The Chicago Bears had 10 tight ends on their roster with training camp approaching. While a fun joke for the national media to harp on, it was plain as day the team was going to start whittling that number down at some point. Maybe not this fast though. However, with expectations that teams will have to start moving from 90 players to 80 before camp, the team chose to part ways with Ben Braunecker.
The Harvard graduate was a fun story in Chicago. He fought his way onto the roster as an undrafted free agent. In addition to part-time duty on offense, he became a solid contributor on special teams. Lasting four seasons in this capacity on the same team is a pretty impressive achievement. Sadly the failures of the 2019 season and the COVID-19 realities ended his tenure.
Yet his exit only furthers one of the biggest conspiracies surrounding the Bears. How in the world is Adam Shaheen still employed? The former 2nd rounder has been close to useless most of his time in Chicago, going between near-invisible stretches on the field to stints in the training room nursing one injury after another. He doesn't have near the special teams value Braunecker does.
So that begs the question. What sort of blackmail material does he have that keeps him on this roster?
Ben Braunecker has more value than Shaheen at this point
This can only be called pure favoritism on the part of GM Ryan Pace. That is the only explanation that makes sense anymore. He had high hopes for the young tight end back in 2017 and has expressed that same belief ever since. All Shaheen has to do is stay healthy. Just stay healthy and people will see. He can still be that legitimate weapon everybody envisioned.
The thing is Pace is way past delusional. Shaheen's window passed the moment the Bears handed $16 million to Jimmy Graham and spent a 2nd round pick on Cole Kmet. They will be the focal point at tight end this season with Demetrius Harris contributing as a blocker. Shaheen doesn't fit anywhere into that picture. Especially given his lack of special teams presence.
So basically he's just eating up money and a roster spot that could be put to better use elsewhere. Braunecker would've been cut too, but he deserved to go after Shaheen.
