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This Once Cute Side Story at Bears Camp Is Getting Serious

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears

One of the greatest underdog stories in Chicago Bears history took place back in the 1990s. Undrafted defensive tackle James Williams was looking like a long shot to make the roster. So his coaches came to him with a proposition. Would he consider moving to offensive tackle where they thought he might have a shot and could help an area of need? The man knows as “Big Cat” jumped at the chance. A year and a half later in 1994, he was their starting right tackle.

Williams went on to a Pro Bowl in 2001. It was a great rags-to-riches story for the young man who proved hard work and a willingness to change can take a man far. That’s the funny thing about sports. Things tend to repeat themselves. Fifteen years after Williams left the game in 2003, the Bears are conducting the exact same experiment all over again.

Earlier this year before the start of training camp, head coach Matt Nagy approached former Bears undrafted free agent Rashaad Coward with a request. Would he consider moving from defensive line to offensive tackle? Like Williams so long ago, Coward eagerly jumped at the opportunity. Anything for a chance to make the roster and play.

Chicago Bears starting to show they’re serious about Coward

The first inclination that the Bears might be more invested in this experiment than people thought came in the Hall of Fame game. Not only did the second-year man start the game at right tackle. He stayed there for all four quarters. It’s apparent the team was trying to get him as many snaps as possible, get him experience. All things considered? He didn’t do half bad.

Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic interviewed Coward about the transition and how it’s been an eye-opening experience. It was when he spoke to the tackle’s former college coach Bobby Wilder at Old Dominion. It turns out that had the circumstances been better, he would’ve played Coward on the offensive line from the start.

“We just didn’t have enough quality players that year to play the schedule, so Rashaad had to play right away as a true freshman and we did not have enough defensive linemen. But we all felt that he would’ve been better off in his college career if he could’ve played offensive line. But he wanted to play defensive line, we needed him at defensive line and he was an outstanding college D-lineman.”

It didn’t end there. Knowing that NFL scouts were in attendance during extra bowl practices a year ago, Wilder decided to give Coward some snaps at right tackle. This would hopefully increase the odds of his young player getting picked up by a team. By the end of the session even he was taken aback by what he saw.

“Right from the start, and when I’m watching him bend and play the position I’m thinking, my goodness,” he said. “He probably would have been drafted in the upper half of the draft if we would have had him playing O-line the entire time.”

Since then there have been no signs the Bears are ending the experiment

If anything they’re pushing harder to see where it leads. Coward is a unique physical specimen. He’s an athlete but also big with long arms. Those are vital elements to playing tackle in the NFL. Just imagine that. Imagine if the Bears replaced Bobby Massie, who is a free agent next year, with a former undrafted player like Coward at right tackle. Never mind Charles Leno, a former seventh round choice on the other side.

That sort of thing just doesn’t happen in this league. Teams almost always need first round second round picks on the edges to have a chance of building a strong line. Except one must go back to Williams for a reminder that good blockers can be found almost anywhere. It merely comes down to having a vision for them and providing an opportunity. Coward got his and isn’t taking it for granted.

Blackhawks’ Stan Mikita May Be Gone, But Never Forgotten

By
Tony Gianares
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Today, the hockey world took a huge hit. Blackhawks’ legend and hockey innovator, Stan Mikita, has passed away. Although Stan is gone, he will never be forgotten, especially in the hearts of the Blackhawks’ faithful.

At the beginning of his NHL career, Mikita was a physical force and extremely aggressive. He had a change of heart after his young daughter questioned why her dad was sitting all by himself while her “uncles” sat on the bench with each other. From here on out, Stan was a different man.

He traded in penalty minutes for points. A year after getting the most penalty minutes in the league, Mikita actually won the Lady Byng trophy for sportsmanship and he did it twice in his 22-year career. Although Stan Mikita was a superstar on the ice, he did not act like one off the ice.

He was known for his warm-hearted, down to earth personality. Blackhawks’ team historian, Bob Verdi, even went as far as calling Mikita the “least pretentious superstar you could imagine.” Many fans, coaches, and players share the same sentiment as Bob Verdi.

Life Before the NHL for Stan Mikita

Stan Mikita was born in what was formerly known as Czechoslovakia. In hopes of a better life, Stan was adopted by his aunt and uncle and moved to Canada at the age of 8. This is where Mikita’s hockey career began.

