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Jay Cutler Drops Broadcasting To Sign With Miami Dolphins

By
Erik Lambert
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jay cutler adam gase

Well the situation that people had thought was possible for months finally became a reality. The long-awaited Jay Cutler Adam Gase reunion is happening down with the Miami Dolphins. It just took a timely (and unfortunate) injury to happen. Dolphins starter Ryan Tannehill was suffering from a partially torn ACL which he suffered last year. He felt with a brace he could rehab and avoid surgery. Turns out he was wrong.

After a scramble out of bounds during practice, Tannehill crumpled to the ground. It appeared on video like his knee buckled. Though an MRI revealed no structural damage, former NFL doctor David Chao indicated that it was still bad news. It meant that the knee was not stable due to the prior ACL injury. That meant surgery was 95% unavoidable.

According to Jeff Darlington and others, it seems the Dolphins have reached that conclusion as well.

Of course this puts Miami in a serious bind. Having made the playoffs last season, they had high expectations for 2017. Their odds undoubtedly drop if they’re forced to go forward with veteran backup Matt Moore. Already talk has picked up about alternatives. We hinted at the idea of a Mike Glennon trade in a previous article, but that is unlikely.

Much more palatable is Adam Gase bringing back a familiar face.

Jay Cutler Adam Gase reunion is by far the most logical move

Everybody knows how well Cutler and Gase meshed in 2015 with the Bears. Jay had the most efficient season of his pro career, throwing 21 touchdowns to just 11 interceptions and 3,659 yards for a 92.3 quarterback rating. In a tough year for the team, their relationship was one of the few high points.

Chicago fans were begging Gase to stick around a little longer, but he couldn’t ignore the opportunity to take a head coaching job. Cutler regressed back to his old self in 2016 and was subsequently cut this offseason. He was all set to hang up the cleats and join the broadcast team at FOX, even drawing the job of calling the Bears home opener against Atlanta. Word is though he was open to signing in Miami if he gets to start.

Turns out he wasn’t joking. Miami moved quickly to bring him in. His negotiating power was strong after all. Aside from the Gase connection, their options were either stick with Moore or go with Colin Kaepernick. Neither option seems favorable for the team, one on the field and the other off it.

Whether the addition of Cutler ultimately does anything for them in that division? That’s debatable. The Patriots are still the Patriots and Cutler has never beaten them. In fact he’s 0-3 against them with four touchdowns and five interceptions. Like it or not, this is a desperation move for Miami.

Typically Unimpressed Vic Fangio Gushes Over Leonard Floyd

By
Erik Lambert
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leonard floyd review

One could conceivably call Vic Fangio the NFL’s defensive version of Bruce Arians. He’s a long-time coordinator with an extensive track record of success with several different franchises. He also has a reputation for being honest and blunt when speaking on just about any subject. The man isn’t interested in being diplomatic. If a player sucked in practice or a game, he’ll say so. He’s not a man to give out praise often, which is why it was strange to hear his recent Leonard Floyd review.

Most Chicago Bears fans know that expectations are high for the young outside linebacker in 2017. As a former first round pick, that’s expected. Not to mention the fact he had six sacks in five games during one stretch of his rookie year. It was proof that the Bears may have found their next franchise pass rusher. The trick was could he stay healthy for a full season and could he hone his body and mind for the pro level?

Leonard Floyd review is a glowing one from Fangio

Initial word is he arrived at training camp at least 15 lbs heavier than last season, and all of it good muscle weight. So he’s gotten stronger without losing speed. The other part was whether he’d picked up more of the playbook and honed his hand fighting techniques. Based on Fangio’s response about him, it’s safe to say that’s an affirmative.

“He’s got really good potential,” Fangio said Friday. “I think he’ll be a very good player for us and looked upon as a very good player in the league. If you’re looking for statistical numbers, I can’t put a finger on that. But he’ll be a damn good player.”

Understand that Fangio has coached some great players in his time. He helped turn Ricky Jackson into a Hall of Famer with the New Orleans Saints. Kevin Green played for him for a short period in Carolina. A young Terrell Suggs was at his disposal for a couple years in Baltimore. Lastly there was Aldon Smith in San Francisco. Suffice to say it would take a lot to get such a compliment from the seasoned coordinator.

