NEWSLETTER
Respect has been hard to come by for David Montgomery over the course of the first three years of his pro career. A solid running back with leadership skills and a grinder’s mentality doesn’t always get the accolades they deserve. And when the coaches don’t give you the rock as much as they should, it’s hard to shine.
But Montgomery has finally earned some love on a grand stage, earning a spot on the NFL’s Top 100 players list heading into the 2022 season.
NFL Network began unrolling the list on Sunday night, placing Montgomery at No. 98 overall. Can you see why?
I love how former Packers defensive lineman Mike Daniels puts it when talking about Montgomery.
“He’s a problem,” Daniels said. “That’s a good thing.”
Montgomery, 25, is making his debut appearance on the list. His inclusion on the list makes him just the second Bears back to find his way to earning this recognition. Matt Forte, whose Bears career no doubt was spectacular, made the list in 2012, 2014, and 2015 while as a member of the Monsters. Those were some well-earned accomplishments. And Montgomery’s place in the top-100 is deserved, too, if only because there’s a “took ya long enough” aspect in it. After all, it’s not as if Montgomery is coming off a season in which he was stuffing the stat sheet. But he is just one year removed from a 1,000-yard rushing season.
So … Better late than never though, right?
With the Bears being in a rebuilding mode, I wasn’t expecting Chicago’s football team to be represented early or all that often. But now, part of me wonders how many Bears players will make the cut. I reckon linebacker Roquan Smith (he’s still here, folks!) and receiver Darnell Mooney could join Monty in making the cut. Keep in mind that these are rankings voted on by players. Even still … that probably makes it more meaningful for players who make it. There are few things that are satisfying to a player as much as the respect of their peers. Perhaps there are more Bears coming as the list chugs along.
