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The Bears Were The ONLY Team Not to Attend Pro Day of This Top QB

By
Erik Lambert
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chicago bears chad kelly

Might as well toss out the Chicago Bears Chad Kelly banners right now. Many fans across social media have quietly hoped for months that their favorite team might at least consider a risky proposition. Namely the idea drafting the Ole Miss quarterback. It’s not surprising. From a purely physical perspective, Kelly might be one of the two or three most gifted throwers in the entire 2017 draft class.

No joke. The guy has delivered some of the most incredible passes seen in college football over the past several years. He can throw it with velocity and can throw it with touch. Just watch this dandy he had against Alabama last year and try not to say wow. Bet that won’t be possible.

Exactly. The point being that when Kelly is hot he can slice up any defense he goes against. Not surprising since he’s the nephew of Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly. So why isn’t he considered a first round draft choice? Two reasons. First is health. He suffered a gruesome knee injury last season, tearing two ligaments including the ACL. Then there’s the other. He might be just a little bit crazy.

A Chicago Bears Chad Kelly plan? Whole lot of nope

Okay, that might be a bit extreme. However, the young man does suffer from maturity issues. Major maturity issues. Initially he was supposed to attend Clemson but was dimissed in 2013 due to conduct detrimental to the team. In 2014 he was arrested for an altercation outside a nightclub in Buffalo. Last but not least he stormed a high school football field looking for a fight after his brother was given a cheap shot.

Yet in spite of all this people remain confident that if he can just straighten himself out he could end up being the best QB to come out of this draft. Seriously. That’s why 31 teams were at the Ole Miss pro day to watch him. Unfortunately people who hoped Chicago might take a look were disappointed.

A team must have standards

Some will say the Bears not being there had nothing to do with Kelly. In fact that’s wrong. There were no other notable prospects at the pro day they needed to see. Top tight end Evan Engram was at the Senior Bowl, so they’d gotten their full preview of him. Kelly was the main attraction given it was his first throwing session in months and they said no thanks. Maybe they had it right because Kelly had to bow out after just 12 passes due to a tweaked wrist.

In truth the reason for their absence is obvious. Kelly is most likely not even on their draft board. Since Ryan Pace and John Fox took over in 2015, the two men put a much heavier emphasis on player character. They wanted guys who were all about football with clean backgrounds. Down-to-earth, passionate players that work their tails off. Kelly doesn’t even come close to fitting that description.

He’s unpredictable and injury-prone. Sure he can throw the ball well but it takes way more than that to be the face of a franchise. Nice to know the Bears haven’t compromised their standards even in this situation.

WATCH: Javy Baez and Spice Adams Riding In A Car Is The Best Thing You’ll See All Day

By
Gus
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Javier Baez recently took a ride around the city of Chicago with former Chicago Bear Anthony “Spice” Adams. Since he retired from the NFL in 2013, Adams has turned into somewhat of an viral sensation due to his numerous videos that he’s created that are absolutely hilarious.

He’s got a ton of videos but this one is by far and away my favorite.

In his segment with Baez called “Ride Along” fueled by BP Sports, Baez and Adams cruised around downtown and Wrigleyville and had a very informal (yet hilarious) conversation that included singing, dogs, and of course — curses.

Check it out.

The swagger Baez brings with him on a daily basis is unparalleled and it’s good to see that even when he’s riding shotgun, the swagger remains.

 

This Sequence Of Pictures Showing A Cardinals Fan Reaction To Albert Almora Jr.’s Catch Is Gold

By
Aldo Soto
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The saying goes, defense wins championships, and the Chicago Cubs proved that last year. Well, Tuesday night’s 2-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals was another great indication that the Cubs still have spectacular defenders all over the field.

Albert Almora Jr. had the play of the game, robbing a game-tying home run off the bat of Matt Adams in the seventh inning. Adams drove the ball to the deepest part of the ballpark, but given the height of the fly ball, Almora had plenty of time to camp underneath it and make a great leaping catch at the center field wall.

This preserved the 2-1 Cubs lead that ended up being the final score.

The only thing to make that play better was the reaction of a Cardinals fan in the stands.

