Chase Claypool subtly shades Steelers discussing new role with Bears after trade

November 4, 2022 ndowd

Chase Claypool has already switched teams and numbers, and his latest press conference comments take a subtle shot at his original location.

The Chicago Bears needed help for their offense and traded a second-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers for wide receiver Chase Claypool.

It looks good on paper, but what about Claypool’s thoughts on leaving Pittsburgh? We got that answer quickly when Claypool spoke interestingly about his time in Pittsburgh this season and then transitioning to new life in Chicago.

Bears WR Chase Claypool: “I’m a playmaker. … I feel like I didn’t have the full opportunity to show what I could do this year, but I feel like I’ve been able to show that in the past.”

— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) November 2, 2022

Hmm, that does sound like a small shot at the Steelers, considering how Claypool was a fast start for them before cooling down recently. That said, an argument could be made that the reason for it is due to the inefficiency of the Pittsburgh offense. Quarterback play has been subpar, the running game is inefficient, and the blocking upfront has been downright abysmal.

Chase Claypool threw a pinch of shade on his former team but may have been justified in doing so.

In his first season in the NFL, Claypool burst onto the scene with a breakout of 110 receiving yards and four total touchdowns (three receiving & one rushing) game against the Philadelphia Eagles. As fate would have it, Claypool’s last game with the Steelers was against the Eagles, who this time returned the favor, courtesy of a breakout performance by A.J. Brown.

Now, the Bears will look to use Claypool in a more prominent role in their offense, given that the wide receiver core in Chicago has been rather dreadful with the glaring lack of talent. Claypool comes in and immediately upgrades the group, with how much of an upgrade remaining to be determined.

Furthermore, with the development of Justin Fields being crucial to the success in the Windy City, getting more weapons for the offense would be the smart thing to do, combined with the ability to use the cap space they will eventually have to fortify the trenches and retain their core players. The Bears got a weapon, and Claypool got his wish. Now it’s on him to move past the Steelers and focus on new life in the Midwest.

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