Bears lineman says Packers fans 'don't even know football'
MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- There are 12 more Sundays until the start of the next NFL regular season, but Chicago Bears defensive lineman Justin Jones is already in mid-season trash talk form.
At a news conference this week, Jones expressed optimism about the team's future.
"It's a good time to be a Bears fan. I'm not even gonna lie to you," he said.
But the Bears recent past has not been a good time. They were 3-14 last year and haven't made the playoffs since a first-round exit in 2018.
Jones then took aim at fans of his division rival, the Green Bay Packers.
"Just the way they're obnoxious," he said. "Just yelling and all that other stuff about things that don't even matter. Like, we're not even running a play, and you guys are talking about, 'Oo oh yeah, go Green (Bay).' Like, what are you even talking about? The game hasn't started yet. Like, what are we talking about? Half of them don't even know football."
After a statement like that, Packers fans will undoubtedly get to know Justin Jones really quickly. And at first glance, it appears that he is not a player that should be talking. Bears fan site beargoggleson.com took a look at his advanced stats last year, and found that Jones was:
- "Below average at creating pressure"
- "Below average in beating his opponent"
- "53rd amongst 89 qualified defenders at stopping the run"
In other words, according to a Bears website, Justin Jones is "just a guy" on their defensive line, and maybe not a player who should be stirring the pot.
Jones says he is looking forward to playing at Lambeau Field.
"But I'm just ready to go out there and play. I want to go out there, and I want to beat the hell out of them on their field. And I want to hear the boos, then. That's what I look forward to," he said.
Jones and the Bears travel to Green Bay in Week 18. The Bears and Packers are scheduled to open the regular season at Soldier Field.
Soldier Field has been in the news as of late as well. Despite a nearly $700M renovation back in 2003, the Bears seem to recognize that is one of the worst facilities in the NFL, and are looking for a new place to play.
The mayor of Waukegan, a city about 40 miles north of downtown Chicago, has pitched the idea of a new Bears stadium there.