He went on to explain why his optimism for Floyd is so high.

“It just shows up that he’s able to build upon each day’s work,” Fangio said. “He’s had a good progression here up to date. I think he’s getting better and better at the little things, the things he thought were kind of hard last year, may come easy for him.”

Feels like it’s just a matter of time

Most fans aren’t ready to buy in on Floyd yet. They still have memories of the injury issues he had as a rookie. Particularly the two concussions he suffered. That’s fair. Fan support is earned, not given. At the same time hopes remain sky high. It’s been years since the Bears had a true bookend pass rusher. Floyd has that capability.

If his body doesn’t betray him it feels like almost a forgone conclusion at this point. Floyd is way too quick, athletic and fast to not have NFL success. If he added strength on top of it? Fangio may be right about what’s to come.

Andy Phillips Is Gaining on Connor Barth for Bears Kicker Job

By
Erik Lambert
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connor barth and andy phillips
Credit: USA Today

There are plenty of compelling roster battles on the Chicago Bears depth chart this year. Of course the one at quarterback is grabbing the headlines, but there are some getting overlooked. A big one that fans should care about? Connor Barth and Andy Phillips in their battle to be the kicker for the 2017 season.

Barth is the established veteran at this point. He accepted the unfortunate task of replacing longtime franchise staple Robbie Gould in 2016. All things considered it didn’t go well. He missed five field goals including one blocked and whiffed on an extra point as well. His 78.3% accuracy rate was bellow the standards Chicago is used to.

That’s why GM Ryan Pace signed Phillips as an undrafted free agent out of Utah back in May. He enjoyed lots of success in college and represented the sort of young, cheap alternative that could compete to push Barth. Some though don’t think the Bears view him as a possible replacement.

Seems they were wrong.

Connor Barth and Andy Phillips will take battle into preseason

Special teams coach Jeff Rodgers certainly doesn’t sound like a man convinced his roster is set. The theme of the 2017 Bears is getting the best possible 53 players. That means competitions everywhere. Barth did not show he deserved the job long-term last year. So the team has left the door wide open for the rookie as Rodgers told Chicago Sun-Times.

“Rodgers doesn’t view Phillips, a 28-year-old rookie from Utah who once was an Olympic downhill-skiing hopeful, as merely a “camp leg.”

Phillips will get his chance to kick in preseason games. Rodgers wants to see how he handles the live game action and pressure.

Connor Barth is the clear favorite. He’s reliable within the range the Bears want and battle-tested.

But Phillips earned the nickname “Automatic Andy” for a reason at Utah. His background makes him even more compelling.”

The two got their opportunity to really go at it for the first time at Bears Family Fest in Soldier Field. It marked the first time teams ran live 11-on-11 drills, simulating actual game action. This meant the kickers would be involved. After both doing well in the field goal drills, each got a chance to kick in the scrimmage.

Barth dinged an extra point off the goal post. Phillips nailed his lone field goal attempt. So don’t think for a second the coaches will forget that. This battle will get real as the game action intensifies in preseason.

Signs Point To Reynaldo Lopez Being Called Up This Friday

By
Emmet McClain
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It has been essentially predetermined that White Sox pitching prospect Reynaldo Lopez is next in line to receive the call to the Majors. He was classified as the most ready out of the crop of pitching prospects and has done nothing but dazzle in Triple-A, especially as of late. He has allowed two runs or less in each of his last seven starts. Fans who have been anxiously waiting for Lopez to receive the call up might be getting their wish later this week.

Rick Hahn doesn’t seem to really mince words when it comes to talking about prospects. The night of the Todd Frazier trade, he casually told the media how Yoan Moncada was getting the call. Furthermore, Hahn recently spoke about how Lopez is really forcing the issue. Lopez himself also said a couple days ago how he feels he is ready for the MLB and how it’s getting hard to stay patient in Triple-A. Why is Hahn still waiting until the end of next week to call him up? Apparently he didn’t want to start him off at Fenway park or against the Houston Astros.

Take Hahn’s quote about getting tickets for Friday for what it’s worth, but it sounds like the Reynaldo Lopez era is set to officially take off on the South Side.

