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Sports Mockery 2017 Stanley Cup Playoff Staff Predictions

By
Matt Barbato
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Members of the Chicago Blackhawks pose for pictures as they celebrate after defeating the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6 of the NHL hockey Stanley Cup Final series on Monday, June 15, 2015, in Chicago. The Blackhawks defeated the Lightning 2-0 to win the series 4-2. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Finally, at long last the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs have arrived and will begin Wednesday night.

It’s been a winding and surprisingly great regular season for the Chicago Blackhawks. The Hawks overcame a bumpy acclimation period for some of their new youngsters and managed to finish atop the Western Conference with 109 points. Their 50-23-9 record was also good for the second-best regular-season in franchise history. Who would’ve saw that coming?

But of course, the Blackhawks aren’t judged by regular-season accomplishments and accolades. The real season stretches from mid-April to hopefully June. The Hawks are in a great spot to win their fourth Stanley Cup in eight seasons, an incredible feat during the NHL’s ridiculously stingy salary cap era.

However, the road won’t be easy. They’ll first have to get past the emerging Nashville Predators and then another Central Division rival before battling the top team out of the Pacific just to get to the Stanley Cup Final. Who knows who will be awaiting them if they get there.

Will the Blackhawks make it four Stanley Cups in eight years? The Sports Mockery staff gave their playoff picks below:

Matt Zawaski

Quarterfinals

Blackhawks over Predators
Blues over Wild
Flames over Ducks
Oilers over Sharks

Rangers over Canadiens
Bruins over Senators
Capitals over Maple Leafs
Penguins over Blue Jackets

Semifinals

Blackhawks over Blues
Oilers over Flames
Rangers over Bruins
Capitals over Penguins

Conference Finals

Blackhawks over Oilers
Capitals over Penguins

Stanley Cup Final Prediction

Blackhawks over Capitals

Yes call me a homer. This Blackhawks team has a ton of talent and depth. One could argue this is one of the better teams the Blackhawks have brought to the playoffs. The play of rookies will be the big question mark but with leadership like Toews, Seabrook and yes Tootoo I think the rookies will be able to perform.

My dark horse if you will is the Oilers. Any hockey fan can tell you a hot goalie can carry you far in the playoffs and the Oilers have just that. So you combine that with McJesus or McDavid and you got yourself something special.

Ovi finally has the supporting cast he needs to get him past the Penguins and I think they’ll get to the big show but fall short to the deeper, more experienced Blackhawks.

Marc-Louis Paprzyca

Quarterfinals

Blackhawks over Predators
Blues over Wild
Ducks over Flames
Sharks over Oilers

Canadiens over Rangers
Bruins over Senators
Capitals over Maple Leafs
Blue Jackets over Penguins

Semifinals

Blackhawks over Blues
Sharks over Ducks

Canadiens over Bruins
Capitals over Blue Jackets

Conference Finals

Blackhawks over Sharks

Capitals over Canadiens

Stanley Cup Final Prediction

Blackhawks over Capitals

Canada plays strong in these Stanley Cup Playoffs. Oilers take the Sharks to 7 games but experience gets them. Maple Leafs look strong but they go through the Capitals buzzsaw. Canadiens make it to the conference final but ultimately lose to the Capitals.

In an all-time great SCF the Blackhawks and Capitals go all seven games. It’s a fairly high-scoring yet great goaltending series. Crawford and Holtby battle for the Conn Smythe but Crow edges him out in game 7. He finally shuts up people who don’t think he’s elite and Blackhawks party in Chicago all summer.

Matt Barbato

Quarterfinals

Blackhawks over Predators
Wild over Blues
Ducks over Flames
Sharks over Oilers

Rangers over Canadiens
Bruins over Senators
Capitals over Maple Leafs
Penguins over Blue Jackets

Semifinals

Blackhawks over Wild
Ducks over Sharks

Rangers over Bruins
Capitals over Blue Jackets

Conference Finals

Blackhawks over Ducks

Capitals over Rangers

Stanley Cup Final

Capitals over Blackhawks

It’s been a bizarre year in sports where a bunch of teams and athletes have ended long championship droughts (from the Cubs to Sergio Garcia at The Masters). I think the theme continues with the Capitals, who are clearly the best team in hockey.

