NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 10: Anthony Miller #17 of the Chicago Bears talks with head coach Matt Nagy after being ejected from the game on a penalty of Unsportsmanlike Conduct because Miller punched Chauncey Gardner-Johnson #22 of the New Orleans Saints during the third quarter in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 10, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
Bears head coach Matt Nagy had no sympathy for Anthony Miller, who was ejected from Sunday’s wildcard game against the Saints.
Anthony Miller should have known better.
During Sunday’s wildcard matchup between the Saints and the Bears, the wide receiver was ejected when he fell for one of the classic blunders: Letting New Orleans defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson get under his skin.
Bears head coach Matt Nagy can literally say, I told you so.
Here’s what Miller did to get the boot:
The refs did not take kindly to that one.
Anthony Miller was ejected despite warnings from Matt Nagy
Gardner-Johnson has a well-earned reputation for inciting opposing players. He got a rise out of former Bears WR Javon Wims during the regular season. He even scuffled with teammate Michael Thomas during a practice.
The theme of Gardner-Johnson’s involvement in all of these incidents is how he gets the other guy in trouble. Thomas got suspended by the Saints. Wims was ejected and suspended. Now Miller has become the latest receiver who just couldn’t keep his cool.
Nagy is right to be annoyed on this front. It must have felt like Groundhog’s Day for him with yet another wide receiver falling for the same game. The frustration can only have been multiplied knowing he warned the team specifically about the threat of an ejection for retaliation.
Miller left the game with two catches for 22 yards, but the Bears’ problems certainly outweighed his meltdown. Chicago managed just three points before a final, largely meaningless touchdown, as time ran out. They have now gone 10 years without a playoff victory.
It was also Nagy’s second loss in the wild card round in the last three years. At least he’s made two playoffs in that span. The franchise went seven years without an appearance before his arrival.