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Experts Predict Jordan Howard Will Break This 40-Year Drought

By
Erik Lambert
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jordan howard

Can Bears fans expect a Jordan Howard rushing title in the near future? It’s an interesting question. Despite having a rich legacy of running the football, no Chicago back has led the NFL in rushing yards for 40 years. Not since Walter Payton had his MVP season in 1977. Howard came close as a rookie in 2016 but not starting the first three game made the gap too wide for him to make up in time.

Now with the offense in transition to a more power-based scheme with multiple tight ends and big offensive lineman, it seems like the ideal scenario for a runner to shine. No doubt the team wants to get him involved more. In the four games that Chicago ran the ball with Howard 20 or more times, they were 3-1. They didn’t win a single game when he fell below that mark.

Translation? Howard is going to get fed. A lot. Provided he stays healthy this could turn into a big year. How big? Some experts believe “best in the league” big.

Jordan Howard rushing title is expected in 2017

NFL.com recently conducted a survey of its top experts with that simple question. Who will lead the league in rushing for this coming season? There were some obvious answers. Some think Ezekiel Elliott will repeat. Others see David Johnson in Arizona breaking through. There were a few though who think it will be Howard’s time to time. One of them being longtime columnist Adam Rank.

“First, he’s got great opportunity, in that he’s not in a backfield committee. A non-backfield committee is a rare commodity in 2017, like finding somebody who actually enjoyed “Suicide Squad” (and I should let you know, that I did). Second, he’s got a coach who is committed to the run…

…And the Bears will be in close games. They aren’t going to get blown out a lot. Third, you know who finished second in the league in rushing last season? Yes, this man. But his work was completely overshadowed by his fellow rook in Dallas. Finally, I love the offensive line. The top interior three is the best group in the NFL.”

He’s not alone

Rank though is a bit biased. Most regular readers know him to be a dedicated Bears fan. Something he catches a lot of heat for but doesn’t regret in the slightest. So it’s a good thing he wasn’t the only one with high expectations for Howard. Former Dallas Cowboys scout and executive Gil Brandt is on the bandwagon too. He feels the advantage of a full schedule of games will end up putting him over the top this year.

“I like Jordan Howard, simply because his ability perfectly matches the situation he’s in. The Chicago Bears are going to be a power-running team under John Fox, who has historically had an affinity for the ground game. Howard is a very talented player who finished 318 yards behind No. 1 rusher Ezekiel Elliott in 2016, despite starting just 13 games. This year, Howard will take full advantage of the opportunity in front of him and seize the top spot.”

There is no question that Howard is the focal point of the Bears offense. As they try to break in entirely new casts at quarterback and wide receiver, it will be on him and the offensive line to drive the ship. If the defense takes that next step towards top 10 status then there’s plenty of reason to think this team can make some noise. It may be old school but running the ball and playing good defense is a proven formula.

If Howard does indeed take it to the next level this year, then there’s every reason to think this team will at least make things interesting.

Tiger Woods Arrested On DUI Charge In Florida

By
Matt Peck
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tiger woods arrested dui charge florida

Tiger Woods was arrested around 3 AM Eastern time Monday morning in Jupiter, Florida on suspicion of driving under the influence. Jupiter police booked the golf legend in a local jail at 7:15 AM, and Woods was released on his own recognizance at 10:50 AM.

Tiger, now 41, hasn’t played professionally since he withdrew from a February tournament in Dubai after shooting a first-round 77. On April 19, he had his fourth back surgery since 2014 and still doesn’t have full range of motion on his swing.

Still, the 14-time major champion recently said on his website that he has no plans to retire. He’s taking rehab one step at a time.

“I want to say unequivocally, I want to play professional golf again. Presently, I’m not looking ahead. I can’t twist for another two and a half to three months. Right now, my sole focus is rehab and doing what the doctors tell me. I am concentrating on short-term goals.” – Tiger Woods

This is not Tiger’s first run-in with the law. In 2009, police were called after he crashed his car into a tree during a domestic dispute with his then-wife Elin Nordegren. In that instance, Woods allegedly drove under the influence of Ambien. No details have been released with regard to specific intoxicants in Tiger’s system at the time of his arrest Monday morning.

