NEWSLETTER
I’m planning on making chicken tortilla soup later this afternoon. But maybe I should brunch before I do that.
• In case you’re like Jimmy Graham and don’t keep tabs on the news, the Bears have a new offensive play-caller. Bill Lazor gets the duties handed to him after Head Coach Matt Nagy fired himself from the gig. It won’t be easy, but Lazor has previous experience in this role. He’s been taken over the role in-season before. Hopefully, that’s experience that can be drawn from as Lazor moves forward.
• Nagy’s explanation:
Matt Nagy on turning over play-calling duties to Bill Lazor for #MINvsCHI: pic.twitter.com/N5jh6FsdB3
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) November 13, 2020
• I’ve been saying for some time that the Bears need to play smart football:
Jimmy Graham called Bill Lazor a "smart guy" who comes from a "pretty fancy school": Cornell.
— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) November 14, 2020
• Cornell is no Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Then again, there can only be one Carbondale, my friends!
• Good to see that someone is feeling the energy:
For what it’s worth, Matt Nagy sounded quite energized about this move. He’s an ultra-positive guy, so he’s wired this way, but he seemed legitimately excited about what the change can mean for the Bears.
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) November 13, 2020
• Praise continues to roll in for Roquan Smith:
#Bears safety Tashaun Gipson on Roquan Smith: "I don't think there's a linebacker playing better than him." Compared him to Telvin Smith – Gipson played with Smith, a 2017 Pro Bowler, in Jacksonville.
— JJ Stankevitz (@JJStankevitz) November 14, 2020
• Telvin Smith racked up 102 tackles, 12 tackles-for-loss, 5 passes defended, and 2 defensive touchdowns en route to a Pro Bowl in 2017. Meanwhile, Roquan Smith is on pace for 146 tackles and 21 tackles-for-loss. That’s an impressive pace, but Roquan needs to pick up some defensive scores. If not for the offense, but to match Telvin Smith’s productivity in 2017.
• I’ve never related to a football coach more than when I heard: “Whatever happened to just good ol’ Nintendo?”
• Then again, I’m ready to go to battle in defense of Super Nintendo, which was the superior gaming system of my youth.
• Let Mooney cook!
Bears WR Darnell Mooney says he wants to get to the point where he can be like Allen Robinson, and catch everything thrown in his direction.
— Mark Grote (@markgrotesports) November 13, 2020
• Barkevious Mingo has been my favorite under-the-radar offseason addition. Not only has he contributed as a special teams ace, Mingo has pitched in as a linebacker on the defense and there hasn’t been a drop-off when he gets the call. Over at the Bears’ official website, position coach Ted Monachino raves about the do-it-all player with the awesome name.
• I hope Chicago’s scout wasn’t looking for offensive excellence in last night’s Iowa-Minnesota game:
15 teams in attendance at tonight’s Iowa/Minnesota matchup: Seahawks, Colts, 49ers, Bears, Raiders, Vikings, Texans, Jaguars, Ravens, Bills, Lions, Chiefs, Packers, Bucs, and Browns.
— Jordan Reid (@JReidNFL) November 13, 2020
• Get your boost on:
Heaaadddddds up to a huge boost on Bears/Vikings: https://t.co/2FcpYKXHEK
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) November 14, 2020
• NBA Draft prospect watch is in full swing at BN Bulls:
So How Interested Are the Bulls in Kira Lewis Jr. Really?https://t.co/nYFKNJ1QYc
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) November 13, 2020
Looks Like Onyeka Okongwu is Now Also on the Bulls 2020 NBA Draft Night Radarhttps://t.co/tTa3HP0zvM
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) November 13, 2020
• Join us:
https://twitter.com/Brett_A_Taylor/status/1327033549183184896