 

 

 

Bears Credit The Rapid Progress of Mitch Trubisky To Vic Fangio

By
Erik Lambert
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matt nagy

The men who get the most credit for whether a quarterback becomes an NFL success are the obvious ones:  the head coach, the offensive coordinator and the quarterbacks coach. They are most directly responsible for how he approaches learning the pro game, so this makes sense. However, it’s also a bit short-sighted. One man who could end up being just as vital to the Mitch Trubisky development for the Bears? That would be defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.

It was a minor surprise when offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains credited his counterpart with helping to accelerate Trubisky’s ability to absorb the speed and complexities of the NFL level. He quoted to Adam Jahn of Chicago Sun-Times and others how exactly this is such a benefit.

By all accounts, Trubisky remains a work in progress. He still has the occasional bobbled snap, and where he looks for his keys before the snap is a point of emphasis. But Loggains believes facing Fangio’s defense daily has led to growth.

“Coach Fangio does a great job and runs more coverages than anyone in the NFL,” Loggains said. “To see him get exposure to all that and be able to get as many reps as he’s gotten has been tremendous.”

What’s even more encouraging beyond that is the fact that Trubisky continues to see these coverages and still has just one documented interception in practice.

History shows practicing against good defenses helps

People don’t often mention how valuable practicing against good defenses can help the effectiveness of a quarterback. There are actually plenty of example of an average quarterback having a great year when given that challenge. Brad Johnson had his career best season with the Buccaneers in 2002. Jim McMahon went to his only Pro Bowl in 1985 with the Bears. Terry Bradshaw is a Hall of Famer having played across from that Steel Curtain unit in the 1970s.

Sit back and wonder how great Tom Brady would be if he didn’t have the defensive mastery of Bill Belichick to practice against every single day. It’s a fair question. The two highest-rated seasons of Brett Favre’s career were years his team boasted a top 10 defense. This is something that can’t be overstated. Having Fangio isn’t just good for the Bears hopes on defense. He can also do so much to help solve their quarterback issues once and for all.

The rest will be up to Trubisky himself.

Chicago Bears 2017 Schedule Does Have Hidden Advantage To It

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears 2017 schedule

One thing that can sometimes be understated is how taxing travel can be on NFL teams during a season. Even with first class accommodations the human body struggles to adjust to constantly changing its internal clock goes from east coast to west coast and back again. So it stands to reason that the less a team has to travel, the greater their odds of success right? At least that should be the hope with the Chicago Bears 2017 schedule.

For the second-straight season the team is going to have one of the lightest travel plans in the league. According to Dan Hanzus of NFL.com only four teams will log fewer miles on their road trips than them. Meanwhile the poor L.A. Rams will be conducting their personal world tour, once again ranking first on the list, though its almost 5,000 miles less than last year. So that’s something.

  • 1. Los Angeles Rams – 32,600
  • 2. Oakland Raiders – 30,899
  • 3. Arizona Cardinals – 30,035
  • 4. Miami Dolphins – 27,520
  • 5. Los Angeles Chargers – 26,134
  • 6. Jacksonville Jaguars – 24,522
  • 7. Seattle Seahawks – 24,121
  • 8. San Francisco 49ers – 24,092
  • 9. New York Giants – 21,833
  • 10. New Orleans Saints – 20,968
  • 11. Washington Redskins – 20,762
  • 12. Philadelphia Eagles – 20,227
  • 13. Denver Broncos – 18,842
  • 14. Houston Texans – 18,546
  • 15. Dallas Cowboys – 18,084
  • 16. Baltimore Ravens – 18,055
  • 17. New England Patriots – 17,830
  • 18. New York Jets – 16,483
  • 19. Cleveland Browns – 16,386
  • 20. Kansas City Chiefs – 14,671
  • 21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 13,683
  • 22. Buffalo Bills – 13,272
  • 23. Tennessee Titans – 13,048
  • 24. Atlanta Falcons – 11,687
  • 25. Indianapolis Colts – 11,236
  • 26. Minnesota Vikings – 10,460
  • 27. Carolina Panthers – 9,808
  • 28. Chicago Bears – 8,318
  • 29. Detroit Lions – 8,218
  • 30. Green Bay Packers – 8,074
  • 31. Cincinnati Bengals – 7,662
  • 32. Pittsburgh Steelers – 6,694

Does lighter travel lead to greater success?