Stan had not even heard of or seen the game of hockey prior to moving to Canada. He saw the local kids in the street playing hockey and wanted in on the action. Mikita was then given the nickname, “Stosh”, because of his Slovakian heritage.

From the streets to the rink, Mikita went on to play for the Chicago Blackhawks’ amateur hockey team, the St. Catharines Teepees, for 3 years. Before being called up to the Blackhawks’ NHL roster, Mikita netted 97 points and led the entire Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) in scoring during his final season with the Teepees.

Stan Mikita Left His Mark On The NHL

After signing on with the Chicago Blackhawks, Stan Mikita went on to have an illustrious 22-year career and set multiple team records. Many of which still stand to this day. Here, you can see just how successful Mikita was in the NHL and he made it look easy.

                           Scor Scor          Scor Goal                        Shot
Season    Age  Tm  Lg   GP    G    A  PTS +/-  PIM   GW   S%                 Awards
1958-59    18 CBH NHL    3    0    1        1    4                                0
1959-60    19 CBH NHL   67    8   18   26  13  119    1  6.3               Calder-4
1960-61    20 CBH NHL   68   19   34   53  27   94    5                         9.3
1961-62    21 CBH NHL   70   25   52   77  12   97    5 12.0                   AS-1
1962-63    22 CBH NHL   65   31   45   76  26   69    6 13.2             AS-1Hart-2
1963-64    23 CBH NHL   70   39   50   89  21  146    7 12.8       AS-1Hart-5Ross-1
1964-65    24 CBH NHL   70   28   59   87  29  154    6 10.9             AS-2Ross-1
1965-66    25 CBH NHL   68   30   48   78   6   58    1 12.3                   AS-1
1966-67    26 CBH NHL   70   35   62   97  40   12    5 12.5 AS-1Byng-1Hart-1Ross-1
1967-68    27 CBH NHL   72   40   47   87   0   14    8 13.2 AS-1Byng-1Hart-1Ross-1
1968-69    28 CBH NHL   74   30   67   97  14   52    2                        10.0
1969-70    29 CBH NHL   76   39   47   86  27   50    8 11.1             AS-2Hart-4
1970-71    30 CBH NHL   74   24   48   72  20   85    4                        10.9
1971-72    31 CBH NHL   74   26   39   65  16   46    6                        14.1
1972-73    32 CBH NHL   57   27   56   83  31   32    5 15.3                 Hart-7
1973-74    33 CBH NHL   76   30   50   80  24   46    1 17.5                 Hart-6
1974-75    34 CBH NHL   79   36   50   86  14   48    6 14.2                   AS-6
1975-76    35 CBH NHL   48   16   41   57  -4   37    1                        10.1
1976-77    36 CBH NHL   57   19   30   49  -9   20    4                        14.8
1977-78    37 CBH NHL   76   18   41   59  17   35    2                         9.0
1978-79    38 CBH NHL   65   19   36   55   3   34    1                        12.9
1979-80    39 CBH NHL   17    2    5    7   2   12    0                         7.1
Career            NHL 1396  541  926 1467 329 1264   84                        12.1

Provided by Hockey-Reference.com: View Original Table

Mikita played alongside Bobby Hull for 14 years and they were one of the best tandems in NHL history. The two legendary Blackhawks were able to bring home a Stanley Cup in 1961 and came close again in 1971, but suffered a heartwrenching loss to the Montreal Canadiens in Game 7.

Stan Mikita Was a Visionary and An Innovator

Besides the stats, trophies, and Stanley Cups, Mikita also helped to revolutionize the game in other ways. Stan Mikita took a shot to the head in 1968 which resulted in a concussion and severed ear. He would go on to design his own helmet with the help of an engineer from Riddell. Mikita was one of the 1st players in the NHL to wear a helmet.

Stan Mikita also was the first to play with a curved stick blade, but he actually discovered it by accident.

Here, Mikita tells the story of how he stumbled upon the idea of curving his stick blade to Sarah Spain, who now works for ESPN.

Fun Facts About Stan Mikita

Stan Mikita had deep ties to the city of Chicago, especially in the sports world. Fellow Blackhawk, Bobby Hull, and Mike Ditka of the Chicago Bears stood up in Mikita’s wedding.

Stan Mikita also had a cameo in the 1992 comedy Wayne’s World which was set in Aurora, Illinois.