They’ll have to earn it, however. The silly NHL playoff rules will guarantee Washington faces either the second or third-best team in the Eastern Conference in the semifinal. Watch out for the Rangers, who could be dangerous and spoil Washington’s run.

As for the West, I think the Blackhawks have one of the easier roads in recent years to the final. Their first-round matchup with Nashville could be their most challenging, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Predators tripped them up in the first round. The Blues are red-hot, but Minnesota will edge them out. Nobody in the Pacific is overly threatening and Connor McDavid could carry Edmonton to the Western Conference final by himself.

The Hawks are 3-0 in the Stanley Cup Final during this incredible dynasty, but they’ll run into the deeper team with the better goaltender this time. Cross another drought off the list.

Brian Foran

Quarterfinals

Blackhawks over Predators
Blues over Wild
Ducks over Flames
Sharks over Oilers

Rangers over Canadiens
Bruins over Senators
Capitals over Maple Leafs
Penguins over Blue Jackets

Semifinals

Blackhawks over Blues
Ducks over Sharks
Rangers over Bruins
Capitals over Penguins

Conference Finals

Blackhawks over Ducks
Capitals over Penguins

Stanley Cup Final Prediction

Capitals over Blackhawks

I hate to be the rain cloud lingering over every ecstatic Blackhawk fan’s parade but I don’t see round 1’s matchup against the Nashville Predators being the cake walk most others are nonchalantly viewing it as.

Nashville is a deep and dangerous team with a top line capable of carving up just about any defensive pairing in the NHL. The Pred’s top-4 defenseman are just about as stable and offensively dangerous as any in the league, as well. While I don’t think Nashville possesses the depth to pose a serious threat to the Blackhawks, the longevity and tumultuousness of the series depends on the performance of goaltender Pekka Rinne and whether or not forwards Calle Jarnkrok and perennial thorn in the Blackhawks’ side Colin Wilson are able to play. Both are dealing with lower body injuries and, as of Wednesday morning, have yet to resume skating for the Preds.

If Wilson and Jarnkrok draw back into the lineup for Nashville, I see Blackhawks prevailing in a hard-fought 6. If not, I have the Blackhawks in an easy 5 games. I feel like the Blackhawks are always hindered by rising stars – exp. Robby Fabbri, Jonathan Drouin – during the playoffs so keep a particular eye on Nashville’s Kevin Fiala during this series.

In a wider spectrum, I indeed have the Blackhawks reaching the final – knocking off St. Louis in round 2 before prevailing over Anaheim in a brutal 7 game gauntlet. What’s left of the battered Blackhawks will meet the Washington Capitals in the Stanley Cup Final where I see Ovechkin, Backstrom, Holtby and Co. finally breaking through and taking down the Blackhawks in what would be another epic 7 game series.

Bears Considered The Best Home For Gifted But Polarizing QB

By
Erik Lambert
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bears draft chad kelly

Would the Bears draft Chad Kelly? Now there is a question only the diehard fanatics continue to debate these days. Late last year the Ole Miss standout was considered among the top quarterbacks that would be available in the 2017 NFL draft. Over the past few months though he’s endured a string of bad luck combined with his own bad decisions.

Chad is the nephew of Hall of Fame QB Jim Kelly of Buffalo Bills fame. He most definitely shares the same bloodlines as he arguably has the best arm in the class. That’s not a joke. The young man not only can throw the ball a long way, he can do it with often remarkable accuracy. Need an idea? Just watch this throw against Alabama.

Or this one against Georgia.

For all the love that Deshaun Watson gets for vanquishing the Crimson Tide in the national championship, it’s easy to forget Kelly has beaten them twice over the past two years. In 2015 he threw for 4,042 yards and 31 touchdowns. Doing that in a smaller conference is pretty impressive. Doing in the SEC against wall-to-wall NFL talent? That’s exciting. So…

WATCH: Cubs Release Teaser Video Showing World Series Rings

By
Gus
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As of today, nobody had any idea what the 2016 World Series Championship rings would look like. The only details released was the fact that there would be 108 diamonds embedded into the ring to symbolize the amount of years between World Series Championships. The ring is valued around $70,000 dollars and was the creation of the Cubs front office and a few players (Rizzo and Heyward).

