Jordan Howard Keeps His Promise, Pulls an Alshon Jeffery

Alshon Jeffery promised the Bears would win the Super Bowl this past year before he left for free agency. It was rather convenient when the Philadelphia Eagles, the team he signed with, ended up winning it. He was all too eager to tell people he was right. Never mind the pesky details of switching teams. Either way, it was a bold prediction that he personally saw through for himself and his teammates. Bears running back Jordan Howard certainly took notice of it.

Of course he meant that in jest, right? Howard isn't prone to making outlandish statements like that. He's a down-to-earth guy who works hard. All he wants is to help his team win. He's not interested in personal gain. It seems though he's begun to embrace a new role. That of a team leader. It shouldn't be surprising. That's expected of star players and he's the best the Bears have on offense. It appears he didn't forget that statement after the Super Bowl because, at his first opportunity, he followed Jeffery's lead.

Jordan Howard declares Bears will make playoffs in 2018

Now Howard is not greedy. He understands it's way too early to start thinking Super Bowl. That will come in time. Instead during an appearance on "Good Morning Football" he decided to set a more reasonable if no less ambitious goal for his team this season.

Well now. That's certainly something. Howard isn't mincing words. A guarantee is a guarantee. He's basically written the check and is challenging his teammates to cash it. The 2018 Chicago Bears are not yet a finished product. They already have a drastically different coaching staff from the year before with the arrival of Matt Nagy. Odds are several veterans will be cut in the coming weeks as well. The roster will looked a lot different. It's going to take a lot for a team that finished 5-11 last year to turn around and reach the postseason. The NFC North division certainly won't make that easy. Minnesota reached the NFC championship. Aaron Rodgers is returning to Green Bay. Detroit was in the playoffs a year ago. They have no plans to let the Bears waltz to the top of the heap. Which means if they want it, they'll have to take it. Something the Bears haven't done for almost a decade. Here's hoping Howard is ready to back up those words, and if the team will follow him.