Of course the more studious readers to state that the Bears were terrible last year despite an easy travel schedule. This is true. However, one could easily counter that was mitigated by a near-NFL record number of injuries. This includes losing their top two quarterbacks of the season. Even limited travelling won’t save a team at that point.

The question becomes does flying and driving less lead to success? Well here’s an interesting nugget. In 2016 of the top 12 teams who traveled the most distance, four of them managed to make the playoffs and one reached a conference championship. Of the top 12 teams who traveled the least distance? Six made the playoffs and two were in the conference championship.

The furthest the Bears have to travel this year will be their rematch with the Buccaneers down in Tampa at 1,170 miles each way. Aside from that it’s a fairly short plane ride everywhere else. Here’s hoping the favorable odds go their way.

John Buccigross ‘Optimistic’ The NHL Will Come Back To ESPN

By
Matt Barbato
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Plenty of hockey fans who watch ESPN idolize John Buccigross as one of the only hockey analysts left standing at The Worldwide Leader in Sports. But Buccigross’ latest comments about the NHL returning to ESPN’s airwaves seem to show some unawareness.

Buccigross oozed confidence that the NHL will be back on ESPN soon, which is hard to believe after it laid off nearly every full-time reporter covering the sport for the network.

“I’m real optimistic that we’ll be a part of the NHL plan next time,” Buccigross told BSN Denver. “I’m not in the negotiations or decisions, but the negotiations open up in two years, and the (NBC) deal ends in three. There’s no doubt ESPN (was) very aggressive last time trying to get the package, and we’ll be very aggressive this time.. and I feel good about our chances to get some.. to have games in the next package.”

It’s important to keep in mind Buccigross isn’t saying ESPN will seize all television rights for the NHL. And no offense to the sport itself, ESPN really shouldn’t spend too much on an NHL package. Most of their staff layoffs were a result of paying outrageous amounts of money to the NFL, MLB and NBA for television rights. The last thing ESPN needs to do is spend an exorbitant amount on the least popular of the “Big 4” American sports.

But even if ESPN made a run at airing some hockey games from time to time, wouldn’t the recent batch of layoffs speak volumes to the league? Sure, these negotiations are two or three years down the road. But the network’s stance on the NHL should be abundantly clear after it showed the door to numerous respected reporters such as Pierre LeBrun, Scott Burnside, Joe McDonald and Craig Custance.

The ESPN layoffs were not limited to just the NHL side of operations. But the network should prove it is actually invested in covering and discussing the sport — something NBC has kind of done effectively — before the NHL commits to having its games aired.

Then again, we are talking about the NHL. If Gary Bettman is still hanging around, he’ll likely take whatever offer he can get. In fact, bringing the NHL back to ESPN might be one of his lasting memories as commissioner as he approaches the age of 70.

Another Forgotten Bears Draft Pick Is Starting To Emerge At Camp

By
Erik Lambert
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bears draft pick

It seems Leonard Floyd wasn’t the only 2016 Bears draft pick who successfully gained weight this offseason. That was the same assignment for third round selection Jonathan Bullard after he struggled at time as a rookie. It’s important to remember that he came in at 282 lbs. For a 3-4 defensive, which is his position, that’s incredibly light. By comparison Akiem Hicks is listed around 330 lbs.

Suffice to say Bullard wasn’t equipped for the starting job. That is what he spent the past six months doing. Last word was he made it up to 296 lbs. No doubt it’s encouraging to hear. This will make it hard for offensive lineman to move him. The question at this point is did he manage to retain the same explosion and quickness that drew him to the Bears in the first place?

Initial impressions from training camp are that he has. Not only that but his mental processor has improved as well. He’s seeing things much faster.

Jonathan Bullard anxious to meet 2016 Bears draft pick expectations

Already the 2016 Bears draft class is shaping up to be one of the franchises’ best in over a decade. Jordan Howard is a Pro Bowler. Cody Whitehair and Leonard Floyd appear poised to join him shortly. No doubt Bullard doesn’t want to go down as one of the disappointments of an otherwise great class.

