Since Marian Hossa’s health condition was announced in June there have been rumors about the NHL “investigating” the situation. It should come as no surprise to hockey fans that the NHL is up to no good and is now looking to get an independent physical examination. If the league finds something in their favor it could stop the Blackhawks from using the LTIR and receiving salary cap relief.
The Athletic’s James Mirtle stated in article yesterday, “This isn’t the first time this has happened. One source called these medical reviews “common,” although it’s unclear what exactly that means. (Other sources disputed that these medical reviews happen regularly.) What’s interesting is that two are happening at the same time this year: One with Lupul and another with Marian Hossa in Chicago. With Hossa’s case, a lot of other teams complained the Blackhawks were getting cap relief.”
The same source told Mirtle “Essentially it’s a safeguard in the CBA to make sure long-term injured reserve is not abused by the clubs.”
What a load of crap. Hossa has a real condition that has limited him from practice and games for seasons now. The Blackhawks most likely have piles of files from multiple physicians. This isn’t an abuse of the LTIR.
There weren’t any investigations against Chris Pronger being on LTIR for almost five years while simultaneously having jobs with the NHL and other teams. I’m not downplaying Pronger’s injury symptoms but I’m accentuating the league’s ability to turn a blind eye, except in the situation of the Blackhawks.
If they somehow find that Hossa doesn’t qualify to be put on the LTIR, it would be the second time they’ve changed or altered rules to hurt the Blackhawks salary cap and it involved Hossa.
Hossa signed a front-loaded contract in 2009 that saw his salary decrease every few years over the 12 years. At the time this was an acceptable practice and the cap hit was only what that player would make in that individual season.
During the 2012-13 lockout this was a subject of debate and Hossa’s name was frequently tossed around with Pronger as examples. Well, that lockout ended and a new CBA was signed, with the elimination of front-loaded contracts.
By the old rules, Hossa would only have a $1 million cap hit this season. Thanks to the new CBA rules, Hossa carries a $5.275 cap hit now.
It’s crazy how the NHL and some teams want to the keep the Blackhawks down. Everyone is benefiting when they’re winning and making money thanks to the CBA. The league has no problem using them for countless nationally televised games and more specifically, outdoor games.
The CBA is kind of like The Constitution in the fact that everyone only uses the parts that benefit them, while dismissing other portions. Teams that don’t make or spend any money complain about the Blackhawks “abusing” the LTIR but have no problems cashing checks from them as a result of the CBA.
Follow @Pappy_Hour on Twitter for more Blackhawks news and musings.
When will the Chicago Bears start Mitch Trubisky? This is the overarching question that is the subject of every radio show, chat room and local city bar. Mike Glennon has floundered through two weeks in the starting job for the team. He failed to bring them back against the Falcons. Then he threw the game away against the Buccaneers with three bad turnovers. Fans have already seen enough.
Everything about Glennon’s game just isn’t working. His accuracy is erratic. His decision-making is puzzling at times. The inability to go for quick strikes down the field is also taking away what the Bears do best and that’s run the ball. Defenses are stacking the box with eight and even nine-man fronts. They have zero fear of Glennon trying to go deep because he doesn’t.
John Fox insisted that it’s impossible to evaluate a quarterback after just two games. Glennon needs more time to show whether he can or can’t do the job. All the while it doesn’t look like the schedule will comply as the Bears prepare to face the Steelers Sunday for a short turnaround to a Thursday Night game in Green Bay. Thus fans are left pondering. If not now then when?
Likely the Bears start Mitch Trubisky after Green Bay trip
Is there a chance Chicago can win one of the next two games? Sure. There’s always a change in the NFL. Will it happen though? Common sense says probably not. The Steelers are 2-0 to start the season and boast the kind of offensive firepower Glennon couldn’t hope to match with his conservative style. As for Green Bay they might be struggling but then tend to always find a way against the Bears.
Thus in two weeks time Chicago could be 0-4. At that point there would be little reason to continue the farce of Glennon starting. Also it would be the a great time to start Trubisky. The Bears would not play their next game until the Monday after next. That means a layoff of 10 days before the Minnesota Vikings pay a visit to Soldier Field.
JJ Stankevitz of Comcast Sportsnet tends to agree, citing league history regarding rookie QBs.
“History shows you might want to circle Week 5 or Week 6 for Trubisky’s debut.
