For as long as I can remember, the Chicago Bears have been reaching out and helping communities in the winter with their annual coat drive. And on Wednesday, the Bears gave equipment manager Tony Medlin – who spearheads the coat drive – a forum to speak on it:
The coat drive, which accepts donations for deserving families, goes through Feb. 15, 2023. And you can read more about it here.
Here is something you’ve never seen tweeted about a Bears quarterback:
Ahhh, so this is how the other side lives? This is what it’s like to have other teams thirsting for your quarterback. What it is like for your QB1 being the one garnering positive attention. I like it. Part of me is waiting for the other shoe to drop because the Bears have hurt me so much in the past. But a larger part of me is so ready to let it ride. Let’s jump on this journey, experience the ups and downs, and see it through. We’ve gotta see it through.
Another day, another set of unique things Justin Fields is doing:
Chicago’s QB1 is just built different.
I love the perspective from Fields as he discussed what it meant to be the NFC’s Offensive Player of the Week, telling reporters: “It’s an honor, of course to get NFC Offensive Player of the Week. I’m not the type to get too high on one award. Just the same old me.” (Sun-Times)
Meanwhile, new receiver Chase Claypool is liking what he saw first-hand. “It was super cool seeing him ball out the way he did,” Claypool said, via 670 The Score’s Chris Emma.
What a quote from Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell:
One thing I want to avoid is putting Fields in a box. I don’t want him to be what Deshaun Watson was in Houston. And I don’t want to put a ceiling on him and say he is the next Lamar Jackson. Instead, I want Fields to be 1 of 1. Because that’s what he is. Let Fields be the unicorn he was always meant to be. Allow him to flourish because he can drop a deep dime or run circles around your defense on any given play. Let the young QB rumble.
WOW. Could you imagine this!?
In a private moment, I’d bet Bears Head Coach Matt Eberflus is relieved to be out of Indianapolis. Colts owner Jim Irsay is a wild-child who gives off vintage George Steinbrenner vibes, but with more unpredictability and fewer championships. So, naturally, Eberflus said he was “taken aback” by this week’s developments in Indy with Frank Reich getting the heave-ho in favor of retired Colts center Jeff Saturday when asked about it during his press availability:
“I will say that I was a little bit taken aback by what happened there,” Eberflus said Wednesday, via NBC Sports Chicago’s Josh Schrock. “Obviously, Frank is a very good friend of mine. I enjoyed my time with him. He certainly helped me professionally as a man, as a coach, and I can’t say enough good things about Frank Reich.”
To be fair, we’ve had our issues with meddling management. But never anything like what is happening in Indy. And I hope it stays that way.
Oof. I hate that I don’t have much of an argument against this:
Unfortunately, Trevis Gipson hasn’t been getting home to the quarterback this year as he did last season. Maybe some of it has to do with not having Khalil Mack or Robert Quinn on the other side. Perhaps some of it has to do with the Bears not having the meat in the mdidle of their defense (Akiem Hicks, Bilal Nichols, Roquan Smith) to grab the attention of blockers. Or maybe the system just isn’t allowing for these guys to bring heat off the edge like they did in the past. Whatever it is, it all bears out to this defense not getting pressure up front. Which stinks because the secondary is still finding ways to make plays on the ball.
If anyone knows what a defense with no weaknesses looks like, it’s Roquan:
And if anyone is well-versed in what a defense with many weaknesses looks like, it’s also Roquan after having dealt with this Bears mess.
Bears Head Coach Matt Eberflus named fullback Khari Blasingame this week’s honorary captain, via The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain. After Matt Nagy mostly ignored the position during his tenure, it is nice to see the fullback get some love in Chicago.
We should be thankful for the post-TNF mini-bye. Otherwise, this would just be bonkers:
I see something like this and wonder what it means for a team like the Bears angling to build a new stadium:
An old friend finds a new home as former Bears QBs Coach John DeFilippo finally has a head-coaching opportunity — in the USFL:
This is so cringe from the Washington footbakl team:
And to think, that cringe-worthy message from the Commanders stems from this:
I’ve long been a fan of watching Corey Kluber pitch. A quick-working, strike-throwing tactician is the type of pitcher the Cubs should be looking to add this offseason:
The Pelicans got the win, but the Bulls came away with this nifty highlight:
It feels early for me to care about the NHL trade market. But as we know from our recent venture into the NFL trade deadline, so much can change so quickly for all sorts of different teams. So it is good to have an early set of eyes on things:
NEWSLETTER
