Bears Locker Room Split Building?

Analysis: Bears wary of the bright lights and Hollywood style associated with quarterback Caleb Willims.

One of the big concerns for the Bears was the impact in the locker room of Justin Fields being ousted and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams being drafted as the replacement.  

Apparently there's already something stirring. 

Williams has already been very accessible in terms of interviews and did several interviews from the site of his pro day on Wednesday. He's regarded as a flashy player and personality. 

But showtime might be over soon according to the way one Bears veteran defensive playerr sees it. Rookies need to prove themselves, says cornerback Jaylon Johnson, who just got a contract extension for four years and $76 million.

Appearing on Up and Adams with Kay Adams, the All-Pro cornerback seemed to sew the seeds of discontent regarding the hype train.

"You can't bring that Hollywood stuff into the building, especially not with guys who've played this game at a high level for consecutive years in the league," Johnson told Adams. "It's just something that, guys like myself, guys like Tremaine (Edmunds), T.J. (Edwards). I mean just the vets, now Keenan Allen, you just ask certain guys in the locker room. I feel like we gonna see through.

"It's like what you did in college, the Hollywood, you gotta prove yourself. That stuff doesn't matter."

Chicago CB Jaylon Johnson on how projected no. 1 pick Caleb Williams would be received in the #Bears locker room 🔊🔊@NBAxJay1 @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/q2U9kho6Id

— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) March 20, 2024

There's no indication Williams thinks otherwise. 

Maybe someone should send a "lighten up Francis" message straight from Sgt. Hulka of the movie "Stripes" to Johnson.  

After all, it's not like whatever has been done in the past has been putting Lombardi trophies on the shelves of Halas Hall. In fact, that one sitting in the lobby has to have some cobwebs on it by now. 

Maybe Chicago could use a little Hollywood at this point.

On Wednesday from his pro day, Williams, the likely No. 1 pick by the Bears, actually did numerous interviews including one with Fox's Colin Cowherd in which he gave insight into how he likes to operate on the field.

Fans who see film of Williams running all over the place before throwing or running for touchdowns at USC will be surprised to find he doesn't enjoy all the running very much.

"I don't like running," Williams told Cowherd, from the USC practice field. "I don't like running unless I have to. I do not like running. It may look like it, but I don't like running.

"I like throwing the ball to my receivers, letting all us us have fun. It's a lot more fun to be able to throw a 20-yard dagger route to my X-receiver and let them eat up down the middle of the field."

Williams tried to sound as unattached to the Bears and neutral as possible when asked about them, and it's probably a good thing considering reports the Falcons are being looked at for tampering based on things Kirk Cousins reportedly said about the pre-free agency process, including a statement involving former Bears receiver Darnell Mooney.

Asked about possibly coming to Chicago No. 1, Williams again said what he said at the combine. He's going where he's drafted and he'll be excited about it.

"Yeah, I think it's going to another big city," he told Cowherd. "I've heard that they love football. So if that's the place, I'm excited for that.

"The fans love football. That's one of the biggest things that I care about is a place that cares. And so if that was the place, I'd be excited. Get ready to go win games is what I'm excited for, most importantly caring about football whether it's the fans, the organization, my teammates, myself, caring about ballgames and winning ballgames is the most important thing."

This didn't exactly sound like Hollywood talk. 

It sounded like talk about winning, and it's something all the Bears can stand to do a little more of after failing to put together a winning season every year since 2018.

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven