Saturday, November 14, 2026
EDGE is live. Chicago fans can now access and explore the beta.
Home Blog Page 325

Sources: Ryan Poles Explored Another, Much More Controversial Trade

ryan poles
September 21, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; New York Giants offensive tackle Evan Neal (73) blocks San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (97) during the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The trade deadline ended up passing without too much drama for the Chicago Bears. GM Ryan Poles opted to keep things simple, swapping picks with the Cleveland Browns to secure edge rusher Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. It wasn’t the splash many wanted, but it at least gave the Bears some much-needed depth along the defensive line. Shoyinka was a decent player in Tampa Bay, but didn’t see much action in Cleveland. At the very least, he should be healthy and motivated. However, the real intrigue is in the deals Chicago didn’t make.

Most people are aware of the negotiations with the New York Jets for Jermaine Johnson. Those ultimately fell apart because the asking price was too high. Sources informed Sports Mockery that the Bears explored another minor deal that would have gotten a pretty big reaction.

There were discussions between Poles and head coach Ben Johnson about trading for Evan Neal.

It was common knowledge that the former 1st round offensive tackle was available from the New York Giants. He’d found himself on the bench after some rough seasons at right tackle and a failed switch to guard. Some at Halas Hall believed it might be worth exploring the idea of switching him to left tackle, his original position in college. Neal never got that chance in New York because they had Andrew Thomas. Ultimately, the Bears chose to stand pat.

Ryan Poles likely had reasons to at least consider the idea.

The left tackle situation for Chicago remains in flux. Theo Benedet has been a tremendous part of the team’s resurgent ground game since taking over as the starter. However, it came at a cost. His pass protection has been problematic at times, no doubt due to a mix of his shorter length and flawed fundamentals. It isn’t certain he will be able to overcome those issues. Neal is a physical specimen who dominated at Alabama. For all his problems in New York, much of it could be chalked up to the position switch. Some players don’t handle that too well.

Ultimately, Ryan Poles felt the move lacked sufficient upside. Neal will be a free agent next offseason. If the Bears want to explore the idea, they can do it then—no need to give up any draft capital for the experiment. This is another example of those conversations we rarely hear about that occur as the deadline approaches.

Evaluating Patrick Williams’s Start To The 2025-26 Season

Nov 4, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams (44) scores against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Much of Chicago can agree that Patrick Williams is one of the more heavily scrutinized players with the franchise. That same crowd will argue that the constant negativity is justified. As a former top-five draft pick, their highest selection since 2008, and having signed a five-year, $90 million extension last summer, the results need to show on the court. As seen with Zach LaVine’s lack of success in Chicago and the team’s immediate improvement after his departure, coupled with Sacramento’s sudden downfall upon his arrival, some players are either products of, or toxins in, their environment. Williams seems to be the former. Through seven games in 2025, where does he currently stand, and will he ever win over the good graces of Chicago fans?

Best He’s Ever Played

As is the case with many teams in the midst of an incredible stretch, most players earning minutes have to contribute at a high level. Josh Giddey, Nikola Vucevic, Isaac Okoro, Ayo Dosunmu, Kevin Huerter, and others are playing some of the best basketball in their respective careers. Patrick Williams has followed suit. Throughout his first five years, his statistics not only didn’t improve from year to year, but they actually declined. Last season, he scored his lowest number of points per game, while shooting a career-low percentage from the field, from three-point territory, and from the free-throw line. His first five seasons also featured four losing records, and the only winning season was when he was sidelined for 65 of the 82 games. Although his numbers haven’t popped off the page through seven outings, he has improved in each of the areas mentioned above.

It appears that having a lesser role in a ball movement-heavy team was the formula for success for Williams. This was not the same chemistry or playing style that this franchise featured over the last five campaigns.

