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Vic Fangio Has Quite a History Against Drew Brees and Saints

By
Erik Lambert
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vic fangio

Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is among the most experienced in the NFL today. He’s been running defenses in the league for over 20 years, often with tons of success. So it shouldn’t be a surprise he’s got the Bears playing as well as they are the past two weeks. In fact many see them as the best young defense in the league thanks to a powerhouse front seven and emerging secondary.

Of course thus far they’ve failed a good portion of their tests against top quarterbacks. Matt Ryan burned them for a decisive 83-yard touchdown in the opener. Jameis Winston picked them apart a week later. Aaron Rodgers had another of his vintage statfests at their expense. Thus the nationwide praise of the Bears remains somewhat reserved.

No doubt all eyes will be on the Superdome when Fangio goes against Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints. As it turns out the two sides have a bit of a history with each other. One that may help project what happens when Chicago tries to get their fourth win of the year.

Vic Fangio defensive history against Drew Brees and the Saints

Below is a breakdown of how the Fangio defense has played against Brees since he’s been in New Orleans. Included are the follow key stats:  passing yards allowed, interceptions attained and final score.

vs. Saints (January 14th, 2012)
  • 462 yards passing allowed
  • 2 interceptions gained
  • W 36-32
at Saints (November 25th, 2012)
  • 267 yards passing allowed
  • 2 interceptions gained
  • W 31-21
at Saints (November 17th, 2013)
  • 305 yards passing allowed
  • 1 interception gained
  • L 23-20
at Saints (November 9th, 2014)
  • 292 yards passing allowed
  • 2 interceptions gained
  • W 27-24

A few things to take away from the information presented. Per usual it’s beyond difficult to hold down Brees in the yardage department. The lower Fangio managed was 267 though the average is 331.5. At the same time Brees hardly is able to do it without paying a price. In four games Fangio’s units have intercepted the future Hall of Famer seven times. Three of those games involved two apiece. All three games were victories.

Last but certainly not least? The Saints averaged a total of 25 points per game against the Fangio defense with the lowest being 21. This paints a clear picture. If the Bears want to win on Sunday they’re going to have to score 22 at least. So unless the defense is prepared to house it three times, this means Mitch Trubisky and the offense will have to do their part.

Mitch Trubisky Made an Awesome Pact with Ex-Teammates After Draft

By
Erik Lambert
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mitch trubisky

People are still trying to find a window into who Chicago Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky is. They want to know why this 23-year old kid already has his teammates believing in him and his coaching saying he’s “special.” This despite putting up some rather average numbers through his first three games. The truth is a huge part of being a great quarterback is being a great teammate.

People accused Jay Cutler of not being that to some during his time in Chicago. He’d treat certain guys like buddies and other guys like “idiots.” That may be considered fine on the playground. In an NFL locker room it doesn’t quite fly. When the quarterback accepts a divide between players, everyone else will at some point too and that’s what happened.

Trubisky seems to have a knack for connecting with everybody. He’s a leader but also knows how to be one of the boys. That’s a difficult divide to cross. Perhaps nothing helps illustrate this than touching story that recently came out about a pact he made with two of his teammates following the NFL draft in April.

Mitch Trubisky stays connected to old brothers through the jersey

In 2016 the North Carolina offense was red hot. Trubisky was of course the man pulling the trigger, but he got a lot of help from two overlooked receivers in Ryan Switzer and Mack Hollins. The three formed a tight bond during their time in school together. So much in fact that they made a promise to each other once they got to the NFL. They would all wear the exact same jersey number.

What makes this story so fascinating is that it’s so unique. Never in modern NFL history has there been one like it. A top five drafted quarterback who was so tight with his receivers that they all made sure to claim the same jersey number? Not only is that adorable almost to the disgusting level, but it also paints a clear picture of Trubisky the person.

He’s a confident guy who wants to win, sure. At the same time he’s a selfless team player who will do right by his boys whenever given the chance. That has proven out in the locker room with things like helping Josh Sitton remove his shoulder pads or throwing just seven passes in a game. It’s easy to see why people are drawn to him so much.