In 2011, the Blackhawks had statues built to honor Stan Mikita and Bobby Hull.

Stan Mikita was not just another meathead hockey player. He was a man with integrity and the drive to be the best. He wanted to make everyone around him better as well. Mikita singlehandedly changed the game of hockey forever and made it what it is today. There is no doubt in my mind that his legacy will live on forever. He truly transcends hockey and the sport would not be what it is today without him.

Stan will surely be missed by family, friends, and the entire hockey community. On behalf of everyone here at Sports Mockery, I would like to extend our condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time.

For more Blackhawks news and updates, follow the author @Certified_TonyG on Twitter.

Adam Engel’s Peripheral Sabermetric Value Just Went Through The Roof

By
Matt Enuco
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Adam Engel soares toward the fence to snag a home run from Greg Bird of the Yankees. He accomplished a similar feat nearly 24 hours later. (photo credit: White Sox instagram - Ron Vesely)

White Sox leftover center fielder Adam Engel has been summarily unimpressive at the plate for the past two seasons. He’s batting .220 with a .082 ISO, -0.2 WAR and -12.6 offensive value ranking. But…there is one area of his game that is unimpeachable.

Adam Engel does it again.

A post shared by Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) on

On Monday he pulled back a towering fly ball from the Yankees’ Greg Bird, but he had an encore in store for Tuesday night.

@adamtengel AGAIN 😱

A post shared by Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) on

I mean, come on!! Engel pulls off two miraculous plays on back-to-back nights, the kind of plays that we thought only Mike Trout was capable of.

But will Engel’s latest superhuman display mute the calls to designate him in favor of promoting Eloy Jimenez, whom Bruce Levine believes will be called up this week? Hard to tell. And his immutable hustle and soaring receptions only make the decision to nix Engel all the more troublesome for White Sox brass.

One thing to remember is that despite Engel’s lack of production at the plate, Charlie Tilson was ditched a month ago instead of Engel. It appears to me that Engel knows what he’s doing in the outfield and getting more comfortable. He made a few plays of this ilk last season and perhaps he’s starting to feel a sense of belonging, something every player has to feel in order to settle in.

But, I’m sure most people would love to hold onto these memories of Engel while trading up for Jimenez’s light-tower power. If it does happen this week…well…we’ll always have the memories.

History Shows Roquan Smith, Not Agents, is Prolonging Holdout

By
Erik Lambert
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roquan smith

Many Chicago Bears fans are already tired of the Roquan Smith narrative. Their euphoria over his initial selection in the 2018 draft is rapidly wearing off. Some have called for the Bears to simply trade him, a possibility that ends today. While that was never too likely, it’s clear this is becoming an unwelcome distraction for a team that’s trying to claim its first winning season in over half a decade.

So how did it ever get to this point? Well, some want to blame the agency representing Smith. They have a history of doing something like this with rookies as the Joey Bosa debacle showed two years ago. Others blame the Bears for being too cheap. They seem to be forgetting the common denominator in this entire mess:  Smith himself.

He is the one person who can put an end to it all. So doesn’t it stand to reason that he might, in fact, be the one who’s prolonging it? New evidence suggests that people should’ve seen something like this coming a long time ago. Years before he was even on the NFL radars.

Roquan Smith proved years ago he would learn (and exploit) the business of football

Credit to Jack M Silverstein of Windy City Gridiron for uncovering a fascinating bit of history on Smith that goes back to the beginning of his college career. It involved an article by Patrick Hruby of Vice Sports that detailed how Smith intentionally didn’t sign a national letter of intent when he declared for UCLA. He did this because he was warned it could ruin his bargaining leverage in case he changed his mind on which school he wanted to attend.

Sure enough, he was swayed to head for Georgia instead. Had he signed that letter UCLA could’ve made it nearly impossible for him to make the switch because he would’ve had to forfeit a year of eligibility.

“On the morning of signing day, he reportedly woke up undecided between UCLA and Georgia; even after he picked the Bruins on national television, he remained uncertain. At a subsequent lunch with his parents and his high school coach, Larry Harold—who told Smith not to sign anything unless he was absolutely sure of his choice—he received a text message from Georgia coaches: Jeff Ulbrich, the UCLA assistant coach who had recruited Smith for three years, was leaving for the Atlanta Falcons.

