Looking to get a once-promising season back on track, the Bears will hold a players-only meeting this week

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Coming off the worst loss of the Matt Nagy era, Bears’ players are taking it upon themselves to right the ship. Yesterday, while appearing on the Mully and Haugh Show, safety Eddie Jackson didn’t mince words about what needed to happen. 

“We’ve got to call a meeting amongst players and say, ‘Look, enough is enough,’ he said. “We know the type of team we have. I don’t want to hear about coaching, play-calling. If you watch the game, you have to see the swagger wasn't out there.”

Turns out, that players-only meeting is happening. The locker room at Halas Hall was open for the first time since Sunday’s blowout loss, and multiple players confirmed that the meeting will happen, and soon. 

“We definitely have plans to do that,” Taylor Gabriel said. “This is our team. I feel like this is a player-ran team, and we believe in each other. We’re brothers, and like I said, there hasn’t been a lot of finger pointing, or a lot of arguing and things like that. As long as we come together, and know that we can come back and get a win. I feel like a win is what we need right now.”

“That’s when guys can really be transparent and genuine,” Prince Amukamara added. “It’s a safe place. Guys can say what they really feel, and other guys can hear it. I don’t think anyone’s going to take it personal. I think guys are really going to listen and take it to heart.” 

Given how the defense has carried the Bears to all three of their wins this season, it’d be easy to see how a players-only meeting could easily slip into a nasty round or two of The Blame Game. 

“If it was offense vs. defense, that would have happened a long time ago,” Amukamara said. “This team is not just offense over here, defense over here, special teams over here. We all mesh.”

Matt Nagy gave the team Monday off, with the idea being that they’d come to work on Tuesday without any anger or counter-productive feelings lingering through the work week.

“I like how coach Nagy has it set up,” Amukamara added. “Because if it was the day after, I feel like things that would’ve been said would’ve just been off of emotions, because it’s right after the game. So Monday gives us a day to cool off and today gives us the time to put our feelings aside and actually look at the film and talk.” 

After Sunday’s loss, Nagy talked about wanting to see the team leaders stand up without him asking them to do so. Guys with rings – like Amukamara or Danny Trevathan – have leaned on the experience of those seasons when talking with teammates, and even Khalil Mack, normally known for his reserved demeanor, has spoken up.

“He’s been vocal a lot lately, and rightfully so,” Amukamara said. “He’s not just a rah-rah guy. He doesn’t waste his words. So when he does speak up, his words mean a lot when he speaks. He does it by action all the time, so when he speaks, guys’ ears are open and guys are more attentive.”

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