The Chicago Bears really missed Eddie Goldman in 2020. His exit from the NFL due to COVID-19 concerns hurt their run defense in a big way. When it seemed like he was ready to return this season, there was a sigh of relief. Having him back in the middle should provide a big boost on the ground. After seven games though? It seems like Goldman is not the same player he was a couple of years ago.
There is no question that the 27-year old is off to the worst start of any season of his career. He has just four tackles in five games. Only one stop for minimal gain and one pressure as an interior pass rusher. Pro Football Focus gave him a run defense rating of 30.3 so far this season. If that holds, it would be less than half the previous lowest rating he’s ever had of 63.7 as a rookie in 2015. He has not played well at all, and Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune seems to think it isn’t because of diminished ability.
He thinks Goldman is already checked out.
“I don’t think Goldman’s football shape can be the issue anymore. He has five games under his belt now and was on the field for 30 largely unnoticeable snaps in the loss to the 49ers. He’s not that force at nose tackle he was previously in his career, and to be quite frank, I’m not completely surprised. As I reported over the summer, my sources told me Goldman was considering retirement. There’s an old saying players and coaches use: If you’re thinking about retirement, you are retired.”
The weird situation with Goldman began in June when he refused to show up for mandatory minicamps. This led to speculation that he might be contemplating the idea of sitting another year due to COVID fears. It didn’t take long for rumblings to come out that he might even think about retirement. In the end, he decided to show up for training camp and play. Perhaps he might be regretting that decision.
He isn’t the only one. A source informed me that the Bears are frustrated with Goldman too. Though they didn’t make any move at the trade deadline, they were listening to offers from other teams on the veteran nose tackle. This might indicate they could revisit trading him this coming offseason. No doubt his downturn in productivity and questionable commitment has worn down their patience.
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Eddie Goldman was great at one point but not anymore
It’s hard to call him anything other than a liability. His biggest selling point was being able to clog running lanes. The Bears’ run defense has completely fallen apart in the last month. When a player stops becoming good at the primary reason he is employed? The decision on what to do with him is fairly simple. Trading or cutting the nose tackle this coming spring will net the team around $6.66 million in salary cap space. An extra draft pick on top of that wouldn’t hurt either.
While losing Eddie Goldman certainly would hurt, the fact is the Bears essentially lost him last year. The player they got back in 2021 isn’t that guy anymore. It is difficult to say whether he can rediscover his old magic. Nine games remain for him to try. Given the trend he’s been on lately, it is best not to count on it. Not with the array of strong running games this team still has to play.
Paying big money to a nose tackle that can’t do his one job isn’t good business.
That is why fans should take in every game #91 plays the rest of the year. It is looking more and more like it will be his last. An unfortunate turn of events for a guy who was a really good player. This is just how the business goes sometimes.