Alshon Jeffery leaving was the doomsday scenario
Chicago Bears fans had hoped to avoid. The last thing a team that just finished 3-13 can afford is letting one of its best offensive playmakers walk for nothing in return. Sadly it appears this will be the case after an announcement that Chicago would not use the franchise tag for a second year on the 26-year old.
It's easy to lay blame at the Bears' feet for this fiasco, but the truth is people don't know for sure what's happened behind the scenes. It could be the team made a strong push to extend him long-term but Jeffery may not want to stay in Chicago. Not an unheard of possibility at all. Or maybe the team felt it had some good reasons to not overpay to keep him.
Here are some of the most likely that would help explain it.
Injury history
If there is one thing this Bears regime is trying to curb, it's having players on the roster who aren't reliable. Jeffery didn't exactly make a great impression to Pace or Fox in their two seasons together. He missed seven games in 2015 with various soft tissue injuries. This past year he was also playing hurt at times and then added insult to injury with a four-game suspension for PED violations. Most people also forget Jeffery missed 10 games his rookie season as well.
Does this sound like a player in the same tier of Antonio Brown or Odell Beckham Jr., players who have missed a combined one game since 2015. Sure, Jeffery has his moments of big plays but they aren't nearly frequent enough. A big part of why is he's just not on the field often enough to produce them.
Slipping productivity
People may try to spin it anyway they like but facts are facts. Jeffery's offensive production peaked in 2013. Since that time his stat line has steadily declined. Many will try to blame quarterback play but the reality is he's just not impacting games the way a true #1 receiver should.
- 2013: 89 catches, 1,421 yards, 7 touchdowns
- 2014: 85 catches, 1,133 yards, 10 touchdowns
- 2015: 54 catches, 807 yards, 4 touchdowns
- 2016: 52 catches, 821 yards, 2 touchdowns
Keep in mind he played three more games in 2016 than he did in 2015 and his numbers still sagged in two of the three categories. So while it's true he can make a big play or two during games from time to time, the question must be asked again. What about those numbers reflect a player who deserves top money?
Too expensive
Therein lay the rub. The wide receiver market could get a little ridiculous in 2017 when it comes to free agency. Pittsburgh Steelers super star Antonio Brown already set the ceiling with a massive new deal he signed with his team. One that Jeffery no doubt believes he deserves consideration for.
https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/836343306326065152
https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/836389124974182401
Does anybody honestly believe that Jeffery belongs in the same conversation as those five men listed above? Based on statistical production alone, there is no way. The Bears weren't comfortable paying him his franchise tag price last year at just over $14 million. It's difficult to understand how any team around the league feels they'll not only pay that, but even more.
Then again desperation can make people do such things and that's what Jeffery's agent is banking on.
Questionable team commitment
One thing about this Bears regime is they clearly want players who are totally invested in the team at all times. That's why they didn't hesitate to make right guard
Kyle Long was the highest paid at his position in the NFL. It's beyond easy to say that Alshon isn't even close to the same committed player for this team. He showcased that lack of interest in Bears unity last year by
skipping voluntary minicamps. Odd behavior from a team captain.
He chose to train by himself in Florida and California, something that didn't sit well with Pace and Fox. Both of whom weren't shy about voicing their disappointment at his lack of participation. This was something seemingly brought to the surface by Long, who shortly after learning that the Bears would not franchise tag Jeffery again, delivered this tweet.
https://twitter.com/Ky1eLong/status/836317404925833217
Long alluded to it even further when he wasn't shy about praising fellow teammate
Cameron Meredith and what he expects from him moving forward.
https://twitter.com/Ky1eLong/status/836387077092564992
Meredith is a former undrafted free agent who was the leading receiver on the team in 2016 with 888 yards and four touchdowns. Both numbers that were better than Jeffery. He represents the type of hard-working, dedicated player the Bears are seeking.
[video width="854" height="480" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Antonio-Browns-Top-10-Plays-of-the-2016-Season-NFL-Highlights.mp4"][/video]
Replacements aren't hard to find
The way this is going, people are starting to believe the Bears are finished if Alshon Jeffery walks. It will be the worst offensive collapse ever. They don't bother to acknowledge the reality of this modern NFL. The rules have been built around a simple reality: more passing and more points. In order to make that work, teams need quarterbacks and they need receivers. College football has been obliging on the latter front in full.
Since 2010 the draft has produced no less than 22 Pro Bowl wide receivers. Seven of them in just the past three drafts alone. The probability of being able to find playmakers at the receiver position is easier than ever before. Want to know the best part? Of those 22 players, 13 of them were acquired outside of the 1st round of their respective drafts. So it may not be necessary for the Bears to scramble for a Jeffery replacement at the #3 pick.
Don't forget that he was a second round choice in 2012. This team will have options.
