Darnell Mooney might be one of the biggest steals the Chicago Bears have drafted in the past decade. In two years, he has already broken the team’s rookie record for receptions and then topped 1,000 yards in his second season. One would think he’d be viewed among the game’s 10-15 best receivers. Instead, he’s been relegated to the NFL backwater. Most presume his success came from the benefit of being in the same offense as Allen Robinson.
That suits Mooney fine. It only serves as an incentive for him to work harder. In a recent article, Dan Pompei of The Athletic revealed how driven the young receiver is. There is no free time with him. Every moment not spent eating or sleeping is focused on football. It has gotten to such an extent that he even invades the quarterback room during film sessions. Wide receiver study isn’t enough for him. Former Bears quarterback Jim Miller has seen this type of thing before. He explained who it reminded him of on Bears All Access.
Kevin Faulk can empathize with Darnell Mooney.
He might’ve been one of the most underappreciated players of his era back in the 2000s. Across 13 seasons, he accumulated 12,340 all-purpose yards and 33 touchdowns for the New England Patriots. He was a vital part of their diverse offensive attack. The Patriots likely don’t win their second and third championships in 2003 and 2004 without his strong Super Bowl performances. One would think a guy who topped 990 yards from scrimmage three times would get a little more respect.
It didn’t matter in the end. Faulk had the last laugh. People kept talking about his size (5’8) and always sitting in the shadow of guys like Tom Brady, Deion Branch, and others. He didn’t let that steer him away from doing his job. Faulk silenced them all on game days. That is what Darnell Mooney aims to do. The difference is he’ll be the offense’s focal point moving forward. Maybe he will get the respect Faulk never got.
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Both Mooney and Montgomery will set the division on fire, and J Fields will take a huge leap in production in Getsy’s offense. It does not take a “Superstar” or an elite anything to win a Super Bowl, it only takes 53 committed players playing with one mindset in a scheme that builds on each of their strengths, while combining 11 players’ strengths at each phase of the game, and that is exactly the scheme Eberflus and Getsy intend to utilize.
You’re right on one thing, Faulk was never a WR1, hard to do as a RB…..
But over 990 yards in total yardage both rushing and receiving 3 times in 13 year career isn't anything greatness is made out of. If that's the case Monty would be a Superstar at this point in his career and he's not that.
Kevin Faulk was a decent RB but a better receiving RB. He was like the Cohen before Cohen. I understand the article was about how they both approached the game and some of Faulks best games came in the most important games sure…..
Kevin Faulk had 0 chance of becoming a #1 WR because he was an RB. Lol. We are comparing apples to oranges regarding Kevin Faulk and Darnell Mooney. Faulk was a decent RB/ Receiving back however but the point of the article was how they both studied the game.