Saturday, November 14, 2026
EDGE is live. Chicago fans can now access and explore the beta.
Home Blog Page 3062

The Bears Have a Real Chance to Get Best Player in 2018 Draft

By
Erik Lambert
-
chicago bears

The Chicago Bears Quenton Nelson buzz began months ago after the 2017 season ended. Not a surprise right? Nelson is considered by many to one of the two or three best prospects in the 2018 draft class. Many think he’s the best overall. The Bears hold the #8 overall pick. So it was only natural his name would get connected to them at some point.

That rumor got a huge jolt a couple weeks ago when the team elected to part ways with veteran guard Josh Sitton. The former Pro Bowler is 32-years old and was entering the last year of his contract. While it’s likely he still has another good year or two in him, the feeling was it would be better to part ways. They could save the money and go young. He could seek out a team that gives him a better chance to win immediately.

It certainly didn’t create any solutions for them on offense though. Now the left guard position is up in the air. This while Kyle Long tries to work his way back from multiple off-season surgeries. That’s why the idea of adding Nelson sounds so appealing.

Chicago Bears Quenton Nelson idea has definite legs

The Bears likely know everything there is to know about Nelson. After all, they employ the coach who developed him at Notre Dame in Harry Hiestand. One can imagine they’re at least being nudged to draft him if his name is still on the board. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune agrees that the odds are mixed, but it’s certainly not impossible.

“Nelson could go that high, but he could also slip past No. 10 and that’s because it’s hard to draft an interior offensive lineman that high. Nelson is a gifted player and it’s a good class for guards. The bottom line is at the end of the combine, the Bears have to feel pretty good that they will be getting a good football player at No. 8, a player who can step in and be an impact player from the start. That’s what they really need.”

There’s something important to keep in mind here. Everybody likes to assume that Nelson won’t make it to #8, but history says differently. Since the league merger in 1970, a total of 15 guards went in the top 10. Just seven of them went before the eighth overall pick. Ready for the best part? Only one of those seven has gone that high since 1986. That was Jonathan Cooper who went seventh overall to Arizona in 2013.

Cooper became a bust

He lasted just two seasons with the Cardinals before getting cut. He spent a year in Cleveland and finally landed with Dallas where he became a serviceable left guard. One can bet money teams are aware of that fact. Nelson may be a “sure thing,” but many were convinced Cooper was too. Ask Mike Mayock.

“I think that is a great pick. I really do. You plug him in inside, your offensive line is better, your run game is better. I think this team just got better with the drafting of Jonathan Cooper.”

The fact is Nelson is far bigger, stronger more proven and experienced than Cooper was. Nevertheless, it’s a true possibility that the Bears can get their hands on him at #8. He may not be a sexy pick but if they want to protect Mitch Trubisky and open lanes for Jordan Howard, this guy can do both.

Bears Quietly Scoping Out Possible Kyle Fuller Replacements

By
Erik Lambert
-
chicago bears draft

The Chicago Bears remain optimistic that something can get done with cornerback Kyle Fuller. Recent rumors have painted the situation clearly enough. GM Ryan Pace says the franchise tag is still on the table but indications are it won’t be used. At the same time, Fuller wants to stay in Chicago and is interested in working out a long-term deal. It comes down to finding common ground on a price.

That said the risk remains real that he could leave in free agency. Everybody remembers what happened with Alshon Jeffery last year. So it would be a bad idea for Pace not to make contingency plans in case the Fuller negotiations come up short. That includes doing his due diligence on the incoming NFL draft class for replacements.

Seems the Bears are enacting that way of thinking. Chris Emma of 670 the Score revealed that the team is planning to meet both of the top cornerbacks at the scouting combine.

Denzel Ward and Joshua Jackson offer solid Kyle Fuller backup plans

The cornerback class for 2018 is headlined by a two-headed monster in the form of Ohio State’s Denzel Ward and Iowa’s Joshua Jackson. Each comes with rather different skill sets but both are intriguing in their own ways. Ward is looked down on (literally) for his size at just 5’10”. Although that might be his only weakness. There isn’t a corner in the draft who can match his combination of speed, fluidity, and pure coverage prowess. Many already compare him to Denver Broncos Pro Bowler Chris Harris Jr.

Jackson can cover well enough but his game is more about taking the ball away. This past year, his first as a full-time starter, he snagged eight interceptions and returned two for touchdowns. He’s got coveted size at 6’1″, is a good athlete and demonstrates outstanding awareness and vision for finding the football in the air.

Suffice to say both players can ball.

