What’s the common saying? How can you not be romantic about sports? It’s true. There is just something about the pageantry and drama of sports that will never truly be matched by other forms of entertainment. That is because there is legitimate sacrifice involved. Men and women put their bodies and minds through ceaseless torture to become the best at what they do. Football is right at the top of that list. You wouldn’t think that a training camp practice could deliver that sense of intent, but the Chicago Bears found a way to pull it off.
Tuesday marked the final day of training camp for the Bears as preparations began for the preseason finale and then the regular season. Head coach Ben Johnson made sure his players earned it. Over two hours, he put the Bears through grueling drills, constantly pitting the offense against the defense in live periods. As practice approached its conclusion, the team was preparing for a long drive drill. This meant the starting units would go against each other in a full-game situation with no substitutions allowed.
The intent was obvious. Johnson needed to see what his players were made of in a do-or-die situation. It is late in the game. Everybody’s exhausted. Who, if anybody, will rise to the occasion?
The Chicago Bears got not one but two epic speech moments.
While Johnson may have crafted the setup, two of his players authored the exclamation point. Right before the final drills began, cornerback Jaylon Johnson brought the team together in a huddle. He made it clear to everybody that what they’d done up to that point was not good enough. If they want to be great, they have to dig deep for everything they have. Finish camp strong.
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It was another reminder of how much Johnson has matured as a leader over the past two years. He may not be overly outspoken, but he knows when something must be said. He certainly got his point across. Players on both sides came with intensity in the final period. The fatigue certainly didn’t go down without a fight. Guys were gassed. Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett didn’t want to hear it, though. He was heard screaming at teammates to get up after taking a knee in the middle of a drill.
Players finally understand the price they must pay.
That has been the problem for a long time. They’ve had lots of talent, but not always a true understanding of what it truly takes to be a winner. You’ll often find that champions aren’t necessarily the most gifted teams. It is the ones who worked the hardest. Coach Johnson has made it his mission, since taking over, to ensure the Bears will never be outworked by anyone. Winning has a price, and everybody must be willing to pay it. Jarrett being at the forefront of this isn’t a surprise.
After all, he understands the pain of coming up short better than anybody. He was on that ill-fated 2016 Atlanta Falcons team that coughed up a 28-3 lead to lose in the Super Bowl. In the end, they weren’t up to the task. Jarrett, who had 3 sacks in that game, has been chasing the ghost ever since. The Chicago Bears represent his last shot to slay those demons, and he has no intention of letting guys get away with not giving their best. The same goes for Jaylon.
