ONE- YEAR WONDER
Despite contract, Glennon says he’s focused only on his first season with Bears
If you haven’t heard, 2017 is quarterback Mike Glennon’s year. He said so several times after organized team activities Tuesday.
The message went viral because Glennon never strayed from it during his first interaction with the media since Mitch Trubisky was drafted.
But what about 2018? That year surely belongs to Trubisky, right?
Trubisky became the most important piece in the Bears’ rebuild after general manager Ryan Pace put his career and reputation on the line by trading up to draft him.
But what if Glennon is good this season? What if he’s great?
It’s really not that absurd of a scenario.
The Bears think Glennon will be better than most outsiders envision.
He also wouldn’t be the first quarterback to find success later in his career on a different team.
Interestingly enough, this is the only guaranteed season in Glennon’s three- year deal, making 2017 a contract year. Make- or- break seasons tend to bring out the best in players.
Glennon is part of Pace’s attempt to get things right at quarterback. The more swings at it, the better.
When the Bears were preparing for the draft, a non- Trubisky game plan also was in place. If the Browns had selected Trubisky first, the Bears would’ve considered the top defenders on their board or possibly targeted quarterback Patrick Mahomes later in the first round. It also meant they were OK with Glennon.
When Pace, offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains and quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone speak glowingly of Glennon, it’s not a publicrelations façade. They truly believe Glennon can be a starter given the right opportunity and support. Glennon didn’t get either through two coaching changes with the Buccaneers.
So giving Glennon a guaranteed $ 16 million this season was acceptable. It warded off other serious suitors in free agency.
If the Bears wanted a true “bridge” quarterback, a more serious attempt to sign Brian Hoyer would’ve been made. Pace, as was the case with Trubisky, wanted Glennon, and he made sure to get him.
“There’s absolutely no reason to go hindsight,” said Glennon, who received a call from Pace 10 minutes after Trubisky was drafted. “Even if I were to, I would still have come here.
“Like I said, this is my year. There are no guarantees in the NFL. The majority of guys in the NFL are playing year to year. I’m here to prove that I can be the quarterback this year and going forward.”
At the very least, if Glennon succeeds, the Bears gain a valuable trade chip.
The Bears, though, also would welcome a true competition between Glennon and Trubisky.
That’s just not happening at the moment.
As Glennon said, the meetings are “geared” around him right now.
“I feel nothing but support, and everyone is on the same page,” Glennon said. “It’s been clear in the building that this year is my year.”
As much as Pace coveted Trubisky, there’s no guarantee that Trubisky is the second coming of Drew Brees. Even if Trubisky is, he might need years to reach his potential.
After all, Pace knows that Brees didn’t become a perennial Pro Bowl quarterback until his sixth season, which was his first with the Saints, and he was in a new offense.
Pace also can point to Brees as an example for why things might click for Glennon.
Situations matter to quarterbacks. They can make or break them. And Glennon still believes he’s in a good one.
“I’m not going to worry about the future,” he said.
“As long as I play well, it will all work out.”