What teams aren’t yet certain of is whether either of them is worth a top 10 pick. The Bears, picking #8, are among them. That’s why they wish to interview both. Get a sense of their football mentalities and intelligence. They certainly don’t have to worry about physical ability. Both corners showed up big on the field. Ward blazed with a 4.32 in the 40-yard dash while Jackson delivered a 4.49. They got the goods.

While the gloomy part of this article is about Fuller leaving, there is also another side to consider. What if they kept Fuller and added one of these two? That would create one of the most fascinating cornerback tandems in the league and something that could push the Bears defense to heights they haven’t seen in years. Of course, there is much work to do before thinking about such things.

Celebrate Kyle Schwarber’s 25th Birthday By Checking Out His Five Best GIFs

By
Gus
-

There may not be another member of the 2018 Chicago Cubs that will enter the season under a bigger microscope than Kyle Schwarber. The 2016 season was a blessing and curse for Schwarber as it was the season that saw him get injured in the second game of the season only to see him roar back and become a legend in Cubs history for his role in the 2016 postseason.

2016 was undoubtedly Schwarber’s high-point in his young career which is what made 2017 so painful to watch. Schwarber was thrust into the leadoff spot in 2017 where he struggled mightily and fans watched his numbers slip lower and lower each week. He was eventually demoted to AAA in June for a short stint with the Iowa Cubs in an attempt to resurrect the 2016 version of Schwarber.

With 2017 in his rear view mirror, Schwarber is attacking 2018 head on. After shedding a bunch of weight to improve his defensive mobility, Cubs fans have gotten a quick glimpse at the new and improved Kyle Schwarber early in 2018 Spring Training.

And this one steals bases.

To honor the now svelte Kyle Schwarber, I thought it’d be fun to look at my top five favorite GIFs of the now-slim left fielder.

5. The Dancing Machine

I have no idea what the context of this GIF is but I find watching Schwarber bust out a jam in the middle of the dugout quite hysterical.

4. Bro-Tastic

This bear hug came after Schwarber and Russell hit back-to-back home runs on June 11, 2017. At first glance, one would think the hug was to celebrate both players long balls but if you remember, Russell was in the middle of a nasty public feud with his then-wife Melissa who accused Russell of domestic violence (which he was never charged). This GIF shows what a good teammate is all about.

3. The One Man Celebration

This GIF comes from the magical 2016 season in which the Cubs won the World Series (in case you forgot.) After the team clinched the division in late October in Chicago, Schwarber was in Arizona rehabbing a torn ACL. Once he heard the team clinched, this was waiting for him in the locker room in Arizona.

2. Graceful He Is Not

The GIF of Schwarber eating shit rounding first base will forever be funny to me. It comes from the 2015 season and it actually occurred during a home run. Clearly, Schwarber didn’t think the ball would leave the park so he was hauling ass to second base before he stumbled like the large child he is. Bonus points for his teammates razzing the f*ck out of him as well.

  1. The Shot(s) Heard Round The WorldYes, I know these are actually two different GIFs but I couldn’t make my mind up so I went with both. Both GIFs come from the 2015 postseason when Schwarber really burst onto the MLB scene as a true power hitter. The top GIF comes from the 2015 Wild Card game when Schwarber took Pittsburgh “ace” Gerrit Cole deep (and I mean REALLY deep.) The bat flip, pitcher reaction — all of this makes me happy.

The bottom GIF is Schwarber’s most famous home run in his career which came in the 2015 NLDS against the St. Louis Cardinals. This ball landed on top of the Wrigley Field scoreboard and effectively ended the Cardinals run as being the team to beat in the NL Central.

Happy 25th birthday to the War Bear. I hope there are many more moments in your career that are GIF worthy.

Yoan Moncada Tells Rick Renteria To Bat Him In The Leadoff Spot

By
Matt Enuco
-

Good Morning! Yoan Moncada wants to be the White Sox new leadoff hitter. According to an article from Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune, Moncada pleaded his case with manager Rick Renteria recently.

“I feel more comfortable now and I can express myself with more honesty and I can communicate about the things that I like or dislike,” Moncada is quoted as saying by Kuc.

The young slugger lead off against the San Diego Padres on Sunday going 0 for 3 with two strikeouts, but that doesn’t dismiss his desire to work from the leadoff position. Kuc quotes Moncada again:

“I’ve always liked being a leadoff hitter because I get to see more pitches and better pitches. …Because of the type of player I am, I can take advantage of that position. I was the leadoff man last year in Triple-A (Charlotte) and I did well and I liked it. If I have to be down in the three, four or five spot, I can do it, too, but I feel more comfortable and I have more confidence in the leadoff spot.”

