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Collin Delia Is Coming For Corey Crawford’s Job

By
Tony Gianares
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If you’re a fan of the Chicago Blackhawks, chances are that you have heard of their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate team, the Rockford IceHogs. Rockford is about an hour and a half northwest of Chicago and their team’s roster is filled with young, promising talent that the Blackhawks organization has acquired through a combination of the NHL Draft, trades, and free agent signings. This season, the Hawks were a shell of their former selves. That’s where the Rockford IceHogs come in and give Blackhawks fans some hope for the future, and more specifically, shifts their attention to between the pipes and protecting the twine. Remember this name, Collin Delia.

Who Is Collin Delia?

He is your starting goalie for the Rockford IceHogs and like the Drake song, he literally started from the bottom in the ECHL on the verge of being cut, and now he’s here in Rockford, leading the IceHogs to an unheard of undefeated playoff run with a record of 7-0-0 as of Saturday, May 12th.

To start the 2017-18 season, Delia played in the Eastern Coast Hockey League (ECHL) which is another affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks’ organization. Delia had a 10 game stint for the Blackhawks’ ECHL affiliate, Indy Fuel. During this 10 game span, he had a 1-7-0 record and posted a .887 Save % with a 4.12 Goals Allowed Average (GAA). With a stat line like this, Delia was extremely lucky to still have a roster spot at all.

It was at this point that the Blackhawks decided that a change of scenery could prove beneficial and decided to call him up to Rockford – and boy were they were right.

Delia Elevates His Game

After being called up to the AHL, it has been a totally different story for Delia, as he posted a 17-7-2 record with a .900 save % and 2.72 GAA in a 28 game stint in Rockford’s regular season. Rockford IceHogs’ goaltending coach, Peter Aubry, breaks down Collin Delia’s rise and gives us his insight:

Collin has been proving himself day-in and day-out during the IceHogs’ smoldering hot AHL playoff run on their quest for the franchise’s very first Calder Cup, which is the AHL equivalent of the Stanley Cup. In the 2017-18 AHL Calder Cup playoffs, Delia has been standing on his head for the IceHogs. In 7 games, he has posted a record of 7-0-0 with a .948 Save % and a 1.64 GAA. These numbers would easily be considered elite in the NHL, so Corey Crawford should be keeping a close eye on Collin. Seeing Delia elevate his play to this new level, under the added pressure of playing in the Calder Cup playoffs, has been nothing short of amazing to watch as a Blackhawks fan.

Things To Watch For

After sweeping the Manitoba Moose, who are the AHL affiliate of the Winnipeg Jets, the IceHogs will advance to the Western Conference Finals where they will go toe-to-toe with their rivals, Texas Stars, who are the AHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars. Here is the schedule for the upcoming series:

GameDateTime Matchup
Game 15/18/187 PMRockford @ Texas
Game 25/20/185 PMRockford @ Texas
Game 35/22/187 PMTexas @ Rockford
Game 45/24/187 PMTexas @ Rockford
Game 5*5/25/186 PMTexas @ Rockford
Game 6*5/28/187 PMRockford @ Texas
Game 7*5/29/187 PMRockford @ Texas

*if necessary

In 2010, the Texas Stars swept the Rockford IceHogs in the 1st round of the Calder Cup playoffs, and in 2015, Rockford returned the favor by sweeping the Stars in the 1st round of the playoffs. With that being said, the IceHogs will have their work cut out for them. The 2018 Western Conference Finals series should be extremely physical and competitive, which will result in some very exciting and entertaining hockey. Let’s see if Collin Delia can string together a few more elite level performances for the IceHogs and bring them one step closer to capturing Rockford’s first ever Calder Cup.

Possible 2019 Cap Casualties the Chicago Bears Could Trade For

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears

The Chicago Bears and GM Ryan Pace always have to keep their eyes looking forward. That means determining possible moves they could make one, two or even three years down the line. Most of the maneuvers for 2018 are concluded barring an unexpected turn of events. This means their visions for 2019 have no doubt begun to form.