Winning Over The City Of Chicago

The former Florida State Seminole will have a tough time regaining the hearts and support of Bulls fans. This is a tough city to impress from the start, but it’s especially daunting as an underperforming top-end draft selection on an underwhelming team. When he was drafted, the hype and excitement led many to believe that he’d be an integral part of turning the organization’s losing ways around. He has not played any role in doing so and has been a bust by all accounts. The spite was doubled down when the front office decided to stick with the mediocre forward, signing him to a five-year extension. While he has contributed as a seventh or eighth man in the rotation, hopes were much higher for the most anticipated draft selection in over a decade.

While he may never regain the trust and admiration of Chicago, Williams is contributing to winning basketball. Although it’s a much more minor role than expected from a top-five pick and the fourth-highest paid player, he’s excelling in his bench minutes and improving his offensive efficiency.

Two Statistics That Prove These Chicago Bulls Are For Real

Nov 4, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic (9) reacts after shooting and scoring a game winning three-pointer against Philadelphia 76ers guard Quentin Grimes (5) during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

The Chicago Bulls have been the NBA’s biggest surprise of the 2025-26 season. Analysts and sportsbooks both had this team taking its lumps this season, securing a good position in the draft lottery, and missing the playoffs by a wide margin. Through seven games, the complete opposite has happened. This group is 6-1, first place in the Eastern Conference, and only one of three teams with one or fewer losses. While most remain skeptical of the Bulls’ legitimacy when it comes to playoff time, a few underlying facts from the early stages suggest that this team is more than just a flash in the pan. Here are two reasons the 2025-26 Chicago Bulls are not just lightning in a bottle, but a sustainable championship contender.

Largest Comeback In Four Years

Through the first four games of undefeated play, the majority of basketball fans attributed the Bulls’ success to the opposition’s failures, not Chicago’s successes. Historically poor three-point shooting, abysmal transition defense, and some weak outings from the opposition’s star players were cited as reasons why the Bulls remained unscathed. While those things might be true, two games in the last six days have withstood the test of separating a lucky streak from a formidable and dangerous club. Last Friday night, they hosted the New York Knicks in the first NBA Cup pool play game. These matchups bring a little more excitement than the typical regular season, and the Knicks were a top-end Eastern Conference contender a year ago, entering the game with a fully healthy lineup. Despite the odds, Chicago controlled the entire 48 minutes and shocked much of the NBA world with a win.

Tuesday night, after trailing by 18 points after one quarter, 19 points after two quarters, and by as much as 24 points in the game, the Bulls completed their most significant come-from-behind victory since 2021. Keep in mind the Philadelphia 76ers were also tied atop the Eastern Conference with Chicago before this meeting. Today, the Bulls are leading the East, with wins against two of the top contenders in the conference. It’s getting increasingly difficult to argue the legitimacy of this team.

Rare Air In The Franchise Record Books

Not only have the Bulls bested two of the league’s top teams on route to a 6-1 start to the year, but they’re doing so in ways never seen before. Their 5-0 start was the first time they had been undefeated through five games in 19 years. Josh Giddey‘s back-to-back triple-doubles over Chicago’s last two games stand alone with Michael Jordan as the only players in franchise history to accomplish that feat.

Perhaps the most impressive statistic that the Bulls can boast this season is the diversity in scoring. For the first time in the organization’s illustrious history, they’ve had six or more players score ten or more points in seven straight games. This is even more unthinkable considering it’s the first seven games of the season!

Chicago’s widespread offensive juggernaut is creating a problem for the opposition. With the array of capable and willing playmakers and bucket-getters on this roster, each night features a new hero. Don’t forget, this is without their leading scorer over the last two seasons, Coby White. Once he arrives, their offense will add another layer of danger for opposing clubs to dissect.

The two victories over top-end teams this week, the unpredictable yet consistent offensive attack, and the will to fight back from a 24-point deficit on Wednesday night all show that the 2025-26 Chicago Bulls are here to stay and will be competing in the 2026 NBA Playoffs.

Cubs Sign Unsung Hero to Extension

Colin Rea option declined Cubs

Who would have thought that by October many Chicago Cubs fans would be demanding that Craig Counsell start Colin Rea over Shōta Imanaga in the postseason? I certainly wasn’t and although it didn’t quite work out in Game 5 of the NLDS, Rea did become an unsung hero during the 2025 season. Now, the Cubs have rewarded the veteran pitcher with an extension that could bring Rea back to the team in 2027.