This is one of the questions Renteria will have to tinker with for most of the season. The White Sox roster features a lot of flexibility. Yolmer Sanchez appears to be a strong candidate to lead off, but if Tyler Saladino and Leury Garcia can find a position they have more experience and might be more comfortable. Add Adam Engel to the equation if he learns how to be more patient and make better contact, but that seems to be a tall task given his history.

Moncada adds more than most players to every position or spot in the lineup than most players. He is a switch-hitter with power and speed. He won’t gum up the basepaths but he has enough power to be featured in the middle of the order. Renteria could easily bat him fifth or sixth, but Abreu might create an unnecessary stop sign for Moncada on the basepaths. He could slide down further but there isn’t much protection in the lineup after the sixth or seventh spot.

So, maybe there is something to Moncada’s motion to own the top spot. There’s no doubt he can cause problems for opposing pitchers and managers by switching batters boxes, and getting him a few more at-bats over the season would be good for his development. The only question is whether it is best for the team. That’s something only Renteria can answer.

Ryan Pace Asked If The Bears Would Sign Johnny Manziel…

By
Aldo Soto
-

Ryan Pace is in his fourth year as the GM for the Chicago Bears and he knows better than anyone else that his future is dependent on the success or failure of quarterback Mitch Trubisky. That’s just one of the things Pace talked about on Monday’s podcast episode of Pardon My Take, where the Bears GM was also asked about signing Johnny Manziel.

If you’re not familiar with the podcast presented by Barstool Sports, co-hosts Big Cat and PFT Commenter blend satire and sports together, so don’t worry Pace knew they were joking around when asked about backup QB options for the Bears.

Pace was asked about Charlie Whitehurst, JaMarcus Russell and if he’d kick the tires on Manziel. “That would be interesting,” Pace said as he continued to laugh. 

But you know, that’s not a no! I mean hey, he’ll do it for free.

In all seriousness though, you should definitely check out Pace’s interview, as he lets his guard down a bit, while still discussing the Bears.

The GM says the Bears are obviously going to be active trying to get a wide receiver in the draft, gave some insight into player interviews during the combine, looked back at drafting Trubisky last year and of course the importance of the quarterback position.

Also this.

He also addressed this random as hell shot from MLB insider Jon Heyman.

There was one question Pace was hesitant to answer. He was asked who the worst fans in the NFL were and after stalling for a few seconds Pace said, “can I say Green Bay?”

Full interview here.

Bears Mailbag – Offseason Questions Are Heating Up

By
Dhruv Koul
-
kyle fuller

It’s March 4th, and we are currently experiencing the usual, annual NFL offseason frenzy already. The NFL Scouting Combine is going on as we speak, and the Chicago Bears are well represented down in Indianapolis. Roster cuts are happening, franchise tags are being applied, and rumors are flying as we approach the new league year in mid-March.

Not to mention, spring training is going on in parallel, and we’re also approaching March Madness. It’s a wonderful time of year.

Naturally, amidst so much speculation and anticipation, I thought it was a good time to reach into our Bears Mailbag! Thanks to all those who submitted questions — always appreciate the participation.

Obviously, there’s a lot we still need to know when it comes to free agency. There will be quite a few players receiving the franchise tag before the new league year, and many other players that will be cut from their current rosters due to salary cap constraints.

For example, Vinny Curry, a very solid pass rushing OLB, will reportedly be released by the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles. That’s a big addition to the free agent market. Similarly, I expect a few other big names to be made available as we approach that date.

As things stand right now, here’s what I’d really like to see (according to your parameters):

Re-signings:  CB Kyle Fuller and WR Cam Meredith.

New Free Agents:  DE Muhammad Wilkerson (to a prove-it deal), OLB Jeremiah Attaochu, OLB Vinny Curry, and WR Allen Robinson (to a prove-it deal).

Trade:  I’ll take a draft-day trade. If Quenton Nelson is no longer available when the Bears pick, I’d like to see them trade down to 11 with the Dolphins and pick up a third rounder at least. I’d even take a trade down with the Buffalo Bills for both their first rounders and maybe an extra mid-to-low round pick. Both teams are likely to be after a quarterback which makes these trades a possibility. If the top QBs are gone, there’s no chance either one of these happen.

You’re right, I don’t see the Bears drafting a WR at eighth overall, either. The draft is low on top-end WR talent, but there is plenty of depth and Chicago can find a receiver or even two to fit their system and contribute later. Some names I like: DJ Chark, Equanimeous St. Brown, and Simmie Cobbs.