One thing they could be doing is examining the cap situations for the other 31 teams. By doing so they might be able to find certain bargain trades for quality veterans due to future salary problems. The common phrase is “cap casualty.” Looking over the landscape of next year as things stand, there may be a small handful of interesting names the Bears could go after.

Malik Jackson (Jacksonville Jaguars)

Of all the teams in the league, the Jacksonville Jaguars will have one of the biggest cap headaches to deal with. According to overthecap.com, they’re projected to be upwards of $17.8 million in the red next off-season. That means they will likely have to unload at least one big contract in the books just to get into a more comfortable position.

Malik Jackson, whom we touched on a couple months ago, looks like the sacrifice they’ll have to make. For starters the Jaguars just added rookie Taven Bryan to the mix, making his place on the roster less critical. Also, the removal of his contract in 2019 will bring $11 million in cap relief. In return, the Bears would be getting a dynamic presence on their defensive line (8 sacks in 2017) with experience in a 3-4 scheme from his days in Denver.

Terron Armstead (New Orleans Saints)

The Saints are always in some sort of cap pickle. It’s the nature of paying a Hall of Fame quarterback like Drew Brees year after year. So sometimes they have to unload somebody else on the roster to ensure flexibility with their pay structure. They’re projected to have just under $11 million available next year, so it’s possible they could make a move.

New Orleans has long been a team that places greater emphasis on guard and center in their offense. Tackles are important too but not considered vital. That makes Terron Armstead and his $15 million cap hit something worth discussing. The Bears are looking for a solution to replace Bobby Massie at right tackle. Armstead is a much better athlete and would fit the Matt Nagy system well.

Ryan Kerrigan (Washington Redskins)

One of the most underrated pass rushers in the league for years. Ryan Kerrigan may not be flashy but he knows how to get to the quarterback. He’ll be 30-years old in 2019, so the talk will begin about whether it’s time for the Redskins to move on. With barely $12 million in cap space projected, his $10 million in relief would be most welcome for them.

The Bears are in desperate need if a secondary rusher opposite Leonard Floyd. Kerrigan may be on the older side but he wouldn’t have to shoulder near the burden he does in Washington thanks to Floyd’s presence. Problem is the Redskins don’t really have younger options at edge rusher right now, so his being available for trade is a big if at this point.

Derek Wolfe (Denver Broncos)

He was drafted to play in a 3-4 system as a defensive end, something Derek Wolfe was quite good at. However, the Broncos have since begun a shift to a 4-3 scheme, something their head coach knows well. This could force him to move inside to defensive tackle While he still can be effective it doesn’t seem like his impact would be the same level it was prior to a switch.

Denver will have upwards of $16 million in cap space next year. So they won’t be pressured too much to make a move. However, 2019 will be the final year of his current contract. So they may wish to get something back for him before he becomes a free agent. He could make a strong addition to their front alongside Akiem Hicks and Eddie Goldman.

Roquan Smith Reigns Supreme Among Rookie of the Year Candidates

By
Erik Lambert
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roquan smith

The Rookie of the Year award has remained foreign to the Chicago Bears for 17 years now. Not since 2000 and 2001 when they won it in back-to-back seasons have they gotten such hot starts from draft picks. Brian Urlacher claimed the defensive honor in 2000 and Anthony Thomas followed up on offense a year later. It was a sign that the franchise was pointed in the right direction after years of disappointment. Could Roquan Smith provide that same spark?

There is plenty of optimism to think so. One could argue the Bears haven’t drafted as polished a college prospect as Smith in years. He’s athletic and talented but also highly experienced. Everything from the measurables to the game tape came through with flying colors. Typically prospects like this have success immediately at the NFL level.

Several experts have already come forward stating their belief this would happen. Former GM Charlie Casserly stated as much right after he was drafted. Top expert and former player Matt Bowen of ESPN did the same not long after. Now Pro Football Focus with their unique perspective chimed in. They made a top five rankings of defensive names they feel will compete for Rookie of the Year.