It’s Scary How Close Ryan Pace Built the Bears in the Saints Image

By
Erik Lambert
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ryan pace

The Chicago Bears at New Orleans Saints matchup figures to be one of the more intriguing this season. It’s two teams that are playing some of their best football right now. On the surface it looks like a game between polar opposites. The high-flying offensive juggernaut Saints against the rough, tough and suffocating defensive Bears. As it turns out though these two franchise have become more alike than fans realize. The connections certainly run deep. Bears GM Ryan Pace was a scout and personnel director for the Saints from 2000 through 2014.

He had a front row seat for their ascent from bottom dweller to cream of the NFL crop. Since leaving to take over in Chicago he’s applied so much of what he learned towards rebuilding the Bears.In fact fans may not realize how close he has stuck to the model. So close in fact that the two teams can almost be considered mirrors of each other. Here’s a breakdown of those similarities.

The “Smash and Dash” backfield

New Orleans has several editions of this running back pairing in their history over the past decade. The first incarnation was Deuce McCallister and Reggie Bush. McCallister was the power runner while Bush was a freaky athletic multi-tool who created mismatches. Then it became Mark Ingram and Darren Sproles who were arguably even more dynamic.

Jordan Howard is much like McCallister and Ingram. He won’t win many foot races but his mix of power, toughness and good vision make him an effective workhorse. Tarik Cohen is like Bush and Sproles. He was never meant to handle a full load but in proper doses can be an absolute nightmare to defend because of his speed and versatility.

The pass catching tight end

It’s not like the Saints invented the position but being a pass-first offense meant they were bound to utilize the tight end. Most remember the dominant era of Jimmy Graham but they also had a more than serviceable run from veteran Jeremy Shockey during their Super Bowl push. Zach Miller is closer to his level at this point. He may not be the focal point of the offense but he’s good for two or three meaningful catches every week and is a key presence as a locker room leader.

The star-studded interior offensive line

Common NFL practice says it’s best to have the offensive line talent concentrated at the tackle positions to slow down those dominant edge rushers. However, the Saints operate in a different way. They believe having a stacked interior trio at guard and center is the best way to ensure a stable pocket for the quarterback.

It’s hard to argue with the results. Drew Brees has set records with them employing this philosophy. The trio of Carl Nicks, Jonathan Goodwin and Jahri Evans helped him win the Super Bowl and throw for his first 5,000-yard season. Chicago has an effective threesome of their own with Josh Sitton, Cody Whitehair and Kyle Long. Sitton and Long are Pro Bowlers while Whitehair is considered one of the best young centers in the league.

The dominant defensive end

The irony here is the Saints could’ve had Akiem Hicks but instead chose to trade him away to New England. This enabled the Bears to scoop him up when he became a free agent last year. If New Orleans had recalled their own history they would’ve seen that Hicks mirrored many of the qualities of the late, great Will Smith. Both are all-around defensive linemen who mix size, power and aggressiveness to wreak havoc on an offensive line.

The criminally underrated inside linebacker

It’s such a shame that enough people don’t remember Jonathan Vilma. The guy was a three-time Pro Bowler, for starters. He was the leader of the New York Jets defense for four season, during which time the unit was one of the better in the league. Then he got hurt in 2007 and was unceremoniously traded to New Orleans. His addition to their defense proved to arguably be the biggest key to their defense become good enough to win the Super Bowl a year later.

His leadership, intelligence and instinct went along well with his tackling prowess and athleticism. This sort of story must sound so familiar to Danny Trevathan. He too was an unheralded playmaker in Denver who wasn’t re-signed after becoming a free agent despite helping them win the Super Bowl. He has since landed softy in Chicago and become their leader in the middle.

The ball-hawking free safety

Of course any mention of the name Darren Sharper these days leads to lots of cringing. The man is currently serving 20 years in prison for the rape of multiple woman during his NFL career. Something the league would no doubt prefer stayed buried. The Saints are included in that even though it could be said their championship run in 2009 would not have happened without him.

