I had locked in ten.
Before the months of summer.
And ten it remains.
One Savage Comment Sums Up The Caleb Williams-Ben Johnson Partnership
People knew Caleb Williams needed help after a difficult 2024 season. The first step was finding a head coach who could build a cohesive scheme around the young quarterback. Ben Johnson was at the top of most lists. It made sense. He guided Detroit to three of the best offensive seasons in franchise history, resurrecting Jared Goff’s career in the process. If anybody was qualified from a schematic standpoint to develop Williams, it was him. Still, some wondered if Johnson had the personality to handle a young quarterback, especially one with a more free-spirited personality like Williams.
Matt Eberflus and Shane Waldron seemed unwilling to coach him with a firm hand last season, which led to his consistency issues. Williams needed somebody who wasn’t afraid to tell him the truth. It didn’t take long to find out Johnson was that guy. No moment showcases that better than after the preseason finale against Kansas City. Williams got off to a rough start on the first two drives, with the biggest lowlight being him taking an ugly sack after holding the ball too long.
Caleb Williams would not get support from Johnson.
Adam Jahns of CHGO pointed out how offensive coordinator Declan Doyle grilled the quarterback about his mistake, knowing it was what killed a promising drive. Johnson was far more blunt about it.
Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle said Monday before practice that Kmet was Williams’ third read.
“He didn’t see it and so we end up stuck,” Doyle said. “Really, he can throw that ball over the middle to Cole, and if he doesn’t like that, he’s just going to progress through.”
Johnson was asked about the play, too.
“Sounds like good protection,” he said.
It isn’t hard to read between the lines there. Johnson unequivocally stated that the play was on Caleb Williams. He was the sole reason it didn’t work out. This should tell you everything you need to know about the Bears head coach. He does not care who Williams is or his status. His job is to turn this team into a winner. If the quarterback is the one standing in the way of that happening, Johnson won’t hesitate to point it out. If Williams doesn’t like that, then he might not be cut out for the job.
Insider Says Bears Have Ulterior Motive With Tyson Bagent Extension
The Chicago Bears made their commitments clear this offseason. GM Ryan Poles wanted to give quarterback Caleb Williams the best possible chance to ascend this year. That is why he hired Ben Johnson as head coach and why almost every major resource was devoted to improving the offense. They signed or traded for three new interior offensive linemen, drafted a tight end in the 1st round, and a wide receiver in the 2nd. On paper, this is the deepest and most talented offense the Bears have put together in a decade. Where things got interesting was the decision to extend Tyson Bagent.
On the surface, the move is an easy sell. The former undrafted free agent came out of nowhere in 2023 to steal the backup job. Since then, he has held it firmly despite multiple contenders, including Case Keenum this summer. It is no secret the team loves him. What we might not realize is how much. Adam Jahns of CHGO had some fascinating comments in a recent column. He strongly hinted that the extension wasn’t merely because they wanted to keep their depth strong.
They might consider him a serious starting option if Williams doesn’t progress.
Take everything that the Bears have said about backup quarterback Tyson Bagent – and will probably continue to say – very seriously.
This isn’t meant to stir controversy. Williams is the starter. The Bears will be patient with his development. His failures will be tolerated for now because of it.
But Bagent isn’t your typical backup quarterback, either…
…Poles: “We are fortunate to ensure that Tyson remains a member of the Chicago Bears. He is one of the hardest workers on our team and, in addition to being a great competitor and teammate, he is a catalyst for positive influence throughout our entire organization.”
Johnson: “Tyson epitomizes what we are building at the Chicago Bears. We are constructing a team that is driven by belief and built by hard work, and there is no better example of that than Tyson Bagent.”
How many teams say such things about their backup quarterback? Bagent’s new deal and the words of Poles and Johnson could be perceived as a message sent to the locker room, including to Williams. It should be a challenge. Poles and Johnson have complimented Williams but they’re not saying the same things that they are about Bagent right now.
Tyson Bagent has made a clear impression.
Most people don’t consider him starter material because he was an undrafted free agent and doesn’t have great arm strength. However, everything else about his game is impossible to ignore. He processes quickly, makes accurate passes, runs the huddle efficiently, and has performed well in crunch time. Tyson Bagent plays the game like a professional should. The only thing keeping him away from a starting job is the perception that he isn’t talented enough. If Jahns is right, the Bears think that concern is way overblown. The contract extension they signed him to buys the team time. If Williams doesn’t blossom or show signs of progress this year, they will have the option of pivoting to Bagent with the knowledge he’ll be under an affordable deal for two years.
