The Chicago Bears can say they have one genuine star on offense right now. That is Allen Robinson. Outside of that? There are some solid players but mostly a bunch of maybes with high upside. Like any sports, football is built on star power. The more talented a team is, the better its odds of making a run at a championship. Chicago knows they have a defense capable of that. Offensively? Not so much. This is why a considerable section of Bears fans are urging the team to consider Antonio Brown.
If you’re not up to speed on that situation, here’s a quick recap. Brown was once the best wide receiver in the NFL. He finished just shy of 1,300 yards and scored 15 touchdowns in his final season with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2018. However, a very public beef with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger led the erratic receiver to force his way out of town. He was traded to the Oakland Raiders and seemed ready for a new chapter.
Then Brown realized he didn’t like that team. So he committed all sorts of childish acts including pitching a fit over not being allowed to where his old type of helmet. He got into a heated confrontation with GM Mike Mayock. A former trainer accused him of sexual assault. The Raiders finally released him, much to his delight and he signed with the New England Patriots shortly after. That didn’t last long though. Brown continued to receive accusations of sexual misconduct and when he tried to intimidate one of the accusers via text, the Patriots released him.
Antonio Brown bottomed out just a few months later
It didn’t take long for Brown to realize his once invincible aura as an NFL superstar had shattered. He tried to stay on his best behavior. Sadly that didn’t last as he was arrested in January for attacking a moving truck driver. For which he narrowly avoided jail time. Since then he has remained away from the public eye as much as possible.
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Despite all of this, teams continue to weigh the risks of signing him. Rumors emerged that both the Seahawks and Ravens had internal discussions about it. Why? The reality that despite all of the very real concerns about his stability, Brown is still a stud on the field. Somebody defensive backs don’t want to cover. Bears fans can’t help but wonder what a pairing of him and Robinson might look like.
The potential would admittedly be exciting. Yet there is just no way it happens. GM Ryan Pace has worked hard to foster a healthy culture in Chicago. One built around players with zero off-the-field issues and outstanding work ethics. The only reason they would consider someone like Brown is if they feel 2020 is genuinely their last shot at winning a championship before the window closes.
Some could argue this is the case. Still, it seems like the Bears are satisfied with the additions they’ve made offensively this offseason. Sure, none of them will likely ever be at Brown’s level but also won’t bring the same headaches. They seem willing to live with that.