About two hours ago, the Cubs released a quick teaser video giving fans a quick glimpse at the rings that the team will receive tonight before they take on the Los Angeles Dodgers.

And I emphasize the word quick.

Check it out.

 

Here’s How Cubs Players Will Show Off Their World Series Rings

By
Gus
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Before tonight’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, members of the Chicago Cubs will get their 2016 World Series championship rings. These will be the first World Series rings that most of the players will receive but a few players (Lackey, Lester, Zobrist) will be able to add the 2016 ring to their collection.

Nobody has officially seen the rings yet but a few players were asked to give their input into the design of the ring. The only real detail that has been released regarding the ring is the fact that it’ll have 108 diamonds to represent the years since the team last won a World Series championship.

If you do that math in your head, 108 diamonds has to equate to one expensive ass piece of jewelry. Just how expensive you ask?

$70,000.

That’s right folks. The 2016 Chicago Cubs have the option to walk around during a regular afternoon with a piece of jewelry that is worth more than most of our yearly salaries.

If I own a $70,000 piece of jewelry, there’s not a shot in hell that I’m ever wearing it out in public. I’m assuming the ring is going to absolutely huge to compensate for the 108 diamonds and it has to be shiny as hell which is the equivalent to a neon sign pointing at you saying, “ROB ME.”

That’s just me.

Jesse Rogers of ESPN asked some of the players if they would wear the rings out in public and some of their answers were pretty funny.

Albert Almora Jr. is going to use it to get in good with his wife.

“Maybe date night with the wife, make her feel special, bring it out then.”

Kyle Schwarber and C.J. Edwards plan to keep it locked away somewhere safe. The only difference between the two is Schwarber is willing to wear it every now and then for special events while Edwards says he’ll never wear it.

“It goes to my house locked up in a safe that can’t be broken.”

Kris Bryant, the modest one, has to see what it looks like first.

“It depends on how shiny it is.”

World Series MVP Ben Zobrist already has a ring so he should probably explain to KB how rings work.

“I think that’s kind of the point of wearing a World Series ring. It’s going to be obvious it’s something special.”

Hector Rondon plans to use the ring to probably help him get a free meal.

“Maybe out to a restaurant, but it depends on the restaurant.”

Javier Baez, hands down the flashiest guy on the team, had the exact answer you’d expect when he was asked if he would wear his ring.

“I am going to wear it every day to the field for the sure,” Baez said. “I like white gold, and I think it is white, so hopefully it matches everything.”

My favorite answer from the team comes from Jake Arrieta who had no shame is sharing the exact purpose of him wearing a $70,000 piece of jewelry.

“When I have a suit on and want to rub it in some people’s face.”

I’m really hoping that Jake is wearing a suit around any White Sox or Cardinal fans in the very near future.

 

WATCH: This Blackhawks Hype Video Will Get Your Blood Pumping

By
Marc-Louis Paprzyca
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Chicago Blackhawks fans shouldn’t need much assistance to get hyped for another Stanley Cup run. In case you do, this video will get your blood pumping.

Winning never gets old but as Toews says in the video, “the only way it does get better is if we win four.” Follow that up with highlights of Kane, Toews and Crawford and you’re ready for the playoffs to start.

Prepare to be hyped!

https://instagram.com/p/BSwmv5-BsdG/

Here’s The Reason The Cubs Compared Kyle Schwarber To Babe Ruth

By
Gus
-

When Theo Epstein began the Cubs rebuild during the winter of 2011, one of his highest priorities was to attempt to acquire what he called “pillar” players. These would be players that Epstein believed would help him change the culture of the “lovable losers” through the way they played the game of baseball and conducted themselves off the field. Obviously, these players would have great baseball skill but Epstein emphasized that his pillar players must also have outstanding character as well. In a perfect world, Epstein believed he needed to have at least four pillar players before the Cubs could contend for a World Series championship and as he looked at the Cubs 2011 roster he had a grand total of zero.

Fast forward three years.

