The 2024 NFL Draft is just one day away. Soon, we’ll get to hear those magic words: “The Chicago Bears are on the clock.”
And they’ll mean something!
ICYMI: The Bears, who are set to have a press conference at noon to unveil their plans for a new stadium in downtown Chicago along the lakefront, are expected to ask for some public money for their new digs. According to reports, the Bears plan on ponying up $2.3 billion to cover half of the costs while proposing $2.3 billion in public funding. Perhaps that would explain why the team and city are burying this announcement under the cover of the NFL Draft. A billion-dollar entity asking for tax dollars to subsidize a playground for pro athletes isn’t necessarily a popular thing to do these days.
The total projected cost at this point is $4.6 billion, which includes $1.4 billion from the proposal that will go to nearby infrastructure. The words “publicly owned stadium” keep popping up and I’m not sure what that will entail, but I am curious. Will the Bears be bankrolling upgrades in spaces along the lakefront? Is the Bears’ pitch going to include improved lakefront access and better public transportation? I’d hope so. Otherwise, I’m not all that interested.
More to come later, I’m sure.
I like this Bears mock draft from ESPN’s Courtney Cronin:
Any mock draft that features the Bears getting USC quarterback Caleb Williams and pairing him with Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze gets a thumbs up from me.
THINGS YOU LOVE TO SEE: Rome Odunze and Caleb Williams Are Already Getting Along
This Ryan Poles quote from the Tribune’s Brad Biggs is something I’m storing in my head for later:
“From the work that we’ve done, I feel pretty good about just being flexible,” he said. “That’s why we did that project with some premium positions with O-line, with D-line, receiver. All of that feedback was outstanding. It gave you a really good feeling.
“There’s different championship-caliber teams that have built their teams in different ways. And it really solidified (that) those premium positions are important. I’d say those three are three. It matches up with this draft pretty well.”
My read on the situation: The Bears are going to use whatever second first-round pick they have on a stud offensive lineman, game-wrecking defensive lineman, or playmaking wide receiver. It’s just a matter of who it is and where the pick will be at this point.
This is a great observation from former NFL front office guy Scott Pioli:
George McCaskey gets a ton of guff from Bears fans for how he’s handled things over the years. Some of it is fair. Some of it isn’t. But kudos, credit, and hat tips go to McCaskey for green-lighting progressive and diverse hires. There are some ownership groups who talk about doing that stuff but do it with empty words. But in Chicago, it sure seems like McCaskey is walking the walk and talking the talk. It’s nice to see the Bears at the forefront here.
I don’t know what is on your to-do list, but Robert Schmitz (Da Bears Blog) suggests that now is a good time to watch the Kevin Costner “Draft Day” movie. For me, “Draft Day” is one of those movies where the memes that came from it are better than the movie itself. Kinda like the Star Wars prequels, but without George Lucas’ storytelling, the humming of a laser sword, or the general bad-assery of Samuel L. Jackson.
Shout out to linebacker T.J. Edwards and right tackle Darnell Wright, who were honored and presented with Brian Piccolo awards.
I didn’t think I’d see the day when Reggie Bush *FINALLY* got his Heisman Trophy back, but it is happening. What a wild news story this is!
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Over at BN Blackhawks, Tab asks about the Chicago hockey team’s options to improve in net next season.
Coby White was robbed of getting the NBA’s Most Improved Player award. (BN Bulls)
I love when everyone in the organization gets involved in a Chicago Cubs homer party:
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