his rookie deal. The Bears declined. No rookie has ever secured that term. https://t.co/MWFdJ16aAk
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) July 17, 2024
It had seemed there was some type of unusual holdup in this case because Williams didn't agree to terms until reporting day for rookies. Then, he simply took his guaranteed $39 million deal and moved ahead to the start of practices.
Chris "Mad Dog" Russo argues with Paul Finebaum, insisting Lincoln Riley has been a success at USC because Caleb Williams won the Heisman Trophy.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 17, 2024
"He won a Heisman Trophy! At a place where they win Heisman Trophies!... You talk about a Heisman Trophy at USC, that means… pic.twitter.com/GUQjqO7Wjz
Florio points out how Williams and all rookies are limited in the kinds of demands they can make because of the collective bargaining agreement with slotted spots for rookies.
Williams did have some leverage other players haven't had as he tried to pursue this. Having $10 million in sponsorship money from his college days made it possible he could have told the Bears he'd wait again for next year's draft if they didn't give him what he wanted. Then again, a player doing that runs the risk of not being drafted as high the next year.
It will be up to some other quarterback or player at another position in future years to try this maneuver, and at that point they might have even more sponsorship money behind them to make it possible to pull off.
Caleb Williams signed his contract on time and didn't challenge the CBA.
— Bill Zimmerman (@BillTZimmerman) July 16, 2024
He's had great reviews from current & collegiate teammates despite being a bad teammate.
He's embraced the city of Chicago where he didn't want to play.
Don't believe everything you read on the Internet. https://t.co/j9FCNU5Qpz
Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven