Trading D.J. Moore was an unfortunate necessity for the Chicago Bears this offseason. Their salary cap had gotten to a point where they had to make some sacrifices to get their payroll back under control. With Rome Odunze and Luther Burden on the ascent, sacrificing Moore was the most sensible option. They sent him to Buffalo, where he’ll get to play with Josh Allen. To fill the void left behind, head coach Ben Johnson called on longtime veteran Kalif Raymond, who’d been with him for years in Detroit.
Most people felt the signing was done for three primary reasons. His connection to Johnson was the obvious one. He knows the offensive system and can get caught up quickly. Another is his speed. Raymond, even at 31 years old, can still move. Last but not least, he is an excellent return man. The Bears want to get more explosive in the third phase. However, there was another reason. Raymond has a glowing reputation as a locker room leader. Lions players weren’t happy to see him go.
According to Courtney Cronin of ESPN, the wide receiver already made that presence felt in a frank discussion with Caleb Williams during practice. The Bears quarterback came away from it realizing he still has lots to learn about leadership.
Kalif Raymond is already playing his role to perfection.
Make no mistake. Johnson knew exactly what he was doing when he signed the wide receiver. The Bears head coach has proven time and again to be a calculating person. Everything he does is for a reason. He knows the team’s hopes of winning a championship rest on Williams’s shoulders. His job is to make the quarterback the best player he can be. What many coaches often miss, though, is that it can’t just be about Xs and Os, pass accuracy, and so on. Great quarterbacks are also the leaders of the team.
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That was something people questioned when Williams was drafted. He had boatloads of talent, but some wondered if he had the true instincts of a leader. Based on his reactions to losses and his body language when things didn’t go the way he wanted, they were right to think so. Raymond recognized it too and became the first teammate to tell Williams to his face that such behavior sends the wrong message. He must learn to exude confidence and calm at all times.
Raymond saw one of the best do this.
He played alongside Eli Manning in New York for a season, getting a fleeting taste of the two-time Super Bowl champion before he retired. Then he worked with Jared Goff in Detroit, who has been to two NFC Championships and a Super Bowl in his career. While neither might be considered an all-time great, they’ve achieved success at the highest level in this sport. They did this by being excellent leaders and understanding when to maintain calm in high-pressure situations.
Williams took a big step forward in both departments last season. After some early setbacks, he seemed to gain mastery over his body language and became more vocal when necessary. As with all young players, there are still some wrinkles to smooth out. That is why Kalif Raymond is there. He’s at a point in his career where he doesn’t worry about stepping on toes. He’s trying to win. If that means saying some things guys need to hear, even if they don’t like it? So be it.