A few days later, Smith signed a financial aid agreement with Georgia. Not a letter of intent. He still had his signing day party, and still had his moment in the media sun. But in a system that asks athletes to take it, he chose instead to leave.”

This revelation paints a pretty clear picture. Smith goes out of his way to understand the inner workings of the business end of football. The reason being a mentality similar to on the football field. Do whatever it takes to find an edge. He talked to people, learned what his options were and decided the course of action he felt offered him the biggest advantage.

Can’t say it didn’t work.

He switched over to Georgia, became an All-American and was the #8 overall pick in the NFL draft. Now he’s doing the same thing at the pro level. He’s talked to people who know the business, learned what his options are and is pursuing what he feels is the best course to his future.

Love it or hate it, one must respect the man for sticking to his guns. It worked out once for him already, so there’s no reason he should think it won’t a second time. The good news is his end game is not to switch teams but to get concessions on his contract. This means he’ll sign eventually, but when he’s ready. Not anybody else.

Bears Mailbag – Way-Too-Early Player Award Predictions?

By
Dhruv Koul
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trey burton

After an offseason that seemed to drag on forever, football is finally back!

The Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens kicked off the NFL Preseason in the annual Hall of Fame Game on Saturday, as both teams saw their respective, legendary linebackers officially inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Congratulations to Brian Urlacher! Ray Lewis? Yeah, well …

Though the Bears lost 17-16 in a sloppy, turnover-filled battle, the “real” preseason kicks off this week for all teams. The Bears will head over to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals on Thursday night. Remember, the two teams played each other last year in the regular season at Paul Brown Stadium, where the Bears turned in their most dominant performance of the season, steamrolling the Bengals, 33-7, in a game that wasn’t as close as the score would suggest.

Head Coach Matt Nagy confirmed that the starters would play, though how much they play remains to be seen. My guess would be a series or two for both the offense and defense. I’m looking forward to these starting units finally taking the field, though!

With that, we reach into this week’s Bears Mailbag. Thanks to everyone who submitted questions; I always appreciate the participation!

Q: Before preseason even starts, can you give me some player predictions for this upcoming season? Superlatives, etc. — Alex J.

I actually tweeted some predictions a couple of weeks ago before the Hall of Fame game was played. Here’s that tweet, and I still endorse these predictions. Of course, the caveat is everyone on this list should remain healthy…

Let me explain. Trey Burton never got a chance to truly shine in Philadelphia, given their yearly wealth of tight ends. But I’ve always thought he’s good player, and I think the sky is the limit for him in Matt Nagy’s offense. As the starting Move tight end, he’ll have plenty of opportunities to produce.

Allen Robinson is coming off a torn ACL, and he’s expected to be the Bears’ go-to receiver. I think this one is pretty self-explanatory. He should return to the field and, assuming he develops the expected chemistry with QB Mitch Trubisky, take off as a dominant force yet again.

The next one is self-explanatory, too. For this season to have any chance of success, Mitch Trubisky MUST take the next step THIS year. He doesn’t have to be elite, but he has to show significant progress in Year 1 under Nagy, and enough to show that the Bears weren’t *wrong* to select him the way that they did. I think he will, so I have him as my rising star. And honestly, I think that if he’s even average this year, this team can compete for the playoffs.

Jordan Howard is often forgotten about when discussing the best running backs in the league. Sure, he’s had trouble catching the football, but he’s an elite runner and an excellent workhorse that can succeed in most offenses. Yet analysts, and even fans, continue to forget about him. It’s confounding.

Aaron Lynch, for his sake and the Bears’ sake, has to rebound this year. Lynch has missed a ton of time over the years with various injuries, but he’s proven in the past that he can rush the passer. And at this point, the Bears are dreadfully thin at EDGE. Isaiah Irving and Kylie Fitts showed some things in the Hall of Fame game, but that was against third and fourth stringers. If they show something against second-stringers this Thursday, I’ll feel a bit better about what the Bears have. But until then, they need Lynch back on the field. He had his best season under Vic Fangio in San Francisco, when he tallied six sacks and numerous other pressures. The Bears need that player opposite a healthy Leonard Floyd.

If he stays healthy, Anthony Miller is going to be a star. End of discussion.

Charles Leno Jr.’s floor is as an average NFL left tackle. That’s really not bad at all, especially for a former seventh-round pick. He is NOT a liability, as some fans continue to think. He has proven he can hold his own against some of the better pass rushers in the league. And while his discipline must improve, he has improved every year, and the Bears control him for relatively cheap for the next couple of years. A solid player at a solid deal at a premium position. I’ll take it.

