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REPORT: Nikola Mirotic Traded To Pelicans

By
Aldo Soto
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nikola mirotic continues distance bulls teammates

According to NBC Sports Chicago’s Vincent Goodwill, the Chicago Bulls have traded Nikola Mirotic to the New Orleans Pelicans.

The trade also nets the Bulls Omer Asik, who played with Chicago back in the Tom Thibodeau coaching days.

So, the Bulls ultimately got the first round pick they wanted and also get a little worse this year to improve their draft position. As of now, the Bulls have the sixth worst record in the NBA. Despite a good stretch in December and early January, the team has struggled as of late, losing five of six, including a 1-4 record without Kris Dunn.

So, doesn’t appear as though the Pelicans first round pick will have any restrictions and Asik has one more guaranteed year left on his contract after this season at $11.3 million. In 2019, the Bulls can buy out the center for $3 million.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

So, no deal yet. but it does look like it will happen?

So, we’ll see.

Interesting Free Agents With Connections to Bears Coaching Staff

By
Erik Lambert
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bears coaching staff

One of the more underrated aspects of this new Chicago Bears coaching staff is the potential effect it could have on their fortunes for 2018 free agency. An unsung value of adding new coaches is that they might be able to lure certain players to the team. Players who enjoyed working with them at a prior location. For John Fox that was the case with Danny Trevathan, Mitch Unrein, and Eddie Royal.

This could mean GM Ryan Pace might have extra advantages with certain names set to hit the open market in March. All of them may not be the blockbuster stars fans are hoping for, but more than few could end up being quality adds to the roster in any number of capacities. Here is each of the primary coaches involved going into this season and who they might be able to call on for help

Matt Nagy

Albert Wilson (WR, 25-years old)

Nagy had a direct hand in the development of Wilson as one of the better slot receivers in the league this past season. He’s not flashy but the young man is coming off his best year with 42 catches for 552 yards and three touchdowns. His knowledge of Nagy’s scheme, particularly the route running concepts would be of huge benefit as the Bears revamp their entire receiving position from top to bottom.

Zach Fulton (OL, 26-years old)

There could be some shuffling along the offensive line for the Bears this off-season. Nagy may wish to add more depth too. Zach Fulton not only brings starting experience with him from Kansas City. He also has played every position on the offensive line, though his primary focus is center and guard. He’s not a star but he’s proven more than adequate whenever called upon to replace a starter.

Mark Helfrich

Dion Jordan (EDGE, 27-years old)

The football life of Dion Jordan has been a remarkable roller coaster. He was a rising star coming out of Oregon with his freakish athletic prowess. Then he floundered in Miami, getting in trouble both on and off the field. Most thought his career was over before the Seattle Seahawks decided to give him another chance. He responded with four sacks in five games to end the season. Helfrich was the offensive coordinator at Oregon when Jordan was drafted and the Bears desperately need pass rush help.

Vic Fangio

Eric Reid (S, 26-years old)

Probably among the most frustrated players in the league right now is Eric Reid. It looked like he was destined for stardom during the first two years of his career. Between 2013 and 2014 he had seven interceptions, 19 passes defended, two recovered fumbles and reached a Pro Bowl. In the three seasons since then, he’s failed to match any of those numbers. Considering his best work was done with Fangio, it makes perfect sense he’d want to reunite.

Dontae Johnson (CB, 26-years old)

Another promising young defensive back who saw his progress slowed thanks to the loss of Fangio back in 2015. Dontae Johnson is a rangy corner at 6’2″, able to play the physic, press coverage style that Fangio covets for his system. With the Bears having three key corners set to become free agents, Johnson could be seen as an ideal quick fix if any of them were lost. He would likely be an upgrade over Marcus Cooper.

Aaron Lynch (EDGE, 24-years old)

As stated earlier the Bears need pass rush help. There was genuine excitement around Aaron Lynch when he was drafted back in 2014. Under Fangio’s tutelage, he managed six sacks as a rookie despite limited snaps. A year later as a full-time starter though he only got to 6.5. In the two seasons since as the coaches and schemes continued to change he has just 2.5 total. He needs a fresh start and Fangio already knows what he does well.

