“Man it makes me so happy just knowing my career isn’t going down the drain.” Former Bear linebacker Roquan Smith on his time in Baltimore more beneficial than his time in Chicago and if Chicago had given him the money he wanted to be the highest paid linebacker in the league. Truly after his departure the Bears defense fell apart. Since 2018 there have been a number of notable departures from the Bears acquired by draft or trade. And the thousand yard stare and the losses pile up. With constant change in front office administration and a need to turn over the roster. Since the end of the Lovie Smith/ Brian Urlacher time in Chicago the Bears are a hot mess. Up and down since the 90’s. However Lovie Smith was the last coach to get the Bears to the Super Bowl in ‘06/’07. Even then it was a cluster fuck particular at quarter back which is clear when you make it to the Super Bowl with Rex Grossman under center. Maybe not the reason they lost the Super Bowl but reasons why they didn’t win. Football is a physical sport. Probably the most physical of all American sports. How much can a body take in constant losing without guaranteed contracts as in other sports? Regardless of sport it’s hard to watch one of your star players walk or get traded particular when there’s genius in acquiring that talent. The last few years if you want a linebacker the best place to go is the University of Georgia. Smith is the second Georgia linebacker in the last few years after Leonard Floyd who ends up winning a Super Bowl with the Rams in ’21. It’s like saying “get out while you can.”  Even if you don’t play linebacker, Ahem, Justin Fields. Really baseball and basketball are sports where an athlete is willing to go through a rebuild. The NFL you want to get past your rookie contract and sign a big contract with a team on the verge of winning and they’re willing to pay. Sports being a business so you’re not playing for one team in a league with 32 sets of eyes. Each week is an audition. The last thing you want is to feel is your career is going down the drain. Which if considered is a rough thing to say about any team in any sport. Smith did say, “it was bittersweet to be traded.” He knows the regard for the position of linebacker in Chicago. Certainly he would have been a legend here. But how many coaches would he have to suffer before he’d reach the success he’s had in Baltimore? There is no burying the lead in this one. But Brian Urlacher was in Chicago for 13 years and might have a problem with that statement. And the recently passed Dick Butkus. With that in mind we have been hurt by linebackers leaving. Does anyone remember Wilber Marshall?