Mitch has been a standup guy.
The Franchise has been nothing short of treacherous to him. Trading for Foles, no extension, public scapegoating, lack of draft support.
Yet they gave him the ball to start this season and never said one bad thing about him.
By ditching, he will lose his rep as a stand up guy which as you said is one of his selling points. Mitch is not going to fucking die and his shoulder will need a fix at some point anyway. Refusal to play will lose $3-4m based on salary and fines. He likely gets a $3-7m backup contract next year based on the rest of this one. The lower # would be play poor and getting injured and the high one, play and do meh as expected. That could actually double to the $15m range if he plays and does well. Basically, he breaks even in total $ by going AWOL compared meh play with an injury and only has financial upside by playing, possibly substantial.
Honestly, I can't recall one QB that wasn't injured that simply refused to go unless they retired like Luck. I do remember the grief Cutler got nationally for leaving a game and not playing through a verified MCL. There has always been consequence in the NFL unless you are elite and even then, it eventually comes back at you.
Awesome fucking precedent. Mitch would be that guy that announcers talk about for the next decade and GMs don't reward that crap. Only financial and reputation downside by refusing to play.
If you think he's better for the team's current situation and you're actually a Bear fan, you want him to play and help them as I do. Wanting him to ditch against everyone's best interests is the desire of a fanboi, jock sniffer.
I understand db starting this thread because he's pissed and is shooting from the hip with a fuck this org attitude but once the logistics have been presented, you guys should just stand down. It's all bad for everyone involved by him ditching and there's only available upside for all if he plays.