Chicago Bears Safety Rated The Best of 2017 NFL Season

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears safety

The improvement of the defense under Vic Fangio in 2017 was obvious. Perhaps nowhere was that clearer than the Chicago Bears safety position. After being a turnstile for older veterans and average youngsters, it felt like they finally got some serious talent at the position. Something that hasn’t been seen in over a decade. Several experts have found it hard not to take notice.

In fact, as rankings have begun to emerge it’s clear the love is serious for them. So here’s the fun part. Ask Bears fans who was the highest rated safety they featured in 2017? There’s a strong likelihood most would say it was rookie Eddie Jackson. It’s not hard to see why. The defense didn’t take its dramatic leap forward until he arrived. He finished the year with two interceptions, three recovered fumbles, one forced fumble and two defensive touchdowns.

Amazingly enough, that wasn’t enough to earn the same grade from the Bleacher Report site-wide ranks as his running mate who claimed top honors.

Adrian Amos grades as best Chicago Bears safety by wide margin

Truly there’s been an unusual lovefest going on with Adrian Amos this year. Pro Football Focus had him among their highest graded safeties for most of the year. Now that infatuation has spread to B/R where two of their top experts pegged him as the highest rated free safety of the 2017 season. They provided their reasons why.

“Posey:  The Bears have one of the NFL’s better up-and-coming safety duos, and Adrian Amos has a lot to do with that. “Smash” rightfully earned his nickname. Amos had a phenomenal 2017. He was outstanding against the run and a sure tackler. In coverage, he showed the kind of awareness that can make him a league-wide star. The only complaint one might have was his lack of plays on the ball. That should come in time.

Farrar:  The first thing that stands out about Amos’ tape is his closing ability. He can cover huge swaths of ground in a big hurry, which allows him to make plays other safeties just can’t. His ball skills will improve as his backpedal gets a bit smoother and he’s able to match receivers with speed and pattern awareness downfield, but he’s shown a tremendous amount of potential in three NFL seasons.”

Amos production not telling the same story

What makes it all the more impressive (and confusing) is the names Amos beat out for the honor. Among include several Pro Bowlers like Devin McCourty, Glover Quin, Antoine Bethea and Earl Thomas. It’s more unusual given his stat line. In 13 games he delivered an interception, a forced fumble, recovered two fumbles and scored a touchdown with 67 tackles. While this is an improvement on his past two seasons, is it worthy of topping those other big names?

Either way, it’s clear Amos took a big step forward this past season. He’s still only just 24-years old. The odds seem to favor him getting even better in 2018 as he and Jackson become even more ingrained in the Vic Fangio defense. This is what fans should focus on the most.

REPORT(s): Yu Darvish Prefers To Sign With Cubs, No Wait, Dodgers, Well Maybe Rangers

By
Aldo Soto
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We’re two months away from Opening Day in MLB and most of the top free agents haven’t signed yet. That includes Yu Darvish, who apparently is getting closer to picking a team and according to three different reports the pitcher has three preferred destinations. Yup, it’s been that kind of an offseason.

Just over the weekend, ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick reported that Darvish was narrowing the field and according to one executive the Cubs were seen as the favorites to sign Darvish. On Monday, MLB insider Jon Morosi said Darvish would ultimately pick to sign with the Cubs even if they didn’t offer him the most money.

Right now, it appears as though the biggest hurdle in signing Darvish is the length of the contract.

BUT WAIT! The Dodgers are actually Darvish’s preferred team?

That’s right, after Morosi’s comments, Dodgers reporter Andy McCullough answered the following when asked if Darvish is actually waiting for the Dodgers to shed some money to make room for him.

“Yes. My understanding is that Yu Darvish has made clear he would like to return to the Dodgers, and part of the delay in his free agency is related to waiting to see if the team can move some of the money.”

OK, I guess that would kind of make sense considering the Dodgers have Matt Kemp’s big salary that no one wants and Darvish hasn’t signed yet, BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE!

Yu Darvish is actually waiting for the Texas Rangers? 

T.R. Sullivan, beat reporter for the Rangers, wrote this.