Guess where the Bears top pick landed?

Roquan Smith claims #1 among Rookie of the Year favorites

“Roquan Smith was one of the best prospects in this draft, coming in at No. 7 on our final Big Board, and most importantly his skill set makes him the perfect linebacker for today’s league. Smith’s coverage skills are elite when it comes to college prospects and he has the ability to make plays in coverage that few NFL linebackers can.

Crucially, he also has the range and instincts to make stops all over the field even if he isn’t a 250-pound player. He had the second most defensive stops (74) in all of college football last season and saw his PFF grade get better each season of his college career.

In Chicago’s defense, Smith should have the freedom to impact all areas of the field and the coverage skills to make plays in front of a much-improved secondary. If the big plays fall the right way he could make a big case for Defensive Rookie of the Year.”

Expectations are sky high for Smith and he doesn’t seem the least bit phased by them. The Bears aren’t giving him the starting job, wanting him to earn it like everybody else. Still, it doesn’t seem like anybody will stop him. He’s such a natural fit for the scheme under Vic Fangio, who has a long history of producing excellent inside linebackers. Smith no doubt hopes to join that legacy, not to mention the glowing one in Chicago.

Local Tryout Just Became the Coolest Chicago Bears Story of 2018

By
Erik Lambert
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matt fleming

Americans love underdogs. It’s always been that way. It epitomizes the American dream. Somebody coming from humble beginnings and making a success of himself. For the Chicago Bears, they particularly love it when such things happen for local kids. One of the recent examples was Cameron Meredith. He grew up in the suburbs, went to Illinois State, signed as an undrafted free agent and became their leading receiver in 2016. So one can’t blame them for dipping in the same pool again with Matt Fleming.

Most football fans won’t know the name. That’s understandable. Fleming did his college work at Benedictine, a Division III school. No, most of his fan base hails from the track and field area. This past year he notched a national title for the 4×100 meter relay and also placed second in the long jump. A two-time All-American. However, there isn’t much of a future in track. So he also dabbled in football.

In 2017 he had a strong season with 731 yards and 10 touchdowns on 45 catches. Unsurprisingly he established himself as a deep threat. This athletic background wasn’t enough to get him drafted, but it did earn him a tryout with his hometown Bears. It appears that three-day run of practices wasn’t wasted.

Matt Fleming could be the perfect side project for Matt Nagy

One thing head coach Matt Nagy made clear during the minicamps was he would not overlook undrafted and tryout players. Never. That’s no surprise. He understands their plight better than most having been one himself after graduating from Delaware as an undrafted quarterback. He knows that sometimes good players just need an opportunity. It’s little wonder Nagy took a liking to Fleming.

As with many small school players, Fleming got by mostly with his raw athletic gifts at Benedictine. Many of the defenders just couldn’t keep up with the amount of talent he threw at them. Problem is that talent won’t count for much at the NFL level. Everybody is talented there. The key for Fleming will be whether he can make the critical jump from a technical standpoint that is often far too difficult for most.

That means route running, hand fighting, adjustments and setting up defensive backs. The beauty for Fleming is he’s walking into the perfect situation from an instructional standpoint. Wide receivers coach Mike Furrey knows all about the mindset of being an undrafted guy who had to work his way up the ladder. He did so during his own NFL career and had some success.

Not only that but several of the receivers the Bears have added this off-season excel at things where Fleming needs work. Allen Robinson and Anthony Miller are especially proficient at route running. If the kid is smart (and he is) he’ll be following them around from morning to night acting like a sponge for every bit of information he can get his hands on.

It will be a challenge for him to make the roster given its newfound depth, but this could be the perfect sort of 2-3 year project for Nagy to work on with promising long-term results. If nothing else, it’s a great story.

