There was a second, again in 2021, that ought to have given the Bears an extended pause earlier than buying and selling for Chase Claypool, if not put them off him totally. However then, as we’ve established, the Bears are incapable of creating good selections.
On December 10, 2021, Claypool was a star huge receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who had rallied again from being down 29-0 to Minnesota within the third quarter, trailing by solely eight factors with a bit over two minutes remaining within the sport. Then-Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger tossed a 38-yard bomb to Claypool. The Steelers stormed all the best way to Minnesota’s 34-yard line, making it fourth-and-one with 45 seconds left within the sport and no timeouts remaining. Roethlisbeger hit Claypool once more for the clutch first down, solely to observe helplessly as Claypool stood there after the catch, taunting the protection whereas treasured seconds ticked off the clock. Lastly, an offensive lineman snatched the ball away from Claypool, however the harm was carried out. Pittsburgh finally ran out of time on the Vikings’ 12-yard line. Remaining rating: Minnesota 36, Pittsburgh 28.
Did I point out that Claypool had been benched by head coach Mike Tomlin within the first half of the identical sport for a silly private foul?
Claypool nonetheless completed that sport with eight catches for 93 yards, and that’s together with the time he was using the pines as a result of he aggravated his head coach.
And therein lies the conundrum with Chase Claypool, a man often known as a lot for his Tik Tok dancing off the sector as his play on it.
“It’s a distinct period,” Claypool as soon as stated. “Social media is a giant a part of our period. So, I received to construct a platform for myself. It helps me off the sector. Little doubt about it, on the sector will at all times override the off the sector, by way of advertising and all that. Crucial is on the sector. However I used to be enjoying my finest soccer after I was making TikToks. Folks wish to get on me and speak about my TikToks, however as quickly as I ended we began dropping.”
That is the man the Bears traded what would find yourself being the thirty second choose within the 2023 NFL draft for again in November of 2022. By June of 2023, Claypool was already carrying out his welcome. Those that are near Halas Corridor began dropping hints that the teaching employees was sad with Claypool, that he lacked self-motivation.
The Bears and Claypool haven’t precisely made stunning music collectively. By Week One of many 2023 NFL season, Claypool, who had been coping with accidents, was put “on discover” by the Bears coaches that he wanted to step up his effort on the sector, after being held with no catch in opposition to Inexperienced Bay. Claypool appeared to bounce again in Week 2, operating crisper routes than the earlier week, however by Week 4, Claypool was making his lack of satisfaction identified to the general public. The huge receiver grew to become the most recent Bear to name out the teaching employees, responding, “No,” when requested if the Bears had been utilizing him to the perfect of his potential. Final week, QB Justin Fields additionally appeared responsible the coaches for his “robotic” play earlier than rapidly strolling his feedback again.
So right here we’re, in Week 4 of the NFL season, and Chase Claypool is a wholesome scratch. And whereas he deserves criticism for his lack of effort, which is a official cause to take a seat him, Claypool is as an alternative sitting as a result of he answered a query about this clown present of a company truthfully. Is Chase Claypool giving it one hundred pc on the market? No. Do the Bears have any form of a legit NFL-caliber offense (or protection) going on the market? Additionally no. And that’s a far greater drawback.
There have been undoubtedly warning indicators about Claypool earlier than the Bears went out and gave up a high-second spherical choose for him, however he’s a symptom of the issues at Halas Corridor, not the trigger. Head coach Matt Eberflus seems to be like a deer in headlights each Sunday, the Bears DC simply resigned amidst a swirl of rumor and innuendo, and the staff’s promising younger QB is beginning to look an terrible lot just like the promising younger QBs that crashed and burned earlier than him. The fanbase’s hopes at the moment are pinned on whether or not the Bears can beat the hapless 0-3 Broncos. In the meantime, we don’t even know if the Bears will play in Chicago in a number of years’ time.
The Bears have each proper to take a seat Claypool for being an ass, and he in all probability deserves it. However their issues go a lot deeper. At this level, it’s tempting to need the staff to lose out and get that prime draft choose, however God is aware of what they’d wind up doing with it. In all probability commerce it to Invoice Belichick for some magic beans.