It seems obvious — reading all the signs — that Darvish wants to return to the Rangers. The problem is the Rangers keep saying that it is “unlikely” that they’ll be active at the top of the free-agent pitching market. Certainly the term “unlikely” leaves wiggle room, and the tedious dance continues with Rangers fans left tantalized by the wait.

Despite all other factors being tossed about, Darvish could be the one keeping the free-agent market from moving. He is the top starting pitcher on the market, and those guys usually sign in November. If Darvish were to sign, it could break the inertia. But he may be waiting to see if the Rangers blink first.

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!?!?!

Short answer, no one actually knows.

I don’t blame Yu Darvish at all. This is going to set up the rest of his life, a once in a lifetime payday, so he has every right to wait as long as he wants to get whatever he thinks he deserves. I just think it’s hilarious that in one day Darvish supposedly has three different preferred destinations.

*waits for Brewers are favorites to sign Darvish story*

Chicago Bears Reportedly “Keying” On This Top Draft Prospect

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears

The Chicago Bears are not going to tip their hand to anything this draft season. GM Ryan Pace has already proven in the past that he values secrecy above all else. The less teams know about his intentions, the better. That’s how he was able to take the entire NFL world by such surprise when he moved up to secure Mitch Trubisky last year.

Naturally, the question will come up a thousand times over the next few months. Do the Bears have anybody specific in mind for their #8 overall pick? The tricky part is that list of possible names is liable to change quite a bit as top prospects rise and fall down boards. The Senior Bowl has already concluded. The scouting combine and pro days are still to come.

Those will go a long way towards helping teams set their boards, including the Bears. Then again it’s always possible they might have a certain name in mind already. Could that be the case for Pace? At least one NFL insider seems to think so?

Chicago Bears could already have designs on drafting Calvin Ridley

Benjamin Allbright has become one of the more reliable sources for NFL inside knowledge over the past couple years. He was ahead of everybody else in stating that the Bears were switching to Trubisky at quarterback from Mike Glennon this season. So anything he has to offer regarding the team is worth noting. That’s why it was interesting to hear his take on who the Bears have in mind for #8.

This will come as great news to some and not so great news to others. Ridley is unquestionably the best wide receiver in the 2018 draft class. The tape reveals that much. Though his production wasn’t great at Alabama, it was more due to their run-heavy system than his ability. Every opponent knew Ridley was their only viable receiving threat and they still weren’t able to stop him.

Ridley is a complete player. He can run with speed and quickness and is a precise route runner. Also, despite his limited body mass, he gives max effort as a blocker. If that weren’t enough Ridley has made it clear on more than one occasion that playing for the Bears would be his dream come true.

Chicago desperately needs wide receiver help. They were 32nd in passing in 2017 with their best target Kendall Wright barely topping 600 yards. Trubisky can’t be expected to carry this team into the future without weapons. With this context taking Ridley makes a ton of sense. So what’s the problem?

Ridley shelf life in the NFL likely won’t be ideal

The biggest hang up on Ridley has nothing to do with ability. He’s got the tools to have success in the NFL. The primary issue is more about the long-term outlook. Ridley is already 23-years old. He turns 24 in December of this year. So he’s a bit on the older side for a common draft pick. Teams, in general, prefer their top picks to be on the younger side in order to maximize their potential value. This creates a problem with Ridley.

Then again does this really need to be such an issue? The Detroit Lions don’t seem to regret going after Ezekiel Ansah back in 2013 even though he would be a 24-year old rookie. Or how about…wait for it…the Bears? Do people forget they did the same thing with Kyle Long or again with Leonard Floyd in 2016? The point is if the player is older than average, there is one question to ask. Will he take time to contribute or can he do so right away?

Given his development at a factory like Alabama, there’s no doubt Ridley would have an instant impact for the Bears. This should make the idea of drafting him more appetizing.

