Cole Kmet supports 'friend' Chase Claypool amid struggles with the Bears
Chicago Bears wideout Chase Claypool continues to spend time away from the team as the organization and the wide receiver seem to not be seeing eye to eye. After suiting up with the team for the first three weeks of the season, Claypool was a healthy scratch in Week 4 after being away from the team and will continue to be this week as the Bears face the Washington Commanders on Thursday night.
Friend and teammate of Claypool’s Cole Kmet shared his perspective on the situation with Bears reporter Courtney Cronin, with his main motive being a reliable friend to Claypool during this particular moment of strife.
“Look, I’m just going to be there for him as a friend, you know what I mean? At the end of the day, we’re all adults here and everyone gets to make their own decisions and can say what they want to say on things and act how they want to act, whatever it may be,” Kmet said.
“But as a friend, I’m always there for Chase whether he’s here or somewhere else, wherever it is,” Kmet added. “I’m a guy that will always be there for him and if he needs advice – I haven’t been able to hit him up yet, but will hit him up today after we’re done with meetings and whatnot. At the end of the day, it’s on him to do what he’s got to do and just as a friend I’m going to be there for him.”
The Bears tight end was teammates with Claypool at Notre Dame and the two were both members of the 2020 NFL Draft class, and he believes that the falling out between Claypool and the organization mainly stems from the Bears current 0-4 record.
“I go back to the losing. I think losing can be hard for guys to deal with. It’s been hard for me to manage but you’ve got to find ways to get back to work, clear your mind, every day. It’s hard– look I haven’t won a game in almost a year now and trust me I take it home with me and it hurts, man, it hurts,” Kmet addmited. “It’s hard to deal with it, but we’ve all gotta be adults about it and be able to move on and be able to trust the process set.”
The reports out of Chicago have been far from optimistic regarding Claypool, who was acquired by the team through a trade with the Pittsburgh Steelers in November of last year. Reports have surfaced revealing that the Bears have been displeased with Claypool’s work ethic and could be looking to trade him.
Claypool has also come out and said that Chicago is not using him correctly, and losing certainly isn’t helping the situation either.
“That can be hard to do sometimes when things aren’t going your way and maybe you’re not getting the targets you want, and you’re not winning, all those things kinda add up and you get frustrated, but you have to be a man about it, be an adult about it and be able to reset your mind each and every week and just look to improve yourself individually, each and every day,” Kmet said.
Kmet’s support for his friend is admirable, but likely cannot mend the relationship between Chase Claypool and the Bears organization as many expect the two to part ways sooner than later.