Dennis McKinnon Is a Huge Anthony Miller Fan for Surprising Reason

By
Erik Lambert
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dennis mckinnon

Dennis McKinnon is among the more revered wide receivers in Chicago Bears history. Not so much because he was prolific on the stat sheet. He topped 700 yards just once in his career. It was more his clutch playmaking skill and unselfishness that keeps him close to the hearts of fans to this day. Being a member of the vaunted 1985 Bears certainly doesn’t hurt either.

Since retiring McKinnon has kept close tabs on the team over the years, appearing as a special guest on local news channels to offer his thoughts. This year has to be of particular interest to him. Why? The Bears made arguably the largest infusion of wide receivers to their roster in recent memory via both free agency and the draft.

McKinnon, being a former receiver who had success in Chicago, would be a valuable opinion to get. While he’s excited about the additions made and where the Bears offense is pointed, he’s a particular fan of rookie second round pick Anthony Miller. His reason? Surprisingly it has nothing to do with catching the football.

Dennis McKinnon loves Miller’s embracing of the art of blocking

One of the unsung values of Miller as a player is that he’s not just about receptions and yards. He loves to block. That’s something rare for a wide receiver. Yet the tape shows he not only did it at Memphis but did it well. He explained his mindset in this regard as to why it’s such a big deal.

“If they don’t have that physical element, then you know that’s a chunk, a chunk of the game that they don’t have, you know what I mean? I feel like the game’s not all finesse, you know you’ve got to stick your nose in there sometimes.

“So you can’t be a pretty boy.”

Few men know this better than McKinnon. The Bears in the 1980s were a running football team. That meant the wide receivers were expected to do their part. McKinnon embraced this philosophy and was a key reason the team led the league in rushing for half the decade. It’s also why his favorite memory in Chicago wasn’t any of his big catches but a block.

He told John Mullin of NBC Sports Chicago that the de-cleater he had on New York Giants all-time linebacker Lawrence Taylor in 1986 remains his favorite memory. In fact, the Chicago Tribune noted that exact moment after the game, one that got Taylor so furious he tried to pick a fight with the entire Bears sideline.

“Fullback Matt Suhey was the first Bear to get under the skin of New York Giants` All-Pro linebacker Lawrence Taylor.

By the end of Sunday`s game, Taylor and Bears` coach Mike Ditka were exchanging unpleasantries.

“He wanted to fight everybody on the sidelines,“ Bears` tight end Emery Moorehead said of Taylor. “Too bad, because he`s really a great player.“

When Dennis McKinnon flattened Taylor with a legal crackback block in the final two minutes, Taylor lost whatever poise he had left and went after McKinnon with a cheap shot on the next play.”

It wasn’t easy to get under the skin of someone like Taylor. McKinnon had steadily chipped away at him over the course of the day. First it was with two big touchdown catches to give the Bears a commanding 21-0 lead. Then came the block as the final straw. McKinnon must have no doubt that Miller will end up having that same type of impact.

Bears fans can only hope.

Here Are The Top 5 GIFs Of Willson Contreras On His 26th Birthday

By
Gus
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PHOTO: BP WRIGLEYVILLE

There is not another hitter in the league right now who is hotter than Cubs catcher Willson Contreras. He’s racked up 25 total bases his last three games and his OPS has jumped over 200 points since Wednesday which is mind-boggling when you really think about it.

The future MVP also celebrates his 26th birthday today so as I do for some of my favorite Cubs, I’ll dig through a ton of GIFs and find the top five of Willson Contreras as a birthday present to the best goddamn catcher in the league.

5. 

No other GIF exemplifies the way Willson Contreras plays the game — hard. In a day and age where fans are forced to watch superstars not running out fly balls or dogging it to first, Willy turns a routine single into a hard earned double. Nice fielding, Padres.

4. 

It’d be hard for you to argue that there is a catcher who has a better arm than Contreras. Cubs fans have been blessed to watch Willy pick off runner after runner which is HIGHLY underrated and taken for granted by most fans. He’s made a name for himself throwing down to first if the opposing team’s base runner drifts too far off the bag and time and time again we see him send those base runners back to their respective dugout. Willy’s watching you.