Former All-Pro Explains Why Brian Urlacher Was Better Than Ray Lewis

By
Erik Lambert
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brian urlacher

The 2000s era of defense was one defined by the rule of two middle linebackers. One in the AFC. One in the NFC. They were Brian Urlacher and Ray Lewis. It’s remarkable how intertwined their careers have been. They each hit the national consciousness in 2000. Lewis was Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl MVP. Urlacher was Rookie of the Year. It seemed almost fitting both retired at the same time and now stand on the cusp of entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

So that brings up the inevitable question. Who was better? If people were to examine the straight number, unfortunately, Bears fans won’t get their way. Most would almost certainly take Lewis in a head-to-head.

Urlacher:

  • 1,354 tackles
  • 41.5 sacks
  • 22 interceptions
  • 85 passes defended
  • 11 forced fumbles
  • 2000 Defensive Rookie of the Year
  • 2005 Defensive Player of the Year
  • 8x Pro Bowler

Lewis:

  • 2055 tackles
  • 41.5 sacks
  • 31 interceptions
  • 81 passes defended
  • 19 forced fumbles
  • 2x Defensive Player of the Year (2000,2003)
  • 2x Super Bowl champion
  • 2000 Super Bowl MVP
  • 13x Pro Bowler

From a numerical perspective, Lewis was clearly superior. That said pro football has always been a game that goes beyond the numbers. At least one prominent former player thinks people don’t have a firm grasp of how great Urlacher was. Among his staunchest defenders is former All-Pro center Kevin Mawae.

Mawae believes Brian Urlacher was more complete player than Lewis

Mawae might know a thing or two about football. He himself was an eight-time Pro Bowler for the New York Jets and Tennessee Titans. He went up against the best the NFL had to offer for a long time, including Urlacher and Lewis. That sort of experience, in his estimation, gives him a clear perspective on which was better.

Though he made it clear both are going to the Hall of Fame, if he had to pick one? It has to be Urlacher.

“I played against both of the guys, and Ray was … the guy belongs in the Hall of Fame, no doubt about it,” he said. “But I’ve got to view it in the lens of how I played against guys … not as if I was in the coach … I’ve got to do it in how I played against them. To me, Ray was all over the place — an athletic guy, but he was not a downhill hitter. He’s not taking on offensive linemen. He was a jump-around guy.

“Brian Urlacher, sideline to sideline … could do it all … just like Ray. But he was more of a physical player in the box against offensive linemen, and that’s just the way I view it. Half-one dozen, half the other. Both of them are going to get in. You know what I’m saying?”

Mawae does have a point. For as brilliant and gifted as Lewis was, there were certain things he was never asked to do in Baltimore because he couldn’t and also because he didn’t have to. If one were to examine the rosters of the Bears and Ravens throughout their careers, Lewis most definitely played with a higher volume of great teammates.

Mawae went on to explain why he feared Urlacher more

“With Ray … I mean, he was physical at the point of attack … at the tackle … and making the plays,” said Mawae. “And both of the guys were equally smart in diagnosing and getting a defense lined up. But, from an offensive lineman’s standpoint, Ray Lewis was not going to come down and hit you. He was going to try to make you miss — a lot like Junior Seau. Seau didn’t take on blocks. He kind of jumped around.

“Urlacher did all the stuff Ray did. But he played downhill on you. He’s going to come in and put his helmet on you and shed blocks. I never felt that way about Ray.”

In the end, it doesn’t really matter. Both Lewis and Urlacher will end up in Canton. That’s a foregone conclusion. Even so, it’s nice to hear somebody take Urlacher’s side for once and truly appreciate how great of a player he was. He may not have gotten the rings like Lewis did, but that doesn’t make him any less of a defensive legend. Fans will find out on February 3rd whether he’ll be donning a gold jacket in 2018.

Devin Hester Finally Reveals His Secret to Becoming Greatest Returner

By
Erik Lambert
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devin hester

Devin Hester is without question one of the most revered Chicago Bears in team history. The joy and thrills he brought fans for seven years are unparalleled. People had never seen anything like him before. They also know they won’t see anything like him again. Not only because Hester is a once-in-a-generation talent but also because the NFL has forever changed the rules for kick and punt returns.

Hester was a whirlwind when he arrived in Chicago. All people knew was he had loads of athletic talent and was a good returner out of Miami. Outside of that, he had intriguing upside as a defensive back. People had no idea just how electric he was. Otherwise, the Bears vastly overreached taking him in the second round of the 2006 draft.

