The most memorable moment of Bears wide receiver Javon Wims’ career so far is also a moment he’d like to forget. His Week 8 sneak attack of New Orleans Saints defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson was, in a word, ridiculous.
Sure, the last week or so has shed some light on the incident and the role Gardner-Johnson played in provoking Wims’ to snatch his mouthpiece and throw a series of ill-advised punches, but there’s still no excusing Wims for his actions that resulted in a costly penalty and a two-game suspension levied by the NFL.
And if there was anyone left who thought Wims was justified for what he did, they likely jumped ship after wide receivers coach Mike Furrey spoke with reporters on Monday.
Furrey said he warned Chicago’s pass-catchers about Gardner-Johnson and to avoid him at all costs.
“I called Javon that night when I got home after the game and I told Javon, I said the most disappointing thing that occurred from that event was the fact that I just sat there on the bench prior to that play and told every single one of you, ‘Do not get involved with 22. Do not retaliate. Don’t put your hands on him. Don’t head-butt him. Get back in the huddle.'” Furrey said. “So the way I handled that, the biggest thing was the communication to learn a lesson – that when someone’s trying to protect you from maybe ruining your career, you need to listen.
“It’s unfortunate that that situation happened, but I think it’s even more unfortunate and disappointing that we addressed it right before it happened. That was the most disappointing part about it.”