Sharper was the final piece to their defensive puzzle that year. He became the secondary captain at safety, providing leadership but most importantly a keen eye for the football. That season alone he had nine interceptions and returned three for touchdowns. Rookie Eddie Jackson mirrors his game in a lot of ways for Chicago. He’s fast, instinctive and just knows how to get his hands on the ball. His two scores against Carolina prove that much.

The wild card:  Mitch Trubisky

Of course everybody knows that the focal point of Saints success for over the past decade has been quarterback Drew Brees. He’ll be in the Hall of Fame five years after he retires. Pace admitted on more than one occasion that he was the benchmark used when searching for the next Bears starting quarterback. Many within the organization feel they’ve found him in the guise of Mitch Trubisky.

The two do share a lot in common. Both came from traditionally non-power programs. Brees out of Purdue and Trubisky from North Carolina. They were looked upon with general suspicion in the draft. Brees was too short. Trubisky was too inexperienced. Both were known for outstanding leadership and passing accuracy.

A lot of people are skeptical that Trubisky can reach similar levels of success that Brees has enjoyed. Those people so easily forget Brees didn’t exactly have the most electric start to his career. He played just one game as a rookie in 2001. Over the next two years he threw 28 touchdowns and 31 interceptions. He had a 59.2 completion percentage and a 72.2 quarterback rating. It wasn’t until his fourth year that things clicked. From then on he was a star.

It’s worth noting that around that time was when the Chargers had finally started putting quality weapons around him. In 2003 Antonio Gates arrived as a rookie free agent and veteran receiver Keenan McCardell came in a year later. Proof if nothing else that the Bears won’t know who they have in Trubisky until they surround him with weapons. One thing is for sure. From a mental and physical makeup, the tools are almost identical.

Cameras Missed What Anthony Barr Did After Ending Aaron Rodgers’ Season

By
Erik Lambert
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aaron rodgers

By now Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr has gained two kinds of stardom. He’s a Pro Bowler on one of the top defenses in the NFL, and like Shea McClellin he has the honor of breaking the collarbone of Aaron Rodgers. It appears the two-time MVP is done for the season and for those who saw what happened they know he wasn’t happy about it.

Most remember the sequence. Rodgers left the pocket out to his right. Barr gave chase and right after the QB released a pass tackled him to the ground. Barr landed with all his weight on the upper half of Rodgers body and Rodgers landed on his right shoulder. That was the same exact way he’d suffered his collar bone injury four years ago against the Bears.

Rodgers knew he was hurt immediately and began walking off to the sideline. However, shortly before reaching it he was seen turning back and yelling at Barr. People thought he was just upset he got away with a dirty play. Turns Rodgers may have had a reason to be hot.

Aaron Rodgers tells Conan that Barr gave two ugly gestures after injury

Arm in a sling, the Packers quarterback appeared on the Conan O’Brien show to talk about his love for gaming. Of course Conan couldn’t start that without first discussing the injury and what happened. Rodgers was surprisingly open about it. Not only did he reveal how it happened, but also what Barr did afterwards.

That is quite literally the definition of adding insult to injury. Not the most sportsmanlike move by Barr either. Perhaps another reason on a long list to hate the Vikings. One can understand Rodgers being upset. He had to feel like Barr was kicking him while he was down. In the end though Minnesota has gotten the last laugh. Rodgers is likely done for the year, the Vikings won the game and lead the division.

I Think Wade Boggs Just Broke Big Cubs News

By
Aldo Soto
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Mar 18, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon (L) and bench coach Dave Martinez (4) look on before the game against the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

So ever since the Chicago Cubs were eliminated from the postseason Joe Maddon has revamped his coaching staff and he might not be done making changes if Wade Boggs is right. Yes, the same 100 beers a day Wade Boggs, the Hall of Famer Wade Boggs, might have just broken some news on Twitter.

