Saturday, June 14, 2025

Former Player Warns Ben Johnson Values OTAs More Than Bears Realize

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There is a common saying around football. No matter what happens, players must do everything in their power to be ready for training camp. Nothing else matters. Just get to the end of July healthy and in shape. Organized Team Activities? Mandatory minicamps? Those don’t mean anything. Here’s the thing. If the actual players believe this is true, they are already making a huge mistake. Many people inside the league know how valuable spring practices are. That includes head coach Ben Johnson. He alluded to that when discussing rookies Colston Loveland and Luther Burden missing OTAs and minicamps.

He isn’t the only one who felt this way. Clay Harbor revealed on Chicago Sports Net that Tom Brady was notorious for using those spring practices to determine which players he could count on. If they couldn’t earn his trust in that first month of work, there was almost no chance they’d play during the season. It appears Johnson has a similar mindset. Bears players who manage to stand out now are certain to get more opportunities than others in training camp and the preseason.

Ben Johnson will provide what is earned, not expected.

Yes, Loveland and Burden are high draft choices. The team expects big things from them. Even so, neither of them has logged a single practice yet. Ben Johnson must know if he can trust him with the basic things in his offense. Never mind the complex stuff. That is why it won’t be surprising when Cole Kmet and Olamide Zaccheaus likely get more action with the #1 offense in July and August. They showed up for every practice and put in the work. Johnson intends to reward guys who are available. You want more opportunities? Prove it. His comments about Loveland and Burden weren’t accidents. He expects players to start taking every phase of the offseason seriously moving forward. You need to if you want to be a winner.

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Tred
Jun 14, 2025 4:03 pm

Will someone explain to me why this article makes any sense if you look at the context – the 1st and one of the 2nd round picks taken by this Head Coach, and this GM only about 7 weeks ago are both missing time already… So, rationally one thing or the other must be true – A) Poles and Johnson really don’t care about missing OTAs and mandatory minicamp, so this is BS B) Neither Poles or Johnson knew these guys would miss this time. If so, that’s on them – it’s their job to research guys they choose to… Read more »

Vtdsypher
Vtdsypher
Jun 13, 2025 6:23 pm

For the amount of time they actually have to show up and actually practice, everyone should be there no exceptions. The offseason is like a vacation now. Do you want to be a contending team, get your ass to OTA’s. It’s not asking to much. So tired of how soft the league has gotten. It’s too the point now that we have no idea what we have until week 4

Dr. Steven Sallie
Dr. Steven Sallie
Jun 13, 2025 4:11 pm

Just came back after eating at a top Persian restaurant. The biriyani was better than the Indian style. I just love the use of real saffron and cardamon.

Last edited 23 hours ago by Dr. Steven Sallie
Dr. Steven Sallie
Dr. Steven Sallie
Jun 13, 2025 3:51 pm

If you want to win, then trade for RB James Cook. He would be excellent for my HC Ben. Otherwise wait until Year Five 5 5 5 5 5 of the Poles’ Re-Rebuild to draft either Love, Singleton, or my surprise RB pick in 2026.

Dr. Steven Sallie
Dr. Steven Sallie
Jun 13, 2025 3:23 pm

I would not have drafted Loveland or Luther anyway, regardless of injuries or not.

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