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When the Chicago Bears drafted Kyle Long in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, more than a few Bears’ fans scratched their heads. There was plenty of pre-draft buzz on him as a prospect, but most in the media didn’t expect him to go in the first round.
I was surprised the Bears picked him with the twentieth pick overall, but I understood the selection. He was a high upside, athletic, but raw, offensive lineman. He was also a hard worker that came from a football family. Long had a challenging path that led him to the NFL, and those challenges helped mature him.
His positive attitude made him a rookie fans kept an eye on, and his aggressive play on the field made him a fan favorite. Who can forget his first game when he barked at Cincinnati’s Vontaze Burfict. It was such a ‘welcome to the Bears’ moment for Long.
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For Long’s entire career, he’s been very active on social media, and it was a recent flurry via twitter I wanted to point out. He started out tweeting about a book (Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win) that ex-Bear Ted Larsen turned him on to, and it escalated from there.
Some leaders blame their subordinates for blue on blue. The leader is truly + ultimately responsible for everything. That is ext ownership
— Kyle (@Ky1eLong) March 31, 2017
The best leaders don't take resp for only their job, but everything in the op that involves success. #1 characteristic of any High Op team
— Kyle (@Ky1eLong) March 31, 2017
It is all on the leader
— Kyle (@Ky1eLong) March 31, 2017
And then it took a turn towards football.
I have allowed a 3-13 culture to creep into the locker room. I'm sorry for that. I will alongside other senior leaders see success through.
— Kyle (@Ky1eLong) March 31, 2017
When I came to the Bears we had leaders and alphas. We have continually had good players, we have looked for folks to step up. That's on me
— Kyle (@Ky1eLong) March 31, 2017
I need to step up, take my responsibilities seriously - and mentor the younger team members to expedite the learning curve.
— Kyle (@Ky1eLong) March 31, 2017
Too often I apologized to my team in positional meetings the last two years. It haunts me, that feeling in the film room. In front of peers
— Kyle (@Ky1eLong) March 31, 2017
Step 1 is admitting there is a problem. Take a breath. Prioritize and then execute
— Kyle (@Ky1eLong) March 31, 2017
I don't think I've ever said that in those words. But I'm done sweeping it under the rug. If my team is reading this, they know what I mean.
— Kyle (@Ky1eLong) March 31, 2017
And then he started responding to tweets.
This one was in response to someone asking him if he thinks he’s have played well.
I can play at an elite level all the time, and I haven't done that. https://t.co/PRkzb2rlmh
— Kyle (@Ky1eLong) March 31, 2017
Someone tried calling him corny, but Long wasn’t having it.
Taking responsibility seems corny in today's society, but it's something that needs to happen. Too much walking on eggshells in 2k17 https://t.co/I0d6iCWJp0
— Kyle (@Ky1eLong) March 31, 2017
He then explained what prompted his tweeting commentary, when someone told him his 2016 injury wasn’t his fault.
This tweet barrage started because it was my fault that I got rolled up in Tampa - executed block with poor technique I was in wrong area https://t.co/tpSoyJEjZC
— Kyle (@Ky1eLong) March 31, 2017
What do you guys think about Kyle Long putting it all out there?