Bears Coach Out of Line in Tirade Against Tribune Reporter

Bears wide receiver Johnny Knox was removed as the Bears number one receiver when the first depth charts were released earlier this week.

According to a Chicago Tribune article, this would not take the Bears' leading receiver in 2010 completely out of the offense, just lessen his role. The Bears new addition at receiver, Roy Williams, is now listed as the team's number one receiver.

From the report:

If he [Knox] can't displace Williams for the Sept. 11 opener against the Falcons, there's a better than fair chance he will push for a new home, according to a source.

In an interview on Thursday, Bears wide receivers coach Darryl Drake was asked about the Knox situation. He said he didn't know where the reporters were getting their information; and if they continued to put out false statements, they would have deal with him [Drake]. When asked about the Tribune article, Drake went over the edge and went off on a reporter who asked if he could read Drake the article from the Tribune (because Drake said he had not seen the comments). Drake went on to swear and yell at the reporter.

Johnny Knox has since denied saying he wanted a trade if he wasn't the Bears' starting wideout. But the damage had already been done by Drake.

In my opinion, Drake was completely out of line and something needs to be done to coaches who go off on reporters who are just there doing their job and asking good questions.

Maybe a fine by the Bears or a game suspension by Lovie Smith would make sure this type of thing doesn't happen again.

It is one thing to defend your player, which Drake began by doing, but to swear and threaten a reporter is completely unnecessary and there is no place for that in the NFL.