I don’t see the Bears taking Marcus Davenport at eighth overall, either. Frankly, while there are some freak athletes at OLB in this draft, none of them are worth going in the top 10 for various reasons (raw, off the field issues, etc.). I’d have loved Clelin Ferrell at eight, but since he’s returning to school, I don’t want the Bears taking a project that high. But like I said, there are a ton of freak athletes that could help in the later rounds who could succeed with the right coaching (namely, Vic Fangio). A few names include: Davenport, Dorance Armstrong, Duke Ejiofor, and Shaquem Griffin.

Also, I know Tremaine Edmunds is another freak athlete who could make the switch to OLB. But he’ll go very high in the draft mainly because of his athleticism and speed at ILB.

I think that proposed receiving corps would certainly be an upgrade. I want to watch more tape of Matt Nagy’s offense before making a final declaration, but I don’t think the Bears really need a “Number 1” receiver. What they do need are WRs that can catch and have plenty of quickness and speed. That seems to fit the profile of whom they employed in Kansas City.

I will say this: KC’s red zone offense was generally pretty poor, and that’s because they didn’t have too many guys with size to win matchups when the contracted field space equalized their receivers’ speed. So the Bears will certainly need guys with size to step up. The hope is the combination of Meredith, Inman, Kevin White and Adam Shaheen can alleviate those concerns.

By all accounts, Meredith should be ready to go by training camp. But first thing’s first: The Bears need to re-sign him.

If Quenton Nelson is there at eight, I’m sprinting to the podium and not giving it another second’s thought. He’s the best player in this draft, the most polished player in this draft, and IMO a perennial All-Pro waiting to happen. Tremaine Edmunds is a good prospect and an outstanding athlete, but he’s not close to Nelson’s polish. Nor would I know where I want him to play on my defense — keep him at ILB or roll the dice by converting him to OLB? So I’m going with Nelson all the way.

Here’s the thing, though: I don’t want to take Nelson and move him to tackle, even though he could certainly play there. If the Bears end up with Nelson, I want him at LG and Whitehair at C. And with Kyle Long returning healthy (hopefully) at RG next year, the interior of the offensive line just became a wall.

It’s Looks Like Bears Free Agency Plan at Wide Receiver Is Huge

By
Erik Lambert
-
allen robinson

As the Jarvis Landry trade rumors continue to be just rumors, another Chicago Bears free agency approaches. Fans are more than a little nervous. GM Ryan Pace did not endear himself to people with his showing last year. Mike Glennon, Markus Wheaton, Dion Sims and Quintin Demps all crashed and burned. Faith in Pace’s ability to identify veteran talent took a significant hit.

Now some doubt whether he can actually improve the team in that area. What makes it worse is he has to try, especially at wide receiver. The Bears were the worst passing offense in football in 2017. Mitch Trubisky can’t reach his full potential without weapons. Pace has struggled a lot at this position with a number of misfires like Kevin White, Eddie Royal, and now Wheaton.

So it probably won’t feel like the best news when hearing that the Bears have an aggressive plan in place for free agency. One that will involve a multipronged attack at the receiver position.

Chicago Bears free agency hopes may have a big boost coming

It’s no secret that Wilson is a heavy favorite to sign in Chicago. He worked with Matt Nagy his entire career in Kansas City and known the offense being installed well. His value as a slot receiver should be considerable, but the Bears need more. Much more. That’s why they are almost certain to make a strong push to get one of the top names available.

Thankfully they might catch a break on that front. It looked like most of the notable players at receiver were set to get franchise tagged. Landry was merely the first. That assumption seems to have been premature. RosterWatch, who broke the news that Bills center Eric Wood was retired, thinks Jacksonville receiver Allen Robinson may duck the tag to hit the market.

This is a big deal. Robinson would instantly be the best player at his position on the market. Despite a down 2016 and missing most of 2017 with a torn ACL, he looks closer to a true #1 receiver than any other. His 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2015 proved that much. He’s a big target who runs sharp routes and can go get it in 50-50 situations. If ever there was somebody who can help a young QB grow, it’s him.

All one can do is hope the Bears are given the opportunity to speak with him. It sounds like they’re prepared to open the checkbook to make it happen.

Bears Witnessed Leonard Floyd Doppelganger at Combine

By
Erik Lambert
-
leonard floyd

The Chicago Bears are in the market for a pass rusher. Don’t be fooled by the relentless talk of wide receivers. One could argue their more pressing issue is on the edge. Both Pernell McPhee and Willie Young were cut. Lamarr Houston is a free agent. This means their only viable rusher on the roster is Leonard Floyd, and he’s coming off a knee injury. Not even the receiver position is that bad.