3. When he does decide to unleash his cannon at 2nd however, this is his reaction.

2. 

In his short career, Contreras has delivered his fair share of clutch hits. He always seems to be at the plate during a big spot in a game and seemingly always delivers. Clutch moments are filled with a lot of emotion and there is no other player who loves to show emotion during big spots in the game than Contreras.

*drumroll please*

And the best Willson Contreras GIF on the World Wide Web is…………….

 

After hitting a triple against the Brewers in early April, Contreras glared into the Brewers dugout and unleashed a flurry of “fuck you’s” aimed at a player who played in Winter Ball at the same time Contreras did back in 2014. This GIF is a perfect blend of emotion and zero fucks given that make Contreras such a fun player to watch.

Happy birthday Willy!

Even Javier Baez Himself Can’t Describe How Awesome He Is

By
Gus
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Ask any Cubs fan who the most electric player on the team is this season and I’d be willing to bet my life savings you’d only hear one answer:

Javier Baez.

The 25-year-old super utility player has blessed Cubs fans with dazzling play after dazzling play for the past three years on the North side of Chicago and has undoubtedly been the biggest surprise thus far in 2018. He was robbed of the MLB Player of the Month in April after posting a ridiculous slash line of .303/.347/.685 while leading the NL in RBIs most of the month as well as out-slugging future Cub Bryce Harper the entire month.

Javy’s hot streak came at a perfect time as the rest of his Cubs teammates (outside of Mr. Consistency, Kris Bryant) struggled big time at the plate. Now that rest of the team have gotten their swagger back, Javy has come back down to Earth after a ridiculous month of April. His slash line numbers have all dropped and his presence in the field has been littered with eight uncharacteristic errors.

With that said, Baez is STILL the most electric player in the goddamn league and he could care less about a slight drop in his offensive numbers or a couple of miscues in the field.

“I’ve been making errors, but the next day, I’m out there taking ground balls and trying to get better.”

That attitude has led to Baez to emerge as yet another legitimate threat in an already loaded Cubs lineup. We can sit here and talk about OBP, OPS, wRC+ and all the other sabermetrics shit that people love to babble about but the fact of the matter is, Baez has the intangibles that sabermetrics can’t measure.

Early on during yesterday’s 8-4 victory over the Chicago White Sox, Baez pulled of yet another magical play. It wasn’t in the field or at the plate — it was on the base paths. Cubs fans have been spoiled watching Javy run the bases like a f*cking wizard and he’s even created a patented “swim move” slide that he’s showcased numerous times while on the base paths.

And he was at it yet again yesterday……

Baez has gotten so good at this “swim move” slide that even he doesn’t know how the hell to explain how awesome it is.

Joe Maddon also raved about Baez base running skills earlier in the season when he dropped one of the quotes of the year thus far in 2018. When referencing Javy’s base running skills, Maddon said,

“He’s got eyes in the back of his head, he’s going to make a great parent.”

One thing is for certain, if his parenting skills are anything like his baseball skills, Javy’s future child will be in good hands.

 

Anthony Miller Can Catch Well, But This Is What Makes Him Special

By
Erik Lambert
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Anthony Miller is a good football player. Notice how that sentence is structured. Not wide receiver. “Football player.” There’s a vital difference between the two phrases. Now, this is not to say the new Chicago Bears rookie isn’t a receiver first. The kid has loads of game in that department. He stacked up back-to-back years over 1,400 yards receiving at Memphis with 22 touchdowns in that span.

The kid was a machine. Yet being a good receiver is simple enough. Run the route, catch the ball. Get as many yards after the catch as you can. Next play. Being a good football player is about doing more than one thing well. It’s about embracing every responsibility beyond what your job title is. Going that extra mile to ensure the success of the team, not just yourself.

