NEWSLETTER
I can’t believe the Tribune’s foodies limited their city’s best pizza list to just 25 places.
But here we are:
We haven't updated our list of Chicago's best pizzas since 2016. It's high time we did.
Here ya go.
The 25 best pizzas in Chicago — from scrappy newcomers to beloved classics. @louisachu and @nickdk report: https://t.co/XNOd0fXuoE— Chicago Tribune Food & Dining (@ChiTribFood) October 7, 2020
Surely, you have opinions on which pizza joint is too high, too low, or flat-out snubbed.
• ICYMI: The Patriots have another COVID-19 positive test, and now so do the Titans. Ope. And the Raiders have one, too. This is so not ideal.
• It’s time for the NFL to create a Bubble, right? Not like I haven’t been requesting it for months. But seeing how things are playing out only furthers my case. If the league had strong leadership, it would consider postponing this week’s action, quarantining players/coaches/staffers for two weeks, then using that time to create regional pods, and creating a condensed regular-season schedule before heading into the postseason bubble (which was floated earlier this year).
• Perhaps it is too late to bang Week 5’s games, but it should be considered if the league wants to make it through a full season. That is, if the league’s intent is to finish the season. I hope the NFL’s goal was to finish a season, and not just start it. Otherwise, what are we doing here?
• Ah, yes. New and more strict COVID protocols. Hope it’s not one of those “too little, too late” situations:
The NFL’s new and more stringent COVID-19 protocols, via a memo distributed to teams: pic.twitter.com/PBL945xQt4
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 7, 2020
• Meanwhile, the Packers’ plans to play games without fans in the stands is indefinite. My apologies to those of you who might’ve been holding out hope for a trip to Lambeau Field later this season. May the odds be in your favor next year.
• On the field:
QB Kyle Allen will start against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) October 7, 2020
Not only is Dwayne Haskins not starting for the Washington Football Team on Sunday, he's not even No. 2. Alex Smith will back up Kyle Allen against the #Rams.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 7, 2020
• Dwayne Haskins went from being the 15th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft to playing for three different head coaches in 13 games before ultimately dropping from QB1 to QB3 after four games. I realize Ron Rivera is positioning the team for a better future long-term by doing this, but the Haskins experience is a microcosm of how dysfunctional Washington’s football franchise has been.
• No, I wouldn’t mortgage the future to trade for Dwayne Haskins. HOWEVER, a wise move would be to call Washington, check in, and see if the cost of doing business to add a QB on a rookie-scale deal is at the moment. Haskins was PFF’s second-ranked quarterback prospect in 2019 and 10th-ranked overall prospect. There’s talent, upside, and potential there, but I think a change of scenery is necessary in order for it to come out.
• Find the team that doesn’t need to draft a QB who could be a trade partner for one that does:
NFL draft order, per @NFL.
1. Jets
2. Dolphins (from Texans)
3. Giants
4. Falcons
5. Jaguars
6. Washington
7. Cowboys
8. Broncos
9. Chargers
10. Vikings
11. Dolphins
12. Lions
13. Bengals
14. 49ers
15. Cardinals— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) October 6, 2020
• When I say that Mitchell Trubisky’s benching wasn’t a direct result of a third-quarter interception against the Falcons in Week 3, this is what I’m talking about:
According to my defense adjustments, Trubisky played the 23rd, 28th and 31st ranked pass defense in the league. He managed to get benched.
— Moo (@PFF_Moo) October 6, 2020
• Despite QB uncertainty, Allen Robinson remains awesome:
https://twitter.com/PFF_Fantasy/status/1313836003925405697?s=20
• Here’s to Robinson, Darnell Mooney, or someone else on the active roster making my next favorite Bears-Bucs moment. In the meantime, here’s this:
https://twitter.com/nflthrowback/status/1313520079032610816?s=20
• Maybe Khalil Mack will deliver it. He’ll line up against Tampa rookie tackle Tristan Wirfs, who had his hands full with Joey Bosa last week:
Watching rookie OT Tristan Wirfs vs. DE Joey Bosa…
Wirfs had some really good reps in this matchup.
Patience/balance. Lateral movement. And the ability to re-direct vs. speed. #Bucs #Chargers @NFLMatchup pic.twitter.com/AaWrPTDfpa
— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) October 6, 2020
• Imagine facing Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack in consecutive weeks. Better yet, envision what you’d be feeling if you had to face them within a five-day span of each other. Yikes!
• Maybe Nick Foles can do it. After all, he’s already toppled Tom Brady once before:
https://twitter.com/nflnetwork/status/1313841513252569088?s=20
• #StrapItOn:
Bears HC Matt Nagy asked about the TB defensive front: "Strap it up man, because these guys come at you. They are war-daddies. They are good, and they know they're good. It's a defensive line and linebackers that roll."
— Mark Grote (@markgrotesports) October 6, 2020
• This should be a fun read:
Get a taste of @adamjahns’ new #Bears book with this excerpt on Charles “Peanut” Tillman: “He revolutionized the game.” https://t.co/tMJw6Uqbay
— The Athletic Chicago (@TheAthleticCHI) October 7, 2020
• Pretty neat:
Extremely grateful to @WGNNews for taking the time out to chat about my upcoming graphic novel! https://t.co/OBkJyHvlQB
— Lance Briggs (@LanceBriggs) October 6, 2020
• Leslie Frazier’s football life is a fascinating one. I hope he gets another shot at a head-coaching opportunity soon:
From a Bears Super Bowl cornerback, to head coach of the Vikings, to defensive coordinator of the undefeated Bills, Les Frazier has learned a lot. Enough, you might say, to be quite a head coach on a second try. https://t.co/da5hb7ci1D
— Dan Pompei (@danpompei) October 6, 2020