By July of 2014, Epstein believed he had accomplished his goal of acquiring four pillar players. He traded for Anthony Rizzo in 2012, drafted Kris Bryant in 2013, and acquired Kyle Schwarber and Addison Russell in 2014 via the draft and a trade respectively.

Of the three pillars, Schwarber’s story has to be the most interesting due to the fact he was the only one compared to arguably the greatest baseball player in history, Babe Ruth.

Patrick Mooney, Cubs beat writer for CSN, wrote a great article yesterday discussing the discovery of Kyle Schwarber by renowned baseball scout Tom Zielinski, who tragically passed away this past winter.

Zielinski was the Cubs top Midwest scout since 2001 and he is the man that is credited with finding Kyle Schwarber during his time as Indiana University. Zielinski was attending the Purdue-IU game where Schwarber was a junior for the Hoosiers and on May 4, 2014, Zielinski made a bold comparison in his scouting report on Schwarber that is still legendary in the Cubs front office today.

“Squint your eyes and imagine a grainy film of Babe Ruth hitting a ball in the stands at Yankee Stadium. I swear I saw that reenacted today as the ball flew out over the 2nd fence in RF.”

Theo Epstein trusted Zielinski so when he read the report on Schwarber, Epstein had to see him live and in person. Nine days later, Epstein traveled to Louisville, Kentucky to see if Zielinski’s words on Schwarber held any truth.

Not only did Schwarber deliver, he hit one of the longest home runs in Louisville’s Jim Patterson stadium’s history as his Hoosiers went on to defeat the Louisville Cardinals 7-2.

Here’s the bomb Theo saw live and in person.

It was shots like this that led Zielinski to say,

“I felt like I was watching Babe Ruth saunter to the plate, call his shot and then he went on to hit a home run. And then as he trotted around the bases, I felt like I was watching Babe Ruth’s trot.”

Look, I’m not jumping on board with the Schwarber/Ruth comparison because the guy hasn’t even played a full MLB season yet. However, the similarities are pretty hard to ignore:

Ruth was 6’2″, Schwarber is 6’0.

Ruth weighed 216 lbs, Schwarber is 235.

Ruth debuted at the age of 19, Schwarber was 22.

Through two seasons, Ruth played in 47 games, Schwarber played in 71.

Both of their first seasons were abbreviated.

Both have a huge left handed bat and let’s be honest, they kind of look the same as well.

The Schwarber/Ruth comparison is pretty easy to see for the reasons mentioned above but there are also statistics that link the two players.

Among those with 40 or more at-bats, Schwarber and Ruth are tied for fourth on the all-time postseason list with a .744 slugging percentage. Those slugging percentages are elevated from the fact Schwarber already has five postseason home runs compared to Ruth’s 15 (although Ruth made 10 postseason appearances compared to Schwarber’s two). It’s also ironic that both men allegedly called their shot before they stepped to the plate and took one out at Wrigley.

Yes, I said allegedly.

Schwarber has a long way to go to fulfill the comparison between he and Ruth but so far, he’s off to a great start. Cubs fans would not be lucky enough to have Schwarber on their team if it wasn’t for Stan Zielinski so when the team gets their championship rings tonight at Wrigley, Zielinski should be remembered as a part of the championship process.

The final comparison (and the only one I’m really concerned about) between Ruth and Schwarber is the number of rings:

Ruth – 7

Schwarber – 1

Although I’m hoping Schwarber’s number will be changing again this November.

Why Dreaming of Myles Garrett Falling To Bears Isn’t Crazy

By
Erik Lambert
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bears draft myles garrett

It sounds utterly insane to think about. The Chicago Bears draft Myles Garrett. There is just no way. It’s impossible this day and age that a talent of that caliber somehow falls from his rightful place at #1 overall to #3. Yet fans were involuntarily thrust into that dream state when Adam Schefter of ESPN dropped a bomb on social media.

According to his sources, the Cleveland Browns are holding an internal wrestling match in regards to what they want to do with the top pick. The front office wants to go with Garrett. However, head coach Hue Jackson believes they must take this opportunity to get a top quarterback. Preferably Ohio-native Mitch Trubisky, whom he reportedly loves.

