I’m Tired of Defending Gabe Carimi

Gabe Carimi’s days with the Chicago Bears appear to be numbered.  Carimi, who’s already facing an uphill battle just to make the final 53-man roster, decided that it was OK to skip the first day of OTA’s and work out on his own.

"Former Chicago Bears first-round draft pick Gabe Carimi was a no-show at Halas Hall on Monday when the team took the field for the first organized team activity of the offseason, according to a source familiar with the situation…According to multiple sources, Carimi hasn’t been with the team since he participated in the club’s voluntary three-day minicamp held from April 16-18. Following the conclusion of the minicamp, Carimi informed the Bears he planned to skip the second phase of the Bears’ offseason program that included individual on-field work and positional meetings in favor of returning to Arizona to continue his offseason training.Carimi felt working out in Arizona gave him the best opportunity to return to the field healthy and avoid the knee problems that have plagued him the last two years, a source said."

Call it Jerry Angelo’s final revenge because yet another first round draft pick offensive lineman appears destined for the scrap heap.

The Bears made it clear that they need to improve their offensive line this offseason and have made multiple moves to try to bolster the position and raise the level of competition.   From signing Jermon Bushrod as one of their premier free agents and also adding guards Matt Slauson and Eben Britton through free agency to drafting Kyle Long in the first round of the draft, the Bears have put themselves in a position to turn their offensive line around in just one offseason.

All this time, I’ve been rooting for Gabe Carimi to get his act together and prove that he’s not another first round bust.  Maybe it’s because I really liked the pick when Carimi was selected?  Maybe it’s because not too long ago, the Bears gave up on an injured offensive lineman and he came up off the scrap heap to turn into a productive player.

I’m talking about Marc Columbo, who suffered a pretty serious knee injury with the Bears as a rookie and spent time on the PUP list and ended up out of football before Jerry Jones and the Cowboys picked him up and turned him into their starting right tackle.

I’ve been saying all along that Carimi was never right since he was injured in Week 2 of his rookie season and spent his entire offseason in 2012 trying to get his knee right, but he played on that bum knee all of last season with poor results.

I understand Phil Emery and the Bears trying to bolster the level of play and get some real competition along the offensive line.  Like all Bears fans, I’m saying “it’s about time.”

What I cannot understand is how Carimi can decide to skip OTA’s with his job on the line.  Does he really think he’ll do better on his own, with a new coaching staff in place and a TON of competition?   I’m tired of defending Gabe Carimi.  It’s time to let go of the former first round draft pick and move on.

What do you think?  Is it time to kick Carimi to the curb?  Do you think he’ll turn into the next Marc Columbo or is he the next Chris Williams?