New revelations about Drew Dalman's retirement reveal a thoughtful decision, prompting a reassessment of his departure from Chicago.
Chicago Bears fans may want to rethink their opinions on a now-retired player after what was uncovered at the NFL Owners Meetings on Monday.
The team was already going to be in a tight spot with cap space this offseason. D.J. Moore and Tremaine Edmunds were two cap casualties.
Moore was traded to the Buffalo Bills for a second-round pick. The team released Edmunds after his contract ran out. After those moves, the team had $31.5 million in cap space freed up.
Even before those moves were made, the Bears were dealt a big blow on the offensive line.
Center Drew Dalman decided it was time to retire from the NFL after five seasons. Dalman spent just one season in Chicago, but made the most of it. He started in every game for the Bears and was one of the team's three Pro Bowl selections.
The decision was shocking, and the Bears had to move fast to find their next center. Luckily, General Manager Ryan Poles moved quickly and found New England Patriots center Garrett Bradbury.
Dalman's retirement seemed sudden and unexpected, but in reality, the Bears were prepared for it.
Head coach Ben Johnson spoke on Monday about the situation. He said that Dalman actually notified the franchise in mid-February, giving them ample time to find another center.
Johnson couldn't stop praising Dalman for his impact on the franchise.
"Yeah, I think it was around mid-February that he reached out, just where he was at and what he wanted to do, and so, I know Ryan [Poles] and I are very appreciative for him letting us know as early as he did," Johnson said. "Just where he was leaning, and you know, at that point, it had felt like he had given this a lot of thought, and there was no really turning this thing around. Very respectable for that, and just the process that he took to come to his conclusion. I don't wanna speak for him, but he's got a lot of reasons why he decided to do what he did. I couldn't be more grateful to have my first year as a head coach with him, because I really value that position highly. We put a lot on his plate, mentally, physically, and he answered that bell. He was a big reason why we were able to get the plane off the ground last year. We'll forever be grateful for him."
Dalman not only made the decision for his mental health, but also gave the franchise plenty of notice.
This should warrant an apology from any fans who didn't give Dalman the benefit of the doubt following the move.
The now-retired center was very considerate and clearly cared about the franchise enough to make sure that they had enough time to find his replacement.
Bradbury is no slouch either.
He played in every regular-season game for the Patriots and had 1,070 offensive snaps, spending 98% of the time on the field. Then, in the playoffs, Bradbury didn't miss a single snap or give up one sack.
The Bears also saved some money with Bradbury, as his base salary is $3.7 million, with $2 million in additional bonuses and incentives.
Dalman had a short stint with the Bears, but it was impactful. Anyone who showed him disrespect after his decision owes him an apology.