Complete and utter devastation.

Oh and by the way, Javier Baez ended the game with another Javier Baez play because of course.

Defense wins championships.

Albert Almora Jr. Is Robbing HRs Like It’s No Big Deal

By
Aldo Soto
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All right, maybe this ball hits the top of the wall, but it sure did look like Albert Almora Jr. just robbed a game-tying home run against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Gotta love it. His first start in center field for the Chicago Cubs this season and Almora shows off why he’s going to be a gold glover. Ridiculous catch by the 23-year-old.

Bravo.

That kept the Cubs ahead 2-1 on an amazing catch.

Robbery confirmed.

The Cubs Hit Stephen Piscotty 3 Times In One Inning, Knocked Him Out At Home Plate

By
Aldo Soto
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I’m not sure if Stephen Piscotty is going to remember the bottom of the fifth inning of Tuesday night’s game because it ended with him taking a ball off his helmet, but the bruises all over his body will never forget it. Pretty hard to get hit multiple times in an inning, if you’re not the catcher taking foul tips, but Piscotty had the undesirable honor to accomplish that feat against the Chicago Cubs.

Jake Arrieta hit Piscotty in the elbow with one out in the fifth inning. Painful I’d say, but that was just the beginning for the Cardinals’ player. While Kolten Wong was at the plate, a ball in the dirt got away from catcher Willson Contreras and Piscotty scampered to second base. Contreras rifled a throw to the bag that ended up hitting Piscotty in his other elbow. Ouch. But again, it wasn’t over.

On a slow tapper hit past Arrieta by Wong, Javier Baez couldn’t come up with the ball on a barehand attempt and with the ball trickling behind the second baseman, Piscotty rounded third base to try and score. He did, but he was also drilled on the head that immediately knocked him to the ground.

Ouch.

Piscotty was pulled from the game.

Painful way to go through a game, let alone one inning.

Mike Glennon Compares To a Super Bowl QB, Just Not Matt Ryan

By
Erik Lambert
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mike glennon joe flacco

Hats off to Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter. He did his former quarterback right recently when he compared new Chicago Bears quarterback Mike Glennon to reigning league MVP Matt Ryan. That is the highest of praise considering the epic year Ryan just had and is almost certain to generate serious interest in whether the Bears might’ve gotten a steal. In truth though a Mike Glennon Joe Flacco comparison fits way better.

Koetter interviewed with Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. They covered several subjects but of course Glennon was the primary. The coach wasted no time, dropping the Ryan comparison right away.

“I compare Mike Glennon favorably with (Falcons quarterback and reigning MVP) Matt Ryan, I’ve coached them both. I think they have similar skillsets. Now Matt’s been a starter from the first day he came in the league and had a lot of success, and Mike hasn’t maybe gotten as many opportunities. But I think, style of play, they have a similar style.”

The thing is Koetter was going off his own personal experiences and didn’t really provide many details. That’s not a bad thing but the truth is whether one examines them closely, Glennon and Ryan aren’t all that similar. If one were to make a comparison of any kind, the irony is Glennon does resemble a top quarterback from the 2008 draft.

It’s Flacco.

Mike Glennon Joe Flacco? It’s not just the height

Okay, let’s get this out of the way. Yes a certain part of the comparison is because Glennon and Flacco are both freakishly tall. Flacco is a every bit of 6’6″ and Glennon is 6’7″. Their body types are very similar. Neither is known for their mobility, preferring instead to operate from within the pocket, using that height and vision to maximum advantage.

It goes beyond that though. Their career quarterback ratings are almost identical. Flacco is 84.5. Glennon is 84.6. Neither is known for high completion percentages at 61.5 and 59.4 respectively. Their games aren’t built around gaudy stats. They are effective at ball control offense and striking for big plays. If they have a good running game, they are particularly dangerous off of play action.

All part of the plan

This is where the Jordan Howard angle appears so intriguing. When Flacco had Ray Rice in Baltimore from 2008 through 2013, the Ravens made the playoffs five times and won a Super Bowl. After Rice, a three-time Pro Bowler, was gone? Just one playoff trip in three seasons. The two seasons where Flacco threw the most passes of his career also ended with two of the worst team records.

