Jeffery's future with Bears now up to his agent

Pro Bowl wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, who can become an unrestricted free agent in March, says he'll take a backseat in the negotiation process between his agent Eugene Parker and Bears general manager Ryan Pace.

On the open market, Jeffery could command a multi-year deal for more than $10 million a year. But the Bears also could retain him for at least one more season by using their franchise tag on him. In that case, they would owe Jeffery more than $13 million for the 2016 season but would avoid a long-term commitment to a player who had four separate injuries in 2015 and missed seven games.

"If it happens, it happens," Jeffery said of the franchise tag. "I just play football. I'll let my agent and Mr. Pace figure that out."

Most players don't appreciate being tagged, but it can lead to an even bigger payday the following year if they play at the same level or higher.

"It's not about the money," Jeffery said Monday morning as players cleaned out their lockers a day after a season-ending 24-20 loss to the Lions. "It's about what the right situation is for me. Winning a championship is all I care about. Everyone plays the game to win championships."

Despite missing seven games, Jeffery posted team highs of 54 catches and 807 yards for the 6-10 Bears.

When asked what his chances were of staying with the Bears, Jeffery said: "I love the city of Chicago, but I'll let my agent and Mr. Pace deal with that situation. However the situation goes, it's a business."

In each of the two previous seasons, Jeffery caught more than 80 passes for more than 1,100 yards and a total of 17 touchdowns.

Although the 2015 Bears won just one more game than they did in 2014, most players, including Jeffery, are convinced the organization is moving in the right direction under coach John Fox.

"We have a great team here in Chicago," Jeffery said. "Unfortunately it didn't work out this year, but we've got something to build on for next year. A lot of games this year we were right there. We lost games by 3 or 4 points. We've just got to learn from it. Next year, we've just got to finish."

The Bears also need to stay healthy. Jeffery was one of 13 players who ended the season on injured reserve. He played in all 32 games the previous two seasons.

"It was frustrating here and there," Jeffery said of his injury-riddled 2015 season. "But it's the game of football. You're going to get injured."

A calf injury in training camp kept Jeffery out of all four preseason games. A hamstring injury sidelined him for four games (2-5), a groin injury kept him out of Game 10 and another hamstring injury ended his season two games early.

"I plan on having a (heck) of an off-season," the 6-foot-3, 216-pound 25-year-old said. "Work out the soft-tissue issues. I'm just ready to get back to playing football. I'm going to do the same things I've been doing, just taking care a lot more of my body (to prevent) injuries, freak injuries, like hamstrings."

Jeffery said he hadn't heard a rumor from last week alleging that he preferred to play in a warmer climate, closer to his home in South Carolina.

"If I didn't say that," he said, "I didn't hear about it."

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