The first thing Ben Johnson should do is cut Tyrique Stevenson. Trade for him if you can, but even if you can’t, one way or another, find a way to get rid of him, immediately.
I know what you’re thinking. Wait a minute, he’s good!
I agree, I actually think he’s great,…at times. But the problem is, he’s got a bad attitude, and those things spread, like a stomach bug on a cruise ship.
You want to fix the culture? Save the cliched speeches. Take a bold action that shows this is how we do things now. This is the standard. This is what will, and will not, be tolerated.
Yes, it’s difficult. But that’s exactly why this action will have impact. If he wasn’t any good, nobody would notice, or care.
And make no mistake, this team’s biggest problem is culture. Even before the season was lost they were playing at half speed for the first three quarters of every game. That’s purely culture and attitude.
Did you watch the playoffs? Do you see the way those guys are flying around? The urgency and effort? I know it’s playoff football, and that kicks it up a notch. But you could kick it down 10 notches and you still wouldn’t have Bears football. It looks like a different sport.
I can’t stress enough the importance of doing this asap, before you get to know him, and like him, and appreciate all his upside, and the context of all his actions. Blah, blah blah. Do it now. That single action will make everyone else on the roster 10% more alert, more focused, more energized, and better.
-Bears_PhD
