Chase Claypool Finally Spoke About His Sideline Blowup Vs. Lions

Chase Claypool comes from an organization that hasn't had a losing season since 2006. That is how consistent the Pittsburgh Steelers have been for so many years. He wasn't prepared for what he was stepping into when the Chicago Bears traded for him. This an organization with five winning seasons since 2006. GM Ryan Poles inherited a roster that was the oldest in the league and in evident decline. Rather than trying to tread water, he chose to set the Bears on a rebuilding course. That meant most of their veteran core was traded or released. As a result, the team has crumbled into one of the worst in the NFL.

Making matters worse are Claypool's personal struggles. He has crossed 50 yards in a game only once since arriving in early November. Things hit a low point against the Detroit Lions, where he was held without a catch, and the Bears got thumped 41-10. During the second half, onlookers saw Claypool slam his helmet in frustration on the sideline. Quarterback Justin Fields took him aside and spoke to him. There was no confrontation, but it was something hard to ignore.

Finally, the wide receiver opened up on what happened.

"I was all fired up because we can’t lose that bad, ever. We have to have a little bit more pride, a little bit more heart, so it don’t happen again.

I was coming off the field, three-and-out, sit on the bench, do the same thing over. Something’s gotta change in that moment. We gotta realize the drives where we have to score. We have to realize when it’s not OK to go three-and-out. We gotta act that way. If we go three-and-out, it can’t just be OK. And it isn’t. But we gotta really have that fire and energy and realize that, yo, it’s time to go. We went three-and-out two times in a row. They’re scoring points. The lead’s getting bigger. What are we gonna do about it?"

Chase Claypool shows at least one admirable attribute.

It matters to him. People have always thought he's more of a selfish player, only interested in personal stats. Sure, that is part of what motivates him, but winning matters most. When players become accustomed to losing, they learn to accept it. That can't happen. Not if you want to win a championship in this league. Sunday marked the first time it felt the Bears never really showed up. After a solid first drive, Detroit seized total control of the game and never let it go. Everybody struggled and looked utterly defeated.

One can understand. The Bears are eliminated from playoff contention. They're banged up. It is difficult to summon the motivation to play hard in those situations. Chase Claypool doesn't believe that is a valid excuse. If guys want to survive on this team, they better realize that not giving their best likely will result in them losing their jobs before too long. The next bloodletting isn't far away. Poles could very well replace half the roster this off-season. Claypool has the protection of being a recent trade acquisition. That won't stop him from working hard to get this team back on track.

Perhaps the best course of action is channeling those frustrations into becoming more of a team leader. Passion like that can have a positive effect if employed correctly.