Hester responded to those critics with five return touchdowns as a rookie, including an unforgettable one to kick off Super Bowl XLI. A year later he would break the NFL record with six. By the time he left Chicago in 2014 he’d compiled a record 18 kick or punt returns for touchdowns, shattering the old mark of 13 set by Brian Mitchell.

Since then people have wondered about his big secret. Was it his speed, his agility his vision that made him so good? Turns out Devin, sly little man that he is, had another strategy.

Devin Hester greased the refs before every return

Hester made an appearance down at the Pro Bowl in Orlando where NFL insider Jay Glazer talked with him about his tremendous career. Inevitably the question came up about how he had so much success. Hester then admitted that he would give the referees massages before each return chance, begging them to hold off from throwing flags. One can’t say it didn’t work. The absurd rate at which he racked up touchdowns seems to show his “grease the wheels” policy may have some merit.

Two Senior Bowl MVPs Look Like Perfect Solutions For Bears

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears senior bowl

The Chicago Bears Senior Bowl visit certainly didn’t disappoint. GM Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy saw a wealth of talent on display throughout the week in practice. Typically though it’s not until the game itself where the real playmakers start to emerge. That was the case on Saturday when the South team delivered a decisive rout of the North 45-16.

Much of the damage done came courtesy of three big turnovers by the North along with a big day by surprise sleeper QB Kyle Lauletta of Richmond. He finished the day with three touchdown passes. However, the Bears won’t be focused on the quarterbacks like other teams. Their biggest needs lay elsewhere.

For months it’s been clear to everybody that Chicago’s glaring weaknesses lay at two positions. The first and most obvious is wide receiver. Injuries and free agent losses depleted the position to such an extent that the Bears finished 2017 dead last in passing. The other is edge rusher as their top three sack leader from the previous year ended up on injured reserve.

They need solutions to these problems, and a couple names announced themselves as possibilities.

Chicago Bears Senior Bowl crew saw two key names stand out

The game itself had plenty of MVPs, most of them on the south side. Two of them though probably drew the most attention from the Bears contingent. The first was LSU wide receiver D.J. Chark. He only caught 40 passes in 2017 for his team but it was for 874 yards and three touchdowns. So it’s apparent he has some speed. On top of that, he stands a healthy 6’3″, making him a multidimensional threat.

That was on display in Mobile as he torched the North secondary for 160 and a touchdown on five catches.

The other notable name was edge rusher Marcus Davenport out of UTSA. Teams have been heavily interested in him for months coming into the game. He is a rare physical specimen at 6’6″, 259 lbs with the athleticism and speed guys his size shouldn’t have. He seemed to get off to a slow start in practices but began to pick up steam late. That carried over into the game where he made two big plays for his team. The first was a sack of Baker Mayfield in the first quarter and then he returned a fumble for a touchdown in the third.

Both of these players may not have been mainstream names this past season but their talent is evident right away. Davenport looks like he’ll be a lock first round pick. Chark was projected to go between the third and fourth rounds. That may rise to the second given how he performed. There is no doubt they add to a growing list of fruitful options the Bears have for improving those depleted positions.

Chicago Bears Offensive Line Nearing a Possible Shakeup

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears cody whitehair

People had to know a change was coming for the Chicago Bears offensive line at some point. A variety of reasons tipped that off. For starters, they have a new coaching staff in place. One that will feature an almost totally different scheme with concepts installed by head coach Matt Nagy and offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich. Their requirements for line play likely different from John Fox and Dowell Loggains.

The other is the simple fact the line didn’t play well enough in 2017. Injuries were prevalent across most of the positions. They gave up 39 sacks too. Granted having to protect a statue in Mike Glennon and a rookie Mitch Trubisky was tough. Even so the group wasn’t as good as they were in 2016. Tweaks must be expected.

The question is where will they come. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune gets a sense that it will begin along the interior at the center and guard positions. Not only could there be replacements but also shifting to new positions as well.