In fairness John Fox insists the coaches never stopped believing in him. Not only that, they’re impressed with the progress he’s made on the field.

“We weren’t disappointed with Jonathan,” coach John Fox said. “There’s some growing pains that come with some rookies and I think he’s learned a lot — just recognizing run and pass. The game is way faster in this league. He’s got the athletic ability. It’s more mental as far as deciphering things, knowing things that are going to happen before [they happen].

“He’s developed a pro body. I like what I’ve seen so far and I’m looking forward to getting into game situations.”

Even though he struggled for the most part in 2016, there were always flashes. Every once in awhile he’d make a pretty play that got a reaction. As with all rookies it’s about learning to do that consistently. It takes hard work, dedication and the hardest thing of all:  patience.

If he takes that next step this year, then the Bears defensive front could become one of the best in the NFL along with Hicks and Eddie Goldman. That’s a trio that is big, athletic and young. Hicks is the elder at 27-years old. Together with Floyd that gives Chicago a foundation to build around for years to come. Here’s hoping Bullard can put it all together.

White Sox Rebuild Gives Fans A Nostalgic Feeling

By
Emmet McClain
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The Chicago White Sox and their fan base have fully embraced the rebuild that saw their respective farm system jump from 25th to 1st in the span of eight months. The White Sox have only ever seen their farm system ranked this high just once. That would be way back in 2001, when Baseball America had the White Sox farm system ranked no. 1 in all of baseball. Four years later, the White Sox won the World Series. Back in 2001, Joe Crede and Aaron Rowand were two key names in the White Sox system. However, the White Sox had a handful of other top prospects as well, but they were traded away to acquire veterans that played a key role in the 2005 World Series. Let’s take a closer look at some of those trades.

Miguel Olivo, Jeremy Reed, Michael Morse For Freddy Garcia And Ben Davis

What a trade this turned out to be for the White Sox. At the time, Jeremy Reed was the no. 25 ranked prospect after the 2003 season, and headlined this deal. He went on to slash .252/.309/.354 with 110 RBI’s and 100 BB’s in his entire MLB career. Freddy Garcia was a rental at the time, but obviously resigned after the 2004 season and helped Chicago win the World Series.

Gary Majewski And Jon Rauch For Carl Everett

The White Sox actually traded for Carl Everett first in the 2003 season, then he signed with the Montreal Expos in 2004, and was traded back to the White Sox that same year. Good thing too, because in 2005, DH Frank Thomas went down for the season with an injury, allowing Everett to man the DH role for the majority of the year. Majewski finished with a career record of 9-13 and an ERA of 4.75. Jon Rauch faired slightly better, going 43-40 with a 3.90 ERA. Everett would wind up playing a pretty sizable role on the 2005 team, as he batted .251 with 23 home runs and 87 RBI. Not eye-popping numbers by any means, but definitely a solid contributor, and worth the prospects given up.

How The Past Relates To The Future

No matter how many prospects a team has, they are never a sure thing. And when push comes to shove, Rick Hahn will be forced to move some young talent to acquire proven veterans to help a young, up-and-coming team. The White Sox could have all of their prospects hit, but some will still wind up getting traded. No matter how much young talent an MLB team has, it needs veterans to succeed. Look at the Cubs last year. They brought in Jon Lester, Jason Heyward, and David Ross to help the young Cubs, and look what happened. Now, some of you might point out that those were free agent signings. Fine. Look at this year’s trade deadline then. The Cubs traded for Jose Quintana in exchange for top prospects Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease to strengthen their rotation. It’ll sting to see some prospects shipped away down the line, but it is for the greater good and the best way to accumulate seasons of sustained success.

Who Could Be On The Move?

Let’s get one thing straight first. We’re talking two, maybe three years from now when Rick Hahn is forced to deal some prospects. I think the White Sox top bats in the system (Jimenez, Robert, Rutherford, and Collins) will be untouchable, as well as Michael Kopech. So, who could be on the move?

