NFC North Notes: Allen Robinson, Bears, Lions, Packers

March 26, 2018

Allen Robinson

Allen Robinson tells Mike Kaye of First Coast News that it came down to signing with the Bears or Packers in the end and he ultimately decided to go to Chicago.

“With all things being equal, Chicago was a place I had my eyes on from a football standpoint,” Robinson said. “It’s a spot with a lot of benefits as far as it being close to home. The close-to-home thing was a very minimal factor but it was still a factor.”

According to Robinson, one of the big factors in his decision was new Bears HC Matt Nagy.

“For me, going into the whole free agency process, Chicago was definitely a team I had my eye on, from the standpoint that they had just hired Coach [Matt] Nagy,” Robinson said. “Coach Nagy was a big part of it … I’m a big fan of his system and his offense.”

Lions

Dave Birkett reports that Lions DE Ezekiel Ansah is currently in Ghana and has no immediate plans to sign his franchise tag tender. However, Birkett adds that this doesn’t sound like a situation where Ansah could drag things out until August.
According to Birkett, the Lions are not currently in on free agent DT Johnathan Hankins, despite a prior report that he could meet with Detroit. The Lions have since signed Sylvester Williams to a contract, which could very well take them out of the free agent defensive tackle market.

Packers

Packers president Mark Murphy said he has been “very pleased” with the team’s more “active” approach to free agency this offseason.

“I think he used the term aggressive, but I think it’s more that we’re more active, we’re participating in things that we haven’t in the past,” Murphy said,via PackersNews.com. “We’re not going to sign everybody, and obviously with the salary cap there’s limitations, but I think he’s looking at every avenue to try to improve the team.

“Obviously time will tell. We’ve made a couple major decisions, both in terms of releasing some players or allowing players to leave in free agency, and then obviously a few signings and a trade as well. But I’m very pleased with what Brian has been doing.”