Ryan Poles' latest roster move will warm Bears fans' hearts
By Ryan Heckman
This season has been marred by multiple heartbreaks, questionable coaching decisions and simple, flat-out underperforming by the Chicago Bears. It's been a difficult season to navigate as fans, for multiple reasons.
Whether it be trying to assess rookie quarterback Caleb Williams' rookie campaign amidst a less-than-ideal coaching situation, watching the Bears' weaknesses be put on display or the sole idea of some tough losses, this season has not been easy.
It's come after Bears fans got a chance to watch the team on Hard Knocks during training camp, too, where there were some inspiring, exciting and emotional moments. The HBO series did a phenomenal job adhering to fans' emotions and getting them ready for the season, and a few players especially stood out.
One of those players who grabbed fans' hearts and attention, safety Adrian Colbert, still did not have a job as of this week. He was released by the Bears back in August, but Tuesday night, the Bears announced they had officially re-signed the veteran.
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Real quick, the reasoning behind the signing is very simple: the Bears are thin at safety. With Jaquan Brisker on injured reserve and Elijah Hicks suffering a recent ankle injury, the team had to make a move.
This was definitely the move to make.
Adrian Colbert returning to the Bears was the news all fans needed
Fans will remember during the episode of Hard Knocks where Poles was amidst his roster cuts and had to break the news to Colbert that he was being released. The general manager sat Colbert down, in his office, and spoke the words, "This kills me."
Before Poles could even share the news, he stood up and had to walk out of the room due to the tears and emotion. Poles cared deeply about Colbert, the man and the player, and this was clearly the toughest roster cut he had to make this year.
Colbert acknowledged how much he loved being around the Bears' coaches and organization as a whole. He spoke highly of everyone in the building and appreciated them allowing him to "be him," as a person, noting that this has allowed him to thrive on the field.
Colbert also went on to talk about how the Bears treating him so well is going to influence how he is as a father down the line; the way Chicago treated him will allow him to be a better man and father.
The Bears' season might be effectively over, and fans are already looking ahead to next offseason where we'll hopefully see many changes within the staff, but news like this (and right before Thanksgiving) offers everyone a nice break from the game and re-introduces us to the beautiful reality of this profession and sport.