Since 1997, there have been 33 quarterbacks taken in the first 10 picks of that year’s NFL Draft (we’re using top 10 here as a rough cutoff point for drafting a guy expected to be the future of the franchise). Trubisky and Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes haven’t played yet. Among the 31 quarterbacks who have played, three waited at least one year to make their first start (Carson Palmer, Philip Rivers and Jake Locker). Of the 28 remaining quarterbacks, there’s an even split: 14 started from Game 1 of their rookie year and 14 made their first starts sometime between Games 2 and 17.
Of those 14 quarterbacks who didn’t start immediately, they on average made their first start in their team’s sixth game of the season, which for the Bears would be Oct. 15’s trip to face the Baltimore Ravens. The median of that group is Week 5, which is the Bears’ home Monday night game against the Minnesota Vikings.”
Everything about that game lines up perfectly. It’s at home where crowd noise won’t be a huge factor. Also the 10-day lull will allow the Bears coaches maximum time to get Trubisky ready, using every practice rep available to get him on the same page with the starters. It’s the best window to drop the rookie into short of the bye week, which won’t come for another month after that.
Thursday night’s game between the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers was beautiful. Yeah, you were probably on the verge of a heart attack, but at the end the Cubs got the last laugh winning 5-3 after Javier Baez tied the game with two outs in the ninth and Kris Bryant won it with a two-run homer in the 10th.
The Cubs magic number went down to six and the only thing that made the win better was Baez tying the game right after a Brewers fan was shown on camera repeatedly saying “it’s over,” as the Cubs were down to their final strike.
Priceless.
Funny moment: Brewers fan repeatedly says "It's over", Javier Baez then goes on to tie the game on an RBI single the next pitch. pic.twitter.com/R9jR2SSuRZ
The Chicago Cubs were a strike away from blowing a 2-0 lead and see their division lead fall to two games against the Milwaukee Brewers, but a single up the middle by Javier Baez gave angsty Cubs fans some hope for a win Thursday night. An inning later, Kris Bryant crushed those same hopes for Brewers fans.
You wanted some gut-wrenching September baseball? Well, the Cubs and Brewers delivered in Game 1 of their pivotable four-game series. The comeback for the Cubs started with an infield single by Ian Happ to start the ninth. The call at first was challenged, but it stood after the review.
Harbaugh was born in Toledo, Ohio. He attended the University of Michigan where he played quarterback and eventually became a first round pick for the Chicago Bears in 1987. He spent seven years with the team, taking them to the playoffs twice. From there he went to Indianapolis, made his lone Pro Bowl and would retire at the age of 37 in 2000.
Never one to waste time Harbaugh immediately entered the coaching ranks. In fact he’d already been doing that in his free time, helping his father Jack Harbaugh scout high school students for Western Kentucky recruiting. WSU eventually won a Division II national championship thanks to his efforts.
Two years after retiring, Harbaugh was hired by the Oakland Raiders as their quarterbacks coach in 2002. Rich Gannon would go on to have an MVP season and the Raiders reached the Super Bowl. Harbaugh parlayed that success into a head coach job at San Diego University where he’d win back-to-back Pioneer League Championships.
This drew the attention of Stanford University, who made him their head coach in 2007. It was here where Harbaugh’s fiery personality and competitiveness really came to the forefront. Along with his ability to elevate teams. With his help Stanford defeated mighty USC for the first time in six years. Under his watch the program would become the cream of the Pac-12 conference, winning the Orange Bowl in 2010 after going 12-1.
That accomplishment caused the San Francisco 49ers to offer him their head coaching job the next year. True to his history he turned a struggling franchise around overnight. The 49ers would reach three-straight conference championship games and made the Super Bowl in 2012. San Francisco never had a losing season in his four years there.
Upon his exit Harbaugh wasn’t unemployed long. His alma mater Michigan came calling with their head coaching position. He’s been there since, going 20-6 thus far in two years.
Qualifications:
Two things tended to stand out about everywhere Harbaugh landed as a head coach. His teams would play excellent defense and they would have sharp quarterback play. The quarterback part is no surprise. Harbaugh used to play the position. He speaks their language and knows exactly what it takes to make them better. Andrew Luck became a #1 pick under his tutelage at Stanford. Alex Smith had his first 3,000-yard passing season in six years when he arrived. Colin Kaepernick took him to a Super Bowl.
