Alshon Jeffery Receiving Unfair Criticism
Various media outlets and fans around Chicago have been very critical of Alshon Jeffery’s comments during minicamp, that criticism is completely unfair.
Several people have been critical of Alshon Jeffrey’s quotes during his media session at Chicago Bears’ minicamp. Those same people have also been critical of Alshon’s decision to skip OTAs and remain in Florida to train independently from the team. I’m here to tell those critics one thing:
Cut Alshon some slack.
Alshon hasn’t violated one team rule. He’s always been an excellent teammate and he hasn’t done one thing to make you believe that he has become a me-first player.
While addressing the media, Alshon has this to say about his absence from OTAs:
"I was just working on some soft-tissue issues. I was working out with my trainer and some other people I was seeing down there. Me and my agent talked about it and felt it was best for me to train somewhere else."
When Alshon was pushed further on the topic by the media, he stated, “I just felt it was the best situation for me.”
Is Alshon lying? Absolutely. If Jeffery told the media that he skipped OTAs as part of the negotiation he would get harpooned by the media and the fans for putting dollars ahead of the team. But for these players, yes they want to win, but this is their livelihood. In a career that rarely lasts past the individuals early 30s, the post-rookie contract is critical for great players to land large deals. It may be their only chance to cash in.
No one was more critical of Jeffery than David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune. He had this to say about Jeffery’s comments at Minicamp:
"For $14.6 million — the amount of the franchise-tag tender Jeffery signed — the Bears reasonably can expect a veteran player to put the team first. Show up, set an example and lead. Be a pro. Instead, it’s as if Jeffery is getting PR advice from Derrick Rose. Casual chic might work in South Carolina but it’s a bad look in a football city… The more Jeffery tried explaining his position, the harder it was to understand. The longer he spoke, the more it sounded like an agent’s words coming clumsily out of a client’s mouth.“It’s the game of football — there’s a 99 percent chance you’re going to get hurt,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how you train.”In saying so, Jeffery made the case why he could have stayed in town all spring. If it makes no difference where Jeffery trained, why shun teammates by working out at the same facility in South Florida he did last summer before a season in which he missed seven games with soft-tissue injuries? When it comes to leadership, optics matter… The middle of June hardly carries urgency on an NFL calendar but Jeffery going MIA during OTAs bordered on disrespect to the Bears and teammates relying upon him for a big season — not to mention Bears fans to whom Jeffery pandered."
Haugh is one of the finest columnists in Chicago and has been around the Bears and the NFL for a long time. To be honest, his angle here is very surprising.
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Almost every player in the league when they are trying to land a long-term contract skips OTAs. Would it have been great if Alshon was working with the team? Sure, but what damage has he done? He is in fantastic shape, he’s healthy and most importantly, he’s with the team.
He didn’t hold out. He could have skipped minicamp, he could have refused to sign his franchise tender or he could have held out during the preseason or possibly regular season. He did none of those things. He’s here in Chicago practicing with his team.
I can say with strong certainty that there isn’t one player that is upset with Alshon for skipping OTAs given his contract situation. Every player knows they need to be opportunistic when it comes to cashing in, Alshon is doing what every great player needs to do- get paid.
Ryan Pace and John Fox are probably annoyed that Jeffery skipped OTAs but they aren’t furious nor are they surprised. They knew this was coming and if Jeffery had a long-term deal with Chicago already he would have been there ready to go.
But OTAs are already in the past. It’s mandatory minicamp and Alshon is in uniform. He’s practicing with the team and he’s focused on football. Is Jeffery worried about his contract?
“That situation will take care of itself. I’m just here to play football. I’m under contract. I’m focused on football and the Bears organization.”
You couldn’t ask for a better response from a player. Jeffery is here to play football and that should matter to David Haugh or any other critic.
Bill Zimmerman is an editor and featured writer for FanSided‘s BearGogglesOn. Like his Facebook page or follow him on Twitter for more news and interaction.