Many in the Chicago Bears family were utterly heartbroken to see Adrian Amos, an unheralded success story in team history, leave as a free agent. Yet the pain only got worse when word arrived that he’d reached an agreement to sign with the division rival Green Bay Packers. So not only had Amos departed, but he’d allied with the hated enemy themselves.
To many, it was a stab in the back. Of course, that’s a little unfair. Amos got a good offer from a team that wanted him and he took it. However, the rivalry is a real thing and it seems the Bears may have found a way to erase his existence from their history in a rather fitting fashion. By signing somebody who once starred for the new team he plays for.
Word is the Bears are set to meet with former Green Bay Packers safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. It marks the first significant free agent that they’ve been tied to beyond simple rumor. Given how restless fans have been getting, they should be excited about this one.
This is interesting: Source says the #Bears are hosting #Redskins FA S HaHa Clinton-Dix tonight and tomorrow. The Skins have tried to re-sign him, but no deal yet…
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2019
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Chicago Bears Ha Ha Clinton-Dix signing would be a significant upgrade
Clinton-Dix was a 1st round pick of the Packers back in 2014. He eventually became one of the top safeties in the league in 2016, going to the Pro Bowl. However, over the past two years, he seemed to fall out of favor and was eventually traded to the Washington Redskins in October of last year. After the season ended, he immediately became a free agent. While the Redskins are hoping to get him back, his latest actions indicate the feeling isn’t mutual.
So what led to the issues with Clinton-Dix. Namely accusations of poor tackling and run support. He was good at both back in 2016 but seemed to regress over the past two years though it’s clear he can still tackle well at times. The question then is why would the Bears be interested? That part is easy to answer.
Turnovers.
Clinton-Dix is one of the better coverage safeties in the NFL. He has 17 interceptions in his career including 11 over the past three seasons. Quarterbacks had just a 76.2 passer rating when targeting him, which is actually a career-worst. The guy gets his hands on the football a lot.
No doubt the Bears are imagining what it might be like to have him and Eddie Jackson patrolling the back end of that defense. The best part is? Those two were actually teammates for a year at Alabama in 2013. So there’s already a bond in place. Never mind Clinton-Dix’s familiarity with the NFC North.
