CHICAGO -- Bears linebacker Roquan Smith said in a written statement that he has requested a trade after contract negotiations between himself and the organization reached an impasse.
Smith penned a statement that was posted to social media by NFL Network on Tuesday. ESPN has confirmed the validity of these messages.
The 25-year-old linebacker wrote that the "new front office regime doesn't value me here," after Smith says he had been trying to work on an extension since April.
"They've refused to negotiate in good faith," Smith wrote. "Every step of this journey has been 'take it or leave it.