Rea originally signed a one-year guaranteed contract with the Cubs last offseason that also included a $6 million option for 2026. On Thursday, Rea and the Cubs negotiated a new deal that will now pay him a guaranteed salary of $6.5 million for the 2026 season and $13 million overall if he’s retained in 2027.

The new contract is broken down like this: 2026 guaranteed salary of $5.5 million, $1 million buyout on a $7.5 million option for 2027.

So, at the end Rea earned himself an extra $500,000 of guaranteed money. The right-hander ended the 2025 season with a 3.95 ERA in 159.1 innings. He made 27 starts, second most on the team, and was actually pretty damn good since the end of June. In his final 15 starts, Rea had a 3.56 ERA in 86 innings with a 1.13 WHIP and 3.51 FIP. He did a good job of keeping the ball in the park and overall limited the hard contact against him.

Rea also pitched well in the playoffs, posting a 1.17 ERA in 7.2 innings over three games.

He certainly wasn’t a popular signing at the time, but Rea proved to be more than serviceable for the Cubs in 2025. The veteran filled in for several starters who were injured throughout the year and he made significant strides down the stretch that make you feel good about his future with the Cubs.

Rea will once again slot in as a back-end option in the rotation in 2026.

Cubs Sign Colin Rea Heading into 2025

In theory, signing free agent pitcher Colin Rea is perfectly fine, but if he ends up being the final piece added to the team’s starting rotation this offseason, then Cubs fans should rightfully be pissed off.

Who knows, maybe the Cubs are still working on a trade for a guy like Pablo Lopez and adding Rea to the pitching staff ensures the roster remains properly equipped with depth in case other guys get moved. ESPN’s Jesse Rogers reported on Friday that the Cubs and Rea agreed to a contract that includes an option for the 2026 season.

Rea, who has pitched for the Milwaukee Brewers the past two seasons and three of the last four (Rea spent 2022 in Japan) is guaranteed $5 million with the Cubs. Right now, it’s not clear if a buyout for the 2026 option is included in that $5 million salary.

Rea was briefly with the Cubs, appearing in nine games with the club during the 2020 season. The righty struggled in 14 innings, posting a 5.79 ERA that year.

The 34-year-old is coming off his best year in MLB, recording career highs in innings pitched with 167.2 and starts with 27. He made an additional five relief appearances for the Brewers in 2024.

Rea put up decent numbers, a 4.29 ERA accompanied by a 3/1 K/BB ratio. He’s a serviceable back of the rotation pitcher and could be used as a swingman as well. The problem is, the Cubs have supposedly been looking for a bigger impact arm for the starting rotation and well, Colin Rea is not that.

You obviously hope that this isn’t it for the rotation because although the team now has plenty of depth, you certainly wouldn’t say the front office accomplished their goal of adding a premier starter with 1-2 upside.

So, fingers crossed that the Cubs are indeed still working to add another starting pitcher because otherwise this would be a giant disappointment entering spring training next month.

A quick look at the starting caliber pitchers on the Cubs’ current roster: Justin Steele, Shōta Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Matthew Boyd, Colin Rea, Javier Assad, Jordan Wicks, Ben Brown. Plus, the Cubs have top pitching prospect Cade Horton and rising pitching prospect Brandon Birdsell waiting in the wings at Triple-A.

Two Leaked Photos Prove Caleb Williams Is Drinking The Ben Johnson Kool-Aid

caleb williams
Bears quarterback Caleb Williams confers with head coach Ben Johnson before a game.

The relationship between Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson was always going to be pivotal in determining whether the Chicago Bears could achieve success this year. At first, it felt like the young quarterback was resisting his coach in some ways. While Williams respected Johnson’s reputation as an offensive wizard, the new things being asked of him were uncomfortable. It took the quarterback out of his comfort zone in several ways. That doesn’t include the blunt way Johnson coached, showing no fear in criticizing Williams when it was warranted.

