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LAKE FOREST, IL (AP) Jaylon Johnson became one of the highest-paid NFL defensive players only after a private mental and emotional personal battle.The Chicago Bears' fifth-year cornerback signed a four-year contract extension last week for a reported $76 million, and on Monday he revealed he regarded it as a personal triumph not merely because it confirmed his football abilities.I went to therapy last season for sexual addiction, Johnson said. That was the <a href="https://www.kcchiefsjersey.com/elijah-mcguire-jerseys">Elijah McGuire Jersey</a> hardest thing for me to open up to my therapist about.That is something nobody knew about.ADVERTISEMENT Johnson had four of his five career interceptions last season and was second-team All-Pro during a contract year. Pro Football Focus graded him the top cornerback in the league last season.Johnson said he felt compelled to announce his personal struggles.Its like, man, were human, too, Johnson said. We go through things. Everybody goes through things. But I feel like people (think), like youve got to put a mask on, youve got to cover it up.It's like, no, its OK to go through things. Its OK to seek help. Its OK to be vulnerable.Johnson wanted to share this to bring awarene s to the i sue.I want to say, for one, its because I know Im not the only one going through it, Johnson said. Two, its OK to go through stuff; its OK <a href="https://www.kcchiefsjersey.com/khalen-saunders-jerseys">Khalen Saunders Jersey</a> not to be perfect.Football almost became an outlet for Johnson during his therapy last year.Everybody was talking about playing football thats easy, Johnson said. I mean, just going out and seeing my therapist on an off day, its like, damn, thats where Im most uncomfortable.He worried le s about getting his new contract than improving his mental health.I was worried about trying to get myself right because for me its bigger than contracts, Johnson said. I mean, me being who I need to be as a man, who I need to be as a father, as a partner, as a future husband, thats more important.Johnson ultimately felt victorious on the field by becoming a lockdown cornerback in a breakthrough season.Thinking back on it <a href="https://www.kcchiefsjersey.com/tershawn-wharton-jerseys">Tershawn Wharton Jersey</a> , I dont think there was ever anybody open in the games, he said. So stuff like that is something I take pride in, just being sticky in coverage.And also just making plays in the backfield, as well, I feel like even on screens, being aggre sive, tackling receivers in the backfield, I think that was something big that I didnt put on film too much (in <a href="https://www.kcchiefsjersey.com/josh-gordon-jerseys">Josh Gordon Jersey</a> the past)," he said. But I felt like just having that aggre sive balance of sticky coverage and being physical in the run game as well.The contract allows Johnson to continue playing in a secondary now revamped after the signing of veteran safety Kevin Byard to a two-year contract as a replacement for veteran Eddie Jackson. The Bears tied for the league lead in interceptions last season.I know weve got dogs at all levels, Johnson said of the Bears defense. So I think just being in on (Byard) and with the departure of Eddie, I think kind of put the glue back together in the secondary that we needed.As free agency opens Monday with the negotiating period, the big question facing the team is whether quarterback Justin Fields will be traded and how it would affect the locker room if he is.I feel like at the end of the day, we know the busine s that were in, Johnson said. So I feel like it wouldnt be mature of us as a locker room not to rally together in spite of having Justin leave.I know what it would do to keep him here. I know how we would feel with <a href="https://www.kcchiefsjersey.com/jerick-mckinnon-jerseys">Jerick McKinnon Jersey</a> him here, but I feel like at the end of the day, well all have our opinions, our emotions, but as far as the locker room staying together, I think we have the right guys in the locker room to keep everything together, to keep us together.___AP NFL: |
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