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Chicago Bears were always going to add wide receivers in 2018. That was inevitable. A byproduct of having the worst passing offense in the NFL the previous year. Anybody with common sense should've seen it coming. GM Ryan Pace wasn't going to sit back and let his young QB Mitch Trubisky suffer through another season with the targets he had. Well, it seems at least one man isn't happy about the developments. That man is Josh Bellamy.
The 28-year old receiver was really an unknown quantity when he arrived in Chicago back in 2015. Since then he's become sort of the resident survivalist. Every year it seems like he might get cut but he manages to hang around. He's since become one of the teams' better special teams players and an active reserve receiver. Last season was his personal best, catching 24 passes for 376 yards and a touchdown.
Chicago chose to tender his restricted free agent rights, keeping him in place for this season. It seems he thought this might've guaranteed him a roster spot for another year. Recent actions by the Bears have suggested otherwise. It seems the veteran isn't taking it too well.
Josh Bellamy expresses frustration and desire to leave on Instagram
The final day before the official start of free agency was a busy one for the Bears. They struck before the sun was even up, securing former Pro Bowl receiver Allen Robinson on a three-year deal. They weren't done though. That afternoon they struck again. grabbing speedy Taylor Gabriel out of Atlanta on a four-year deal. Suddenly the depth chart looks a lot more crowded, especially with the anticipated returns of Cameron Meredith and Kevin White.
Bellamy must be seeing his time in Chicago fading, and he vented that realization on Instagram.
Players react differently under stress. It can't be easy for Bellamy. He now knows the odds of sticking on the Bears roster are drastically reduced. His best hope is to get a spot at the bottom of the depth chart as a special teamer. The chances of actually playing on offense are almost non-existent. That has to sting given his steady improvement this past year. One can't blame him for stating a desire to leave and seek better opportunities elsewhere. Perhaps the Bears will grant him that request depends on what happens over the coming couple months. The draft could make a lot of it clear.
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