The lesson being? Don’t put the game solely in his hands if at all possible. Glennon reflects the same exact warning sign. In the seven games he threw the ball more than 40 times, his team was 1-6. In six games where he threw it 20-25 times they were 4-2. He truly is a classic, old school type of quarterback. Give him a running game and he can pick apart defenses at will. Put him in a situation where he’ll be comfortable and confident? He might just end the year as a Super Bowl MVP.

If nothing else this proves the Bears got the exact type of quarterback they wanted. Somebody who will compliment a strong ground game and won’t turn the ball over. Sure it might not feel like the elusive superstar the franchise hasn’t had for decades, but as the saying goes.

One step at a time.

Martellus Bennett Makes Unforgettable Donation To South Side Chicago High School

By
Erik Lambert
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Martellus Bennett is a strange character. He has several personality quirks, many of which Chicago Bears fans could never quite get. No doubt he didn’t exactly leave on the best of terms. The former Pro Bowl tight end was a constant distraction prior to being traded in 2016, distancing himself from the team due to a change in his role with the offense.

Then he made matters worse by verbally attacking both the team and former quarterback Jay Cutler in interviews. They were unwarranted and unnecessary. It seems almost unfair that the man would go on to win a Super Bowl ring with the New England Patriots. Then he signs with the Green Bay Packers on top of it? Yeah, Chicago has plenty of reasons to hate the guy these days.

One thing is for sure though. He also deserves a certain level of respect. Bennett is known for doing some quality charity work during his time in the NFL. His latest venture may in fact be the most unexpected and most heartwarming to date. It involved a Chicago south side high school in Morgan Park. Their basketball team had just won a state championship. However, the school couldn’t afford to buy its players rings to commemorate the accomplishment.

Enter Bennett as one of the primary donors.

Well played, good sir

Hating Bennett for his play on the field and shenanigans off it is fine. He’s more than earned that. Even so, when it comes to the downright serious stuff nobody can ever say he hasn’t stepped up. The guy doesn’t ignore the small cries for help in favor of the bigger initiatives like cancer, world hunger etc. A bunch of boys with little money to their names just wanted a way to remember a terrific achievement in their young lives. Bennett helped give it to them. That’s pretty cool.

Bryzzo’s Talent Expands Well Beyond The Diamond

By
Gus
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Feb 15, 2017; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo (left) and third baseman Kris Bryant during a Spring Training workout at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

There’s not a whole lot that Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo can do wrong as of late. They are fresh off helping the Chicago Cubs break the longest drought in professional sports history which has resulted in the pair firmly cementing their place in the franchise’s history.

The pair, better known as Bryzzo, have begun to find success off the baseball diamond as well. They’re both young, good-looking, level headed guys that have won the hearts of an entire city and now they’ve begun to win the hearts of marketing executives across the nation.

Sports Business Daily recently released their results of the 2017 Most Marketable Major League Baseball players and as a surprise to no one, the Chicago Cubs landed two players in the top five spots — Bryant and Rizzo.

The methodology of the survey was relatively simple.

“It was distributed to corporate brand managers, marketing and branding executives, agencies, sports business professors and baseball media. The 42 respondents listed, in order, the top five most marketable players in MLB. Points were awarded on a five-point scale, with a player awarded five points for a first-place vote, four points for second place, etc.”

In a different survey last year based off what is known as a ‘Q’ score, Bryant graded out as being the most marketable MLB player in 2016 so it’s very clear that he is an athlete that companies are trying to get their hands on. What separates him from Rizzo however, is the fact that Bryant is highly marketable both in AND out of his uniform.

Sportswriter Tom Verducci explains,

“Bryant is the rare baseball player who has appeared in an ad campaign out of uniform (Express Men). This is what the Brady’s and Rodgers of the world do — when your face, not just your skill at the job, are part of your brand.”

Bryant currently holds deals with Adidas, Express, Fanatics, Glu Mobile, Lyft, Nestle, Rawlings Sporting Goods, Red Bull, Topps.

