Should the Bears target Sheldon Richardson?
On Saturday, ESPN’s Rich Cimini discussed what the New York Jets could get if they traded defensive end Sheldon Richardson. Considering Richardson’s down year and off-the-field issues, Cimini said that could be gone for a third-round pick. The Missouri product only had 1.5 sacks last year, but he made the Pro Bowl in 2014. This report certainly piqued the excitement of many Chicago Bears fans. They could still use one more defensive lineman, so why not add someone like Richardson? Well, that deal might be more complicated that it seems.
The Bears are very strict when it comes to behavioral issues. When players like Ray McDonald and Jeremiah Ratliff proved to be off-the-field cancers, general manager Ryan Pace cut them both immediately. Richardson does not come without his fair share of issues. Back in 2015, he was suspended for violating the NFL’s wellness policy. Just two weeks later, he was arrested for traffic violations and resisting arrest. This same violation was the cause of yet another arrest in January of 2016. It’s highly unlikely that Pace will be willing to take on someone with such an extensive record.
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Not only is Richardson a headcase off the field, but he’s coming off of a bad year on it. This past year, he experienced a career low in sacks. He only missed one game in 2016, so his sack total of 1.5 is unacceptable for somebody who just had eight sacks a few years back. Richardson has also been a nuisance in the locker room – his feud with Brandon Marshall explains it all.
Sure, Richardson is still young and he has proven to be a top-end talent in the past. And, a third-rounder isn’t that steep of an asking price. But his off-the-field baggage is just too big for a rebuilding team like the Bears to take on. It’s best that they sit this deal out.
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