Make no mistake. The team is not angling to get rid of Williams. They want him to succeed. However, they aren’t naive enough to assume things will work out. Bagent has most of the traits they look for in a quarterback. The head coach loves him. The system fits his style of play. Crazy things can happen.
The White Sox May Have Found Diamond In The Rough
One of the silver linings of a rebuild is giving former top prospects another opportunity in the big leagues that they would not get elsewhere. The White Sox have brought in several of these types of players over the last couple of years, striking out on most of them. However, one of their newest lottery ticket pickups, Yoendrys Gómez, has made the most of his opportunity and is now worth paying attention to moving forward.
Former Top Yankees Prospect
Gómez likely is not a household name for most White Sox fans, but he didn’t come entirely out of nowhere. He was one of the best pitching prospects in the Yankees organization for several years, appearing consistently on their top prospect lists from 2019 to 2023. His minor league stats backed up his prospect hype, too. In 2022, he recorded a 2.49 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, and 9.4 K/9 across 47 innings between High-A and Double-A. In 2023, he put up a respectable 3.58 ERA and 10.7 K/9 in 65.1 innings in Double-A.
Like many other prospects in winning organizations, Gómez never got much chance to prove what he could do with the Yankees’ big league club. He only appeared in 12 games over three seasons with the Yankees before being DFAed earlier this year. The Dodgers claimed him after that, but he didn’t last long there either. He appeared in three games with them, putting up an ugly 14.54 ERA in 4.1 innings. Los Angeles then DFAed him again, with the White Sox claiming him off waivers in early May. And that decision looks to be a good one for Chris Getz and the rest of the front office.
Second Chance With White Sox
After making three uneventful relief appearances with the big league club in mid-May, the White Sox optioned him to Triple-A Charlotte. In 46.2 innings across 14 games with the Knights, he put up a 2.12 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and a 12.3 K/9 in very hitter friendly league. He showed enough to put himself back on the map, and earned another chance at the big leagues in early August.
Gómez has taken the opportunity and run with it. In three starts since joining the White Sox starting rotation, he has a 2.45 ERA, 3.45 FIP, 1.06 WHIP, and 10.1 K/9 across 14.2 innings. He has also walked just five batters over that span, a notable development considering walks have been a significant issue for him in recent years in the minors. He hasn’t gotten lucky either, generating 16 swings and misses in his first start, eight in his second start, and 11 yesterday afternoon. It is a small sample, but he is quickly proving that his stuff is good enough to play in the big leagues.
Unique Pitch Mix
Gómez is unique because of his arsenal. Most pitchers have three or four pitches in their repertoires. He has seven, consisting of a four-seam fastball, sweeper, curveball, sinker, cutter, changeup, and slider. The sheer number of pitches at his disposal keeps hitters off balance, and several of his pitches have been very effective this year. Opposing batters are hitting just .226 against his sweeper, .238 against his four seamer, and .158 off his curveball. He hasn’t pitched deep into games yet, but the early returns are promising.
Name To Watch
Yoendrys Gómez will have to prove himself for a lot longer than three starts to keep himself on the radar, let alone a factor in the White Sox starting rotation plans moving forward. But it is tough to make a better first impression than he has. At just 25 years old, he fits perfectly with the core the team is assembling. Jonathan Cannon and Sean Burke getting sent down made the White Sox pitching depth look iffy a couple of weeks ago, but Gómez has stepped in and opened eyes. He is now a player to watch as the season nears its conclusion.
Rumor Is Dennis Allen Might Consider A Stunning Roster Move
When you have a new coaching staff coming in, the smart thing to do is make room for the strong possibility that significant roster changes are around the corner. Players that the previous staff might’ve considered untouchable no longer enjoy that under the new one. So far, the Chicago Bears under Ben Johnson haven’t made any glaring moves to shake up the roster as final cuts approach. That could be about to change, and it’s coming from the defensive side of the ball under new coordinator Dennis Allen.
For weeks, there were no indications that the starting lineup would see a significant change going into the season. Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune just threw all of that into a blender with his latest tweet. He indicates that Andrew Billings, the team’s starting nose tackle for the past two seasons, isn’t a lock for the final 53. Given how much he’s meant to their run defense when healthy, this would be a genuine shock. Billings is coming off a torn pectoral last season, but he was expected to be a big part of their front still.
Dennis Allen did offer warning signs about Billings.
For one, the 30-year-old played an abnormal number of snaps in the preseason. His 41 nearly doubled the 21 Gervon Dexter played. There is also the depth chart. Dexter and new free agent addition Grady Jarrett are locks. Presuming Shemar Turner is classified as a defensive tackle, he will be the third guy. That leaves Billings battling with Zacch Pickens and Chris Williams for the fourth and likely final spot. It might seem baffling to some that this is even a choice, but remember the other two are younger, cheaper, and have a little more pass rush upside. Whatever the case, it sounds like Allen doesn’t see the same value in Billings as the previous staff did. We will see what the final decision is by Tuesday afternoon.