This centers around the fear that Trubisky will be long gone by the time the Browns pick again at #12 overall. This would indicate they don’t like the other quarterbacks in the class. Also given their own weak state at the position, it can’t be surprising that this argument is taking place. It would be a Browns thing to do, passing up a proven talent for a major gamble on a quarterback.

How Charles Tillman Was Saved From Football Hell By The Bears

By
Erik Lambert
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charles tillman cleveland browns

Many great NFL players have their own fascinating draft journeys. Some not so smooth as others. So imagine this. A Charles Tillman Cleveland Browns uniform? Sounds utterly ridiculous. What many Chicago Bears fans will be stunned to know is that back in 2003 it almost became a sobering reality for the future Pro Bowl cornerback.

In an interview with the Bears team website, Tillman recounted how things went for him leading up to the draft. Though he’d enjoyed a productive career at Louisiana-Lafayette, the initial belief was that he’d go somewhere in the third round. History will note that Chicago ended up taking him with the third pick of the second round (#35).

The crazier part is the fact that Tillman was certain the Browns would be the team making that pick.

“I honestly thought I was going to be selected by the Browns because they’re the ones who did the most in-depth background work on me. They sent their security guy to my school. He talked to my teachers. He talked to numerous people at the places I’d hang on. He even talked to my landlord at my apartment. So I just assumed I was going to Cleveland. I knew anything was possible, but the Browns were doing the most work so I felt that I might be a Cleveland Brown.”

The Charles Tillman Cleveland Browns what-if story

What stunned him even more was the fact that Chicago had not met with him at all prior to the draft. Apparently the Bears were that sold on his ability. Turns out the scouts got their bonus pay for that one. Tillman, a Chicago native, became a fan favorite for the next decade. Quite possibly the best corner in franchise history who made an art out of forcing turnovers. By the time he was gone he’d delivered 36 interceptions and 42 forced fumbles. He actually changed the way the game was played because of his unique talents.

It’s impossible to see him in any other uniform besides Bears navy blue. One can only imagine how his career might’ve turned out in Cleveland. The Browns were to begin a slow death spiral starting in 2003. During that time all the way up to present day they haven’t made the playoffs once. Lovie Smith never would’ve been his head coach and helped polish his skill for the takeaway.

It’s possible “Peanut” might’ve been just a blip on the radar in Cleveland. Another talented young player so woefully mishandled by one of the worst organizations in football. Thankfully that didn’t come to pass. Tillman forged an outstanding career in his hometown and should be in consideration for the Hall of Fame down the road.

Still, it’s fascinating to think about. Cleveland would be up on the board again at pick #52 in the second round of 2003. Did they have Tillman pegged as their guy before the Bears swiped him? It’s a definite possibility, and a horrifying one at that. The 2000s never would’ve been the same without him stalking ball carriers with that trademark Peanut Punch.

Blackhawks Lose Out On Russian Superstar Because Of NHL Olympic Decision

By
Marc-Louis Paprzyca
-

Hockey fans knew that there would be some fallout after the the NHL decided their players would not participate in the 2018 Olympics. It turns out that not only NHL players have a problem with the decision. The fallout has reached the Russian players in the KHL and it will cost the Blackhawks a top prospect

Maxim Shalunov was a fourth-round draft pick by the Blackhawks in 2011 and spent some time with the Rockford IceHogs in 2013-2014. He didn’t quite adjust to the pro game and went back to Russia to play in the KHL. There, he has been a rising star the last two seasons with 18g 12a in 2015-2016 and 19g 18a in 2016-2017. His success this past season led to him being named to the all-star team.

There had been reports that Shalunov had interest and could have joined the Blackhawks as early as this postseason. That was laid to rest a month ago but new news dashes any hopes of him joining the organization for at least one more year.

Most people would think that a player would never pass up the chance to play in the NHL but Russian players have a great sense of national pride. On Tuesday afternoon, the AFP news in Moscow reported that Shalunov’s agent Shumi Babayev stated his player has cut off talks to come to the NHL because of the Olympic decision.

Shalunov has represented Russia twice in the U18 and U20 championships while earning bronze in both. Though, he has never played for the national team at the World Championships or Olympics. According to Babayev, a spot on the Olympic stage for Russia would be a “life’s dream” for his client Shalunov.