By now we know that the Washington Nationals are considering Cubs bench coach Dave Martinez to be their new manager and on Friday Boggs congratulated his former teammate for getting the gig.

Before that, we knew Martinez was interviewing for the Nationals job and was considered the favorite, as ex-Boston Red Sox skipper John Farrell is also a candidate.

Earlier in the week, Maddon talked with the media and said he hoped Martinez would get the Nationals job.

Martinez has been Maddon’s bench coach for the previous three seasons in Chicago and with the Tampa Bay Rays too, 2008-14.

The Cubs have already made changes at several coaching positions, as the team will have a new assistant hitting coach, hitting coach, pitching coach and third base coach. If Martinez finally gets his shot to be a manager, Maddon will have another coach to replace.

A candidate could be the previously mentioned John Farrell.

The signing of Jim Hickey as the Cubs new pitching coach should be made official after the World Series. Chili Davis has already been signed to be the new hitting coach.

Meanwhile, former Cubs pitching coach Chris Bosio has been hired by the Detroit Tigers.

It’ll be interesting to see how the new voices mesh with the players, but it’s clear that Maddon is getting his guys. However, it looks like one of them is leaving in Dave Martinez.

This Jason Heyward Trade Rumor Is Amazing And I Hope It Comes True

By
Aldo Soto
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Let me begin by saying that as always these are rumors. We are NOT stating that this WILL happen, we’re only relaying to you the reader what’s being thrown out there by people who have built up credibility. These are not my sources, you can go to their Twitter accounts and complain if you wish. I have to say this because apparently some of you can’t comprehend what we do around here.

Anyway, let’s get to this juicy Jason Heyward trade rumor.

As we know, the Chicago Cubs signed Heyward to a huge contract, 8 years worth $184 million. That includes a couple opt out and opt in clauses and a full no-trade clause for the first three years of his contract. So, obviously that includes the 2018 season. Lots of money and despite remaining the best defensive right fielder in baseball we can all agree that Heyward hasn’t played up to his expectations with the Cubs.

The Cubs also have a few big holes to fill this offseason, as Jake Arrieta, John Lackey and Wade Davis are all free agents and Theo Epstein has discussed how the team would be exploring trading MLB talent to address the club’s deficiencies. Everyone immediately thought of Kyle Schwarber, Ian Happ, Javier Baez and Addison Russell, but ESPN 1000’s David Kaplan threw out that it’s Heyward who will be dangled as trade bait in the offseason.

Kaplan specifically discussed the San Francisco Giants as a team that could be willing to take on Heyward’s contract, while trading away a few of their big contracts the other way. The Giants were 64-98 in 2017, and are rebuilding, so Kaplan mentioned starting pitcher Jeff Samardzija and closer Mark Melancon as two viable options to be traded to the Cubs.

Kaplan also brought up Giancarlo Stanton as a possible trade candidate, but here’s why this is focusing on the Giants.

A few hours later, White Sox Dave, who has broken several MLB stories before including the Jose Quintana trade, tweeted this out.

I don’t care what you think about Dave, we’re here to talk about how every Cubs fan should hope this becomes true.

Love Jason Heyward. Great defense, great teammate, great speech, but let’s get this trade done. One, the Cubs get Jeff Samardzija who immediately comes into the rotation as the number four starter. Plus, the Cubs then don’t have to worry about over spending in free agency for two starting pitchers. Second, the Cubs make the bullpen better by getting Mark Melancon. Forearm injury is a concern, but it’s a risk you’d be more than willing to take as insurance if Wade Davis isn’t re-signed.

HOWEVER!

This is the perfect trade for the Cubs not because they get two guys to plug into the rotation and bullpen, but because then guess what position is left wide open? Right field. Who plays right field?

It all sets up to then open up the checkbook for Bryce Harper next offseason when he becomes a free agent.

But hey dumbass, you might be saying right now, why would the Giants do this trade and how realistic is it anyway?