The “Best-Kept Secret” On The Bears Roster Will Delight Fans

By
Erik Lambert
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nick kwiatkoski

The best-kept Chicago Bears secret? It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what that means. Common sense says it’s a player on the roster nobody is talking about but is in fact become a vital gear in the machine they’re building. There are plenty of names to choose from. Just look at their additions this year like receiver Markus Wheaton, defensive end Jaye Howard or cornerback Marcus Cooper.

All three have certain upside to get excited about if things break their way in 2017. However, Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report went even deeper. He feels the Bears are concealing another young talent that quietly flashed his potential last year. Another member of that acclaimed 2016 draft class who delivered a couple impressive highlights.

Best-kept Chicago Bears secret is Nick Kwiatkoski

The name should ring a few bells. Kwiatkoski was a linebacker drafted out of West Virginia last year in the fourth round. GM Ryan Pace actually traded up in order to get him. When injuries and suspension ravaged the inside linebacker position, the young man ended up seeing extended playing time. It was inconsistent at times, but there were a number of flashes that intrigued people.

Seems Davenport and others haven’t forgotten.

As the season progressed, Nick Kwiatkoski went from a little-known fourth-round rookie to a fan favorite who compensated for a lack of elite athleticism by playing like his hair was on fire.

Kwiatkoski admitted to Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune that he made some mistakes on the field, but he thinks his play improved as the year moved along.

“I can feel a difference in my play. I noticed it more going back and watching film. It’s ‘Oh, I was playing hesitant here.’ Now I can tell on film the ways I’m playing faster.”

It’s fixing to be a long year by the shores of Lake Michigan, but a hard-nosed young linebacker from a franchise with a long history of them could provide a welcome distraction.

Kwiatkoski is a better athlete than he gets credit for. He just wasn’t able to show it last year because he was thinking too much on the field. A common trend among rookies, especially on defense. Still, when he got his chances to play physical and create chaos he damn sure didn’t waste them.

Don’t count him out

All in all his first year went well. He finished with 42 tackles, a sack, two passes defended and a forced fumble. That’s solid work for seven total starts. Now he’s going to get his chance to build on that success. Initial belief is Trevathan hasn’t yet fully recovered from his knee injury last season. He could end up on the Physically Unable to Perform list (PUP). That means he’d miss at least the first six weeks of the year.

That will present Kwiatkoski with a huge opportunity. Not only to gain more experience but also perhaps even seize control of the starting job. Unfortunately for Trevathan this is how the NFL works. Do everything possible not to get hurt. Otherwise there is another guy waiting in the wings to try stealing the spot. Swimming in a shark tank, basically.

No doubt Kwiatkoski would love to be that shark for the Bears defense moving forward.

It’s Looking More Like This Bears Player Could Be Surprise Cut

By
Erik Lambert
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hroniss grasu bears

A lot of people still have high hopes for the Hroniss Grasu Bears marriage. Despite a rocky season as a rookie, the young center had shown improvement going into 2016. All signs pointed to him being the starter. Then tragedy struck. During a routine practice at Soldier Field, his foot got caught in the turf and caused him to tear his ACL.

It was brutal timing. That forced the Bears into a tough decision. They chose to move then-rookie Cody Whitehair into that spot to fill the void. Not only did he fill it, but he played it almost like a Pro Bowler. Chicago realized they’d may have just landed their ace in the middle for the next decade. Great for him and the team.

For Grasu though, not great at all. This left the former third round pick in an awkward spot. With Kyle Long and Josh Sitton in place at guard, he’s now relegated to backup duty. Yet even that may not be in the cards for him. The lingering concern with Grasu was his lack of versatility. He didn’t have the size or power for guard coming out of Oregon. It was center or nothing. Now that that’s out of the question? His roster spot is looking dicey.