Once again the NHL’s stinginess is hurting the product and the fans. It has always been believed that the NHL has the greatest collection of hockey players in the world but that isn’t completely true. Babayev represents another player, Anton Burdasov, who has also cut talks off. He would have come over as an undrafted free agent, not unlike Artemi Panarin came to the Blackhawks.

The NHL’s actions are depriving fans of potentially great players who are coveted by many teams. It’s a shame that a league that is so concerned about its product, denies itself the opportunity to better the game and grow the game. Maybe Gary Bettman is happy always being the fourth largest sport.

Follow @Pappy_Hour on Twitter for more Blackhawks stats, information and musings. 

 

Sneaky Bears Are Meeting With Their Possible Next Left Tackle

By
Erik Lambert
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bears garett bolles

The Bears Garett Bolles interest shouldn’t be a surprise.Nobody can ever say GM Ryan Pace is not a creature of habit. Over the past two drafts during his time in Chicago, the first two rounds have gone pretty much the same way. Take a premier athlete at a skill position in the first round, take a lineman in the second round. It was true in 2015 (Kevin White/Eddie Goldman) and again in 2016 (Leonard Floyd/Cody Whitehair).

It’s hard to argue with the results. Goldman and Floyd are two of the best players on the defense. Whitehair had an outstanding rookie season as their starting center. Thanks to Pace’s efforts the Bears offensive line in particular has become a team strength. Whitehair, Josh Sitton and Kyle Long form perhaps the best interior trio of blockers in the NFL.

Most experts agree the only thing missing for it to become elite is a top offensive tackle. While Charles Leno Jr. and Bobby Massie were a serviceable pair last year, neither even rank in the top 10 at their respective positions. That would explain the Bears’ interest in Bolles.

Why the Bears Garett Bolles connection is exciting

Most will say the offensive tackle class for 2017 is weak. That’s not necessarily true. It’s not deep. There is a difference between the two. In fact there are three tackles in this class that can be considered starter quality. Garett Bolles of Utah is one of them. A late riser on draft boards following the 2016 season. Part of the reason is because it took him awhile to get his life straightened out.

Bolles got into a lot of trouble as a teenager with everything from drugs, to cutting classes and encounters with the laws. He was suspended or kicked out of five different schools. Not until he was taken in by a foster family and found religion did his personal life find peace. He started college late, rediscovered his ability for football and rapidly rose up the ranks until he was starting at Utah as one of the best left tackles in the country.

The words of his former Snow College coach Kyle Whittingham still ring true.

“He’s got the whole package. He’s got the height, the length, the feet, the hips, he’s flexible, he can bend, he’s strong, he’s athletic. He lacks nothing.”

So why isn’t he higher on boards? Well aside from his past, he’s also raw. Bolles has just one season of starting experience at the FBS level. There are plenty of fundamental issues to work through. He’s also a bit light for an NFL tackle at 297 lbs. He’ll have to add some weight. Lastly, he’ll be turning 25-years old in May. Such things can’t be so easily ignored. At least in terms of first round consideration.

This would mean the Bears are likely eyeing him for their #36 pick in the second. So why the interest?

Well, he’s good.

Stop nitpicking

Not only is Bolles arguably the most athletic pass protector in this draft, he also might be one of the meanest. He has a nasty streak that can often set the tone for games that intimidate pass rushers. At 6’5″ he boasts 34-inch arms. Everything about him says he’s got a bright future in the NFL. All a team has to do is look past his slight age and weight concerns.

For what it’s worth, Bears fans shouldn’t have a problem. These are the same exact issues raised about a young man named Kyle Long when he came out of Oregon in 2013. Not very experienced. An iffy background pockmarked by legal issues. Older than average draft prospects. Seems that worked out just fine after three Pro Bowls. He’s still just 28-years old. At the end of the day it’s not going to be a huge deal.

Health permitting Bolles should end up being a standout tackle for 7-10 years in the NFL. Imagine an offensive line that featured him, Sitton, Whitehair and Long. The possibilities would be limitless for their offense, especially if they ever end up finding a quarterback. In this context it’s perfectly understandable why the Bears are interested. Elite offensive lines tend to take a team far in this league.

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