A day after finishing a 3-13 season with a 28-point road loss to the Vikings, the Bears held their final team meetings at Halas Hall on Monday. Players then cleaned out their lockers and headed into the offseason, vowing to turn the page and vocalizing their hopes for a more successful 2017. Here are the biggest highlights from Monday’s player interviews.
Guard Kyle Long
Photos of the Chicago Bears' first-round draft pick in 2013.
On his recovery from surgery to repair a broken right ankle
I'm good. I have a good support system. First time really being out like this. Initially I was like, ‘Ooh, I kind of like the break.' I don't have to hit anything. And then it’s a week into it, and you’re going stir crazy and you realize how important the team is to your health, mentally and emotionally. We have a great group of guys, regardless of record. The men in this room are guys that I love and that I really do enjoy playing with. And I’m hoping this will be the same group of guys that can get it turned around.
On a second layer to his recovery because of his upcoming shoulder surgery
This is my first time with surgery, really or anything like anesthesia, so that sucked. I did not like that. Lost a bunch of weight (down to 280 pounds). Now I know this shoulder (surgery) will be a lot less invasive, and also it won’t be something that I’m walking on or trying to walk on. So being able to walk here in the next few weeks will be nice, and then to training and just trying to build the tank.
On if the team can do anything to prevent such a rash of injuries in the future
I don’t know. I think I’m just going to put those packing peanuts and bubble wrap all over myself next year. I’m going to look like the Christmas Story kid. It’ll be summer months, I’ll be in like three North Face (jackets). But, yeah, honestly, it’s football. It’s a tortured existence from a physical standpoint. You’re never going to be healthy. Nobody’s healthy. Nobody’s 100 percent. You show up to camp 100 percent — you do the conditioning test, you’re at 98 percent, and then you try to hover in the 80s to 90s the whole year. So when you get guys who are getting dinged, guys who are on scooters, casts, surgical procedures, it takes a toll. Unfortunately, I’m not able to be around as much as I’d like to. A lot of those guys aren’t able to be around as much as they’d like to. But there’s a plan in place to get healthy. And hopefully we’ll get the better luck of the die next year.
On what is his greatest source of optimism about the Bears' future
I don’t necessarily know if I would say it’s the greatest source of optimism, but I just know what this city is like when the Bears win. And I had a taste of it my rookie year, and I sniffed the playoffs and we lost by a close margin there. I want to get back to that. I want to go to the playoffs. I want to have 10 wins before we get to the playoffs and have an opportunity to have home-field advantage. A frickin’ playoff game in Chicago — can you imagine that? Right now I know it’s not something that’s realistic, being 3-13 and we’re in the offseason. But these are things than when I lay my head on the pillow at night I think about and it keeps me up pretty late. That’s what’s going to get me through this process, because I know I’ll be able to run out that tunnel again.
Receiver Kevin White
Photos of the Bears wide receiver Kevin White, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft.
On missing most of his second season with a broken left leg after missing his entire rookie season with a stress fracture in the leg
It’s frustrating. Didn’t think I would be out this year, obviously. Did everything I could in the offseason. Stayed here, trained, worked my butt off, did everything I thought I could. It’s just unfortunate, but it’s the name of the game. Just got to fight back and stay patient and mentally stay tough.
On whether he’s been given assurance that his left leg won’t be a chronic problem for him to deal with
Oh yeah. I’ll be just fine. Just about getting my mobility back, getting my strength back. After that, I’ll be just fine.
Receiver Alshon Jeffery
Photos of Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffery.
On whether he stood behind his assertion Sunday that the Bears would win the Super Bowl next season
Damn right.
On whether the Bears have enough talent and depth to join mentioned alongside the Patriots
We’re the Chicago Bears. We’re just like them. The only difference is just a few plays here and there. We went to New England and practiced (in August). They know. If you were there and watched the practices, they know. Unfortunately, in New England they’re doing a great job. I give them all the credit. Coach Belichick’s is doing a great job and Tom Brady is a hell of a quarterback.
Outside linebacker Leonard Floyd
Photos of the Bears' first-round pick in 2016.
On suffering his second concussion in a five-week span in Week 16
This time I had headaches, like a migraine every couple minutes. Then it has started going away and I’m back to normal. … I’m not worried about it. I know once I get my technique right, I’ll be all right.
Linebacker Jerrell Freeman
Vikings 38, Bears 10: What's next for the Bears after a discouraging season? Tribune writers Rich Campbell and Brad Biggs react to the Bears' 38-10 season-ending loss to the Vikings and discuss what's next as the team prepares for the offseason. Tribune writers Rich Campbell and Brad Biggs react to the Bears' 38-10 season-ending loss to the Vikings and discuss what's next as the team prepares for the offseason. See more videos
On the uncertainty the team faces in the aftermath of a 3-13 season
This is the NFL. Change is going to come. That's just what it is. You have to be ready for it, be able to roll with it and whatever happens, happens. You’ve just got to roll with it. That's just part of the NFL.
On how the Bears can get things rolling in the right direction when they reconvene in April for the team’s offseason strength and conditioning program
Go to work. Yeah. That’s the only way you can do this man. You can’t go buy it at a store. Ya know? You can’t. So you just have to go out there and go to work man. You have to have everybody on the same page and let’s go.