Some grew concerned. If Williams remained stubborn about this, it threatened to derail everything the organization was trying to do. Apparently, something has shifted in recent weeks. Williams seems to have jumped fully aboard the Johnson train. Two photographs prove it. The first is a screenshot of Johnson’s post-game victory speed in the Bears’ locker room after the wild win in Cincinnati. Williams is seen drinking in every word.

The other is perhaps more interesting. Williams posted a photo on Instagram. It was of Johnson holding up his call sheet during a game, eyes peeking over the top.

Caleb Williams finally understands the truth.

Johnson wasn’t brought in to punish him. He’s trying to make the quarterback the best possible player he can be. He also wants to win. Everything done up to this point was meant to accomplish both objectives. Caleb Williams is on track for over 4,000 yards passing, has 15 total touchdowns to just four interceptions, and has only been sacked 14 times. The Bears are 5-3, already matching their win total from last season. If the photos alone don’t convey how much Williams has bought into his new coach, let his latest comment settle that.

“Having someone like that in your corner, it builds energy every single day to come in here and find ways to get better and try to lead these guys to victory.”

It has been so long since the Bears had a quarterback and head coach combination that functioned at a high level. Matt Nagy and Mitch Trubisky flashed in 2018, but that didn’t last. Lovie Smith and Jay Cutler never quite got on the same page. One would have to go back to Mike Ditka and Jim McMahon to encounter sustained success. Williams and Johnson have a chance to top all of that.

Apparently Ben Johnson Stopped Ryan Poles From Reckless Trade

ryan poles
May 9, 2025; Lake Forest, IL, USA; Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen (L), general manager Ryan Poles (C) and head coach Ben Johnson (R) observe during the Rookie Minicamp at Halas Hall. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Ryan Poles isn’t afraid to wheel and deal. He’s proven many times in the past that he will make trades if he feels there are good opportunities. Chase Claypool and Montez Sweat were two examples. His willingness to trade the #1 overall pick showed plenty of guts as well. That is why Chicago Bears fans felt there was a strong possibility Poles might strike before the November 4th deadline to bring the team some help. They certainly needed it, given the vast slew of injuries they’ve suffered on both sides of the ball. However, Poles was remarkably reserved. His only move was swapping picks with Cleveland for veteran defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. Nothing else. Guess he learned a few lessons, right? Well, yes and no. Ben Johnson played a role in that outcome.

Poles admitted during his recent meeting with the Bears media that a big reason for Chicago’s measured approach was at Johnson’s insistence. Apparently, he had to talk Poles out of making any big moves, believing the smarter approach was keeping those high draft picks to continue adding young talent.

“I think they’ve closed a pretty big gap with this new staff. So that gets me even more excited and gets Ben excited to watch our coaches work with these young players that we draft, that are young now, that we draft in the future to have a big role on our team.”

“A lot of times you get into these moments and you get tunnel vision about right now: What do I need to do?” Poles said. “His ability to see short term and long term for us to be able to have those conversations is, as a front-office person, really awesome to have.

“Not only him but also (defensive coordinator) Dennis Allen, too, who has been in that (head coaching) chair, to see the big picture and how we want to build this football team. They have a really good understanding of it, which is good.”

This is such a weird juxtaposition.

Usually, it’s coaches who are more prone to aggressive personnel moves. They’re interested in winning immediately, caring little for the long-term outlook. Not Johnson. He understands the importance of keeping a steady pipeline of young talent. You can’t do that if you keep giving up premium picks for quick-fix veterans.

This confirms the ongoing rumor about Ben Johnson.

It has been suggested for months that the Bears’ head coach has the final say on personnel decisions. It was part of the reason he came to Chicago, along with the large contract. If the Bears wanted him to work with Poles, they would need to give him significant control of the roster decisions. While Poles still runs the scouting department and makes the moves, nothing happens without running it past Ben Johnson first. It is fascinating to wonder what the Bears might’ve done if somebody else were the head coach.

