Kyle Long Comments on 'Leaguewide Disrespect' of Bears

Chicago Bears offensive lineman Kyle Long insisted his team isn't using the rest of the NFL's opinion toward the franchise as bulletin board material for the upcoming season, but he isn't fully ignoring it, either.

Long spoke Wednesday about how he and his teammates feel about the outside perception suggesting the Bears aren't a playoff contender, per ESPN.com's Jeff Dickerson:

"

I'm not thinking about it. I know the team's not thinking about it. I know that it's not guiding our decision-making throughout the day, I will say that. But I will also say that we are aware of the fact that there's kind of a league-wide disrespect on the Chicago Bears. I know that we're not very appreciative of it, and we're looking forward to getting after it.

"

Long has thrived as a tackle and guard since the Bears picked him 20th overall in the 2013 draft. Unfortunately, his individual success hasn't mirrored the team's, as Chicago has failed to make the postseason in that span.

A tough NFC North division is partially to blame for the Bears' recent struggles and failure to log a winning record in each of the past three seasons. The Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings were both playoff-bound out of the NFC North in 2015.

There's reason for optimism in the Windy City too. Veteran head coach John Fox is at the helm, complemented by seasoned defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Last year's first-round pick, receiver Kevin White, missed his entire rookie campaign and should provide a spark to the offense.

Much of what makes or breaks NFL teams is quarterback play, which falls on the shoulders of signal-caller Jay Cutler.

Known to be a gunslinger with one of the strongest arms in the league, Cutler posted a career-best 92.3 passer rating this past season. Although he lost offensive coordinator Adam Gase, new play-caller Dowell Loggains is retaining many of the elements of Gase's system.

Fox told reporters in March about how there's continuity on offense despite the major coaching change:

"

The foundation of it will be exactly the same. That is one of the reasons why you promote from within. We did that when Mike McCoy [left Denver] and we elevated Adam Gase. He [Gase] wasn't exactly a household name. He was a guy on the staff, a good coach [surrounded by other] great and talented coaches. So it'll be a lot of the same.

"

The departure of phenomenal all-around back Matt Forte also makes for a potential impediment to Chicago's offense. However, the Bears do have a promising second-year ball-carrier in Jeremy Langford to turn to, along with a downhill rookie runner in Jordan Howard.

Provided Long continues to play at a high level—he's made the Pro Bowl in all three of his years in the NFL—and Cutler continues to be more efficient and cut down on the mistakes, Chicago should at least be in the playoff conversation.