It was easy to feel sorry for Allen Robinson earlier in the year. The Chicago Bears had not given him a contract extension. He was stuck on the franchise tag despite two terrific seasons in 2019 and 2020. Now he’d have to play another without long-term security. Since then? Robinson has made it more and more difficult to support him. He hasn’t looked like the same player he was the past two seasons. It started with an ugly end zone drop against Cincinnati in Week 2 and hasn’t stopped since.
Anybody who watched Sunday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers saw what little goodwill Robinson had left with Bears fans fade away. Not only did he manage just two catches for 14 yards on six targets, but he also had the look of a player that was giving less than 100%. There were multiple instances showcasing this and it was unbelievably sad to watch.
The first and perhaps most damning came late in the first half.
Chicago had the ball with 26 seconds to go and a three-point lead. They sat near midfield with a chance to get more points on the board. Justin Fields took the snap, surveyed, and then took off. It was here he was seen pointing before running out of bounds after a 20-yard gain. Upon seeing the replay, he was pointing at Robinson. No doubt signaling for a block on Packers CB Rasul Douglas. The wide receiver obliged with his best matador impression instead.
It didn’t end there. Later in the game, Fields looked to Robinson on 2nd and 7 early in the 4th quarter. Rather than come back to the ball, the receiver just stood in place waiting for it. This allowed the Packers to break it up for an incompletion. The questionable effort was prevalent all night long. While nobody can say Robinson lacks professionalism, it is becoming clear the 27-year old is done with 2021.
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Throw Allen Robinson in the trash please. This dude does not want to be on the Bears anymore. Just a shit effort to attack this ball. pic.twitter.com/ZKRdOdvxBO
— Ross Read (@RossRead) December 13, 2021
Allen Robinson is proving he isn’t what the Bears need
Is he a #1 wide receiver? He continues to think so. All he needs is the right quarterback. Yet #1 receivers tend to get their yards and touchdowns regardless of who is throwing them the ball. Larry Fitzgerald kept getting 1,000 yards despite playing with guys like Derek Anderson, Kevin Kolb, and John Skelton. Robinson has had Andy Dalton, a former three-time Pro Bowler, and an 11th overall pick in Fields this year.
He has 353 yards and one touchdown in 10 games. At what point should the blame stop going towards the quarterbacks and start shifting to the guy not making enough plays? Darnell Mooney isn’t making those excuses. He has more than doubled the yards and touchdowns Allen Robinson has produced this year. Nobody would ever mistake him for being a #1 receiver.
It is so sad things ended up this way.
Rather than using all those frustrations as fuel to have another great year, Robinson has clearly checked out. He just wants to reach free agency. Ironically he shouldn’t expect the sort of huge payday the Bears have been reluctant to give him. Not with the year he’s having and the ugly tape he continues to put up.
