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Ex-Packers Fan Favorite Opens Up: Refused Bears Offer, Still Waiting for Right Team

There are some team colors a player just can’t picture themselves wearing. That’s why it came as such a surprise this offseason when a former Green Bay pass rusher declined a starting spot from the Chicago Bears.

After the trade deadline passed, speculation mounted about where the veteran edge rusher would land. Friends thought he’d sign a new deal quickly, but he chose to wait, putting loyalty above the pressure to rush a decision.

Preston Smith’s name eventually made headlines. After six years with the Packers, 91 appearances, and 44 sacks, he remains synonymous with green and gold in Wisconsin.

“I told my wife I’d rather ride the bench for the Packers than start for the Bears. I was born to wear green and gold — not navy and orange.”
(Smith said)

Smith was a steady leader through coaching changes, adapting from outside linebacker in Mike Pettine’s 3-4 defense to defensive end under Jeff Hafley’s 4-3 scheme. He was a Pro Bowl alternate in 2019 and mentored young stars like Rashan Gary, earning respect across the locker room.

His 2019 season—racking up 12 sacks and earning a Defensive Player of the Week nod—solidified his status as a Lambeau fan favorite. Even after a midseason trade to Pittsburgh in 2024, Smith’s heart never really left Green Bay.

Contract restructures and new schemes limited his impact in his final year with the Packers, but teammates say his greatest contribution was setting the standard for the next generation. His choice to turn down a rival only strengthened that reputation.

Now, as he contemplates his next move, Smith isn’t rushing to pull on a new jersey. For Packers fans, his decision to refuse Chicago’s offer only deepens his legend among those who bleed green and gold. No matter where he signs next, the legacy he built in Wisconsin comes first. For Preston Smith, some loyalties run too deep — and some colors never fade.

Eagles Head Coach Announces A.J. Brown To Start On The Bench For Standout Rookie After Poor Performance vs. Broncos
  Philadelphia, PA — the Philadelphia Eagles’ head coach confirmed that A.J. Brown will start on the bench in Week 6 against the New York Giants, with the boundary starting spot going to rookie WR Taylor Morin—an undrafted signing out of Wake Forest who flashed through rookie camp and the preseason. The decision follows an underwhelming offensive showing against the Denver Broncos, where several snaps highlighted the unit being out of sync between Brown and Jalen Hurts. On a midfield option route, Hurts read Cover-2 and waited for an inside break into the soft spot, while Brown maintained a vertical stem and widened to the boundary to stretch the corner. The ball fell into empty space and the drive stalled. On a separate red-zone snap, a pre-snap hot-route signal wasn’t locked identically by the pair, resulting in a hurried throw that was broken up. The staff treated it as a reminder about route-depth precision, timing, and pre-snap communication—the micro-details that underpin the Eagles’ offense when January football arrives. Starting Morin is part of a plan to re-establish rhythm: the early script is expected to emphasize horizontal spacing, short choice/option concepts, and over routes off play-action to probe the Giants’ responses. Morin—who has shown strong hands in tight windows and clean timing in the preseason—should give the call sheet a steadier platform, while Brown will be “activated” in high-leverage downs such as 3rd-and-medium, two-minute, and red zone to maximize his body control, early separation, and the coverage gravity that can force New York to roll coverage. Facing the tough call, Brown kept his response brief but competitive:“I can’t accept letting a kid take my spot, but I respect his decision. Let’s see what we’re saying after the game. I’ll practice and wait for my chance. When the ball is in the air, everyone will know who I am.” Operationally, the staff is expected to streamline the call sheet between Hurts and Brown: standardize option-route depths, clearly flag hot signals, and increase game-speed reps in 7-on-7 and team periods so both are “seeing it the same and triggering the same.” Handing the start to Morin also resets the locker-room standard: every role is earned by tape and daily detail—even for a star of Brown’s caliber. If Brown converts the message into cleaner stems and precise landmarks—catching the ball at the spot and on time—the Eagles anticipate early returns: fewer dead drives, better red-zone execution when back-shoulder throws and choice routes are run “in the same language,” and an offense that regains tempo before taking on Big Blue. With Taylor Morin in the opening script, Philadelphia hopes the fresh piece is enough to jump-start the attack from the first series.