NEWSLETTER
Mitch Trubisky hasn’t taken a snap in a game of consequence yet, so he still has time to earn a nickname from the adoring public. However, outside linebacker Leonard Floyd offers one up in John Mullin’s piece over at NBC Sports Chicago: “Pretty Boy Assassin.” I can dig it.
So what does the Bears’ first-round pick from the NFL Draft class of 2016 see in this year’s top pick:
“He’s competitive, really competitive, but with a smile on his face,” said Floyd, shaking his head. He’ll beat you, then be walking back to the huddle, look over and just smile at you. He’ll beat you with a smile on his face.”
“He’s got a lotta [swagger]. I like his ‘swag’, his demeanor,” Floyd said. “He’ll rip you but he’s got control of the offense. He’ll switch cadences, do stuff you’re not expecting, make plays.”
When Victor Cruz went on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football program and mentioned Trubisky could start as early as Week 5, the former Bears receiver made reference to the rookie having swagger, confidence, and control of the huddle when he was in the game. Frankly, “swagger” isn’t something that has been synonymous with the Bears and their offense this year — or with their quarterbacks ever. I’m almost unsure where to go from here.
Trubisky is the first quarterback Bears fans have been genuinely excited about since Jay Cutler. And that’s with all due respect to the likes of Josh McCown, Brian Hoyer, Mike Glennon, and others. But we all know how that ended, so it would be nice to avoid a repeat of that entire era.
But to hear defensive players talk up their quarterback in this way feels especially encouraging. And if Trubisky can live up to Floyd’s hype, then there will be a new set of superlatives we’ll be ready to toss in the rookie quarterback’s direction.