Rizzo ranks number five on the list and is slightly different in terms of his marketability than Bryant. The value of marketing a guy like Rizzo lies in his character and personal story. He is a cancer survivor with a personality almost as big as his 6’4″ frame which was best exemplified during his appearance in SNL immediately following the World Series victory. In the episode, Rizzo was on camera dancing and twerking in a hilarious skit which was something that the more soft-spoken Bryant would never do.

Obviously, both guys are benefiting from the success of the Chicago Cubs and with the team possibly turning into the next baseball dynasty, there should be plenty of more opportunities for Bryzzo to work their magic.

To see the full list of most marketable players, click here.

Cubs Announce Special Guests For Banner Raising And Ring Ceremony

By
Aldo Soto
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David Ross speaks during the Chicago Cubs World Series rally in Grant Park, Friday afternoon, Nov. 4, 2016, 2016. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

The most anticipated home opener in your lifetime is nearly here and the Chicago Cubs are going to make the most of it. The Cubs play at Wrigley Field after a six-game road trip on Monday, hosting the Los Angeles Dodgers. On April 10, the Cubs will raise their World Series banner, while on Wednesday April 12, the team will have its World Series ring ceremony. On Tuesday, the team made a few announcements on guests appearing for what will be two memorable days for Cubs fans.

Yes, David Ross will come back to Chicago for the ring ceremony, getting a day off from “Dancing With The Stars,” to throw out the first pitch and sing the 7th inning stretch.

Meanwhile, for the home opener, members of the Ricketts family will have the first pitch duties, while a few Hall of Famers will lead the stretch.

Artist Juliana Zobrist, Ben Zobrist’s wife, will sing God Bless America for the home opener as well.

The Cubs also have plans for the World Series Trophy, so that fans can still enjoy it throughout the season.

Can’t wait.

Joe Maddon Gives Javier Baez Another Start At Second Base vs. Cardinals

By
Aldo Soto
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Joe Maddon has a great problem to have if you’re a manager. He has so much talent that he could, if he wanted to, have a different lineup every day of the week. Starting the 2017 season, the Chicago Cubs debuted against the St. Louis Cardinals and as a tribute to the players on the field during the final out of Game 7 of the World Series, Javier Baez got the start at second base. Well, for Tuesday night’s game, Maddon is giving Baez another start at second, while Ben Zobrist heads to the bench.

So, is Baez transitioning into the main starter at second? Not quite, at least not as of now. Maddon was on 670 The Score on Tuesday and discussed the playing time at second base. Zobrist is still the man, despite not starting either of the first two games at second base.

“I would probably, if I had to guess, say Zobrist will get the predominant play at second base,” Maddon said on the Spiegel and Parkins Show on 670 The Score.

Baez, 24, is the best defender on the Cubs, so he’s definitely going to get his opportunities. For Tuesday’s game, Maddon opted to give Baez the nod, but he also put Albert Almora Jr. in center field.

With Zobrist out, Addison Russell shifts to the four-hole, while Willson Contreras bats fifth. Jason Heyward moves over to right field and remains as the No. 6 hitter.

Back to Baez. Evan Altman over at Cubs Insider, brought up an interesting point about Baez getting the start at second base every time Jon Lester pitches. The thought being, Baez’s skillset can help offset any trouble Lester has fielding his position and throwing to bases.

But because you can never have too much help, it makes sense for Joe Maddon to bring Javy Baez into the personal-protection racket as well. As teams continue to exploit Lester’s inability to throw to bases, Baez’s specific skill set plays well in offsetting the running game.

Maddon has said that Ben Zobrist will be the primary second baseman, but you know Javy’s going to have to get at least a couple starts there each week. And while he’ll continue to serve as a super sub all over the infield, I expect we’ll see him paired with Lester as sort of an anchor point for his usage.

(Evan Altman)

I still think that when it comes to the playoffs, Baez will be the every day starting second baseman and then Maddon will shuffle things up in the outfield with Zobrist.

As far as the game against St. Louis, Jake Arrieta makes his first start of 2017, which could end up being his last year with the Cubs. The righty has dominated the Cardinals since joining the Cubs in 2013. These numbers are amazing.

So, let’s hope that success continues in St. Louis for Arrieta.

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