There are some who believe that Roquan Smith might be orchestrating part of it, especially given what happened with his UCLA-Georgia decision when committing to school. Jack Silverstein of Windy City Gridiron put this thread together to highlight some very interesting facts. I highly recommend you check it out.

But I have a feeling Smith’s agents are also certainly trying to show that they are tough negotiators who have their clients’ “best interests” in mind, in an attempt to secure future prospects signing with their agency. There are so many conflicting reports about what the holdup is really all about, so I’m going to hold off on speculating on who is to blame (or “more” to blame) for this mess. All I know is that I want Roquan at camp ASAP. But I’m comfortable rolling with Nick Kwiatkoski to begin the season, if we must. I just hope he and Danny Trevathan stay healthy.

As far as trading Smith, realistically, I would only do so for Khalil Mack or for future draft capital.

Thanks, @ConvincingPpl, for the double-dip!

Honestly, it’s not even worth talking about the weapons at this point, because the reality is that all of these passing attacks begin with the quarterback. And until further notice, Mitch Trubisky is the fourth-best quarterback in this division. Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford are as elite as it gets, and Kirk Cousins has also proven that he is a decent starting quarterback in the right system.

Cousins was very good in Jay Gruden’s scheme in Washington, and depending on how good John DeFilippo is at calling plays, he should continue his solid play in Minnesota.

Wow, @ConvincingPpl with the triple-dip! Thanks for the participation! Also, I love predictions. Here you go, along with an actual number:

Yards: Robinson (1,180)
Touchdowns: Burton (9)
Pro Bowl: Hicks (there are too many good corners in the NFC for Fuller to make it, IMO)
Defensive INTs: Jackson (5)
Trubisky INTs: 12+ (I made a prediction a while back that he’d throw 13)
Reception Yards: Gabriel (950)

There’s No Question Who Has The Easiest Job In Sports In Chicago

By
Aldo Soto
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The answer is Rick Hahn.

Yeah, John Paxson and Gar Forman have been getting crucified for the past five years or so, but they even had a good run of success. But that’s the point. It’s not about how good or bad a team has done it’s about the perception that fans have for the guys in charge.

This is all about how fans feel toward the guys in charge of running the five big teams in Chicago.

So, Stan Bowman and everyone with the Blackhawks have the Stanley Cups that has bought them plenty of leeway after 2015. Sure, Bowman and Joel Quenneville aren’t free from criticism, but the three championships are plenty to ease any over the top reaction from fans. Not saying there aren’t some out there, but in general there’s no beef, plus the team was literally the face of the NHL for six years. Can’t really complain there.

But again, they still hear the criticism and the acts are getting old in the eyes of some fans. Even with the success, the top job of any NHL team is far from easy.

Basically the same story for Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer with the Cubs. You bring the first World Series championship to the North Side since 1908 and you will be treated as a savior. Yeah, there are the crazy fans who still think Jim Hendry was better running the team than Theo and Jed, but just let those folks scream into the wall by themselves.

So yeah, still not too much noise coming from fans, but there is a little. Still, pretty calm for Theo and Jed. But the high expectations make their job not the easiest.

It’s still a football city and it sucks that the Bears haven’t been good in far too many years. Yet, from Ryan Pace to Ted Phillips and George McCaskey, Bears fans let them have it every season. That is no easy job. Everyone is always under the microscope at Halas Hall.

Fans literally campaigned to have John Paxson and Gar Forman fired.

That brings me White Sox GM Rick Hahn, who has the by far the easiest job in Chicago sports at the moment.

Think about it. He’s the figurehead in the White Sox rebuild and it’s obviously great that the franchise finally decided not to keep running in mud. Hahn has made some incredible trades and international free agent signings.

All the love that Hahn receives is deserved. Not taking anything away from Hahn. Yet, think about anything that could go and has gone wrong with the White Sox since Hahn has been appointed the GM.

Hahn was promoted after the 2012 season to the position of senior vice president and GM. From 2013-16, before the White Sox started their current rebuild, the team was still going all in, but they only won 63, 73, 76 and 78 games.

