Robert Quinn had every reason to desire a trade this off-season. He’s 32 years old without a Super Bowl ring. The Chicago Bears look like a team going through a rebuilding phase under new GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus. With so few years left in his career, most players like Quinn would want to find a team ready to compete for a championship. A trade never materialized. Yet it wasn’t because the Bears were reluctant to do so. It was also because Quinn never asked for one.
That was hard for many to believe. It serves as a reminder that not all players think the same way as they get older. Quinn is a family man. Before he arrived in 2020, his three previous seasons were spent in Los Angeles, Miami, and Dallas. At a certain point, a man gets tired of constantly changing teams. He’d rather not uproot his family again just for the sake of ring-chasing. However, there is another reason he is content to stay in Chicago. He explained to Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times.
“It seems like we’re the underdogs this year, but don’t count us out just yet,” he told the Sun-Times. “We’ve still got 17 games to play and we’ll see what happens . . . We’ve got pieces. Will we be gelled together like we should when the season comes? I sure hope so.
“And I play football with the guys in this locker room, but I also have a family. You’ve gotta find happiness in the middle somewhere. I’m in one spot and I know my family is settled — it’s just peace of mind knowing where you’re gonna be and what to expect when you walk in the building.”
Robert Quinn has played on awful teams before.
He knows what they look like. His first season in St. Louis ended 2-14. A few years later, in Los Angeles, the Rams went 4-12. Quinn isn’t naive. He’s seen the makeup of bad teams. From what he’s encountered over the past two months, the Bears aren’t on that level. Sure, they aren’t a contender. There is a lot of youth scattered across the roster and lingering uncertainty at quarterback. Even so, there are enough proven pieces to at least make it enjoyable.
The division doesn’t look any more daunting than last year. If anything, the Green Bay Packers look slightly weaker. The overall schedule is said to be among the five easiest in the NFL this season. What Robert Quinn is saying isn’t crazy. With good health and a little luck, the Bears might have enough to sneak into a wild card spot. Way crazier things have happened in this league.
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This team already seems better coached—a massive step in the right direction. If Justin Fields improves, then this team can’t be ignored.
Players are buying in. Coaches have an awesome plan that has produced a fantastic preseason. Fields is amazing and turning skeptical heads already. Can’t wait for them to kick this leagues butt THIS YEAR.
Injures will always shake up NFL outlooks. You can’t predict what key players go down and, as important, when.
The over/under is at 6.5 this year. I will take the over this yr. We supposedly have a weaker schedule so 7-8 wins is doable. Let the games begin.
Oh wow, I’m sure glad you nerds in the comments let us know that Matt Nagy isn’t the coach anymore, otherwise who knows if we would’ve been able to figure that out.
Head coach Matt Nagy??? Does anyone proof read any more?