Tampa Bay Buccaneers Safety Chris Conte got his revenge on the Chicago Bears franchise and the city that booed him on his way out the door.
Chris Conte’s career in Chicago was bumpy to say the least. Conte’s up and down play maddened fans and frustrated coaches. While Conte made plays from time to time, it was the plays he didn’t make that punctuate his career in Chicago.
Conte is probably best known in Chicago for being torched by Randall Cobb for a 48-yard touchdown with 38 seconds to go on a 4th and 8 in week 17 back in the 2013 season, giving the Green Bay Packers a 33-28 victory and earning themselves the division title instead of the Bears.
Conte played for Chicago again in 2014 before new GM Ryan Pace showed Conte the door. He found a home in Tampa with his former coach, Lovie Smith and kept his roster spot this season under new coach Dirk Koetter.
Conte’s departure from Chicago always left a sour taste in his mouth, so when opportunity presented itself on Sunday, Conte seized the moment.
Midway through the first quarter, neither Tampa or Chicago was able to get anything going offensively. The Bears had a first and ten on their own 21 after a Bucs’ punt. Jay Cutler rolled out after a play action fake and floated an ill-advised pass to Logan Paulsen. Conte read it perfectly, picked it off, and galloped twenty yards into the end zone.
Conte spoke with the Chicago Tribune after the game and didn’t mince words as to what this interception meant to him.
"I hate to make it personal, but for me it is personal. It feels great. I don’t want to say, ‘F*ck you, Chicago.’ But, I want to say, ‘F*ck you, Chicago.'”"
So as the Bears hit rock bottom after an embarrassing loss to the Bucs, the suspension to Alshon Jeffery, and the report that the locker room is fed up with Jay Cutler, now Chris Conte is just opening pouring salt in the wounds of all Bears fans.
When’s the draft?
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.