The NFL website has produced its own quarterback rankings all year long. It's not hard to imagine who sits at the top. Here's a hint. They play for Seattle, New England, Kansas City, and Green Bay. None of those are shocking. One would imagine Mitch Trubisky is somewhere on that list too, right? Well, apparently not anymore. A staff of writers decided to remove the Chicago Bears starter in favor of his much-talked-about backup Chase Daniel.
Yes, really.
It feels like a rather pointless exercise knowing Trubisky is due back fairly soon. At the same time, it's still kind of hilarious as well. So take a guess at where the 11-year veteran ultimately ranked. It shouldn't be a hard attempt. Daniel came in at 31st on the list, barely beating out Pittsburgh rookie Devlin Hodges, which is hardly a consolation.
"By the end of this season, Daniel will have earned $34,304,317 over 11 years in the NFL. It's quite an achievement, considering he just made his fifth career start on Sunday -- same as rookie Kyler Murray.
While Daniel enjoyed a little success downfield against the Raiders and made a pair of touchdown connections with Allen Robinson, he threw two facepalm-inducing picks, including an absolute back-breaker late in the fourth quarter of the three-point loss.
With Matt Nagy expressing optimism that Mitch Trubisky (dislocated non-throwing shoulder) will return after this week's bye, Daniel appears to be headed back to his well-compensated spot on the bench."
Chase Daniel is what he is and the Bears seem fine with it
Daniel has never professed to be anything more than what he is. He hasn't forced so many teams to pay him that money. He works hard, does what's asked of him and tries his hardest when asked to play. The guy is not the work backup in NFL history. Far from it. At the same time, there's a reason he's been in that spot for over a decade. The guy can't be expected to play at a high enough level to carry a team out of trouble. That's what the Bears asked him to do in London and he predictably whiffed.
Trubisky is far from perfect but he remains the Bears' best option at quarterback. Either until he becomes who they hope or they find somebody better. In Daniel's case, this could end up being his last season. The Bears likely won't want to pay his hefty price tag any longer with looming salary cap issues on the horizon.
