Jaylon Johnson is a grinder. He works hard every single day to make himself better. That is why he has rapidly become one of the best players on the Chicago Bears defense. Even amidst a difficult season, he has stood out in a positive way. The problem is not everybody seems to be taking the same approach as him. That doesn't sit well with the 22-year old. Especially as losses continue to mount each week.
As the season has gone on, Johnson has become more and more vocal with his thoughts regarding the team. He hasn't been afraid to tell the truth either. That was even more evident during a recent appearance on Red Line Radio. The Barstool Sports hosts asked the young cornerback about the state of morale in the Bears locker room. Johnson easily could've given the standard answer.
Instead, he chose that moment to send a message.
"I mean, you have a little bit of both. You have the side of the locker room that is starting to go into the tank and you have the guys that are still trying to fight and figure out how we can get better. I mean, at the end of the day, that’s the name of the game is trying to get better each and every week and then just being able to put four quarters of football together. It’s not about one quarter being good at some times and at moments, but really being able to figure out how we can be good for four quarters and find ways to win football games. But, I mean, you definitely have the ups and downs in the locker room as expected, but just being able to keep as many guys as we can together and keep fighting for wins."There isn't much room for deduction there. Johnson made it obvious that he thinks some of his teammates are dogging it. Giving up on trying to work hard and get back into the win column. He doesn't care if the playoffs no longer seem possible. This is about respecting the game and doing whatever it takes to win. You want to half-ass it and just collect paychecks? Find another team to play for. This is exactly the sort of leadership the Bears want in their locker room. As this difficult year has unfolded, it has become more and more apparent who the real leaders are. Roquan Smith and David Montgomery have stood out for their competitive fire. Now Johnson is joining them. One can imagine Justin Fields is in that mix too. To see such young guys seize the reins like this bodes well for the future. [video width="854" height="480" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Davante-Adams-vs-Jaylon-Johnson-WR-vs-CB-Bears-vs-Packers-2021-highlights.mp4"][/video]
Jaylon Johnson is backing up his words on the field
Nobody can argue his performances don't deliver. He was excellent on Sunday night in Green Bay, frustrating Packers star receiver Davante Adams. It has gotten to a point where opponents have started having to scheme throws away from Johnson. It just isn't worth it to test him too often. Not when the rest of the Bears cornerback group is so atrocious. Ryan Pace deserves credit for finding this young man in the 2nd round. One thing is for sure. This roster is going to look a lot different in 2022. Both because the Bears have 25 in-house free agents who could be gone next March and also there might be an entirely new regime in charge. In such situations, the odds of a major turnover happening are high. The only thing for certain is that Jaylon Johnson figures to be part of the long-term plans.Maybe he should provide a list of those players who shouldn't be.
He only wants winners in his locker room. People that are dedicated to doing whatever it takes each and every Sunday. This is exactly the sort of person the Bears want in their building. The sooner they find others like him? The closer they'll be to sustained success.Comments
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