Alshon Jeffery, Kevin White Hope For 'Special' Future With Bears

By Chris Emma—

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (CBS) – Bears receivers Alshon Jeffery and Kevin White share the same agent and aspirations. Now, entering an offseason of uncertainty, the two hope to remain together in a Bears uniform.

Such a scenario is largely in the hands of Eugene Parker, the venerable agent who once represented Emmitt Smith and Deion Sanders. More so, it can be decided swiftly by Bears general manager Ryan Pace, set to enter his second year with the franchise.

Jeffery's contract season was derailed by three different soft-tissue injuries, creating concern that he may be a liability. As Jeffery leaves an injury-riddled 2015 to enter free agency, Pace and the Bears can make things really simple by slapping the franchise tag on Jeffery.

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

Cleaning out his locker a few stalls down Monday was White, the rookie whose Bears career never started this season. The seventh overall pick of the 2015 draft, White had August surgery to repair a stress fracture in his leg suffered prior to training camp.

White wants to take the field with Jeffery and form what could be one of the NFL's best receiving duos down the road.

"I think we can be really good," White said. "Especially with the receivers we have coming back, and just the chemistry we have together. It can turn into some great things on the field."

Added Jeffery: "That would be something special."

Last March, the Bears traded Brandon Marshall to the Jets in exchange for a fifth-round pick. This was considered a small return for a receiver who just now finished an NFL-record sixth 100-reception season, but Pace made the move so soon into his new job because Marshall had become a disruption for the team.

In turn, Chicago drafted White with the first pick of the Pace era. The hope was that he and Jeffery could form that on-field chemistry with quarterback Jay Cutler. Additionally, Pace went out and signed Eddie Royal to serve as the slot receiver alongside the duo. That never happened. Jeffery and Royal each played just nine games, and White never saw the field.

The Bears can either approach Jeffery's future with the franchise tag or sign him to a long-term deal. Last summer, Dez Bryant got a five-year, $70-million deal with the Cowboys. The Falcons topped that for Julio Jones, who received five years and $71.25 million.

While Jeffery said those were great deals, he didn't want to consider each to be a benchmark for his negotiations. His agent may see it differently.

"It's not about the money, but it's also about what's the right situation for me," Jeffery said. "Winning a championship, that's all I care about.

"We have a great team here in Chicago. Unfortunately, it didn't work out this year. But we got something to build on next year."

During a difficult season, White felt the same way. He became a highly paid first-round pick, but money couldn't make him healthy.

White was proud of the way he handled adversity by showing up each day, getting the most out of meetings that didn't necessarily apply to him and pushing through the rehabilitation to the point where he was even ahead of schedule. His leg is fully healed now, and he's eager to get back on the field.

"It's not just about money and stuff like that," White said. "I love the game. I want to be around it, I want to be a part of it and want to do a great job at it."

The Bears are moving forward, counting on White to become a star receiver -- after all, investing so highly in the draft demands those results. If Pace chooses to make a lucrative move in signing Jeffery, too, he would expect the same.

What's next for Parker and Pace remains to be seen, though Jeffery prefers it to be out of his hands. His trust is placed in the respected agent. Jeffery's role will be finding full health and trust in his muscles.

"I plan on having a hell of an offseason, working out the soft-tissue issues, stuff like that," he said. "I'm just ready to play football."

One day after a season-finale loss in which the Bears started Marc Mariani, Josh Bellamy, Cameron Meredith and Deonte Thompson as their starting receivers, the team is ready for Jeffery and White to make an impact, too.

Chris Emma covers the Chicago sports scene and more for CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 and like his Facebook page.