Chicago Bears need leadership from Taylor Gabriel

The Chicago Bears are looking to get value from Taylor Gabriel both on and off of the field

The moves in which the Chicago Bears made this offseason were generally accepted. They hit needs with strong scheme fits. However, if there was any push back against these moves, it was likely the money.

In the defense of Allen Robinson, everyone expected him to get paid, even off of an injury. For Taylor Gabriel and Trey Burton, the two both made more than the market suggested.

However, in Taylor Gabriel, they are hoping to get some of their moneys worth when it comes to being a leader in practice and in the film room.

Mike Furrey, the Chicago Bears wide receiver coach spoke of some of his expectations of Gabriel.

"“He’s got to now become the example for all the younger guys,” receivers coach Mike Furrey said. “He had some good people to look up to you where he was coming from [the Falcons], so now that’s him. That’s a huge transition in your career.”“People are watching you now, so you can’t really take things off,” Furrey said. “You got to be that example. You got to set that bar for people. You got to push our room, instead of kind of being in the wagon of the room.”"

When you look at the wide receiver room, the two oldest receivers are Josh Bellamy and Gabriel. Bellamy may not be long for the roster. The highest paid wide receiver, Allen Robinson is rehabbing and not in practice so the pressure really is on Gabriel to be the motivational leader of this group.

This is why you pay a player like Gabriel more than some would expect. He needs to set a presence in these times that keeps a young corps progressing.

Furrey having to come to the media to state that may not be the best thing, though. It means that he likely has not seen that so far in OTA’s.

This early into the offseason this is very likely a warning shot more than a call out. However, it is clear that Furrey thinks that Gabriel needs to understand that he is being paid more now and he is being asked to do more as well. Gabriel is going to have to respond and set a tone.