There was a point in 2018 when I came to the realization that I wasn’t getting the sleep I needed because I was receiving push notifications on my phone late at night. Eventually, I muted all notifications after a certain hour and my life was immediately better for it. Only recently have I eased up on it, and while I rarely get good notifications after midnight, I finally received one that was worth my time. And because of it, I’ll be able to knock Target Field off the baseball stadium bucket list in August.
No, the Cubs won’t be involved. But I’ll (hopefully) get to see two of my favorite players (Francisco Lindor, Jose Berríos) in action. All things considered, that’s a win!
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix looks (and sounds) better than he ever did while wearing the mustard and relish colored jerseys worn by That Team in Wisconsin:
Danny Heifetz (The Ringer) rounds up the most underpaid veteran on each of the NFL’s 32 teams, and Clinton-Dix pops up as the Bears’ representative. The deal includes $500,000 in total guarantees at signing that is is tied for 93rd among safeties and a 2019 salary + bonuses number that checks in at 34th among players at his position. It’s absurd that a player with Clinton-Dix’s prospect pedigree and success at the pro level was available for a bargain basement price.
Clinton-Dix’s one-year “prove it” deal worth $3 million came after the likes of Earl Thomas, Landon Collins, Tyrann Mathieu, and Adrian Amos signed big-money multi-year deals. I can only imagine what it would feel like to watch my peers secure the bag while I was left holding an empty one. But if Clinton-Dix can rebuild his value playing next to Eddie Jackson, it’s possible he’ll soon join the 2019 class of free agents in getting paid.
At this time next week, I’ll be in Bourbonnais watching the Bears’ first open training camp practice. Let’s get it!
Last year, I was invested in seeing how Matt Nagy’s offense operated. We weren’t going to get the whole meal during summertime practices, but I figured we would be treated to a cookie or two. And we did. Nagy’s offense (even in its most basic practice form) was a treat. Fresh concepts provided a breath of fresh air that was greatly appreciated. But as we move into this year, I find myself more intrigued about the pieces within the offense. The blend of returning players and new additions has me geeked up about what Nagy’s offense will look like in Year 2.
Ted Nguyen (The Athletic) offers up new Bears receiver Cordarrelle Patteson as one of the 10 most valuable and versatile players in the NFL. Because even though Patterson never grew into the ace receiver he had the potential to be in Minnesota, he carved a niche as a winning player in New England, which helped make him someone the Bears felt they needed to sign in free agency. Patterson is listed as a receiver on the depth chart, but that’s because listing a player as APT (All-Purpose Threat) hasn’t caught on yet. In addition to his return prowess, the Bears figure to use Patterson as someone who can get handoffs on jet sweeps, reverses, and even out of the backfield. Good luck accounting for the most dangerous threat on the field when he and Tarik Cohen are lined up together.
The Bears have waves of playmakers who can break one off and take it to the house at a given moment. But to do so in practice, they’ll need to breakthrough one of football’s best defenses. I strongly believe practicing against the best can only make you better, so I’m imagining how some tough love from the defense could spark some things.
On the other hand, I can’t imagine it’s too much fun practicing against this beast:
Check out Vic Fangio helping to bring folks together:
For the first time since Denver fired him in 2008, Mike Shanahan will attend a Broncos’ practice at team’s training facility today. Broncos GM John Elway, HC Vic Fangio and OC Rich Scangarello were instrumental in bringing back Shanahan, who led Denver to two Super Bowl titles.
So many of you asked why Fangio would leave the comforts of running the league’s best defense for the challenges of being a head coach for a team that is building up after a rough season. Among the many answers I could give you, let’s not overlook the obviousness of getting to run your own ship the way you see fit all the way down to the smallest detail:
“There’s no music in games. And when it comes to the point where we need to simulate crowd noise in practice, which we will do, it will be noise. It won’t be music … Noise by definition is sounds annoying. Music sounds nice.”- Vic Fangio on why he’s not playing music in camp
Those of us at BN Bears can attest to the value of adding a superstar, so we’re hoping our friends at BN Bulls can get theirs soon. Bonus points if it’s a Chicago kid:
Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.
Chop Robinson is more than a cool name. He was also a productive edge defender for the Penn State Nittany Lions. And, today, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reports that Chop Robinson is visiting with the Chicago Bears — today. That's...
We're adding Dadrion Taylor-Demerson to the list of players who are coming down to Halas Hall for a top-30 visit with the Chicago Bears. Chris Emma has the scoop on the Texas Tech defensive back's upcoming trip to the greater...