Who would always get the blame for the bad free agent signings or trades those years? It wasn’t Hahn because Kenny Williams would be the one getting grilled. And you’re right, Williams does have the higher position and should be held responsible, but why doesn’t that happen when things go right?

Any move now and Hahn gets the praise. Anything goes wrong and the first instinct is to blame to Kenny Williams.

It goes beyond that too, though, because look ahead to the 2018-19 free agent class. It is loaded, headlined by Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. The White Sox are going to be in play for one of the two, right?

Hahn was asked that recently and his answer was that the team will have the resources to go down swinging in free agency.

And again, that’s not really too far of a stretch because the White Sox at one point had a top-five payroll for three straight years after winning the 2005 World Series and were in the top-10 three more times until 2014.

Yet, for this conversation let’s say the White Sox sign a few free agents, but still no huge star player. Guess who gets the blame then?

jerry reinsdorf statement

“Oh, Jerry didn’t want to spend the money.”

Rick Hahn is so bulletproof among White Sox fans at least for now. I mean, it’s year six of Hahn being the GM and he’s really just begun the honeymoon stage with fans.

So, good for Rick, who has Kenny and Jerry as the fall guys on the South Side.

Javier Baez’s 2018 Has So Far Been Just As Good If Not Better Than Kris Bryant’s 2016 MVP Season

By
Aldo Soto
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Pretty simple guys, through 110 games this season, Javier Baez is putting up equally as good numbers as Kris Bryant did through his first 110 games in 2016, when he ended up winning the National League MVP.

For whatever reason the thought of Baez being in the MVP discussion hurts some people’s feelings, or makes them irrationally angry despite the Chicago Cubs second baseman being and all around wizard, leading the league in slugging, while also being a great base runner and playing gold glove defense where ever he starts.

But fine, if the eye test isn’t good enough for you, then let’s compare Baez to the 2016 MVP through the same amount of games.

So, Bryant has a much higher OBP and 15 more runs scored, however, Baez’s batting average is 17 points higher, has 18 more RBIs and his slugging is 50 points higher, more than making up for the .335 OBP.

Baez is essentially having Kris Bryant’s MVP season, but where Bryant excelled in walking more, Baez is slugging more. At the same point in the two seasons, Baez has 63 extra base hits, (25 HR, 31 2B, 7 3B) while Bryant had 54 extra base hits, with his 28 home runs and 26 doubles.

So, stop bringing up Baez’s OBP as if that’s an indicator that the rest of his game is lacking. By the way, we can all agree that Baez is a way better defender and all around just more exciting to watch play baseball. Oh, and he’s carrying the Cubs right now to the best record in the NL.

Anyway, that was just a quick comparison to give you an idea that Baez is for real, but comparing him to this year’s candidates in the MVP race and you get the same conclusion.

Javier Baez belongs to be in the MVP talk.

4.3 fWAR – 3rd

25 HRs – 6th

.302 batting average – 10th

.594 slugging – 1st

71 runs – 6th

88 RBIs – 1st

31 doubles – 4th

124 hits  – 8th

7 triples – 3rd

141 wRC+ – 7th

19 stolen bases – 5th

Javier Baez is a legitimate MVP candidate whether you like it or not because he can do this…

…and then this.

It’s no longer hype. El Mago for MVP is real.

VIDEO: The Greatest Ejection Ever Happened During An Independent League Game Involving The Chicago Dogs

By
Aldo Soto
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The Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks played against the Chicago Dogs Monday night, when the greatest ejection ever happened.

So, the game was tied at three in the seventh inning, and the RedHawks had a runner at second base with no outs. Brennan Metzger was at the plate and took a 2-2 pitch, as the runner at second stole third base. The pitch was called strike three and Metzger put on an amazing performance, using a trash can in the dugout to taunt the home plate umpire.

The RedHawks ended up beating the Chicago Dogs 4-3.

Bears May Be More Impressed With This Rookie Than We Thought

By
Erik Lambert
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javon wims

Sports Mockery reported a few days ago that the Chicago Bears coaches were elated with the progress of rookie wide receiver Javon Wims after his standout performance in the Hall of Fame game. In fact, they admitted it caught them a little bit by surprise. Since then it appears the buzz on Wims has only gotten louder. The team feels they may have something.

Wims was a bit of a mystery coming out of Georgia. He arrived late in his college career to the big time after a considerable stint in the junior college ranks. He finally became a starter in 2017 and had a decent year for the national championship participant Bulldogs with 720 yards and seven touchdowns.