Hroniss Grasu Bears tenure not looking good

Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune had his weekly mailbag. In it he received an interesting question. It involved the idea of moving Whitehair to left guard so Grasu can resume center duties while Kyle Long rehabs. Biggs’ answer was not encouraging for either the present or future of the third-year blocker.

“Grasu suffered a torn ACL in August and the Bears have yet to share with us where he’s at in terms of recovery. Even if Grasu has been cleared to resume football activities (and I don’t know if that is the case), I don’t like this idea. Why move Whitehair on a temporary basis? Yes, he played guard in college but the Bears view him as their long-term center. The old adage on the offensive line is that you want to avoid making two changes to fill one hole.

The Bears like Eric Kush a good deal, signing him to a two-year deal, and I expect him to fill in at guard while the Bears wait for the starters to be healthy and available. I expect Whitehair to remain at center. That’s just my hunch. I don’t think the Bears are hellbent to find a starting spot for Grasu on the line right now, not with the other options they have available. Maybe I’m wrong about that but let’s remember Grasu is coming off a torn ACL.”

Being boxed in

The underlying problem with Grasu is he’s one-dimensional. He’s either a center or a backup center. So what happens if the Bears end up with a player who can play both center and guard? Somebody like Kush. That is the big elephant in the room. Chicago has enough depth at guard to where Kush could easily shift to backup center. Then they have far more flexibility. Something that Grasu doesn’t provide much of.

Maybe GM Ryan Pace and the coaches differ in their thinking. Perhaps Grasu may have more to offer than initially expected. Still, at this point it looks like he’s on the fringe. Not only a one-position player but coming off a bad knee injury. Suffice to his battle to remain on the depth chart is going to be brutal.

Fans Will Never Guess Who Bears Biggest Fantasy Sleeper Is

By
Erik Lambert
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biggest bears fantasy sleeper

The biggest Bears fantasy sleeper? Now that’s an interesting question. By this point experts can take a rough guess at who the major names in fantasy football will be for this team. Namely running back Jordan Howard and receiver Cameron Meredith. They were the two best offensive performers in 2016. Sleepers are much more difficult to pinpoint.

Could it be the defense? The unit took some steps forward last year despite injury problems. They’re young and fast and look deeper this time. Maybe it’s quarterback Mike Glennon? The veteran former backup has some talent and showed during his brief stint as starter in Tampa Bay that he can put up solid numbers when the conditions are right.

As it turns out though neither of those are it. The fantasy sleeper to watch in Chicago is one of their recent free agent additions. Somebody expected to have a big rebound season according to Pro Football Weekly.

Biggest Bears fantasy sleeper is Markus Wheaton

“Markus Wheaton / Bears / Limited to only three games in 2016, Wheaton put up big numbers in 2015 (44-749-5), and a contract with $6 million guaranteed says the Bears expect him to be heavily involved in the offense. A new quarterback (Mike Glennon) means a fresh start for a receiving group, but Wheaton is a big-play threat when healthy with his speed.

Consider him a fantasy sleeper, as there are question marks on that WR depth chart. Cameron Meredith broke out last year and should be the No. 1 if he keeps ascending, while Kevin White returns from a second year-ending injury.”

It’s certainly an interesting choice. Wheaton looked like he was ready to take on the NFL in 2016. He’d just completed his best season yet the year before. Also Pittsburgh would likely feature him more in the passing game to the suspension of fellow receiver Martavis Bryant. Unfortunately he got hurt just a few weeks into the season.

So he’s definitely coming into Chicago with a huge chip on his shoulder. Antonio Brown, his former teammate stated that one thing about Wheaton that stood out was his work ethic. Few dedicated themselves to the craft more than him. That could make all the different this year. The Bears receiving competition is going to be wide open.

Outside of Meredith they really have no proven targets. Kevin White has played four games in two years. Kendall Wright suffered a severe regression in Tennessee. Victor Cruz is 30-years old and missed 26-straight games prior to last season. All they have at this point are a bunch of intriguing names with talent and speed but no proven production in the Bears offense. It’s a prime proving ground for resurrecting a career.