Reports said Chicago had major interest in New York Jets defensive end Jermaine Johnson. New York wanted a 2nd round pick for him. Would Poles have made that deal if Johnson hadn’t put his foot down? Thankfully, we won’t have to find that out. The Bears still have all of their top picks for next year, allowing them to continue building a young talent base.

Getz Hints At Limited Free-Agent Moves for Rebuilding White Sox

Apr 26, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago White Sox general manager Chris Getz speaks before a baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and Tampa Bay Rays at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Despite losing 100 games for the third consecutive season, the 2025 White Sox showed signs of growth, finishing the second half with a  28-37 record. However, after picking up Luis Robert Jr.’s $20 million club option, general manager Chris Getz signaled the team will likely remain quiet in free agency. 

On Tuesday, Getz spoke to reporters, telling MLB.com’s Scott Merkin that given the organization’s current stage in its rebuild, pursuing free agents to boost the club’s win total probably isn’t in the cards. 

“Free agency is an avenue to bring in players to help in the win total. But to go beyond this upcoming season, I think would be a little premature considering the state of our club right now and the development of these young players,” Getz said. 

The White Sox’s current needs include adding depth at the corner infield spots, strengthening the bullpen, and addressing the corner outfield positions. While the club has a handful of promising young starters, Will Venable’s squad could also look to add another veteran arm to help eat innings and stabilize the rotation.

Given Getz’s comments, it’s likely the White Sox will take a similar approach to last offseason—targeting inexpensive veterans like Michael A. Taylor and Mike Tauchman to plug roster gaps. The franchise has never been known for handing out large free-agent contracts, and the possibility of a looming MLB lockout could further discourage major spending.

It’s frustrating news for White Sox fans, who just watched a Dodgers team with a $321,287,291 payroll win back-to-back World Series titles. The Dodgers spent the second-most money in MLB and saw an immediate return on that investment, leading the league in attendance.

Take Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million contract, for example. While that near-billion-dollar figure seemed mind-boggling at the time, the Dodgers have already made back within two years of the deal, much of that money through postseason revenue and the international exposure Ohtani brought with him. While Ohtani is a unicorn, doing things never before seen on a baseball diamond, the blueprint is simple: invest in good players, and you’ll see a return on your investment.

The Blue Jays, who spent the fifth-most in MLB at $239,642,532, came within one game of capturing their first World Series title since 1993 and finished ninth in attendance. In fact, of the 10 highest payrolls in MLB last season, six reached the postseason.

The White Sox haven’t drawn more than 1.93 million fans in paid attendance for 13 consecutive seasons. The closest they came was in 2022, when they drew 1.92 million after winning the AL Central the previous year and carrying the seventh-highest payroll in baseball.

According to salary tracking site Spotrac, Chicago is projected to allocate about $69.3 million to its 2026 roster, including $5.2 million in arbitration salaries. This past season, the White Sox had an adjusted total payroll of $78.8 million, a sharp drop from the $141.7 million spent on the historic 121-loss 2024 squad. However, that was in large part due to the $24.8 million owed to Yoan Moncada in the final year of his contract.

The White Sox currently has $47.1 million in guaranteed commitments, leaving General Manager Chris Getz with an estimated $30 million in financial flexibility this offseason. That leaves the door open to several low to mid-level signings to help supplement the roster with a few veteran players.

Ryan Poles Dropped Surprising Nugget About The Dayo Odeyingbo Signing

dennis allen
Aug 22, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) throws a pass against Chicago Bears defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo (55) during the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Dayo Odeyingbo tore his Achilles tendon in the win over the Cincinnati Bengals last Sunday. It was an unfortunate end to what had been a frustrating season for the Chicago Bears‘ big free agent addition. Many had hoped the big defensive end could provide the necessary pass rush opposite Montez Sweat. Instead, he managed only one sack in the first eight games before going down. Many now see him as the worst free agent signing Ryan Poles has made, even beating out Nate Davis.