Stanford had the 10th ranked defense in college football during his final year there. The 49ers boasted the 4th, 3rd, 5th and 5th ranked defenses in the NFL during his stint in San Francisco. Michigan has fielded the 6th and 2nd best units in college over the past two years. The guy is no “offensive specialist.” He’s a complete football coach.
Concerns:
The biggest sticking point with Harbaugh, and perhaps the reason he went back to college is he doesn’t play nice with others. Part of the reason he only lasted four seasons in San Francisco was because he didn’t see eye-to-eye with then GM Trent Baalke over the 49ers roster. Not a surprise given his success at recruiting during his time in college before and after that. Answering to a general manager would be difficult.
Also there is the situation of his personality. Harbaugh is loud, boisterous and hot-tempered. Some feel this doesn’t fit an NFL locker room because after awhile players tend to tune that sort of stuff out. He can get away with it in college because most players leave after three or four years. This would seem to hint that hiring him would offer a possible shorter shelf life unless he’s learned a few lessons from how things went down in San Francisco.
Then there’s another problem that has started coming to the forefront of late. Despite being a former quarterback and boasting an offensive background, Harbaugh’s offenses have historically not been what one would call “elite.” During his four years in San Francisco, the 49ers were 20th or worse in total offense. His Michigan teams have never placed in the top 50 in college. The best he ever managed was 14th in 2010 at Stanford and that was with future All-Pro Andrew Luck at quarterback.
Connections:
Remember how the old saying goes. “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” The mark of great head coaches is their ability to network through the football community and locate quality coaching talent. Often the best teams are defined by how good their staffs are. Having coached across the NFL and college since the mid-90s, it’s safe to say Harbaugh is well-connected.
A number of his assistants have found success over the years. David Shaw succeeded him at Stanford and won a Rose Bowl. Pep Hamilton became a successful offensive coordinator in Indianapolis before rejoining him at Michigan. Then of course there’s Vic Fangio who has slowly rebuilt the Bears defense into a respectable unit.
Bottom line:
Many Bears fans are begging Harbaugh to come to Chicago in 2018. It’s not hard to see why. He’s got Bears blood in his veins. He strikes that perfect balance of being able to develop a quarterback but also understands the value of defense. Also he exhibits a personality and competitiveness that too many coaches (Wannstedt, Jauron, Smith, Trestman and Fox) have failed to display.
Harbaugh is the shot in the arm a young team needs. He’d light a fire under this roster and the possibilities of him and Trubisky together are near limitless. The question would be can he play nice with Ryan Pace? It’s not easy to answer. Thus far Pace has shown himself to be a cooperative and patient man despite what Fox has done. The big hurdle would be whether he’d accept input on the roster. That might be the sticking point.
The winds have shifted. After two ugly weeks of quarterback play from Mike Glennon, the Mitch Trubisky hype machine is kicking into high gear. Already most of the local media are getting on board with starting the rookie. Even some former players like Corey Wootton, Olin Kreutz and Desmond Clark have publicly stated the team should start him. Thus far head coach John Fox has remained steadfast. So what does Chicago Cubs MVP Kris Bryant have to say on the subject.
It’s no surprise that the slugger has knowledge of the situation. Most Chicago athletes often attend other sporting events in the city. He’s no different. Bryant is a Bears fan. So when he went on 670 the Score, he was inevitably posed the same question as everybody else. Are the Bears wise to keep Trubisky benched or is it time for a change? His answer left no room for doubt.
“I mean, give him a chance. You’ll never know unless he’s out there playing.”
Mitch Trubisky hype machine gets a boost from a man who’s been there
Bryant is no stranger to this entire question. He himself was a hyped-up rookie back in 2015. A third overall draft pick of the Cubs hailed to have one of the best bats seen in years. Some people though were a little reluctant when news came out that the Cubs were elevating him that year. Some felt it was too soon. There also was the fear of a poor start ruining his confidence.
Bryant himself referenced that exact concern and how it ended up being overblown.
“That will definitely get your heart pumping a little bit — everybody knows what I did in my first game,” Bryant said of making a professional debut, referencing his 0-for-4 game with three strikeouts in his big league debut back in April 2015.
