NEWSLETTER
It feels like everything is going bad for the Chicago Bears at the same time. But what is really setting me off is how out of his element Head Coach Matt Eberflus is right now. Eberflus coaches like he is overmatched and sounds overwhelmed when addressing team issues in press conference settings.
And his answers to questions about wide receiver Chase Claypool’s status took it to another level. NFL reporter Ari Meirov shared video from today’s press conference and Eberflus’ answers are cringeworthy:
Matt Eberflus’ answers to questions about Chase Claypool were wholly unsatisfying
Reporter: Is the plan to keep Chase Claypool away from the team?
Eberflus: “Right now, we’re just having him stay, not be in the building this week. And, again, Ryan (Poles) does all the trades and transactions and we’ll decide that as we go forward.”
Reporter: Why keep him away from the team? What is the rationale?
Eberflus: “We just feel that’s what’s best for the team.”
Reporter: Why?
Eberflus: “Yeah, it’s just, like we said for in the building we feel that’s what’s best for the team. It comes down to this. When you’re evaluating players in meetings, in practice, in walk-throughs, all those things, it’s important you evaluate the entire body of work. And we just feel like right now Chase is going to be out of the building is best for our football team.”
Reporter: Is it the case with Claypool that he isn’t going to play for the Bears again?
Eberflus: “Well, he’s not going to be in the building this week so he’s not playing this week. We’ll see where it goes from there. Like I said, Ryan handles all those trades and transactions and we’ll see where it goes.”
Reporter: What transpired for Claypool to be away from the team after being deactivated?
Eberflus: “I will just say that we wanted to … we thought it was best for the team. In terms of transpired, what transpired is we informed him that he was inactive and that he was not going to be with the team at the game at that point. And then we informed him this morning that he was not going to be here this week.
Reporter: What was his response when you told him he was going to be inactive?
Eberflus: “It was over the phone in both instances. His reaction was we’ll keep it there it’s between me and him.”
Reporter: Why did it get to this point with Chase?
Eberflus: “I would just say that what we think is best for the team and how we operate here as a football team. The Chicago Bears. When I came here Day 1, I talked about being on time, being respectful, and working hard. That to me is important for every individual. If it’s a staff member, a player, or a coach. That’s where we are. And we feel right now this is the best decision for us.”
Reporter: Are those the issues?
Eberflus: “I’m just saying that we have a standard for that. We have standards for that. If those standards are met, then everything’s good. If it’s not, then it’s not.”
I could go on, but I think you can pick up what I’m putting down by sharing these exchanges. It goes on for nearly seven minutes. This was textbook grilling from the Chicago Bears press corps at Halas Hall. I imagine there will be some proud journalism school professors when they get a hold of this clip.
The Chicago Bears are an unserious franchise right now
They are 0-4 and haven’t won a game in 343 days. Offensively, the same problems that have plagued the franchise were rearing their ugly head again. Before Sunday’s showing, their quarterback had three games in which he looked like he had been aggressively attacked by the regression monster. Defensively, the Bears look like a team that was worse than the bad batch that was sent out to the field for 17 games. That shouldn’t be the case after spending $60 million on refurbishing the linebackers’ room, $20 million on new defensive ends, and using five Day 2 picks over the last two NFL Drafts on defensive picks. This is all so, so, soooo bad.
And, sure, Matt Eberflus looks bad because he sounds ill-equipped to properly field these questions. But not to be lost here is that this is also a reflection on GM Ryan Poles. Eberflus name-checked Poles a few times, saying that he is the one who handles transactions. While true, Eberflus and Poles had previously spoken about how their relationship is a collaborative effort working together toward building out this Bears thing. Eberflus publicly deflecting questions and putting the ball in Poles’ court could make for an awkward situation.
In the end, this looks bad for Eberflus, Poles, and the drum they’ve been banging since the beginning about the importance of football character. And it makes me wonder what President Kevin Warren thinks about what is unfolding in his first year as the top boss at Halas Hall. Maybe we’ll find out soon.