That combined with his impressive 6’4 size and body control was enough for the Bears to scoop him in the seventh round last May. Even at the time, there were many close to the Georgia program who said Wims should’ve gone so much earlier than that. The Bears didn’t realize what exactly they were getting.

They may just now be realizing it, and are anxious to see more. Much more.

Anthony Miller reveals Bears are moving Javon Wims up the depth chart

Fellow rookie receiver Anthony Miller stopped by 670 The Score to talk about his own progression in the Bears offense. Towards the end of the interview, the subject of Wims came up. It was then Miller uncorked a fascinating little nugget that provides some perspective on just how fast this situation is escalating.

“He’s already getting looks with the next group.

With the twos or the ones?

With the ones. With the ones.

Really? Javon Wims?

Yeah, and he’s always been capable of doing that. Most people got a first glimpse of it in that game but we’ve been seeing that since the offseason.”

Ryan Pace might be getting a familiar pang in his gut right about now. He’s more familiar with unexpected seventh round steals at wide receiver than you’d think. He was part of the New Orleans Saints front office that drafted a young man named Marques Colston in the seventh round of the 2006 draft. Colston became the centerpiece of the offense that eventually won the Super Bowl three years after that.

Now nobody is saying Wims will do that, but it’s a reminder that Pace may actually know how to find hidden talent at that position late in a draft. Based on his getting time with the first offense already it’s clear they like where he’s headed. If he and Miller both pan out, Mitch Trubisky will be a happy man for years to come.

Anthony Miller Dropped a Surprise Name He Models His Game After

By
Erik Lambert
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anthony miller

Just when you think Anthony Miller has revealed exactly who he is, the young wide receiver finds a way to surprise you again. It’s a big reason why fans are boarding his hype train in staggering numbers. The second round pick out of Memphis has been the star of Chicago Bears training camp. Despite being a rookie, he’s been the offense’s most consistent wide receiver.

People are shocked by how developed he already is as a route runner, facing and beating the best corners on the Bears defense. Not just once in a while either. Consistently. Even though he’s a bit on the older side at 24, it feels like Millers shouldn’t be this far along. So what’s his secret? How did he get to be this good so fast?

The simple answer is hard work. Most young receivers don’t embrace the grind it takes to improve their game. Not until they’ve had a couple years in the NFL. Miller is a rare breed in that respect. He’s gotten to where he is by learning the position inside and out. A way he does that? Simple. He watches how previous great receivers did it.

People thought they knew the WRs Anthony Miller copies. They were wrong

By now most have heard the names connected to Miller. His body type and style of play have earned him wide-spread comparisons to Pittsburgh Steelers superstar Antonio Brown. Miller himself admitted he idolized former Carolina Panthers All-Pro Steve Smith growing up. However, when it came to breaking down the art of playing the receiver position, Miller told 670 The Score he has another go-to guy.

“Well I’m pretty…a lot of people say I’m similar to Steve Smith, you know, AB [Antonio Brown]. Those type guys. You know I could either play physical or you know I could give you some feet. A guy I watch a lot is Chad Johnson actually. He has the best feet in my opinion of any receiver in history. His feet are just incredible. I go to his videos for a lot of moves actually.”

Most people these days remember Chad Johnson for his later years when he got a bit carried away by changing his last name to “Ochocinco.” It’s easy to forget how dominant the former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver was for a long time. He reached six Pro Bowls in his career and posted seven seasons over 1,000 yards. From 2003 to 2007 he had a case for being of the two or three best receivers in all of football.

So nobody should roll their eyes when Miller brings up the name. Bears fans especially. Johnson had a habit of humiliating Chicago every time he played them. His iconic Riverdance celebration came at Soldier Field during a blowout win for the Bengals, don’t forget. Miller is hoping to learn what made him great but has no plans to bring the outlandish personality with it.

Johnson himself seemed flattered when he heard about Miller’s comments. He even offered to attend Bears camp to teach him whatever he wants to know.

Don’t put it past the Bears rookie to not accept that offer. Either way, it’s apparent Miller is committed to being great and doesn’t have the patience of others. He wants to not just be in the league of Johnson and others. He’s dedicated to becoming the best that ever played. It’s becoming easier every day to see why Chicago gave up their second round pick next year to jump back up and grab hiim.

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