Ryan Poles knew trading D.J. Moore would upset at least one Chicago Bears fan: his son.
The Bears general manager revealed Thursday that sending Moore to the Buffalo Bills caused a little family drama.
“I’ve mentioned this before, my son is a passionate fan of the Chicago Bears,” Poles told reporters. “He was not very happy with me at all.”
Poles said it was “cool” that Moore sent his son a video message telling him not to be mad at his dad because “it’s part of the business.”
The trade might not have gone over well at home. It did in Poles’ hometown.
Poles, 40, was the New York State Gatorade Football Player of the Year at Canandaigua Academy, about 90 miles east of Buffalo. Reactions from his Bills-fan extended family were different.
“My immediate family’s not very happy with me,” Poles said. “My extended family is very happy with me.”
Poles’ father, Robert “Junior” Poles, attended Caledonia-Mumford High School near Rochester, played in the NFL and later coached defensive linemen at St. John Fisher College before retiring from the Rochester Police Department.
Moore said Thursday he was thrilled when he learned he would be joining quarterback Josh Allen and the Bills.
“When I heard it was the Bills, I got super excited,” Moore said during a Zoom call with Bills reporters. “I’m ready to roll.”
The veteran receiver said he’s eager to join a team that has been one of the AFC’s top contenders.
“Last year was my first winning season, so I got a taste of what everybody has been getting a taste of here in Buffalo,” Moore said. “It was good. It was fun. The atmosphere was amazing.”
During the Zoom call, Moore still had a cheese grater — a nod to Chicago’s rivalry with the Green Bay Packers — visible on a bookshelf behind him.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: D.J. Moore trade upset Bears GM’s son but thrilled his Bills-fan family
Reporting by Ryan Miller, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
