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Ryan Poles’ two biggest mistakes were spurred on by last year’s trade deadline.
On Halloween, the Bears general manager agreed to trade linebacker Roquan Smith, who had published a scathing letter arguing for a new contract during training camp, to the Ravens. The next day, hours before the league’s deadline, he traded a second-round pick to the Steelers for Chase Claypool.
The mercurial receiver was far more trouble than he was worth, catching 18 passes for 191 yards, angering the coaching staff with a lack of hustle and the front office with comments he wasn’t being used properly.