Justin Fields is the quarterback for the Chicago Bears. That means he will garner most of the scrutiny when the team loses. It’s the nature of the position he plays. Scoring seven points in a football game is unacceptable, and he must take ownership of that reality from the loss to the Washington Commanders. That said, plenty of people aren’t shy about pointing the finger elsewhere for that debacle. One name that came up is Darnell Mooney.
The Bears insisted the third-year receiver was poised for a big year. It made sense. He was coming off 1,000 yards last season and no longer had to share targets with Allen Robinson. Things haven’t gone as planned. Mooney has 214 yards through six games and zero touchdowns. A microcosm of his season came on the final play of the game when Fields hit him in the hands for what should’ve been the game-winning TD. Mooney, unfortunately, bobbled the ball and didn’t regain control until he was out of the end zone.
Some people felt the difficulty level of that catch was higher than it should’ve been. Former Super Bowl champion Keyshawn Johnson didn’t want to hear it. He stated on Keyshawn, JWill, & Max for ESPN that #1 receivers are supposed to make that play. Mooney failed his quarterback. It’s time to stop calling him a #1 or even a #2.
Darnell Mooney is losing money with every failed clutch play.
Rumors are the Bears are interested in extending the receiver after this season. The problem is these repeated failures to come through when his QB needs him most aren’t doing much for his bank account. Mooney holds himself to a high standard. Right now, he’s looking at maybe $14 million per year at most, far below that of any #1 receiver in the league. Good receivers make tough, contested catches. He doesn’t do that often enough.
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It is why Bears fans are clamoring for the team to be aggressive on the receiver market next year. When your best option would likely be #3 on most of the top offenses in the league, it’s a problem. Darnell Mooney has 11 games left to change that narrative. It won’t be easy. Chicago plays some excellent defenses in the coming weeks. Life won’t get any easier. Keyshawn isn’t wrong in his criticisms. Only one man can make them untrue.
Last year it was always 100% the head coaches fault. This year it is the head coach and the OC ; offensive line ; and now the receivers.
How about this maybe are quarterback at this stage ion his career sucks. Oh no; we can never put blame on him.
I think we are done with ; well its not about winning we are all about development.
Truth is we should have been out of sight in that game. Without the muffed punt Washington never looked like getting in the end zone, and we should have had at least 2 if not 3 TDs already by that point, making the Mooney bobble irrelevant. Also, although it was nice to see the Bears get aggressive on fourth downs, this was always going to be a low scoring game. Kicking two field goals instead of pushing for the TDs and we win by a point.
Hmm. Keyshawn Johnson. What a brilliant football mind!
Hey Lambert, are the two of you related?
Look at the picture! If he had caught the pass immediately and been flagged for having 3 hands. His left arm was blocked (either intentionally; or just luckily) by the DB.Mooney is good (I believe he has shown that) but he is not that good! Could the pass have been thrown better? Perhaps, but that was not ever opined upon. I think it showed a lot of trust that Fields threw what was a very low % pass to his favorite WR.
And in a…