Remember The Javon Wims Punching Incident? It Just Got Crazier

So everybody remembers the Javon Wims incident right? It's hard to forget. Here's a quick recap. Just over a week ago, the Chicago Bears hosted the New Orleans Saints. As the two teams were battling in the second half, the third-year receiver appeared to be jawing with Saints defender Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. At one point the safety actually ripped Wims' mouthpiece out and threw it on the ground. This seemed to set the Bears receiver off. After stewing on the bench for a few minutes after that, Wims went back onto the field and straight for Gardner-Johnson. After trying to rip his mouthpiece out too but failing, he decided to go one step further by throwing not one but two punches at the defender's head.

Unsurprisingly, this resulted in an ejection.

Wims later apologized for his actions but it was too late. The NFL came down hard, suspending him for two games. It wasn't the smartest move for a number of reasons. Not only did it hurt the Bears in that game but also hurt the guy's career. His future in Chicago beyond this season was already a question mark. Yet those punches may not actually be the craziest part of the story. A week after the incident, the media had a chance to speak with wide receivers coach Mike Furrey. He was asked about what happened and his reaction. What came next was nothing short of a shock. Apparently, Furrey told the receivers to explicitly stay away from Gardner-Johnson just moments before Wims did what he did.

So Javon Wims heard the warning and didn't listen

That takes a special kind of stupid. Then again Wims already had a reputation for being hotheaded. The year prior he got into an altercation with Prince Amukamara where he did the same exact thing, punching a guy with a helmet on. The consequences were minor then. This time his temper cost him so much more. Gardner-Johnson is a known instigator. He has a reputation for trash-talking and doing lots of things to get under the skin of his opponents. Or even his teammates. Saints receiver Michael Thomas was actually suspended by the team because of a practice altercation with him just days before the Bears played them.

Furrey knew his reputation and what he was trying to do.

Nobody else rose to the bait. Then Wims did what he did. One can only imagine how furious his coach was seeing that happen. Even over a week later it was written all over Furrey's face. Now the next question is this. Where does this leave the receiver when he returns? Javon Wims wasn't doing much in the passing game before the incident. One has to believe the Bears will trust him even less now. Riley Ridley got some action in Tennessee and made his first catch of the season. A big conversion on 3rd and 16. Perhaps that will lead to further chances next Monday against Minnesota. If he continues playing well, Wims won't have a place on the depth chart anymore.