The Chicago Bears are so awful right now that some of their active players — like star cornerback Jaylon Johnson, for example — are seemingly upset they don’t have a life raft to leave the navy blue and orange sinking ship. Fortunately for All-Pro-caliber linebacker Roquan Smith, the Bears traded him to the Baltimore Ravens for a second-round draft pick last fall.
As he leads a dominant Ravens defense to Super Bowl contention, Smith is now reflecting on a deal that changed the trajectory of his career. According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, Smith initially thought that leaving Chicago for greener pastures was “bittersweet.” But the superstar defender changed his tune when he saw how inept the Bears have been while he features for a bona fide championship contender. Note: they finished with the league’s worst record in 2022 and are tied for the third-worst record in 2023. (Never mind that Chicago saw just one winning campaign during Smith’s tenure from 2018 to mid-2022.)
Smith sounds so grateful to have maximized his brilliant talents with a marquee organization that knows what it’s doing. I’m so sorry, Bears fans.
“And when I just think about it from the perspective of having the opportunity to compete for one year in and year out with the talent we have. Man, it makes me so happy, just knowing my career is not going down the drain, in the sense of playing somewhere where I’m not truly competing for a title.”
Woof. I know Smith doesn’t mean that sentiment maliciously. But it is brutal to hear someone essentially equating playing with the Bears to wasting their time. I mean, Smith isn’t wrong, obviously. The Ravens and Bears are worlds apart. But still. What a brutally inadvertent roast of the NFL’s worst “marquee” organization.
This was how Twitter reacted to Smith's "going down the drain" comments
https://t.co/ruwRRhRwNN pic.twitter.com/mZJ7O6DtEs
— Harbinger ☄️ (@OmenPilot) November 8, 2023
It's great to see former #Bears players thriving in other places and voicing their concerns about the state of the franchise. https://t.co/PCP6JTz5Au
— Usayd Koshul (@usaydkoshul) November 8, 2023
https://t.co/4SvtwyOAcK pic.twitter.com/wNLekWbk7u
— 79th & Halas Podcast (@79thAndHalas) November 8, 2023
Mans said Chicago is where you go to play for nothing and have your career ruined https://t.co/IirOwtWpmi
— Best Hair in the Game (@WeekendGabe) November 8, 2023
I’ve switched jobs for a lot less than a chance at a Super Bowl
I don’t blame Roquan for his statements one bit.
I also don’t blame Jaylon Johnson, but it would suck to see him go https://t.co/hTLW4RtYdS
— Chicago Jay (@Chicago_Jay1) November 8, 2023
I really thought the Bears couldn’t hurt me anymore this year.
This quote has me totally defeated. https://t.co/9kYNP6Ybz4
— Danny Lantz (@DannyLantz) November 8, 2023
A man of the people
Call out those bozos at Halas Hall https://t.co/rGAOg6aQjn pic.twitter.com/EKSCr4k6Dc
— D (@druz3310) November 8, 2023
This hurts on another level, specially because he’s right, we’re never gonna win anything with these coaches https://t.co/lnBzVQ4frV
— Horacio Hernandez (@talachit) November 8, 2023
He's right. Dick Butkus never played in the playoffs. https://t.co/jS77238R9G
— Sam Lewis (@SamCalcio) November 8, 2023
I love everything about this, because the bozo franchise and the front office can’t hide from it. I’m glad he calls out everyone who’s the problem https://t.co/f4XLtj60Ps
— Jason Howard (@how7878) November 8, 2023
It pains me to admit that he’s right… 💔this stupid franchise ain’t contending for anything but top 5 lottery picks for the foreseeable future https://t.co/tg7qtrH6Jj
— Justo (@Young_Justo) November 8, 2023
He’s not wrong one bit. I hope he gets a ring in Baltimore. https://t.co/FhsQnkspci
— ☘️ChrisPaz☘️ (@ND_Domerfan) November 8, 2023
