The excitement was palpable on Thursday night. For the first time in three years, the Chicago Bears were back in the 1st round of the NFL draft. The one question on everybody’s mind was obvious. Would GM Ryan Pace move up for a quarterback? Insiders everywhere and SM’s own sources were saying that is what the Bears intended to do if the right guy fell. They had their eye on Justin Fields and they got their guy. The reactions from fans and media were great. Yet the reaction from players? Priceless. Eddie Jackson is a perfect example.
He was watching the draft as well and streaming it on Instagram Live. The excitement in his voice was palpable as the Bears jumped up to #11. He grew impatient as Commissioner Goodell dragged out the proceedings to introduce the man who would announce the pick. Jackson fully expected it to be a quarterback like everybody and like everybody else was hoping it would be Fields. When the pick came down? He was ecstatic.
Then he uttered a little phrase that seemed a bit…harsh.
Whether intended or not, Jackson certainly didn’t put Mitch Trubisky or Nick Foles in the best light when he uttered the phrase, “Bout time we get us a real…” He was obviously about to say quarterback before catching himself. That betrays the type of feelings he had and no doubt kept to himself during the past couple of seasons as the Bears floundered to 8-8 finishes. Much of that due to quarterback issues with Mitch Trubisky and Nick Foles.
This serves as a reminder that the other players on the team feel the same emotions fans do. They recognize the same problems. They just aren’t allowed to vocalize it because it would be bad for team morale and unity if they did so.
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Eddie Jackson held his tongue for a long time
He was one of the staunchest defenders of Trubisky during the frequent struggles the QB had the past two years. Fans and media bashing him weren’t helping. It was better if people tried to be supportive. The star safety deserves credit for at least holding back his own feeling from the public. Yet it was obvious plenty of people in that locker room were done with Trubisky at some point.
Rumors of players being fed up with him started as far back as 2019. One could say they really began on opening night against Green Bay that year. The night when Trubisky managed just three points and threw a backbreaking interception in the end zone to end the game. That was the first sign that the quarterback may not have what it takes to thrive at a high level in the NFL. Eddie Jackson probably knew it even then.
At least he waited until Trubisky was gone before saying something.
Plenty of Bears fans were likely saying the same thing when the Fields pick went down. Maybe, just maybe this is the guy they’ve been waiting for. Time will tell. There is no predicting of how a career will pan out. All anybody can say for sure is Fields has the talent to be a star.