Wheaton no doubt would love to take advantage of it. For that reason fantasy owners should definitely take notice. His odds of making the team are pretty solid. If things progress well in training camp he could become a favorite target of Glennon by opening day. Everything comes down to health and how bad he wants it.

Former NFL Receiver Tells Amazing Brian Urlacher Story

By
Erik Lambert
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brian urlacher story

There are probably plenty of NFL players and former NFL players who have at least one good Brian Urlacher story. The guy was a titan of the game for over a decade. An eight-time Pro Bowler and 2005 Defensive Player of the Year. Expectations are he’ll be in the Hall of Fame shortly after he becomes eligible. One has to imagine somebody with that sort of track record left an impression on his peers.

One guy who was happy to share his story was former Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Nate Burleson. Being so closely connected to the NFC North from 2003 to 2012, it’s only natural he had his run-ins with Urlacher. Naturally this sense of rivalry led to some animosity and even hatred at times.

However, Burleson soon began to change his tune. On the set of “Good Morning Football” on NFL Network, he shared his favorite Urlacher story. Suffice to say it’s a window into how great a player, but more importantly person the linebacker was.

Brian Urlacher story for the ages

Burleson was a good receiver for several years. He had five seasons where he topped 600 yards or more including over 1,000 with the Vikings in 2004. Though he was a thorn in the side of Bears fans at times, he was always an upstanding player who did things the right way. It’s nice to know Urlacher showed him the same level of respect.

That’s probably a big reason why he’ll end up in Canton sooner than later. Sure the numbers and accomplishments mean a lot. What people often forget is the voters also take reputation into account. Few have had a cleaner one during their career than Urlacher. He represented the Chicago Bears like any superstar should. A true role model and all around good person. The great play on the field was the bonus.

Bears Scout Pushed Ryan Pace To Draft This Player Way Back in 2016

By
Erik Lambert
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adam shaheen

Anybody who knows anything about the NFL draft understands it’s impossible to predict which players will be chosen. The process is way too fluid. On the other hand certain people in the organization can repeatedly push certain names up the board with constant hyping. The general phrase for such a thing is “banging the table” for somebody.

Former Bears scout and current Colts GM Chris Ballard famously did that in 2004 for cornerback Nathan Vasher. He believed the shorter cornerback out of Texas was a good player and perfect fit for their system. With enough nagging the team finally relented and took him in the fourth round. A year later Vasher was in the Pro Bowl.

It seems another scout for the team felt the need to have his voice heard on an overlooked player. One who is already turning heads in camp practices.

Bears scout pushed for Adam Shaheen way back in fall of 2016

Ashland tight end Adam Shaheen really didn’t start to emerge on the NFL draft radar until after the 2016 college season had ended. That’s typical of smaller school prospects. However, at least one scout working for Chicago was tipped off about the impressive 6’6″, 280 lbs former basketball player. According to Josh Norris of Rotoworld, this man began pushing for the team to prioritize Shaheen as early as September or October of 2016. A good 7-8 months before the draft was set to occur.

That’s pretty wild. As any former scout or executive will say, teams never zero in on certain players that far out of a draft. It typically takes until a week or two before the action before boards are even set. So this guy, whoever he is, must’ve been convinced from the start that Shaheen was a playmaker the Bears have been looking for.

So far it looks like the guy is earning that paycheck and then some. Shaheen is already lighting it up at rookie minicamps and Organized Team Activities. Even the national media has become impressed with his capability and physical potential. Time will tell how far he takes it, but it certainly appears like Chicago stole one.

Playing the board perfectly

Part of being a good drafting team is understanding how to play the board. Which good players are likely to go high and which might slip further down than they should? It’s one of the hardest things in this game to master. Pace has already shown once before he knows how to play it. Last year he traded down twice in the second round before selecting Cody Whitehair. A man who now looks like a potential Pro Bowler at center.

Who knew the young GM might’ve provided a sequel, trading down from #36 to #45 in the second round before grabbing Shaheen.

There is plenty of work ahead. Shaheen has his share of doubters. They feel despite his obvious physical talent that he’s unpolished in his fundamentals and unproven against top competition. So it will fall on the Bears coaching staff to help him learn to correct those issues. Given the underlying buzz about his work ethic, that shouldn’t be a huge issue.

