By DJ Moore

The toughest part of being in an NFL locker room was the potential of seeing your friends dismissed from the team. Every year it hurt like it was the first time. When the big time players were cut or traded, it made me feel insecure as a lesser valued player.

Heading into training camp number three with the Chicago Bears, I was very excited about the season. We had just come off an NFC Championship loss, and I felt the sky was the limit for the coming season. I was moving into our camp over at Olivet Nazarene University, and I walked to get all my credentials. On the way back to my room, I saw there a big commotion at the end of the hallway. I stopped by to say hey to the guys.  I quickly could tell something was wrong.   Greg Olsen stood in the middle of the room, stunned at the news he had just received on his phone. He stated to the group that he had been traded, with a look of disbelief and frustration. 

He was the catalyst for our offense the season before, not to mention Cutler’s security blanket. It made no sense to get rid of your best offensive of player, but I wasn’t the General Manager. I remember looking at the pain on his face, and it made me feel very unsure about my position on the team. It solidified the realization that the NFL was a business and not the game we all grew to love to play for fun. I honestly had nightmares I would be cut at least once or twice a week after seeing what had transpired with Greg. Fortunately for him the move may have been for the best. Many guys get moved along and you never hear from them again.