Well, I wish I had a better answer because it really makes no sense for the Giants to take on Heyward’s deal unless the Cubs cover a lot of the money and even then it’s still a little tricky. For starters, Heyward has that no-trade clause, so the Cubs can’t just ship him off. He has to want to go. Not only that, but Melancon also has a full no-trade and Samardzija can block a trade to eight teams, although I don’t know what eight teams those are.

Samardzija has four years left on his contract, worth $79.2 million. Melancon signed a four-year deal worth $62 million. So, he still has three years remaining on his contract.

I don’t think there would be any issue with Samardzija and Melancon wanting to leave the Giants, but Heyward, that’s going to be tough. No matter what, Heyward’s going to make his money, so who knows, maybe he’ll believe he can be better with the Giants? Though again, why would you want to leave the Cubs, who are still in their prime window to compete for championships.

So, with all that taken into consideration, I don’t doubt that the Cubs are trying to find a way to trade Heyward and that possibly with the Giants is great for the Cubs, but I just can’t see it happening. Think whatever you want about Kaplan and White Sox Dave, but they’ve been plugged in and have been spot on before. Are talks happening? I believe it. Will Heyward actually get traded? Doubt it.

That doesn’t mean I hope it doesn’t happen because again Bryce Harper to the Cubs becomes a lot more realistic. And really that’s what all Cubs fans should be rooting for here.

By the way, lots of people mad that the Cubs would get Jeff Samardzija. He had a 3.8 fWAR in 2017 with the crappy Giants. The only Cubs pitcher that was better was Jose Quintana at 3.9 fWAR.

Also, Theo Epstein wanted to sign him in free agency a few years ago, so no, there’s no bad blood between the two sides.

Former Super Bowl Champion Exec Sees Bears In the Playoffs

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears
Credit: USA Today

Gil Brandt is a legend inside the football business. He started his career as an executive back in 1955. He’s seen the game grow by leaps and bounds since then, enjoying a great run of individual success. In that time he was one of the principal architects of the great Dallas Cowboys teams in the late 1960s through the 1970s. His two Super Bowl rings are a testament to his exploits. Since leaving the front office in 1989 he’s been a senior analyst for the league. So imagine hearing the idea of a Chicago Bears playoff run coming from him.

Brandt decided to comb through the NFL looking for what he considers the “scariest” good and bad units. Among the good were the Chiefs receiving corps and the Rams offensive line. However his top spot was reserved for none other than the Bears defensive front seven. He believes GM Ryan Pace and head coach John Fox have assembled a talented and dynamic group. One that is emerging as arguably the best in the league.

Their 21 sacks rank fourth overall and they’re also 11th against the run. It’s a young, hungry and aggressive group. One that Brandt thinks can carry the team far this year. All the way into January even.

Brandt sees Chicago Bears playoff trip happening sooner than later

“John Fox wins everywhere he goes, and I can see this defensive front pushing Chicago to the postseason. I don’t know if the unit is good enough to ensure a victory once the Bears get there — you still need strong quarterback play to succeed in the playoffs, and that’s a question mark with rookie Mitchell Trubisky under center — but Floyd and Co. have this team ahead of schedule. One thing is certain: You don’t want to look up on offense and see these guys lined up across from you.”

The Bears have navigated the fifth toughest schedule in the NFL to this point through seven games. Most predicted they might get two wins if they were lucky. They already have three with a chance to reach the bye week at .500 with a victory in New Orleans. After that the schedule appears to lighten up. Five of their final eight games will be against opponents who are averaging 20 points or fewer on offense.

This could mean a big second half of the season for the Bears defense. That isn’t including a Green Bay Packers team that won’t have Aaron Rodgers available. If they continue to run the football well and get even halfway decent play from Trubisky, this team may begin their window of playoff contention far sooner than expected.

Blackhawks In Need Of Central Win Versus Rival Nashville

By
Andy Campbell
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With a recent flat outing, it’ll be interesting to see which Hawks team will show up on Friday night in a key central match-up vs. the Nashville Predators. We’re certainly not at a crossroads of the season, and truthfully, the Blackhawks haven’t really established an identity yet. It’s too early for that.

