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Bears coach Matt Eberflus merely middle man as Ryan Poles, Roquan Smith spar

For the first time since the Bears cleaned house, dysfunction is spilling out of the organization and into the public.

As general manager Ryan Poles’ negotiations with star linebacker Roquan Smith have erupted into the player requesting a trade and the team pondering whether to start fining him, coach Matt Eberflus swatted helplessly at a swarm of questions about what exactly is going on here.

Funny how no matter who happens to be running Halas Hall in a given decade, there’s never a straight answer for that.

Smith was at practice, but wouldn’t practice.

It’s unexcused, but it’s also unclear what consequence there is for it.