What makes matters more urgent is the market for rushers appears weak this year, especially in free agency. GM Ryan Pace may not be able to patch up the problem with veterans like he should be able to at receiver. This only makes the edge rusher matter more urgent. They have to find one or better yet two pieces to refill the pipeline on defense.

The question is who might they go after? There is a list of names that are definitely worth watching. However, knowing Pace by this point he’s got his eyes on one name in particular. Not just because he’s a fascinating talent either. It’s because he’s an almost eerie carbon copy of Floyd.

Lorenzo Carter did his best Leonard Floyd impersonation at the combine

Stop if you’ve heard this one before. A Georgia linebacker who is a freak athlete. He has moved all around on defense in college from the outside to the inside. He stands 6’6″, boasts 34-inch arms and displays impressive acceleration and speed that showcases intriguing traits as a pass rusher.

That was basically the scouting report for Floyd back in 2016 and a driving force behind why the Bears made him the #9 overall pick in the draft. Now they must be feeling deja vu. It’s happening all over again. An athletic, big, and long linebacker from Georgia whose first name starts with L tore up the combine. His name is Lorenzo Carter.

What’s so crazy about Carter is he might be even more suited for the job in the NFL than Floyd was. He’s faster (4.46 to 4.60 in the 40) and six pounds heavier. Also, like Floyd, his sack production in college can be misleading. They both finished their final seasons with just 4.5 sacks. Yet when watching the tape, it’s clear as day that Carter can become a force on the edge if he’s allowed to focus there.

Carter is basically the same player

If that’s the case, then one can imagine he’s on the Bears’ radar. They’ve already seen the blueprint to turning Floyd into a respected pass rusher (injuries aside of course). That stands to reason they can do the same for Carter. The best part is they might not have to use their #8 pick to get him. Projections had him going in the mid rounds. With his great combine, the odds are he’ll be gone by the second.

Having one Floyd can be a nice thing for this defense. Having potentially two on the field at the same time, health permitting? That’s QB devastation.

Toews And Kesler Engage In A Sparring Session At Center Ice

By
Marc-Louis Paprzyca
-

Jonathan Toews taking on Ryan Kesler at center ice to start the second period today was the most fight we’ve seen out of the Blackhawks in weeks. Their dislike for each other has been well-documented over the years and you’d expect a brawl, but this was as staged as a WWE event.

Staged fights are pretty much the norm in the NHL these days but both of them were really holding back on the punches. You know Toews, as the leader he is, really wanted to fire up the boys but it was hard to take this fight seriously.

I would have loved to see him come out and do this some time ago when there was a chance to make the playoffs. I know the Ducks are holding on to that last wild card spot in the west but it’s a little late now and I’m just happy Toews didn’t get knocked out.

Follow @Pappy_Hour on Twitter for more Blackhawks news and musings. 

Diamondbacks Announcers Think It’s Funny Willson Contreras Is A Great Catcher, Cubs Get The Last Laugh

By
Aldo Soto
-

During the fifth inning of Sunday’s game between the Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks, Steve Berthiaume found it hilarious that Willson Contreras was doing his job well. At the end the Cubs got the last laugh and made Berthiaume look like an idiot.

It started with a Paul Goldschmidt single off Shae Simmons. Arizona put in Rey Fuentes to pinch run and after a pitch to Jake Lamb, Contreras fired a strike to second base. Fuentes had taken a step forward, leading off from first base, but retreated back to the bag after the pitch. Contreras didn’t see that and followed through with the throw, as Lamb, a left-handed hitter, blocked his view down the line.

Berthiaume immediately got on Contreras, saying he was just trying to show off his arm. Mark Grace laughed, while Bob Brenly, a former catcher himself, explained how Contreras threw the ball because he saw Fuentes break for second and didn’t see him stop because of Lamb.

A pretty simple play, as Contreras was just doing his job and part of being a catcher is working with the pitcher to keep runners close, so they don’t get a big lead. On the very next pitch, Simmons picked off Fuentes.

Keep laughing Steve.

At first I thought Brenly was jumping on Contreras too, but he had a real breakdown of what happened. However, earlier in the game, the former Cubs announcer couldn’t help but to also poke fun at Contreras for the new mound visit rule.

Brenly’s never shy to criticize players. A few years ago he ranted about Starlin Castro out of no where.

Former Chicago Cubs Announcer Blasts Starlin Castro

Still some bitterness in Bob’s voice after leaving the Cubs.

1...3,0613,0623,063...3,362Page 3,062 of 3,362

Subscribe to our Newsletter

✶ An Unfiltered Voice For Chicago Sports Fans ✶

Chicago Sports News

About Us

© Sports Mockery, Inc. 2026