MLB Insider Draws Link Between The Cubs and Sonny Gray

By
Sean Sears
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Sonny Gray, Chicago Cubs, Trade

Another season, another slew of Sonny Gray to the Chicago Cubs rumors. The two have seemingly gone hand-in-hand for the last three seasons now, with both sides never coming any closer to making a deal – as far as we know at least.

The likely hold up as been the Cubs unwillingness to part with any of his top-tier minor league talent over the years, names like Javier Baez, Kyle Schwarber, Jorge Soler, etc. However, that all changed last July when the Cubs pulled off the Aroldis Chapman trade, sending their top overall prospect SS Gleyber Torres in exchange for the Cuban-flamer thrower, and the deal ended up being enough to win the Cubs their elusive World Series title.

Currently, the Cubs are in need of more pitching, but this time the club is searching for a starter. It’s no secret, while the Cubs may boast a top eight pitching staff in terms of ERA, their starting pitching has been shaky across the board. Jake Arrieta and John Lackey have been roller coasters on the mound, and both look to be leaving Chicago after this season. Kyle Hendricks and Jon Lester, while still the two most reliable arms on the staff, have both had some stinker outings in 2017. And Brett Anderson is currently sitting on the DL with a flabbergasting 8.18 ERA in six starts this season. With three starts from Anderson’s replacement Eddie Butler, nobody thinks the Cubs can seriously compete the way things stand currently.

With rumors going around about the Cubs having interest in the Rays Chris Archer, and more recently, former Cub and current Giant Jeff Samardzija it’s clear the Cubs are starting to gauge the available arms on the market as the season progresses. While Chris Archer would be an excellent candidate to help supplement the loss of Arrieta and Lackey, the likelihood of the Cubs pulling off a trade involving the Ray’s ace without losing any MLB talent (Schwarber, Baez, Ian Happ) seems slim. There is Samardzija, who is off to a slow start in San Francisco with a 4.50 ERA, but after his exit from Chicago and the damaged reputation he has on the North-Side a reunion seems far fetched.

But with ESPN’s Buster Olney reporting that Sonny Gray could end up being the top pitching target this trade deadline, listing the Cubs as instant favorites to acquire his talents (included the Astros and Yankees), it could end up being the exact player the front office has been searching for. Gray is finally healthy for the first time since the end of the 2015 season, and he is starting to resemble the All-Star ace the Athletics were hoping to build around. With an 3.34 ERA, 8.49 K/9, and a 58.5% ground ball rate in five starts, Gray should quickly become a hot commodity.

On top of all this, the 27-year-old righty is still under team control for another two seasons, via arbitration. He is currently making roughly $3.5 million in 2017, but if he continues to keep his current pace and health, Gray is going to price himself out of Oakland, giving the A’s GM Billy Beane all the more reason to move him – and the sooner the better.

Gray’s value has been damaged due to his injury history, struggling to stay on the field and when he did return last season, he looked nothing like the guy who ended 2015 with a 2.73 ERA and a 3.7 WAR. Suddenly, Gray’s dwindling value has completely reversed and looks to be erupting at the absolute best time for the Cubs. With the A’s constantly looking to rebuild or retool in hopes of a small window of competing, Beane now finally has his blue-chip trade piece returning to his All-Star caliber form – however Gray might be peaking a bit too early.

If Beane were to wait another two months before dealing Gray, he runs the risk of the right-hander’s productivity falling or sustaining an injury, meaning Gray could be available right now and he might come slightly cheaper than some of the top arms on the market. Who knows if the Athletics will sell-low on Gray, but if Beane has his concerns, the 27-year-old could be on the move sooner rather than later.

Of course there is the injury worries, and those will remain a concern for the remainder of Gray’s career, however Gray could come at a price that doesn’t cost the Cubs any MLB-talent.

I also know the Cubs do have a legitimate interest in Gray, and have for a long time, wanting to acquire his talents back in 2014 prior to the Addison Russell deal with Oakland.

