Don’t let anybody be fooled here. The Bears Packers rivalry is a 24/7/365 deal and Green Bay fans love to pat themselves on the back in regards to knowing everything. They’re incorrigible and obnoxious just like every other sports fan. Bears fans certainly know this well and had to hear it from them especially during the 2016 draft. Why?
It occurred during the second round. Chicago was about to go on the board when suddenly Green Bay jumped up into the spot ahead them and drafted Jason Spriggs. A left tackle from Indiana. Minutes later Chicago traded down to the 56th spot. Immediately people began to assume the obvious. The Bears had coveted Spriggs as their pick and the Packers stole him. Needless to say Packers supporters caught wind of that and began to run with it until it was a generally accepted reality.
Packers traded up directly in front of Bears to draft Indiana OT Jason Spriggs.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 30, 2016
Man. Wonder if the Packers, who took Elkhart's Jason Spriggs, nabbed who the Bears wanted. https://t.co/DS553CDAeJ
— Tyler James (@TJamesNDI) April 30, 2016
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You know what? I also love the Jason Spriggs pick because it was done in large part to spite the Bears. #NFLDraft #Packers #GoPackGo
— Matt (@MShadows17) April 30, 2016
With the Bears selecting an offensive lineman, it makes the Packers look even smarter for jumping in front of them to take Jason Spriggs.
— Andrew Rutberg (@AndrewRutberg) April 30, 2016
The evidence would certainly suggest there’s truth to it. Chicago needed offensive line help and still weren’t sure what they had in Charles Leno Jr. Adding Spriggs would’ve brought in some nice competition. Then they moved down. So was it true? No, and now the Packers are regretting it.
Bears Packers rivalry elevated Jason Spriggs before seeing him play
This past offseason has shown that GM Ryan Pace is a master of draft misdirection. He caught the entire NFL by surprise when he selected Mitch Trubisky. This would seem to indicate he knows how get other teams thinking one way while actually thinking another. Later reports surfaced that the Bears, in fact, did not have eyes for Spriggs after all.
For the record, Bears didn't covet Jason Spriggs at No. 49. Packers trade up didn't alter their plan. https://t.co/m9piitC8l0
— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) May 9, 2016
The fact the Packers traded up to get him suggested they certainly made people think they did, and now their old rival seems to be regretting it. Green Bay has suffered a number of losses to their offensive line in the past two offseasons. Josh Sitton joined Chicago last year and T.J. Lang headed for Detroit a few months ago. No doubt they hoped Spriggs could step right in to fill the void. So far? It hasn’t gone well.
Got a text from a veteran NFL offensive lineman (not in GB) while he was watching Jason Spriggs. Sounds about right. pic.twitter.com/NqUGGyVVGq
— Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler) August 24, 2017
Jason Spriggs has not looked more outclassed since joining the Packers.
— Jason B. Hirschhorn (@by_JBH) August 20, 2017
Shot 1 – Derek Barnett's first professional sack. Beats Jason Spriggs inside. He has been working on similar rushes all offseason pic.twitter.com/ckdmrOuxyJ
— Fran Duffy (@fduffy3) August 15, 2017
Great googly moogly pic.twitter.com/r8VxzXUuMd
— Aaron Nagler (@AaronNagler) August 23, 2017
Yikes. Just goes to show that people shouldn’t gloat about a pick right after it happens. While Packers fans were basking in the arrival of Spriggs, the Bears calmly moved back and secured another offensive lineman in Cody Whitehair. He started as a rookie and nearly made the Pro Bowl at center. It doesn’t look like Green Bay is dealing with the same, old Bears anymore.
They best remember that the next time they proclaim their Packers “stole” somebody from Chicago. Karma has a way of working itself out.