Where this game is critical is the Hawks need to start playing well in the Central if they want to lead the pack as they did last season. Last year saw the Hawks finished with a 26-8-2 record against central foes, yet this year they have yet to have a signature win in the division. An uninspired, 5-2 loss vs. the Wild, followed by a point sharing 2-1 OT win vs. the Preds, and last Wednesday night, the familiar sight of watching the Blues physically push the Hawks around like a pee wee team, is the sample size thus far. To claim Friday night’s tilt as a must win is pushing it as we haven’t gotten to November yet, but if there was ever a chance for the Hawks to make a statement for remaining in the NHL’s elite, it’s Friday.

But this begs the bigger question about the Hawks. Are they elite anymore? The Hawks are a talented team with a few generational players. Certain player resumes are solidified and Kane, Toews and Keith will no doubt have plaques in the Hall of Fame. While I’m not ready yet to be nostalgic about the glory days yet, there has been a departure from the teams we saw earlier in the decade. Yes, those ones who won the last game of their season on three occasions.

Time To Shuffle Up The Deck

The old Blackhawks recipe of outskating teams is somewhat defunct as the teams they’re facing are younger, faster opponents, and some, quite frankly carry a sandpaper element that the Hawks still don’t have. As seen against the Golden Knights, the Hawks stayed on the outside most of the night, didn’t get to the paint and weren’t winning pucks.

Perhaps it’s time for Q to reshuffle the deck and try different line combos and he’s been know to do that frequently. While nobody wants to split up Toews and Saad, the second line still seems like they’re missing a component if players are going to keep taking liberties with Schmaltz and Kane. So, either Hartman takes on all comers to the stick-work handed out to 8 and 88 after the whistles or finding a way to split that group up could make sense. In fairness to the Anisimov line, they weren’t wretched the other night in Vegas, but for a third line, that group is miscast.

The honeymoon phase is over for Alex DeBrincat and though he will be a good NHL player, it’s hard to imagine him not seeing time in Rockford at some point this season. More than likely, with his size and tool set, a third line role is not his future. Sharp is clearly showing his age and life for Anisimov without Kane on his flank doesn’t look like much fun for him. In fact, his $4.5 million cap hit through 2021 is starting to look like a major issue. A third line in hockey is expected to contribute secondary scoring from time to time, but more importantly, is supposed to have an element of toughness, relentless forechecking and be responsible defensively. Basically, keep the puck out of your own net and make life hell for the opposition. So, when you say “Line 3” and the names Sharp, Anisimov and DeBrincat are included, you don’t need me to throw out the stat that they are a combined -9 thus far to recognize a problem.

So, whether Rockford is involved or a player is added later via trade at some point, don’t expect that mix to continue.

According to the Blackhawks, DeBrincat will join Brandon Saad and Jonathan Toews on the top line, as Richard Panik moves to the second line to join Nick Schmaltz and Patrick Kane, while John Hayden moves up to the third line, and Ryan Hartman drops down to the fourth line.

On the blue line it’s anyone guess for now and unfortunately with Keith, a declining Seabrook and kind of “bunch of guys” back there, we’ll see how it plays out. After being scratched for two games, I would expect Michal Kempny back in the line-up and he’ll bring some speed. Connor Murphy (the player in return for the beloved Niklas Hjalmarsson), still not ready to go there yet as it’s early and nobody has seemed to notice him that much. And not noticing a defenseman isn’t necessarily a bad thing either, but the jury’s out for now.

Statement Game

As I said, it’s hardly a crossroads this early on and it’s certainly not all doom and gloom. It’s a good team; can they be a great team? With their current mix, it’s hard to tell, but smart money says they need to address a few things and if they do have a shot to go deep into the playoffs there may need be a different look at some point.