While it may be too early to say if Sonny Gray to the Cubs is a realistic move, but the longer the Cubs continue to throw Eddie Butler, Brett Anderson, etc., and receive a sub par performance, the likelihood of a massive deal increases. Same can be said for the A’s and every excellent start Sonny Gray has, as Billy Beane looks to sell as high as he can on his injury-prone ace.

Jordan Howard’s Five Best Runs From Last Season

By
Erik Lambert
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best jordan howard runs

The best Jordan Howard runs of 2016? That’s a good question. In a season that nobody saw coming, it’s hard to go back and pluck out his top gems. Mostly because in a rough 3-13 season, just seeing all of it was welcoming for Bears fans. Their hopes are higher than ever that Howard can be the guy to carry the offense forward. At least until Mitch Trubisky (hopefully) turns into the franchise QB they haven’t had in decades.

Until then everybody expects Howard to be the workhorse. With good reason. As last year showed he proved he could produce even when defenses knew he was coming. So now it’s time to go back. Re-examine the clips and find the five runs that defined his Pro Bowl rookie campaign. What better way to kick it off than with the run that really started everything?

#5:  The arrival announcement

Through the first two games of the season, Howard didn’t see much action. With the Bears trailing in week three 17-0 to the Cowboys though, the team desperately searched for an offensive spark. Current starter Jeremy Langford had failed to get anything going. So Howard was put in to see if he could do any different. Almost immediately he popped off this 36-yard gem that showcased his ability to see where the hole would be and accelerate through it without hesitation. Picture perfect execution and a signal that his time was coming.

Surprise Name Impressing Chicago Bears Coaching Staff

By
Erik Lambert
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roy robertson-harris

Sure Mitch Trubisky, Jordan Howard, Leonard Floyd, Akiem Hicks and Cody Whitehair all go into 2017 with a ton of buzz about them. Not to mention recent additions like Jaye Howard and Victor Cruz. Even they bring that elusive “low-risk-high-reward” sort of intrigue. Crazy as it sounds though, there is another name who quietly has the Bears coaching staff anxious to get things going. His name is Roy Robertson-Harris.

For those who don’t remember, the young man was an undrafted free agent out of UTEP in 2016. Originally the team planned to slot him at outside linebacker. His mixture of length and athleticism were hard to ignore. Not to mention one of the most impressive downfield tackles to save a touchdown highlights in recent history.

Unfortunately his rookie year was cut short. It wasn’t entirely clear why he ended up on the illness/non-football injury list. Time has revealed it was in fact related to heat exhaustion due to his summer training in Houston, Texas. Despite flashing in preseason the illness lingered so the Bears decided to redshirt him for 2016.

Roy Robertson-Harris is bigger, stronger and more comfortable

Not only that but the coaches have since decided to alter their original plan for him. Rather than try molding him into a linebacker, they decided to move him to defensive end. This was something he did at school, though the scheme was different. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune revealed he began a training regimen to add more bulk and better handle his nutrition.

The results seen thus far are generating some excitement.

“The former UTEP Miner came in at 6-foot-7, 265 pounds last year, and a season spent lifting weights has filled out his frame to a rock-solid 285, too big to be an outside linebacker. He played on the line in college, so it’s not a completely new position with OTAs underway and minicamp a little more than two weeks away.

He returned to the Chicago area in March to begin training before the voluntary offseason program started and will remain here in June and July to avoid the heat and humidity in Texas. Robertson-Harris needs to open eyes when the pads go on in camp to work his way up the depth chart.

“We got that (illness) under wraps,” coach John Fox said. “He’s gained a lot of bulk and strength. I like what I’ve seen from him thus far, both in offseason conditioning as well as the immediate practice work.”

It’s no secret the guy is an athletic freak. If he can get strong enough to handle regular 3-4 end duties like stopping the run, he can turn into something. His potential remains very high. Remember he was rated a fifth round pick before the draft last year. This was despite his relative inexperience and coming from a small program. If nothing else it’s another reason to watch the preseason this August. This Bears defense is getting interesting.

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