If you’re wondering whether a mutiny is nearing for the Chicago Bears, you don’t have to look hard anymore. For those who may not remember, two weeks ago, following the loss in Washington, tight end Cole Kmet admitted on his podcast that how the game ended didn’t surprise him. So many self-inflicted mistakes. An overall lack of urgency. It was predictable. Why? Kmet saw the same thing unfolding in practices leading up to the game. Guys weren’t going full speed or paying attention during drills. When that happens, your chances of winning games in the NFL tank.
Well, Kmet is not the only one who has mentioned this. On Monday, following their ugly 19-3 loss to the Patriots, no fewer than three other Bears players mentioned serious problems with the team’s practices. It started in the morning with running back D’Andre Swift.
“I’m just going to say that we can do a better job of focusing on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. We can’t just expect it to have it click on Sunday without seeing it done in those work days leading up to it. We just got to be more intentional about our work throughout the week and come here every day with a purpose.”
Next was wide receiver D.J. Moore, who mentioned it during his interview on 670 The Score.
However, the true sound byte belonged to Jaylon Johnson. The Bears cornerback has always been known for answering with blunt honesty, and he didn’t disappoint. Spiegel & Holmes asked him the same question. Johnson didn’t even let him finish before acknowledging the truth. Too many guys aren’t working hard enough. They don’t have the hunger.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
This is a damning indictment of the Chicago Bears brass.
Remember, GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus said when they took over that their entire focus was finding players who fit two criteria: they had to love football and be willing to look really hard. If what Johnson and the others saw is true, then that mission is a colossal failure. It has become abundantly clear something broke with the Bears over the past month. Guys stopped going hard on every play. It often looked like they were running in sand. Little mistakes piled up. Confidence withered away.
Those are the classic signs that a team has checked out. What makes this astounding is that it’s happening with the Chicago Bears still very much in the playoff picture. It isn’t like the season is completely lost. In such a situation, it is almost always a coaching issue. Matt Eberflus is already known for letting things snowball when they go bad. He owns the longest losing streak in franchise history at 14 games. He has coughed up four double-digit leads in the 4th quarter. Most would agree he played a central role in that brutal loss to Washington on the Hail Mary.
Eberflus is supposed to keep guys focused and motivated. If multiple players are saying he isn’t doing that, not much else needs to be said.
@Bubba Ho-Tep I follow teams that are successful. I’m a fan of success, how it’s done, and who is doing it. I started following the Bears again after a years long sabbatical, because of Fields, but when people started blaming him when the offensive coordinator was even worse than Waldron, I gave up. Not just with football, but with everything. Figuring how to DO a job, and not falling in love with the trappings, the Bentleys and bling, really matters. I know that many people need the status of people looking at them and that’s what they work for, but… Read more »
I don’t care what it is but the Bears need to get their act together. The coaches need to hold meetings with the players and address this problem or another year will be wasted. I believe the Bears have the talent to be competitive but something stinks and it needs to be removed!
Also… don’t need to be a prophet to see the Bears aren’t going anwhere this season. If ever. They might do better offensively (how could they not?) but they’re already too far behind the Vikes, Lions, and Packers and their schedule is the hardest in the NFL. So even Bears at full speed probably wouldn’t get Wild Card. And as a real fan I’m at the point of boycott. Like “tough love” on a child. So I’m following the Chargers for this season and I encourage everyone else to as well. They’ve got FIERY Jim Harbaugh screaming as HC, talented… Read more »
You’ll pay one of your WR’s 25 million a year but you can’t pay a Superbowl proven Head Coach Jim Harbaugh 16 million? See the first problem? However speaking of money my first reaction to players not playing hard enough is… You’re all millionaires for playing a game. You don’t deserve 10% of what you get. If you can’t be motivated after making 24,950,000 more per year than the rest of us, then Tom Waddle is right and this is all a giant money-making CLOWN SHOW and we’re the suckers paying for it. I damn well guarantee you that I… Read more »
Be a leader. If the guy next to you isn’t practicing hard tell him. You’re getting paid very well. Don’t put it all on the coaches.