Bryant ended up batting .275 with 26 home runs as a rookie, making his first All-Star game. The next game, after getting over his jitters, he delivered two hits with an RBI and also walked three times in a win over San Diego. Things improved quickly. In essence he’s saying if Trubisky is the real deal then Bears fans should expect the same.
Including tonight’s game against the Houston Astros, the White Sox have just eleven games remaining on an expectedly disappointing 2017. Currently, Rick Hahn and lead scouting Director Nick Hostetler would be picking no. 2 overall for the South Side. Behind the likes of San Francisco but just one ahead of Philly. The Tigers have plans to spoil that top 3 pick as well as they are within striking distance of the White Sox with just over a week left to play. So, how will the order of these four teams wind up once the last out is made?
1. San Francisco Giants
The Giants have been one of the worst teams all season long. While Philly or Chicago could eventually edge them out for no. 1 before it is all said and done, I think the Giants will wind up with the luxury of picking first.
The Pick- Brice Turang, SS, Santiago High School, Corona, CA.
Gun to my head, Turang goes no. 1 overall in the 2018 MLB draft and it isn’t even a discussion. He would be the perfect fit for the once mighty Giants. As pure a short stop as they come, Turang’s range will see that he remains at the position for his career. He shows glimpses of a future 5-tool player with his power still to come with maturity. He also has as good of an eye at the plate as anyone in the draft. His junior year of high school he struck out just ONCE in the entire season. It doesn’t matter that the competition was not as elite as he will eventually see, that is an incredible stat. With Brandon Crawford being thirty years old, it gives the Giants the perfect time frame to develop Turang in the minors. By the time he is ready, Crawford’s time should be just about up in The Bay, allowing Turang to make the transition to the MLB with no real issues whatsoever.
2. Chicago White Sox
The White Sox currently sit at 60-91, with the Phillies at 61-91. Here are their remaining opponents left on the season:
Houston- (1) playing for home field advantage throughout A.L. Playoffs.
Kansas City- (3) essentially out of the wild card race, but still a much better team than the White Sox.
Los Angeles Angels- (4) fighting hard for the last wild card spot in the A.L.
Cleveland- (3) fighting with Houston for home field advantage.
That is a pretty damn difficult schedule remaining for the White Sox. And it could end up helping them land a true stud draft prospect.
The Pick- Jarred Kelenic, OF, Waukesha West High School, Waukesha, WI.
Kelenic seems to be the real deal. Like Turang, he is a 5-tool prep star who is just starting to tap into his potential. Here is what one scouting report had to say about the eighteen-year-old.
Very strong athletic build. 6.57 runner, has centerfield range and speed with a high level right field throwing arm, makes accurate throws with very good carry, highest level defensive outfielder. Left handed hitter, hits from a spread stance, excellent raw bat speed with a low tension swing and loose hands, ball flies off the barrel, big power when he turns on the ball but will let it travel and drive it up the gaps as well. Advanced player with all the tools, plays hard. Good student, verbal commitment to Louisville. Selected for the 2017 Perfect Game All-American Classic.
Talk about the full package. The White Sox could go after Florida pitcher Brady Singer if they wanted a player closer to the big leagues, or prep flamethrower Kumar Rocker as well. But with Michael Kopech, Alec Hansen, Dane Dunning, Dylan Cease, and Spencer Adams all still in the minors already, the White Sox already have more than enough depth when it comes to pitching. Outfield is a different story. After Blake Rutherford, Luis Robert, and Eloy Jimenez, there is no true star-level outfield prospect. If one of those three busts, it would be huge to have a player like Kelenic in the system as backup. He has the range to play any outfield position, but is best suited for center. That being said, his bat will wind up being his biggest strength. Pretty impressive based off of how good he plays defensively. Jarred Kelenic would be a phenomenal pick for the South Side.
3) Detroit Tigers
I don’t know if any of you guys have been keeping an eye on Detroit lately, but they have been BAD. Luckily, I think the White Sox will end up just edging them out for the no. 2 overall. However, Detroit surely won’t be complaining when they make their pick.