So, will Friday bring a rejuvenated effort and a convincing win? One would hope, but the real question is, can the Hawks be that fearsome opponent every night? Truthfully, it’s hard to see that right now, and perhaps expectations should be below the standard set by the Hawks cup-winning teams. But that’s the bar now and anything less should be unacceptable. Perhaps that’s unrealistic to expect, but if Stan Bowman is going to take the podium at the end of a shocking first round sweep and say it himself, then all fans should expect nothing less.

Insider Calls For the Bears To Double Down at Wide Receiver

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears wide receiver

GM Ryan Pace knew the status quo wasn’t going to work for the Chicago Bears wide receiver position much longer. There was no way the team could survive another nine games playing well only on defense and the running game. If they were going to make the most of their recent surge to 3-4, they have to find a way to open up the passing game. That’s why they chose to deal a seventh round pick for veteran Dontrelle Inman.

The 28-year old is an instant upgrade over what they have at present. He posted 810 yards and four touchdowns in 2016. Unfortunately a loaded depth chart and new coaching staff combined to see his playing time erased this year. Sensing an opportunity, Pace got him on the cheap to come into a situation where he’s guaranteed to get action.

Together with Kendall Wright that at least gives the Bears a little more credibility. However, could this be the only move they make? The trade deadline is still five days away on October 31st. That could be enough time for Pace to make another move, and one top NFL insider is calling out one name as a possibility.

Adam Schefter can see Martavis Bryant as Chicago Bears wide receiver

It’s always interesting whenever longtime insider Adam Schefter proposes certain ideas, given how well-informed he is. That’s why the first of his list of possible deadline trades was so interesting. He believes the window remains open for the Bears to make a move, this time for a certain disgruntled receiver in Pittsburgh.

“The Bears add needed help at wide receiver, and the Steelers dump a headache, as Bryant continues to issue demands. Bryant can only hope Mitch Trubisky throws it a bit more than the seven (!) times he did last week, as the Bears beat the Panthers.”

Schefter has the Bears surrendering a fifth round pick in such a deal. It’s a fascinating idea. Bryant is not happy with the Steelers and their unwillingness to get him the football more. Thus far the team has remained adamant they have no intention of trading the 25-year old. Whether that’s true or they’re just not showing their hand to the rest of the league is unknown.

It’s clear though that Bryant wants out. He wants to join a team that will use him, just like Inman. If the Bears were to deal for him, that would suddenly give Trubisky a trio of Bryant, Inman and Wright going into the second half of the season. Far better than what they had just over 24 hours ago.

It would also leave the Bears with only five picks in the 2018 draft. That means Pace might have to get creative to refill the coffers.

Dontrelle Inman Slipped a Jordan Quote into First Bears Interview

By
Erik Lambert
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dontrelle inman

Mitch Trubisky is going to like Dontrelle Inman. Not just because the guy is a solid wide receiver, something the Chicago Bears are desperately short of. He’s also a clever little devil who knows how to stroke the fans the right way. Trubisky endeared himself to the Bears and the city a few months ago when he made a dinner reservation under the pseudonym of “James McMahon.”

It seems Inman is also an aficionado of Chicago sports history. The difference is he aimed a little bit higher in his name drop when he met Bears media for the first time. Things started out simple enough. Inman talked what he could add to the wide receiver room and how he could help using his experience and leadership.

It was when he was asked to elaborate that things took a turn down nostalgia lane when Inman quoted the greatest Chicago sports icon of all-time. (start video at 1:16)

Inman channels Jordan when talking about intensity

Well go big or go home as the saying goes. There are certainly worse athletes in history to model your approach after. Quoting Jordan to the Chicago media is almost guaranteed to gain him instant brownie points with fans. At the same time the quote he chose is an interesting one. He talks about leadership but also a need to bring intensity to his job, along with the expectation that his teammates should do the same.

Last year when injuries thrust him into the starting lineup, Inman applied that approach with career-best results. He went for 810 yards. Despite the Chargers being down two of their best receivers, Philip Rivers managed to reach his sixth Pro Bowl. That’s the kind of help Inman can bring. Sure the Bears are still thin on talent but he brings both his ability on the field and knack for getting teammates to play better.

Just like Jordan did.

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