Tremaine Edmunds chose the Chicago Bears in free agency when he could’ve gone to a number of different places.
Edmunds had a number of worthwhile suitors in free agency. You’d expect that from a linebacker with multiple Pro Bowl appearances under his belt and entering the traditional prime years (he turned just 25 in May) of a player’s career. But you might not have been expecting him to sign with the Bears. And yet, he did. As for his explanation as to why he chose Chicago over other options, Edmunds was excited about joining a team with its arrow pointing up.
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“I like when the odds are against me, I like when the odds are against us. I feel like individuals make the best moves when they’re underestimated. And I wanted to go to a team where I could be part of a rebuild. I can be part of turning this thing around. It’s just about knowing there are going to be some thunderstorms sometimes. But you gotta be able to stand through those thunderstorms sometimes long enough to stand through some sunshine one day. Being a part of that and being a big part of that defense and being a big part of that rebuild made me want to be a part of it.”
Don’t get it twisted. Money matters. When Tremaine Edmunds signed with the Bears, they gave him a whole bunch of money. That four-year $72 million deal includes $50 million in guarantees. It’s a huge deal. One of the biggest given out to a defensive player this offseason. I imagine that was a significant factor in signing with Chicago shortly after free agency began in March. Cash rules, as the urban poets of the Wu-Tang Clan once quipped. But that isn’t to say money is the lone motivational tool, and it clearly wasn’t the only one Edmunds was factoring when signing.
Edmunds sharing his willingness to play the underdog role speaks volumes. Not just about him, but also about his mindset. It takes a real sicko (I use that term in the kindest and most glowing way possible) to actually like it when the cards are stacked against him. It’s admirable. And because Edmunds has done it before (whether it’s as a standout at Virginia Tech or as an upstart during the Buffalo Bills’ ascent), it gives me hope that he can be part of another building process in Chicago.
We know rebuilds take an injection of talent from the outside. But talent can take a player (and team) only so far. It takes someone who has skills and the ability to elevate others around them to reach another level. Edmunds has first-hand experience with what that looks like from his time in Buffalo. So, maybe with that in mind, Edmunds was an ideal Bears offseason target. Bringing in a veteran player, who is still approaching his prime, and who has experience with the building process for a franchise digging out from the bottom could pay off in a big way. And it would be fitting if he were to do it as the next great Bears middle linebacker.