No, this doesn’t mean special teams as a return man. That’s an easy copout. For wide receivers, there is no more overlooked value to their position than blocking. People always think the biggest blocks are reserved for the offensive line or the tight ends. Sure the majority of times this is true but some of the biggest runs every year in the NFL or college doesn’t happen without a wide receiver taking a defender out of the play down the field.

A lot of them refuse to embrace this style of player. Miller is not one of them. Here are just a few examples of the complete player the Bears just drafted.

Block #1 vs. East Carolina

Didn’t quite get it? Miller is at the bottom of the screen. Here is a zoomed in view to help identify exactly what he did.

He comes off the snap immediately looking for a block. He quickly and wisely identifies the safety as his primary assignment and does a great job of getting the inside position to drive the defender in the direction away from where the ball is going. With additional good blocks from the offensive line, the running back walks into the end zone from 15 yards out completely untouched. A ton of that was because Miller erased the safety from the play.

Block #2 vs. Southern Illinois

What’s great about this play is it’s at the end of a long drive. The offense just came off a penalty that negated a touchdown. They needed to punch it in to secure the victory. Miller, like the dog he is, made sure not to let the previous play affect this one.

Miller is lined up in the slot here. The first thing that jumps out is how fast he gets off the snap. The quarterback hasn’t even made his turn to hand off before he throws his body into the block. This causes a delay in the linebacker reacting to the play. Had Miller not impeded him it’s likely he fills the lane and prevents the touchdown. Instead, the back once again goes in untouched thanks to a timely and well-executed block.

The common saying in football is the difference between an 8-yard run and an 80-yard run is whether the receivers do their jobs as blockers. Not all of them embrace this philosophy. They’re focused more on getting their catches so they can look good for the cameras and fill up those stat sheets. Miller has shown many times that those things don’t always win football games.

Walter Payton was the same way. People remember his running but they so often forget how good of a blocker he was.

There’s no doubt that Payton would be a huge fan of Miller from the outset. He’d see plenty of himself in the young receiver. Not the biggest, strong, or fastest for sure but talented enough mixed with a tireless work ethic and gladiator mentality on the field. That will to do whatever it takes to win. This is why Bears fans should be thrilled the Bears traded up to get this kid.

Former Linemen Are Warning Bears Players About Harry Hiestand

By
Erik Lambert
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harry hiestand

Of all the new coaches the Chicago Bears added since January, none came with more of a glowing reputation than Harry Hiestand. The new offensive line coach just finished one of the most prolific runs for a college assistant coach in recent memory. With the recent additions of Quenton Nelson and Mike McGlinchey, Hiestand produced four first round picks in the NFL draft dating back to 2014 out of Notre Dame.

This doesn’t include two others who were second and third rounders respectively. Suffice to say Hiestand appears to be good at his job. Then again the Bears knew that already. He was their offensive line coach during their peak years in 2005 and 2006 under Lovie Smith. In those days they ran the ball so well and actually protected the quarterback too.

People are itching with excitement to see what he can do with this current crop of young talent they’ve assembled. The thing is some are warning that the poor blockers have no idea what’s coming. Hiestand didn’t get to be as good as he is by accident. His reputation was earned and earned the hard way.

Former Harry Hiestand pupils warning of coming trials

Hiestand has coached a lot of good linemen in his time. Most have nothing but respect for him. In fact, some seem to take a personal delight in naive view many have before entering his sphere of influence. That was on display recently. A photo of rookie Bears offensive linemen appeared on Twitter.

It was at this point that Mike Golic Jr., who played for him at Notre Dame, couldn’t help but comment.

It seems he’s not the only one with a small measure of Hiestand PTSD. Former Irish teammate Ronnie Stanley, current left tackle of the Baltimore Ravens, reinforced the ominous feel with a comment of his own.

Is it really that bad? Well, a coach doesn’t get to be one of the best by being a pushover. In truth, the reason Hiestand may not be well-liked by some he’s coached in the past is he’s a perfectionist. Rookie second round pick James Daniels, a top lineman from Iowa, got his first take of him at minicamps. He explained what sets the coach apart from others.

