The normally quiet and reserved Alshon Jeffery made a bolt statement on Sunday afternoon after the Chicago Bears lost their 13th game of the season.
"I guarantee you we are going to win the Super Bowl next year," Jeffery said to reporters.
Jeffery, who played this season on the franchise tag, will become a free agent during the offseason unless Chicago is able to get a long-term deal done with the former second-round pick.
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The former Pro Bowler missed four games with a suspension this season and finished the year with 52 catches for 821 yards with two touchdowns.
While the thought from Jeffery is certainly a nice one, the Bears will need to make a lot of changes during the offseason in order for them to win the Super Bowl next season.
The Bears will need to find an answer at the quarterback position, fortify the offensive line, strengthen the secondary and lastly, re-sign Jeffery this offseason if they want to even be in the discussion to contend for a playoff spot in 2017. Despite Jeffery's down year, he is still an integral part of Chicago's offense. The Bears got solid production out of fellow wide receiver Cameron Meredith and running back Jordan Howard on offense, but the team still has a ways to go.
A new year can mean a lot of things for a lot of people, but it looks like Jeffery's New Year's resolution is to make outlandish statements.
Post by KeyBlade Master on Jan 2, 2017 8:15:37 GMT -6
Note... he said we, not the Bears. Perhaps he meant we as in him and his camp. With a new team. At least in every article I have read. Not sure I have seen the question.
I doubt he plans on being back here next year. He may want to be, but if the Bears are not willing to match his contract demands I am sure he will be more than happy to move on to a new team that will. I doubt very much the Bears will tag him a second time, not with their team's current situation. No way do you pay a guy like a top five WR (even for one year) when he is not one of the top five WR in the game especially not when you likely will not even be a .500 team in that year.
He is doing the usual thing at the end of the year. I would have been very surprised if he or anyone had spoken the truth. "we are a long way away from being competitive again. This team needs a lot of work". Even for a player determined to get out of town, that would never be said.