By now you know that the Chicago Bears' otherwise smart initial draft decision was marred by the collapse of a trade designed to ensure they were able to select Wisconsin offensive tackle Gabe Carimi. Bears general manager Jerry Angelo took the blame and apologized to the Baltimore Ravens, who missed their pick at No. 26 overall because they thought they had completed a trade with the Bears to move down to No. 29.
Is the case closed? Or do the Bears owe the Ravens additional compensation, namely the fourth-round pick that would have changed hands if the deal was consummated? David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune thinks the latter.
Haugh: "If Angelo's apology was sincere, and the only thing preventing the trade from being consummated was his sloppy neglect, then the Bears should go ahead and offer to forfeit rights to that selection to the Ravens. That's the right thing to do. Salvaging Angelo's reputation around the league by showing he's a man of his word might be worth whatever fringe roster player might be picked at that slot in the fourth round."
This situation is nearly unprecedented, so I guess it's possible the NFL will force the Bears to forfeit the pick. Dan Pompei of the Tribune reports that the Ravens have asked the league to look into the situation and that Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti has spoken with commissioner Roger Goodell about it. According to Pompei, Angelo instructed two staffers to report the trade to the NFL, but each thought the other was doing it.
But I would be surprised if the NFL took action. Remember, the Minnesota Vikings didn't receive the pick they would have received when the Ravens failed to report a similar trade in 2003.