The Pick- Brady Singer, RHP, University Of Florida
Not only is Singer the most ready pitcher coming out of the draft, he is arguably the best as well. At 6’5, Singer has a fastball that not only sits in the mid to upper 90’s, but possesses wicked movement on it as well. He pairs his fastball with a wipeout slider that will make right-handed hitters look foolish. As is most common among starting pitchers, his changeup is still developing, but shows signs of being at least an average third offering. With the recent trade of Justin Verlander, the Tigers desperately need some pitching depth in their system. Singer can be that guy for Detroit, and he shouldn’t stay in the minors for long.
4- Philadelphia Phillies
Finally, we get to Philadelphia. The Phillies sat in the no. 1 or 2 overall slot for the majority of the year, but have actually been playing somewhat decent baseball as of late. Couple that with the White Sox remaining schedule and the suck fest that is San Francisco and Detroit, and Philly could very easily draft 4th overall in 2018.
The Pick- Kumar Rocker, RHP, North Oconee High School, GA.
Kumar Rocker follows the early trend of prep players being drafted in 2018, being the 3rd in the first 4 picks. Standing at an absurd 6’5, 250; Rocker uses his size to easily repeat an effortless delivery that sees him light up the radar gun. His fastball is his best pitch as of now, as it sits in the mud-90’s but has touched 98. He pairs it with a slider that sits at 80mph and a changeup that has shown significant downwards movement. Rocker also possesses a prolific bat for a pitcher and has played first base on a handful of occasions. When you pair his electric arm with a more than capable bat, he screams N.L. stud. Speaking of studs, the Phillies have a bunch of young ones in their minor league system, with six in the top 100. However, only one of those is a pitching prospect. If Rocker is available for the Phillies at no. 4, he is a great bet to be selected by them next year.
What we learned
Obviously we really only care about what the White Sox do in this situation. Why analyze three other teams and their picks? Well, I obviously cannot tell the future and have no real way of definitively saying the White Sox will pick at no. 2 overall next year. However, even if they don’t you can bet on them taking one of these four names listed here. If the White Sox walk away with one of Turang, Kelenic, Singer, or Rocker, it will be another positive step forward to an already incredible rebuild. The next piece of the puzzle is on it’s way, now we just have to wait to see who it is.
Aside from a few people in the media that must think the Chicago Bears deserve to suffer more than what they already have, everyone agrees that Mike Glennon is terrible and Mitch Trubisky should be the starting QB. It doesn’t matter if you’re on the couch watching, a player at Halas Hall, or if you’re playing for the Chicago Cubs, it’s painfully obvious that Glennon is trash and it’s Trubisky time. Even Kris Bryant knows it.
Bryant may not be a football player himself, but he damn sure knows what success looks like at a pro level and Glennon isn’t the answer. The 2016 National League MVP and World Series champ was on 670 The Score on Thursday and when asked about the Bears QB controversy, Bryant was quick to respond.
Put the kid in!
#Cubs' Kris Bryant supports Mitchell Trubisky starting at QB for #Bears: "I mean, give him a chance."
It’s so simple. You’re eventually going to see Trubisky start, that’s why your GM traded up to get him and you’ve already put him in as the backup, so why is John Fox still putting his team in a weaker position to win games?
Kris Bryant, MVP, World Series champ and a better NFL coach than John Fox.
But let’s get this straight. According to both Collins and his new boss John Paxson, he will not be coaching in any capacity and he will not be making personnel decisions.
Sooo…
Tabbed as a “Senior Advisor” for basketball operations, Collins will be around – only occasionally – to be a sounding board and “resource” for Paxson and general manager Gar Forman. In their press conference on Tuesday, Paxson praised Collins for his lengthy NBA resume and brilliant basketball mind.
If you can read between the lines – which shouldn’t be hard for most Bulls fans at this point, we’ve had plenty of practice – the Collins hire isn’t vague or confusing but predictable and maddening.
Bulls Will Be Bulls
Hiring a familiar face is such a classic (and lazy) Bulls move. Through the years, Jerry Reinsdorf and his son Michael repeatedly hire former players and coaches to serve various roles in the organization. Care for some examples? John Paxson. Bill Cartwright. Pete Myers. B.J. Armstrong. Randy Brown. Fred Hoiberg. Just last week, the team hired Jannero Pargo to join the staff of the Windy City Bulls, their D-League affiliate.
Between former players and Forman’s gross obsession with Iowa State folks, it’s as if the Bulls front office insists on using a Rolodex from the turn of the century that has a grand total of ten phone numbers in its coffee-stained pages. Paxson touted this as a great and innovative move to add this particular guy as a senior advisor to their staff. Actually, John, you’re a little late to that party compared to your NBA colleagues and the guy you hired surprised absolutely no one.