Chicago Bears offensive line may have a new center

One player who was a slight disappointment this season was center Cody Whitehair. After a tremendous rookie season, he seemed to falter in 2017. While his blocking was fine he had a higher degree of penalties and also a persistent problem snapping the football. It’s led to a belief that it might be better for him to shift to guard, especially if aging veteran Josh Sitton is released.

“The Bears wouldn’t necessarily need to replace Sitton with a guard if they choose to move on. There’s an internal debate over whether Cody Whitehair is better at center or guard and that could play a factor. The team could slide Whitehair to left guard and fill the vacancy by signing a center or drafting one.”

Sitton is in the last year of his contract and would cost $8.5 million in cap space for 2018. The Bears aren’t hurting for cash but it’s certainly something they’ll consider. Whitehair has experienced at guard. He’s played well at it when given opportunities. It may not end there though. Some down at the Senior Bowl think GM Ryan Pace has designs on infusing the group with more young talent early in the draft.

“During a three-block walk late Tuesday night, a college scout who has studied Alabama extensively, discussed the pluses of Crimson Tide wide receiver Calvin Ridley.

He compared Ridley favorably to the Raiders’ Amari Cooper, a former Alabama star, and reminded me the program hasn’t had a quarterback who is an asset for wide receivers. Essentially, he said there’s nothing to not like about Ridley.

The scout stopped in front of his hotel and said, “I get why you’re asking me about Calvin but I think the Bears will draft a lineman.”

2018 class strong at all three line positions

This actually would make some sense. Initial impressions vary but there is an indication the upcoming draft class has fairly strong talent at tackle, guard, and center. As many as 14 names are currently projected to go in the first or second rounds this April. That could even go higher depending on how the Senior Bowl and scouting combine go. Some key names will definitely be in play for Chicago at the #8 overall pick.

Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson, who has connections to Bears offensive line coach Harry Hiestand, is considered by many to be the best overall prospect in the draft. Offensive tackles Orlando Brown, Mike McGlinchey and Connor Williams also could be in the running given their physical abilities and success in college.

In the second round, the Bears may have a shot at two or three top-notch centers like James Daniels of Iowa or Billy Price of Ohio State. Much of how this plays out depends on where other teams go with their picks. Either way, it’s hard to ignore the obvious signs. The Bears offensive line could look a lot different by this summer.

Bears Fans Offered How to Improve The XFL, Prove Instead You’re All Terrible

By
Erik Lambert
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bears fans

Most Chicago Bears fans don’t have a sharp memory when it comes to the XFL. All they can recall is it was a football league implemented by WWE owner Vince McMahon back in the early 2000s. It lasted one season, suffered from terrible ratings and folded swiftly due to poor management. McMahon lost tens of millions of dollars over it.

By that point, experts felt the latest attempt to offer competition to the NFL was gone. It seems though McMahon had never truly given up on the idea. Almost two decades later the announcement came down that he planned to revive the league in 2020. There are certainly skeptics out there. At the same time, many are eager to see if a new league can find footing given recent frustrations with fans over the NFL.

It’s likely that once the league is implemented Chicago is going to get one of the projected teams. The city controls one of the largest media markets in the country so that’s a given. Knowing this I decided to pose a simple question to Bears fans.

Bears fans:  How would you improve the XFL over what the NFL does now?

Truth be told I expected some genuine answer and in fairness, there were quite a few. However, things…didn’t start well. A lot of people were just plain means and even a little bit “controversial” we’ll say.

Yikes. Bit of a hostile crowd. Amidst that crowd though there were actually people with quite a few good ideas. Ones that might be fun if installed in the NFL to make it different and more interesting.

Not bad. Overwhelmingly though most fans were in favor of one rule change in particular. It’s nothing huge but something that has garnered it’s fair share of criticism in the NFL the past few years.

It’s funny and more than a little ironic that so many Bears fans are upset with the catch rule these days. After all, it was their beloved team who first benefitted from the rule becoming muddled during the infamous “Calvin Johnson Game” back in 2010 when Detroit got robbed of a victory in Chicago thanks to it. Nonetheless, it’s clear that people would like to see a different flavor of football.

Maybe, just maybe the XFL can do it right this time.

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