2ND IN COMMAND
TRUBISKY GETTING MORE REPS WITH SANCHEZ SIDELINED
Always Always in in good good spirits spirits butbut with with littlelittle to to show show for for his his optimism optimism after after two two seasons seasons in in Chicago,Chicago, outside outside linebacker linebacker Pernell Pernell McPhee McPhee representsrepresents everythingeverything that’s that’s right right and and wrong wrong with with the the Bears. Bears. As As generalgeneral manager Ryan Ryan Pace’s Pace’s initialinitial freeagentfreeagent splash splash in in 2015, 2015, McPhee McPhee hashas shownshown signssigns thatthat he he cancan be be a a difference- difference- maker maker after after comingcoming into into the the league league as as an an effective effective complementarycomplementary player player with with the the Baltimore Baltimore Ravens. Ravens. At At 28, 28, he he should should be be in in thethe primeprime of of his his career. career. As As an an outsideoutside linebacker, linebacker, he’s he’s in in a a position position to to wreak wreak the the ultimate ultimate havoc havoc under under coordinatorcoordinator VicVic Fangio, Fangio, who who has has a a historyhistory of of success success with with 3- 3- 4 4 linebackers. linebackers. ButBut like like too too many other key key Bears Bears — — Kyle Long, Danny Danny Trevathan and and Kevin Kevin White amongamong them them — — McPheeMcPhee enters enters the the 2017 2017 seasonseason as as an an X- X- factor factor when when he he shouldshould be be a a sure sure thing.thing. We still don’t know know whether whether hehe canc get healthy and stay stay healthy. healthy. We still don’t know whether whether he’llhe’ be a consistent tent playmaker in instead of an intermittent termittent one. AndAn we still don’t know whether M McPhee can be thethe leader he is purported to be.
There’s There’s no doub doubt McPhee has thethe respect respect of of hish teammates, who who voted voted him him a a captain before he he had had playedplayed a a game for the Bears. Bears. And And in in Pace’sPac postseason news conference conference in January, he was was resolute resolute that McPhee was ‘‘ ‘‘ worth worth the the investment’’investm after two uneven uneven seasons, seasons, emphasizingem the leadership leadership factor. factor.
‘‘ ‘‘ He’sHe’s one one ofof th the top leaders onon this this team, team, and and people follow his his attitude attitude and and hish physicality,’’ Pace Pace said. said.
That That might might be be true, but the evidenceevidence thatthat Mc McPhee inspires his his teammates teammates to to overachieve is scant. scant. So So the the time time has come for McPhee McPhee to to live live upup t to expectations on on several several fronts.fronts.
‘‘ ‘‘ What What do do I wantwan to prove this year?’’ McPhee said, repeating ing the question aftera a practice during organized teamt activities Tuesday at at Halas Hall. ‘‘ I don’t wantwant to to prove prove anything.a The only only thing thing on on my my mind is keeping my ing my faith faith with with G God and staying healthy. healthy. EverythingEverythin else is going to to prove prove itself itself becausebeca you know I I can can play.’’ play.’’
We We know know he he can can play; what we don’t don’t know know is is whetherwh McPhee will will be be healthy healthy andand stay healthy. AfterAfter havinghaving arthroscopic surgery surgery on on his his left knee following the 2015 season, McPhee was hoping to be ready for training camp last season. Instead, he ended up on the physically unable- to- perform list and missed the first six games of the season. He had four sacks in nine games before missing the season finale against the Vikings with a shoulder injury. Now he’s ready to go. ‘‘ I still feel great,’’ McPhee said. ‘‘ I’m moving around pretty good, as I watch myself on film. I feel lighter than I was [ in April]. So I’m still blessed, still feeling great.’’
McPhee often talks a great game, but he makes no promises when it comes to his health. He hopes to be 100 percent for the season opener Sept. 10 against the Atlanta Falcons at Soldier Field, but he leaves that to God.
‘‘ Keeping all my faith in God and knowing he’s going to have me ready when the season comes and he’s going to take me through this journey that I’m on,’’ McPhee said. ‘‘ I’m just going to let him take me through this journey and try and control the things that I can control, which are taking care of my body and trying to put the right things in my body.’’
Like everything else about McPhee, that’s not as reassuring as it sounds. With all due respect, we still will have to see it to believe it.