Anyone who remembers the debacle that was DeflateGate and the nonsense that whole circus entailed will likely be rolling their eyes at this one.
Apparently, out in Chicago, it sounds like there’s one player who is absolutely concerned about the psi in the footballs ahead of Monday Night’s battle against the New England Patriots, so much so that he plans to do his own investigation before kickoff.
Defensive lineman Justin Jones told WGN Radio’s Mark Carman on Wednesday that he plans on checking the footballs because he believes there are still shenanigans going on at Gillette Stadium.
“I heard it’s still going on,” said Jones, who is in his first season with the Bears after having been drafted in the third round previously by the Chargers back in 2018. “So I’m going to check them things before we go.”
“I’m so serious. I heard it’s still going on. We going to see. I’m for sure checking them. We play this game with honesty, man.”
It sounds like Jones isn’t much of a science major, nor has he ever gone out to start his car in freezing cold temperatures wondering why his tire pressure light is on.
When the league destroys its “spot check” numbers, that’s when you know how little credence was behind that entire fiasco. But while Jones may be making some noise off the field, how he performs on it is going to be critical if the Bears hope to beat Bill Belichick’s Patriots.
Jones comes into this game listed 7th on the Bears in tackles with 20, including six for a loss. He also has two sacks, 3 QB hits, and two passes defended.
However, Chicago is ranked 16th in the league in defense giving up 341.7 yards per game, but they’re just 29th against the run, allowing 163.0 per contest. That should hopefully be something the Patriots exploit, with Rhamondre Stevenson and Damien Harris each in the midst of solid seasons.
The Bears also have yet to win on the road this season, having lost in Green Bay, New York (Giants), and Minnesota already in 2022. They’ve also lost three straight, having dropped a close game against Washington a week ago on Thursday Night Football, with their record of 2-4 putting them third in the NFC North behind Green Bay (3-3) and Minnesota (5-1).
For a team trying to get back on track, adding bulletin board material for an opponent they’re facing on National television probably wasn’t the best move.
The Bears’ trip to Gillette Stadium is their first of two straight road games, with a trip to Dallas up next for Chicago.
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