Bears Keeping Brandon Lloyd on Sideline For Very Little Reason

For a brief moment there early in the season, it appeared that Brandon Lloyd was finally going to make good on his promise. He had been a colossal bust at every stop in his early career, but he showed flashes of brilliance for the Bears, including a gem in Week 3 where he caught six balls for 124 yards and a touchdown.

Like everyone else with a brain, I figured his knee injury was still lingering when I saw Lloyd on the inactive list this past weekend when the Bears faced the NFL's lone unbeaten team.

Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.

Lloyd explained that it was coach Lovie Smith's "strategy decision," to sit him against the NFL's stingiest scoring defense.

"I've been champing at the bit to get out there," Lloyd said.

Um, seriously? Well, then I'd like to have a few words with Lovie Smith. Earl Bennett -- who only plays special teams -- was on the active roster instead of a fully-healed Brandon Lloyd? Someone, anyone, please make sense of this for me. He has more talent than Rashied Davis and Marty Booker. Unlike the speedy Devin Hester, he's actually a wide receiver by trade.

You don't think Rex Grossman could have used another weapon?

If this is true, it's an absolutely absurd decision by the Bears coaching staff. Let's hope it doesn't happen again.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

11-14-2008 @ 3:18PM

Daniel said...

As a Redskins fan, this doesn't surprise me in the least... his ability was never doubted in Washington by either the players or coaches, but SOMETHING was going on behind the scenes that was keeping him off the field. They kept him for two seasons with the HOPE he would pull his act together, what exactly needs pulling together was never made public though

11-14-2008 @ 3:41PM

JansenFan said...

B. Lloyd's first season in Washington, I did a weekly podcast with him. I'm not going to break confidence, but I will say that there are two sides to every story, and this one is no different. The way the Redskins let his talent go to waste and the manner by which it was done was bush league, but Brandon played his part in all of it. My only point is that Lloyd got all the blame for a situation in which he only deserved half. Some guys get the benefit of the doubt. He did not; not from the media, not from the fans and finally not from the Washington Redskins.

11-16-2008 @ 11:37AM

GoSkins said...

Um, JansenFan... if you know what goes on inside Redskins Park, then you will know that Brandon was constantly running the wrong routes and never was able to grasp the offense. Not only that, but he pretty much alienated everyone in the building... dude was making interns cry his first week on the job. I won't shed any tears for Brandon-- his problems are his own doing.

11-14-2008 @ 11:50PM

eddie said...

you my friend are an a--hole

11-15-2008 @ 2:18AM

dabone said...

A couple years ago I watched this awsome graceful athlete show up in my city, "we were blessed". Then I wondered what the hell was going on in this guy's head. Next I wished he'd take his $6 Mil a year contract that he was given by Dan Snyder and get the hell out of here.
I witnessed this piece of s**t of a man and football player stick a knife in every coach or player's back that stood beside him and backed him during his "injuries", be they physical or mental. Joe Gibbs gave Lloyde the benefit of doubt, over and over again and asked the staff, other players, plus the fans to give him a little time and space and that he would pull it together and be this "super star". Brandon is such a good man and so, so talented. He just needs someone to understand him and his needs. Then out of nowhere they started coming - Stab, stab, and, stab.
He did it with stealth, You never heard from him on the field or off.
What this guy really needs is a ticket to closest Rap studio to make a few moves cause he sure as hell ain't making them in the NFL. This jerk is using the good people of Chicago to do the "same thing" he did in D.C. and San Fran.
That "same thing" is to finance a Rap career. I heard his first album is at #53 on the rap charts. Hell, I don't think he has caught that many balls in his career in the NFL.
This may sound corny and old hat but "B-Lloyd" gets paid to play a game 16 Sundays a year. I say 16 because with guys of his character on your team you'll never play in 17 or more.
He's at a place in his life where a million other men would give anything to be at. This guy seems to have no idea of what being in the NFL is all about. This guy has been wearing his football jersey on Sundays just to keep warm. He's not wearing it for any of the right reasons - the fans, the city, the pride, and the team. Oh, I'm sure he wears it to the bank the next day too.
It's a damn shame. He's wasting the incredible amount of talent that he has as a football player. I was so stoked when the Skins got this guy from the Niners. I thought this was going to be another Gary Clark. Not close. He's a lot shorter. Brandon Lloyd's ribs are setting on his hips because he has "NO GUTS".
Chicago, "B Lloyd" is a cancer. What do you do with cancer? Cut it out, as soon as possible.
Pick up Stevie Wonder. "Lil Stevie" rips Lloyd a new asshole when it comes to character and his hands are a hell of a lot better also.

11-15-2008 @ 9:59AM

A.J. said...

I'll be honest - I never really liked Brandon Lloyd, due in part because when he was in Washington, his present kept Randle El on the bench for a year, and I think Randle El deserved the starting job more.

But no one's seen his contributions with the Bears. There was something different about him this year. It looked like he actually cared. I don't think that can go away in a matter of weeks.

Nope. What I think is happening is that Rex and B. Lloyd have never worked together during a game situation; when Rex came in, Lloyd was still banged up with that injury. We'll be able to tell soon; when Orton comes back into the picture, if they re-activate Lloyd.

11-15-2008 @ 10:28AM

Jason said...

Anyone (except Lovie Smith apparently) could have seen this coming. Since being in Chicago that WR has caught 15 passes for 249 yards and 1 TD. So, looking at his stats from Washington (25 / 179 / 0) I'd say the Bears should be happy with his production. He's completed a season of production (for him) in half a season. Lloyd seems pleased with it, and so he's decided to take the rest of the season off. This is typical.

Jansen, if Lloyd is the big victim in all of this, I guess he just got unlucky with coaches three times in a row. I'm sure he's a huge victim. But, since something has happenned at ever team he's been with, with every coach he's had, I'd say that is a pattern, and the fact that it hasn't happenned to anyone else I'm aware of (especially on those teams with those coaches) tells me that this is more of a BLloyd issue than anyone elses. The guy is a jerk, takes peoples money, and doesn't bother to work for it.

11-15-2008 @ 4:15PM

AMEN! Brother Jason. That's a Rap. The thing that pisses me off is that I really wanted this guy to be everything that he could be. I might sound like a spurned bitch but this guy was perfect for Gibb's offence. Brandon Lloyld is a mirror image of John "JJ" Jefferson. What's sucks is that he'll wake up one like Duane Thomas did an say "what the Fuk was I thinking". Funny thing is that DT also had a cup of coffee in DC. He's young, maybe he'll turn this around, suck it up, and be a man. There are a lot of Bears and Bear fans that that sure as hell hope so. He could be special. I'll end with this quote. I think it was Ditka who said "Stella, I could da ben a contenda".
DC feels your pain. Shit at least you got a damn touchdown from the creep

11-15-2008 @ 8:44PM