Chicago Bears Finally Deal Gabe Carimi; Trade Gives Kyle Long Bigger Challenge


Gabe Carimi gets beat

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

For all of you simpletons claiming that the NCAAF game and the NFL game are virtually the same, you should notice how awfully painful the transition has been for Gabe Carimi. The 29th overall pick in 2011 was traded by the Chicago Bears to the Tamp Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in exchange for a sixth-round pick.

The ex-Wisconsin Badger was supposed to sure up a shaky offensive line, but was more inconsistent than the Chicago weather itself.

Everyone affiliated with the Bears knew Carimi had rubbed the new regime wrong by not showing up to OTAs, but the trade still caught most Chicago fans by surprise. Either way, this move will have an effect on rookie guard Kyle Long — whether it will be positive or negative remains to be seen, however. Like Carimi, Long was highly touted in college for his exceptional athleticism and massive build.

Hopefully there isn’t any deja-vu for the Bears considering Long will now be thrown into the fire despite any NFL experience, similarly to Carimi. The best offensive linemen are given time to mature — Long will not have this luxury going into the 2013 summer camps.

Sure, the Bears have attempted to acquire some depth with guards Matt Slauson and Eben Britton, but as a 20th overall draft pick, Long should naturally emerge as the front-runner.

Thankfully, the Carimi headache is gone and new head coach Marc Trestman can now focus on his group without the impending complaining from the former Badger. When we look back on Carimi’s impact in Chicago, the first thing that will come to mind will be how the club transitioned once he moved south.

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