Giolito-Dunning-Hansen

So far, Giolito’s season in Triple-A has been sub par judging from the hype he was receiving from scouts nationwide. That doesn’t mean that he will be a bad pitcher by any means. He is still ranked no. 60 overall according to MLB.com. However, if Dunning and Hansen continue to play like they have so far this season, it makes Giolito more expendable. Kopech, Rodon, and Lopez are essentially locks for a starting spot down the line. On the flip side, if Giolito figures things out and turns into a stud at the MLB level, then that makes one of Dunning or Hansen expendable. Don’t be shocked if one of these three arms gets traded a few years from now for a proven veteran in his prime.

Cease-Fulmer-Burdi

Out of these three pitchers, Dylan Cease has the highest upside. If he can harness his control and command the strike zone, he can be a front end starter. If not, his pure stuff will play just fine out of the bullpen.

Zack Burdi was a lock for the closer role for the foreseeable future until he recently underwent Tommy John surgery. The common opinion on Tommy John is that it is much more beneficial to have it done sooner in a career than later. Burdi will miss all of 2018, but should be good to go for 2019. If Carson Fulmer has shown he can hold his own out of the bullpen, then the White Sox could afford to package Burdi with other prospects for a vet.

If Carson Fulmer does not pan out however, the White Sox will certainly hold onto Burdi. Of these three pitchers, the one I see most likely to be dealt, if at all, would be Fulmer. While still a valuable asset, he simply does not have the same upside as Cease or Burdi, even with the latter undergoing Tommy John.

Adolfo-Sheets-Basabe

Two to three years from now, these lesser bats in the organization could grow into pretty solid trade chips.

Micker Adolfo has been a man on a mission this year after a disappointing 2016. He has really tapped into his power tool this season, which was his biggest concern at the beginning of the year. He is currently slashing .275/.341/.461 with 27 doubles and 14 home runs in low-A ball. Last night was his first multi-home run game of his career, as he swatted 2 out of the park. With the future outfield more than likely being Blake Rutherford-Luis Robert-Eloy Jimenez, Adolfo could wind up being blocked, making him a valuable trade asset.

Gavin Sheets was the White Sox second round pick this past June. At 6’4, 230 lbs, Sheets is destined for first base or DH. Jake Burger should eventually be the first baseman of the future, while Jose Abreu could be moved to the DH spot down the road to help preserve his career. This means that Sheets could also essentially be blocked. His raw power alone should entice any team to make a play for him at a future trade deadline.

Luis Alexander Basabe was the throw in piece in the Chris Sale deal this past December. He is a legitimate 5-tool talent, but his hitting is going to have to come around if he wants to have a future in the MLB. If he can consistently hit for at least a decent average, he could actually be a perfect utility man for the White Sox. Or, he can potentially help net a great return in a future trade.

Jake Burger

While I don’t think Jake Burger is “untouchable” by any means, he still fits perfectly into what the White Sox are trying to build. If/when the White Sox sign a grade-A third baseman (pray for Manny Machado or Nolan Arenado), Burger will be moved to first base. His raw power and ability to hit for average are too great to ignore. It also helps that he is currently mashing the baseball in the minors to the tune of .326/.426/.558 and a .984 OPS. Many thought the White Sox reached on Burger, but if he continues to put up these numbers, he will make Rick Hahn look even more so like the genius he is.

Final Thoughts

The White Sox had the best farm system in 2001, but still made the necessary trades to build the rest of the team. Four years later, they were raising the World Series Trophy. Fast forward to today, and the White Sox find themselves in the exact same position with a future as bright as any team in baseball. When the time comes, expect Rick Hahn to make the necessary trades to complete the rebuild and take the White Sox to new heights for the next decade.

Cubs Place Addison Russell On The Disabled List

By
Aldo Soto
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mlb investigate domestic violence allegation addison russell

The Chicago Cubs have placed shortstop Addison Russell on the 10-day disabled list. Left-handed pitcher Rob Zastryzny has been called up to take Russell’s spot on the 25-man roster.

Russell’s 10-day stint is retroactive to Aug. 2. The young shortstop is going on the DL because of a strained right foot.

Meanwhile, Zastryzny returns to the Cubs after a brief stint with them back in May. The lefty made his MLB debut in 2016, pitching 16 innings and recording a 1.13 ERA.

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