Chicago Bears continue to be disrespected

Three Chicago Bears were recently disrespected by national media.

For Chicago Bears fans, seeing your favorite team continue to be disrespected by the national media. In fairness, their lack of production over the years has done nothing to ingratiate themselves to the media. So when push comes to shove, they are not going to get the benefit of the doubt — as a team.

However, that should not extend to some of the individual players on the team, whose contributions deserved to be recognized. Unfortunately, the negative stigma of the team seems to extend to and overshadow some of the players.

Case in point — the most recent series of rankings released by CBS Sports HQ. They have ranked the top 10 defensive linemen, safeties, and cornerbacks for the 2020 season.

Of course, you’re aware that the Bears have a pretty darn good player at each of those positions. Akiem Hicks, Eddie Jackson, and Kyle Fuller have been dominant at their positions over the last couple of years, with the exception of Hicks who was injured most of 2019 but is still considered one of the best at his position.

However, according to CBS Sports HQ, neither Hicks, Jackson, nor Fuller crack the top-10 at their respective positions.

That’s pretty remarkable that all three of these players would be left off their respective lists. Jackson was an All-Pro at his position in 2018 and made the Pro Bowl last year. He enters 2020 with an arguable upgrade alongside him at strong safety and another dominant pass rusher on the line in Robert Mathis. It’s difficult to imagine him not one of the top-10 safeties in the league.

As for Fuller, he was also an All-Pro in 2018 and a Pro Bowler in 2019. Since 2017 only one cornerback has forced more incompletions than Fuller.

He has 10 interceptions and 34 passes defended in the last two seasons and shows no signs of slowing down. Not only is Fuller one of the top-10 cornerbacks in the league, but he’s arguably to most underrated as well.

Speaking of underrated, is there a more criminally underrated player in all of professional football than Akiem Hicks? When healthy, all he does is dominant opposing offensive lines, despite consistently facing double-teams.

He’s also arguably the most important player on the Bears defense as his presence enables Khalil Mack to face fewer double-teams and do what he does best, which is get to the quarterback. Side note — in case you’re wondering, Mack was ranked as the ninth-best edge rusher.

Not that they needed it, but the Bears defense appears to be headed into the 2020 season with more motivation than they know what to do with, which is a scary proposition for the rest of the league.