Where things get interesting is what the Bears GM said about it during his recent presser. While disappointed for Odeyingbo, Poles stated that how things played out over the first half of the season wasn’t the plan. The truth is, he and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen didn’t see Odeyingbo as their edge rush solution. They saw him more as a good interior rusher. The hope was that they could use him as a strong run defender on the edge, and then shift him inside for passing downs. Then Austin Booker would likely be their edge rush option across from Sweat.

Booker’s knee injury in the preseason derailed those plans from the jump. Then, when he finally returned from IR last week, Odeyingbo is lost for the season. Talk about incredible bad luck.

Ryan Poles still made a mistake, but this at least provides context.

Anybody who watched Dennis Allen’s defenses in New Orleans would realize he employed a similar approach. Sheldon Rankins would often play outside on running downs, then move inside for passing situations. Carl Granderson and Marcus Davenport would then be the edge rush option across from Cameron Jordan. You can’t say it didn’t work. That strategy produced the 4th-best defense in the NFL in 2020. The problem is that everybody needs to stay healthy for it to work. That hasn’t been the case with Odeyingbo and Booker.

This doesn’t excuse Ryan Poles. He could’ve built the Bears’ pass rush better than this. His overall construction of the defensive line has been underwhelming since he took over in 2022. Still, it is at least nice to see there was a plan for how they wanted to use Odeyingbo, and it was not what you saw for the past two months.

An Injury Update On Ayo Dosunmu

Oct 27, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) looks to pass the ball against the Atlanta Hawks during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Perhaps the most impressive part of last night’s comeback victory over the Philadelphia 76ers was that the Bulls were missing two of their best players. Down by as many as 24 points, they stormed back and took their first lead with 3.2 seconds on the clock, and stole one from one of the toughest teams in the Eastern Conference. They were able to accomplish this miraculous comeback despite the absence of two of their top contributors, Coby White and Ayo Dosumnu. White has yet to play this season due to a calf injury, and head coach Billy Donovan says it’ll be “a few more weeks” before he’s ready to get back in the rotation. Dosunmu was one of the early bright spots through the first five games, but has missed the last two due to a quadriceps injury. Here’s what is known, and how soon he can be expected back.

Eyeing A Friday Return

Thankfully for Chicago, their fifth-year guard’s leg injury appears to be minor. He missed his first game on Sunday in New York and again last night at the United Center. The Bulls dropped their first game of the season, after a 5-0 start, on Sunday. Yesterday, the same fate seemed imminent until a late surge somehow erased a double-digit deficit to sneak away with the win. Their next game will be Friday night, another NBA Cup pool play matchup, when they’ll visit the Milwaukee Bucks. 1-0 so far in NBA Cup action, the Bucks are Chicago’s toughest test left in the pool play stage. If they can move to 2-0, their chances of advancing to the bracket play portion of the tournament heighten exponentially. According to reports from yesterday, it appears they will have Dosunmu’s services back for that meeting.

With today and tomorrow off, Dosunmu’s chances of playing Friday are promising. If he can go, it’ll bolster Chicago’s chances at continuing its blistering pace this season. In his five outings so far, he’s averaged 16.2 points off the bench while shooting a career-best 57.7% from the field and 47.6% from three-point land. He has been the best player in the second unit and has been an integral part of the third-highest scoring bench in the league.

Dosunmu Has Been The Third Best Chicago Bull

Headed into this season, Arturas Karnisovas labeled the year as a “prove it” campaign for the entire roster. Finding out who was here to contribute and who could be discarded was of paramount importance. In the early going, Dosunmu has proven himself to be a mainstay for the Chicago Bulls. Outside of Josh Giddey and Nikola Vucevic, who are playing at an All-Star level and were expected to carry the load this season, Dosunmu has been the most surprising contributor and most improved player. He currently ranks seventh in the NBA in points off the pine, while only playing the 17th most minutes in that group. He’s also the most efficient scorer of the top-nine bucket getters off the bench.

Will Chicago regain their best second-unit player for a crucial game on Friday night, or will the team need to continue calling upon others to replace Dosunmu’s efficiency, scoring prowess, and playmaking ability?