Old-Timer
As for what Collins brings to the table in his amorphous role, there are some very legitimate concerns. First of all, the 66 year-old insisted in his press conference Tuesday that he’s hip and with it in today’s NBA. In his own words, “I’m old, but I’m not old school…I’m woke.” Yes, he used the word “woke” for real. Nice effort, Gramps. But just a few years ago when coaching the Philadelphia 76ers, Collins condemned the ever-growing significance of basketball analytics, saying he’d rather “blow [his] brains out” than go over 20-page printouts of statistical analysis after every game.
Not only that, those 76ers teams coached by Collins led the NBA in midrange shot attempts for three straight seasons. The analytics he was actively condemning were being used by smarter minds in more progressive organizations to put an emphasis on three pointers, which yield much greater points per possession than the midrange shots his 76ers were taking. So how exactly will Collins be able to help a Fred Hoiberg offense that’s trying to get with the times and rely on a heavy dose of perimeter shots? How can he be trusted to evaluate talent that fits the modern NBA landscape?
Even more worrisome is the way in which Doug’s relationship with his players in Philadelphia deteriorated. As he described it, he had a hard time relating to the younger players of the league’s next generation. He said the following to an SB Nation reporter in 2012:
“The one thing about players today is that they’re very sensitive, and very fragile. They didn’t grow up with tough coaches. You know, I had my ass kicked since I was 6. It’s a different time, and so I treat this team very much with kid gloves … and the younger the guys, it seems like the more sensitive. And that’s what you’re wrestling with.” – Doug Collins
So Collins can’t relate to the analytics of modern basketball, nor can he relate to the younger players in modern basketball. Remind me, what is the Bulls trajectory as of today? Oh, right. Developing a roster filled with young guys in a modernized style of play. What a great “resource” Paxson hired!
I guarantee you Paxson isn’t concerned with any of that. Paxson hired Doug to be a glorified “Yes Man” and nothing more. I see it playing out like this:
“Hey, Doug, Gar and I are thinking about making this move. Do you agree?”
“Um…sure, John. Go for it.”
“Thanks, Doug! Here’s a check. Enjoy that Northwestern game later tonight. See you in a couple months.”
After that brief “meeting”, Paxson can come to the media and brag about how Collins – their brilliant basketball mind – gave their latest confounding move a thumps up. If that move backfires, there’s one more head to share the blame that should be placed squarely on his shoulders. It’s genius, really.
So where does that leave us? Where can Bulls fans turn to find any hope that this latest “Bulls being Bulls” move might actually bring some light at the end of a very long, dark tunnel? How can Collins make himself useful for this organization? If you think I’m about to tell you Doug’s hiring is the first step to ousting Forman, sorry to disappoint. All of my sources tell me that’s not the case.
No, this brings us to Dwyane Wade.
Bye-Out
Appearing on the “Mully and Hanley” show on 670 The Score Thursday morning, Paxson reaffirmed his initial remarks regarding a possible Dwyane Wade buyout after the team traded Jimmy Butler on draft night.
“We want to work with Dwyane because we respect him very much. If he doesn’t want to be here, then we want to do [the buyout]. But again, the bottom line is always – and it has to be – that we have to do what’s in our best interest.” – John Paxson
Essentially, Paxson and the Bulls are willing to grant Wade a buyout if he gives back a significant portion of the $23.8 million he’s owed this season. With that money, the Bulls could – among other options – take on an unwanted contract with a future draft pick attached to it. At the onset of a rebuild, the Bulls should be stockpiling as many picks as possible.
So how might this Wade buyout conundrum involve Doug Collins? It’s simple. Put the man in the room where these negotiations happen. As of right now – according to Paxson in that interview – Gar is the one on the phone with Wade’s agent.
Does anybody in Chicago trust Gar to handle these buyout talks? Look no further than the most recent trades he “negotiated” and you’ll get your answer. The deadline trade with Oklahoma City looks awful given Cameron Payne’s uselessness, even without remembering that Gar gave the Thunder a draft pick. He settled on swapping picks with Minnesota on draft night instead of insisting to keep the #16 pick on his side of the table. Would Tom Thibodeau really have backed out of his quest to get Jimmy without that pick? Unlikely. Gar is just a terrible negotiator, plain and simple.