Teel and Quero Make Most of Lineup Flexibility in White Sox Series Win
While White Sox rookie Colson Montgomery stole headlines with three homers in three straight games, including a grand slam on Saturday night, it was the team’s two rookie catchers who powered the offense this weekend.
The White Sox scored 22 runs across their 2-1 series win over the Twins, with Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero accounting for 12 of them. In Friday’s 9-7 loss, both rookies logged two hits, a run scored, and an RBI each, with Teel also drawing a walk.
Quero was out of the lineup on Saturday, but Teel continued his hot streak, drawing a walk and scoring a run in the 7-3 victory. On Sunday, both catchers returned to the lineup. Teel opened the scoring with an RBI single in the first and later scored on a Quero single. He finished the game with three hits and four RBIs, while Quero added two hits and three RBIs in the 8-0 series clinching win.
By the end of the series, Teel and Quero combined for nine hits, seven RBIs, and five runs scored, further cementing their role as key contributors for the White Sox offense.
The White Sox offense is already reaping the rewards of Korey Lee rejoining the roster, as his presence has allowed the rookie catching duo to have more consistent at-bats in the same lineup. While Lee has yet to start a game since getting promoted from Triple-A Charlotte, having a third catcher on hand gives manager Will Venable flexibility.
With just two catchers, the White Sox often had to hold one of them out of the lineup in case of an injury or a late-game pinch-hitting situation. Lee now allows both Teel and Quero more DHing opportunities when the other is behind the dish.
This is good news for the White Sox, as Teel, who was recently deployed as the White Sox leadoff hitter, is slashing .283/.375/.409 with 21 RBIs, four homers, and a pair of stolen bases. Quero has been just as productive in a slightly larger sample size, slashing .285/.350/.382 with 34 runs driven in and four homers.
So far, the two have shared the lineup only 29 times this season. With Lee available off the bench, that number should climb quickly before the season’s end.
Jeff H(aiku)ghes: DBB’s Final 2025 Prediction – Offense
Johnson and Williams,
and four thousand passing yards.
Offense in top half.
Chicago Bears Reportedly Put Notable Name On Trade Market
The Chicago Bears have 24 hours left to reduce their roster from 90 to 53. Things began yesterday with five cuts and Terell Smith going on Injured Reserve. Expect the pace to quicken as the deadline nears. However, there could be another avenue to help the process along. Teams often unload players they can’t afford to keep via the trade market. You often see Philadelphia do things like that. GM Ryan Poles hasn’t done it often, but he’s not unfamiliar with the process. It would appear the Bears might be planning such a move.
According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Chicago has made veteran guard Jordan McFadden available for trade. They have plenty of bodies along the interior, including Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson, Drew Dalman, Luke Newman, and Ryan Bates. McFadden doesn’t have an avenue onto the roster despite a strong preseason where he allowed just three pressures in 105 snaps. It isn’t crazy to think another team with serious depth concerns might be interested in the 25-year-old.
The Chicago Bears could look at two possibilities.
Normally, trades at this time of year come in one of two varieties. Either the team sends the player elsewhere for a late-round pick, or it is a straight player swap. In other words, the Chicago Bears could bring in help at a position of greater need. Much depends on how many teams may or may not be interested. There has to be at least one out there who needs help on the interior. Giving up even a 7th round pick is hardly a steep asking price. No doubt the Bears’ front office is keeping tabs on potential players they might like in return. Given the timing of this reveal, one can expect it will happen soon. Whispers have said the team would be active on the market. Now we have confirmation.
Ben Johnson Reveals Previously Untold Reason He Took Bears Job
Taking the Chicago Bears job was not something people around the NFL expected from Ben Johnson. He was the most highly touted coaching candidate of the past two cycles. Usually, high-profile franchises with either stupidly rich or young owners lure guys like him in. Chicago is run by an old-school family that believes in deep-set traditions. The fit didn’t make much sense. Still, Johnson took the job anywhere. The reasons given at the time weren’t hard to understand. It allowed him to work with Caleb Williams, one of the most talented QB prospects in recent memory. Also, it allowed Johnson to embrace a city he’d grown to love in recent years, having visited frequently in the summers to attend Cubs games.
However, there was another reason. It isn’t what you’d call logical. There is an almost primal element to it. Johnson wanted to take the Bears’ job because it was challenging. Chicago has long been a place where coaches struggle. Everybody not named Lovie Smith over the past 30 years can attest to that. Johnson admitted to Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune that this was also why he took the job. He wanted that pressure.