“He’s very detail-oriented when he’s coaching stuff, and I really appreciate that,” Daniels said. “When we were doing drills and individual, he actually takes the time to talk about each individual drill and why hold your hands this certain way or why your feet are this way. I really appreciate with how detailed he was in every single drill we did.”

Many coaches don’t do this. They simply shout instructions at players to do it a certain way and remove them if they fail. Hiestand is a teacher. His job isn’t just to instruct but to help understand. Students perform better when they not only understand the “what” but also the “why” of doing something.

This sort of process is not easy, and that’s why some don’t like it. If being great were easy, then everybody would do it. That’s why Hiestand produces such quality talent. He coaches with greatness in mind and expects nothing less.

This Is The All-In Trade The Bears Must Consider Pursuing

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears

Chicago Bears GM Ryan Pace has been bombarded by trade rumors from left, right and center over the past few months. That’s normal this time of year. Still, it’s fair to wonder if at some point soon he’s going to make “that” trade. Many GMs encounter this moment. Their team foundation is rebuilt. The roster is young, talented and eager to start winning. It feels like maybe one more good push could put them over the top.

Often their solution is a bold trade for a marquee player. One who might come with some risk but if he pans out turns a good roster into a great one. What the Los Angeles Rams did this past off-season by dealing a second round choice for cornerback Marcus Peters is a perfect example. He comes with character concerns but he’s also the best ball-hawking cornerback in football. It’s a coup if they can keep him under control.

Those sort of moves are gambles but have shown to work in a huge way in years past. A shining example to this day is the Dallas Cowboys’ acquisition of defensive end Charles Haley in 1992. Could the Bears take a page out of that playbook by targeting another defensive end making his name in Texas?

Chicago Bears must monitor the J.J. Watt situation in Houston

At first glance, anybody with common sense would say there’s no way in hell the Houston Texans would trade star defensive end J.J. Watt. He’s the face of their franchise. Except this is the NFL. Things change quickly and many Houston fans believe Watt, however beloved, may be nearing his end in Houston.

There are a number of reasons for this. Watt just turned 29-years old. Everybody knows what happens as players near 30. They tend to lose steam. Adding to this is the fact that Watt has only played eight games the past two years due to back and leg injuries. Last but not least is money.

Watt commands $15 million per year on the salary cap under his current contract. Houston is getting ready to pay big money to fellow defensive end, Jadeveon Clowney. Not only that, but they need to start putting money aside for the future extension of quarterback Desean Watson. Removing Watt from the equation would give them plenty of flexibility to handle those two and still have the cash to spend elsewhere.

Jeff Risdon of Texans Wire accepts the reality but is highly resistant to it.

“His injuries, his decline in performance when healthy in 2017, his $100 million contract and the team’s relative depth at his position lead some to conclude the Texans would be better off without the four-time first-team All-Pro defensive end.

It’s a notion that has gained traction in social media conversations and on sports talk radio. And while the sentiment is understandable and the concept worth at least discussing, it simply cannot happen. Trading Watt is both an irrational and nearly impossible idea for a variety of reasons.”

It’s important to remember that Houston didn’t have first or second round picks in 2018. They undoubtedly must be thinking about ways to make up for this. The NFL is all about the future. Trading Watt, however painful given what he’s accomplished in Houston, might be a necessary evil. The sad reality of the cold business this league is.

That just leaves the big question. If Watt were to become available, what would it cost the Bears? Given his reputation, there is still a chance he can recover his dominant form at least for another couple of years. Still, the injury and heavy contract factors actually would work in their favor. Odds are the Texans would seek a first rounder if possible.

That would be a steep price, especially considering the Bears already gave up their second rounder next year in the Anthony Miller deal. That said it’s possible a third round pick and future mid rounder could do the job if the timing is right. Everything depends on how the Texans view his situation. Something Chicago must monitor carefully in the coming months.

Adding Watt to that front with Leonard Floyd, Akiem Hicks and Eddie Goldman could push a good defense into the realm of elites.

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