The worst thing an NFL player can be is that guy who everyone is waiting until next year to breakout. In the case of former second-round pick Anthony Miller, his ‘next year’ may have finally run out.
After a standout collegiate career at Memphis, Miller brought that ‘Memphis grind’ with him to Chicago when he was selected by the Bears with the 51st pick in the 2018 draft. He was pegged as a guy with exceptional playmaking ability on all three levels of the field; a player who’s after-the-catch skills would make him a field-flipper in Chicago’s offense.
If we’re being honest, he’s been anything but that.
Miller’s best season came in 2019 when he caught 52 passes for 656 yards and two touchdowns. He scored seven touchdowns as a rookie, and his catches and yards improvements in Year 2 had 2020 circled as his breakout campaign.
All Miller did last season was regress, both on the field and off of it. He ended the season with 49 catches for 485 yards and two scores and continued the career narrative that’s haunted him since his rookie year: he was unreliable and at times appeared uncoachable.
It all came to a head in the Bears’ wild card loss when Miller took the bait from Saints defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. He threw a punch (or, maybe it was a hard palm to the facemask) and got ejected.
Remember: The Bears warned the wide receiver group. They knew Gardner-Johnson would play dirty (or talk excessive smack) with the goal of making a Bear lose his cool and draw a penalty. The message was clear and obvious. Play smart, don’t screw up.
Miller screwed up.
In fact, his screw up was so bad that it’s worth wondering if we’ll ever see him in a Bears uniform again. Chicago can cut him this offseason and pay just $493K in dead cap. There may be a bigger risk in keeping him around then cutting him loose at this point.
And if you care about what Chairman George McCaskey thinks? Yeah, it doesn’t look good for Miller.
McCaskey was asked this week whether he was more annoyed with Miller’s actions or with Javon Wims’, who fell victim to Gardner-Johnson’s antics earlier in the year.
“I have a bigger problem with Anthony’s ejection because they sat him down and they told him, ‘Listen, watch out for this player. He’s a punk. He’s going to try to get under your skin. And with Darnell Mooney out, we really need you to be in this game and help this team,’” McCaskey said. “And Anthony had the benefit of having seen Javon’s experience.
“I think they need to be evaluated separately. I’ve got a bigger problem with Anthony’s ejection than I do Javon’s.”
McCaskey wouldn’t comment on whether Miller will be back in 2021, saying instead that that isn’t a decision that’s his to make.
And yet, it sounds like he made it, doesn’t it?
Go ahead and move wide receiver even higher on the list of offseason needs for the Bears.