The 2024 NFL Draft in 10 days. And even though Caleb Williams isn't a Bear just yet, the presumptive No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft is already already getting acclimated with Bears Twitter. And in an endearing way, too....
Happy TTPD Week to those who observe. The Chicago Bears are one of 25 NFL teams that begin voluntary workout programs today. Huzzah! As pointed out in this post from the NFL highlighting the Bears (and the other 24 teams)...
Is it just me or are weekends getting shorter as I'm getting older? As s often the case on Sundays, this Sunday set of BN Bears Bullets features a mess of things that I bookmarked during the week but never...
Saturday's forecast in Chicago has temperatures getting into the low 70s. So, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to try to breeze through this set of Bears Bullets so I can get some fresh air. Adam Rank got the wheels...
Momma, there goes that man's name again. Jared Verse is firmly on the Chicago Bears radar. And soon, they'll get to know the Florida State pass rusher more intimately whenever he makes his way to Halas Hall: https://twitter.com/Schultz_Report/status/1778918914983969222 NFL reporter...
Do you remember that NFL tampering investigation that features the Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings? Better yet, are you familiar with the Chicago Bears connection to the ridiculousness? In case you missed it, here is the backstory on that: https://twitter.com/BN_Bears/status/1770183958086512937...
Let me be clear out of the gate. I'm not going to make it a habit to obsessively write up Justin Fields posts this year. Fields is no longer the Chicago Bears quarterback. And with Caleb Williams on his way...
Mel Kiper Jr. mock drafts tend to be more sourced and less about his own evaluations. It is among the reasons why I follow them obsessively this time of year. And when it comes to the Chicago Bears, Mel has...
On Tuesday at 7:40 PM ET, Bobby Witt Jr. and the Kansas City Royals (11-6) play Gavin Sheets and the Chicago White Sox (2-14) at Guaranteed Rate Field.Keep scrolling to find out all the details on how to watch Kansas...
In a game where a rookie pitching prospect makes the best start of his career, a key set-up man has a bounceback performance after a rough start to his season, and a formerly dominant reliever toiling away in Triple-A comes...
On Tuesday, Pete Alonso and the New York Mets (8-8) face Bryan Reynolds and the Pittsburgh Pirates (11-6), with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 PM ET at Citi Field.Keep reading to find out all the details on how to watch...
Mitch Haniger and the Seattle Mariners (6-10) host Spencer Steer and the Cincinnati Reds (9-6) at 9:40 PM ET on Tuesday.Keep reading to find out how to watch the Seattle-Cincinnati matchup below.When is Mariners vs. Reds and when does it...
The Arizona Diamondbacks (8-8), led by Lourdes Gurriel Jr., host Michael Busch and the Chicago Cubs (9-6) at 9:40 PM ET on Tuesday in a series opener.Keep reading to see how to watch the Arizona-Chicago matchup below.When is Diamondbacks vs....
On Tuesday at 9:40 PM ET, Brendan Donovan and the St. Louis Cardinals (7-9) take on Shea Langeliers and the Oakland Athletics (7-9) at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.See how to watch the St. Louis-Oakland matchup below.When is Cardinals vs. Athletics and...
The Boston Bruins have been made -225 favorites over the Ottawa Senators (+185) playing on home ice on Tuesday at TD Garden in Boston.Bruins vs. Senators Favorite, Moneyline, TotalFavorite: Bruins (-225)Underdog: Senators (+185)Total: 6Best Bruins vs. Senators Promo Codes[lasso type="table"...
The sportsbooks give the edge to the Philadelphia Flyers at home (-142) over the Washington Capitals (+120) when they meet on Tuesday, April 16 at 7:00 PM ET.Flyers vs. Capitals Favorite, Moneyline, TotalFavorite: Flyers (-142)Underdog: Capitals (+120)Total: 5.5Best Flyers vs....
The Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens face off on Tuesday at Bell Centre in Montréal, and the bookmakers fancy the away team (-162) over the host (+136).Red Wings vs. Canadiens Favorite, Moneyline, TotalFavorite: Red Wings (-162)Underdog: Canadiens (+136)Total: 6.5Best...
Coming into tonight's game, Michael Busch had homered in four straight contests. The streak was notable enough for all the obvious reasons, but it was especially interesting because all four long balls came with two strikes and all four came...
NEWSLETTER
