Chicago Bears players being ignored in top 10 lists is nothing new. Unless those lists are "worst of" types. The national media has often used the team as a punching bag at its leisure. It seems not even record-breaking seasons are enough to change minds.
Robert Quinn was unblockable in 2021. It didn't matter who opponents lined up against him. He was getting to the quarterback. After 37 years, he broke Richard Dent's single-season franchise record with 18 sacks.
That was the second-most of any pass rusher in the NFL. One would think it'd be enough to earn a spot in
ESPN's top 10 rankings going into 2022. Not only was Quinn left off the list, but he also didn't even get the courtesy of an honorable mention. What makes it even more frustrating is who made the list instead of him.
- T.J. Watt
- Myles Garrett
- Nick Bosa
- Joey Bosa
- Maxx Crosby
- Von Miller
- Chandler Jones
- Brian Burns
- Khalil Mack
- Cameron Jordan
[video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/18-sacks-for-Robert-Quinn-on-the-year-a-new-Bears-record-for-as-single-season-.mp4"][/video]
Robert Quinn deserved better than this.
Von Miller won a Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams, but he was not a better pass rusher than Quinn. The Bears Pro Bowler has more sacks in 2021 than Miller had in his last two seasons combined. Brian Burns has had the same amount over the past two years. As for the honorable mentions? Chase Young had 1.5 sacks last year. Demarcus Lawrence missed ten games and had three sacks in the ones he played.
It is fine to see the Bears as an inferior team. That doesn't mean Robert Quinn should be treated as an inferior player. After all, 13 of those 18 sacks came after Khalil Mack was lost for the year to his foot injury. When the team needed him to step up, Quinn did. It is a crime that he didn't make the list. Then again, it shouldn't be surprising at this point.
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