With Winning A Non-Issue, Bears Make Right Call To Shelve Mack

Chicago IL

19 November, 2021

3:50 PM

Description

CHICAGO — With or without Khalil Mack, winning was never going to be the top priority for the Chicago Bears for the rest of what has already been a disappointing season on the Lakefront. A four-game losing streak has seen to that. Inconsistent play and questionable coaching decisions before the losing started got the ball rolling in the wrong direction. It's not just that the Bears are losing, it's how they're losing that has made it clear that delaying the inevitable with their intimidating pass rusher wasn't going to matter in the long run. So, when the Bears announced Friday that they were putting Mack on the shelf to undergo season-ending foot surgery, the news shouldn't have been met with anything stronger than a shrug of the shoulders because at this point, Khalil Mack's presence isn't going to make a difference. Like the rest of his teammates, Mack started the year showing promise. Registering six sacks in seven games, 19 tackles and 22 quarterback pressures is nothing to sneeze at. But it was clear that once Mack wasn't right, neither was a Bears defense that has gotten progressively worse as one loss after another, after another and after another stacked up. The Bears were initially willing to play the wait-and-see game with Mack's foot. The tenacious quarterback hunter tried to rest, hoping that time would somehow heal all wounds. But after missing the past two games, the continual losing and continued defensive slide downward made Friday's decision to place Mack and his six-year, $141 million contract on injured reserve a no-brainer. "I know he's frustrated because he's such a competitor," Beach coach Matt Nagy said Friday. "But this is the best thing for him and the best situation to be able to help him out and get it fixed." Fixing the Bears, on the other hand, is a whole other story. What's clear is that the Bears' top priority has become allowing rookie quarterback Justin Fields to develop into the franchise player they hoped for when they drafted him. And that's fine. Fields has done that, most recently in magical fashion, creating an excitement about what's yet to come. But as Fields has ascended, a Bears defense that was supposed to have played a starring role has fallen to 12th in total defense and has allowed an average of 31 points in the two games Mack has missed. Forcing Mack back into action isn't the solution and neither is the addition of Bruce Irwin, who will attempt to fill the void left by Mack, the bonafide tone-setter for the Bears defense. So, with the defense getting worse and Mack's foot showing no signs of improving, the message is clear. Wait 'til next year. Rest easy and heal up, Mr. Mack. This team wasn't going to magically turn things around even if you were on the field. Sure, the Bears still have a handful games remaining over the next eight weeks when they will face five teams with losing records. But considering the way the Bears have been trending over the past month, focusing on the future ­­— whether or not that includes Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace — needs to be the priority. Mack will almost assuredly be part of that future and one that could be much brighter if decisions are made to go in a new direction. But for now, magically finding a formula for winning football isn't going to appear out of thin air. Creating a defensive intensity that congers up memories of the Monsters of the Midway isn't going to materialize anytime soon. So, in the meantime, take the time to get things right, Mr. Mack. For once, Nagy is making the right call. The Bears, for better or worse, will be here waiting for you when you get back.