“To me, that’s the appeal of this job,” he told the Tribune earlier this month. “You don’t do this because it’s easy. You want a passionate fan base. You want to do this around people who love this game as much as you do.”
Ben Johnson is a challenge-taker. Guys like that thrive in Chicago.
A challenge-taker is somebody who seeks out the most demanding situations to test their mettle. They want the ball with two minutes to go. They want to take the final shot. Bottom of the ninth on a 3-2 count in the World Series? They want the bat in their hands. Michael Jordan was that type of player. Patrick Kane was that type of player. Ricard Dent was that type of player. Guys like that are just wired differently. They seem to give a twisted sense of satisfaction whenever confronted with a roadblock. Ben Johnson is built that way. He is a natural-born grinder who has conquered every obstacle through hard work. That has given him a self-confidence that is impossible to miss. Where most see the Bears as a derelict ship floating aimlessly in the ocean, he sees a sleeping beast that can become the terror of the seas once brought up to standard.
Quick Hook By Venable Robs White Sox Starter Of Win
Yoendrys Gómez only has three MLB starts under his belt, but walked off the mound on Sunday just one out shy of his third consecutive victory. With the White Sox prioritizing his long-term health, the 25-year-old had to settle for a pat on the back as he handed the ball to Will Venable instead.
It’s still a small sample size, but Gómez has quietly impressed since putting on a White Sox uniform. In three starts in the White Sox rotation, the right-hander has allowed just four earned runs on 10 hits and five walks across 14.2 innings, striking out 16 along the way. He’s posted a 2.45 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings during that stretch, numbers that suggest he’s settling in as an effective major league starter.
On Sunday, Gómez took the ball against the Twins and pitched well enough to earn his third consecutive win. He allowed just two hits and struck out six across 4.2 scoreless innings of work. However, despite sitting at just 89 pitches with a seven-run lead in the fifth inning, White Sox manager Will Venable took the ball away from Gómez when he needed just one out to qualify for the win.
Gómez had worked himself into a bit of trouble in the fifth. He opened the inning with his third walk of the day, putting Royce Lewis aboard, but quickly settled in. He struck out Edouard Julien on three straight pitches, then got some help from Luis Robert Jr. in center field, who tracked down an Austin Martin line drive and made a diving catch in center field.
Just when it seemed Gómez was about to escape unscathed, Byron Buxton won a six-pitch battle with a single to put runners at the corners. That brought manager Will Venable out of the dugout, signaling for Brandon Eisert to face Trevor Larnach. Larnach had already doubled off Gómez and nearly had another hit if not for Robert’s glove, but the move still raised eyebrows. With a seven-run cushion and a taxed bullpen that had already seen eight different arms in the past four games, pulling Gómez felt oddly premature.
Gómez was then put in an awkward position after the game when reporters asked him about the move, but failed to ask Venable. Moves like this aren’t likely to lose a locker room, but they can certainly frustrate a player, especially when he’s put on the spot with a translator in the locker room, facing a question that would have been better directed at the manager.
Venable doesn’t have to explain himself; the move worked. Eisert escaped the jam, picked up the win, and the White Sox cruised to an 8-0 victory. However, having the extra victory on his resume would have been nice for Gómez, a pitcher who has already been DFA’d twice this season and certainly pitched well enough to earn one.
Judging by his recent outings, it appears the White Sox have him on a firm pitch limit. Gómez was lifted after 89 pitches through five innings in his first start and after 90 pitches through five in his second start, pointing toward a likely innings restriction.
Things have started to click for Gómez in Chicago, and the White Sox appear to be thinking long-term. Gómez has good spin on his fastball and a curveball that features significant horizontal break, making him an intriguing pitcher to monitor moving forward.
His 2025 season has been a rollercoaster. Gómez began the year as a long reliever with the Yankees, but, lacking minor-league options, was DFA’d despite a 2.70 ERA over 10 innings. He was then claimed by the Dodgers, but struggled in a small sample, allowing seven runs in 4.1 innings across three appearances, before being DFA’d again.
The White Sox saw an opportunity to develop him as a starter and sent him to Charlotte after claiming him off waivers in May. There, Gómez’s performance indicated significant growth. In 14 appearances (11 starts), he threw 46.2 innings with a 2.12 ERA and a 32% strikeout rate, demonstrating both durability and swing-and-miss potential. With Jonathan Cannon and Sean Burke getting optioned to Triple-A Charlotte, the opportunity for Gómez to carve out a role in the starting rotation the rest of the year has presented itself.
While Gómez has made the most of his opportunity with the White Sox thus far, he likely would have wanted the extra victory on his resume.
