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Hello, Seahawks? Bears need answer on Russell Wilson trade

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In the NFL, deadlines mean action.

The start of the league’s legal negotiating window isn’t necessarily a hard deadline to pull off a trade for Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, but it is the start of major activity across the league and the Chicago Bears are one of many teams that need to come up with a quarterback solution – quickly.

At 11 a.m. CT Monday, teams can start negotiating with free agents and agreements in principle usually happen quickly for players in demand. The Bears don’t necessarily have the salary cap space to be major players in free agent signings the next few days, but the sooner they figure out the quarterback position, the sooner they can reshape the rest of their roster – especially if that solution requires taking on a big contract.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport has reported multiple times that the Seahawks are listening to offers for Wilson but haven’t “reciprocated” in back-and-forth negotiations. Perhaps that changes Monday if free agent activity spurs an increase in offers. Remember, the Seahawks need to reshape their roster too if they move Wilson, all while eating an additional $7 million in cap space by trading him.

Despite the perceived lack of motivation to trade a 32-year-old superstar quarterback that was the leading MVP candidate just five months ago, league sources have confirmed two important details:

1. After involving Wilson in the hiring of new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron, the Seahawks were not happy that Wilson’s agent publicly provided ESPN’s Adam Schefter with a list of four teams Wilson would accept a trade to.

2. The Bears – one of the four teams on that list – are interested in acquiring Wilson, but it’s unclear how long they’re willing to wait to see if Seattle actually moves the quarterback.

Which brings us back to today, when free agent quarterbacks can start negotiating with other teams. The names aren’t nearly as attractive as Russell Wilson – Jameis Winston, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Andy Dalton, Jacoby Brissett, to name a few – but teams across the league are going to want to know from Seattle if Wilson is really available.

The answer to that question isn’t very clear, but it is interesting that neither side has made an effort to silence weeks’ worth of trade rumors. And Wilson’s position seems clear. This is a guy who has spent a decade saying nothing controversial, so his public comments were very calculated. And the silence since has been telling. But as one source said over the weekend, “Why have the Seahawks been so quiet too? They’re obviously not happy.”

Perhaps cooler heads will prevail in the staring contest, but Monday seems like a day when someone could blink. For the Seahawks, now is probably the best time to trade Wilson, when the demand is highest. Even though Wilson has final say over a possible trade, that doesn’t necessarily stop teams from inquiring about the opportunity to recruit Wilson like it’s free agency. They want to know if they have a chance. If not, they’ll move on.

Perhaps the Bears will be more patient than others because none of those free agent names are job savers. But general manager Ryan Pace has been clear that “all options are on the table” and at 11 a.m. Monday, some of those options are going to start leaving the table.

Your move, Seattle.

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