Who’s confident that Gar can talk Wade into giving back some of that money? Not me, that’s for damn sure. So why not let Doug try? It’s not that hard to come up with the pitch.
Wade has a net worth somewhere around $100 million, and with endorsements that will keep climbing long after he retires. He doesn’t need the $23.8 million, he just wants it. But does he want it badly enough to stick around a rebuilding team that’s pegged to finish dead last in the NBA this season? He doesn’t seem too keen on playing a mentor’s role, and most of the young guys on the Bulls roster have leaked to the media that they hate the guy. He could go back to Miami, where he’s still worshipped like a god. He could go play with his pal LeBron in Cleveland for a year and chase another ring.
Chicago is the last place Wade wants to be right now, and all the Bulls need to do is play a little bit of hardball for both sides to get what they want. Maybe Collins can be the one to nudge Wade in the right direction. After all, he’s a no-nonsense guy with plenty of experience dealing with big-ego stars. If Doug is in those negotiations and helps Gar call Wade’s bluff, maybe the Bulls front office finally wins something.
Paxson and Collins sounded vague about his job description because there is no job to describe. The former coach was triumphantly welcomed back, but not to help the coaching staff and not to make personnel decisions. He’s just a guy the front office brought in to help them feel better about themselves and their poor decision-making. I know it sounds crazy, but maybe the Bulls can give the guy an actual task. You want Doug to be a “resource”? Let him be resourceful by helping your spineless general manager negotiate with a greedy has-been who wants out of town, but not without his money owed.
Wade’s buyout could be a crucial element to the financial flexibility and asset accumulation of the Bulls’ rebuild moving forward. Those negotiations are coming soon, and Doug Collins should be in the room where it happens.
Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains has found himself in a tough spot. His offense is primarily responsible for the team not being able to win either of the first two games this season. They stalled in the red zone at the end of the Atlanta game and failed to show up at all against Tampa Bay last week. Of course most feel this is directly tied to the erratic play of starting quarterback Mike Glennon.
Loggains is well aware of the heat coming down on the team about him. Already the chants are growing louder for Mitch Trubisky. No doubt the coach has his own opinions on the subject but like a good soldier he keeps them to himself. Or at least he tries to. Loggains took questions from the media on Wednesday about the state of the offense and plans for week three against Pittsburgh.
When explaining where things were going wrong for them, he may have let slip exactly what the problem is. The quarterback.
Dowell Loggains hinted Glennon handcuffs the offense
Ironically the jab came when Loggains was explaining the issues with the Bears rushing attack, which disappeared against the Buccaneers. Jordan Howard had just seven yards on nine carries while Tarik Cohen was far less effective than against the Falcons.
“The thing is, and I wish there was a better answer, the fact is it was one guy on each play,” Loggains said. “It wasn’t one guy playing poor. We’re going to face overpopulated boxes, we know that. There’s going to be seven, eight guys in the box every time and we have to execute better and it comes down to that.”
The interesting comment there is the “overpopulated boxes.” How is it that he knows the Bears will face them on a regular basis? Sure having two really good backs in Howard and Cohen could be a reason, but this also hints to a lack of faith in the quarterback being able to push the ball down the field. He tried to elaborate on what he meant, but only seemed to make it worse.
In other words defense have no fear of Glennon. They knows he’s not going to take a shot deep down the field. His constant throws short of the sticks on long down and distances proved that. Also there’s the “know exactly where the spot’s going to be” comment. This is an inadvertent jab at Glennon’s inability to scramble. He’s basically a sitting duck in the pocket.
Loggains no doubt expressing his frustration
Later on in the interview he was asked whether or not the Bears were trying to get Mitch Trubisky some snaps with the first team offense. His reply was short, simple and easy to read through. “Mike Glennon is the starter.” Note the language carefully. He didn’t say we believe in Glennon or that they expect him to figure things out. Just a simple declaration of fact. No hint of his own personal emotion in it.
That’s a company line if ever there was one. While he’s never intentionally throw a player under the bus, it’s clear enough that Loggains is frustrated. Everything he’s tried with Glennon isn’t working. Does he want a change? He’s probably willing to try anything at this point.
