The Bears are in First Place and Other Bullets

UpsetLion

Well, I guess I picked the right day to write a post discussing the various ways the Lions manage to beat themselves. They showcased quite a few of those on Monday night, falling at home to the Ravens 18-16. Matthew Stafford threw three interceptions, including one of the worst throws I’ve seen attempted this year, a patented sidearm flip into traffic. (Sadly, the rival play that is springing to mind is the Josh McCown toss that ended up in the hands of Kyle Long against Minnesota. Sorry for bringing your morning down by bringing that play up.) Detroit also committed 8 penalties for 89 yards.

The Lions did score a go-ahead touchdown with 2:21 remaining, and then forced the Ravens to attempt a 61-yard field goal on 4th and 7 with :43 seconds left. But just as he’d done all night, kicker Justin Tucker nailed it, tying for the 7th-longest field goal in league history. Tucker finished 6-6 for the game, accounting for all of Baltimore’s points and swinging countless fantasy football playoff matchups in the process. The Lions took over and Stafford promptly threw his third pick; one Ravens first down later, and the game was over.

This obviously means good things for the Bears; I’ll have a more complete look at the playoff implications later this afternoon. But for now, it’s enough to say that Chicago has a one-game lead in the division, with two games remaining. Not a bad place to be.

  • Jay Cutler returned to his ESPN 1000 radio show on Monday, and ESPN Chicago’s Michael C. Wright had a nice recap of how things went. (You stream it or download a podcast version here.) Among the more enlightening points, Cutler said he felt supported by his offensive teammates, but noted they don’t talk much to the defensive players. Marc Trestman should take the team to Gettysburg and give a rousing speech about coming together. Or something. Really, this whole “team divided” thing is going to go away on its own; any player who buys into the “hot hand” theory (which, again, is not something I believe in) would face quite the conundrum if Cutler has two good games in a row. In any case, I’m really tired of talking about it.
  • This report Sunday from Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports attempted to paint the Bears as foolish for signing Josh McCown to a bare minimum veteran contract. (There’s an auto-playing video in there; second only to “Alshon Jeffries”  on my Least Favorite Things list.) As La Canfora noted, the terms of the deal under the current CBA restrict the Bears from offering any extension prior to free agency (which would prevent Josh from reaching the open market, where he could be poached by a higher offer) that would be above minimum value or would be for longer than one year. He also notes that had the Bears simply offered $840,001 instead of the minimum $840,000, they would have avoided this stipulation. Wow, man, pretty stupid from Phil Emery, huh? What was he thinking?
  • Oh, right, no, Phil Emery isn’t stupid. As CBS Chicago’s Adam Hoge wrote today, it wasn’t nearly that simple. By offering the absolute minimum, McCown’s contract counted for just $550,000 against the cap; this is a CBA provision designed to encourage teams to sign veteran players, who might otherwise be shut out due to their higher minimum contract values. That’s $285,000 saved; and as Hoge notes, the Bears have seven players on the same veteran’s minimum contract, totaling about $1.5 million in cap savings. With Chicago up against the cap, Emery had to get creative with deals such as these; the foolish decision would have been sacrificing cap flexibility by gambling on Josh McCown being a player that might be a hot free-agent commodity. No one could have seen that coming. Considering the impact a midseason signing like Jeremiah Ratliff has made, it’s hard to argue that the cap space this season wasn’t worth it. Very nice breakdown by Hoge, and I’m not really sure what La Canfora was trying to accomplish here. To mock the Bears for not predicting that Josh McCown would have a breakout season at 34? For displaying a deft command of the salary cap rules and provisions? No idea.
  • Phil Emery himself did a radio hit on Chicago’s 670 The Score; he also touched on the rumors of a split locker room, and attempted to downplay them by noting that after the game, the victory seemed to have unified the team. I’m sure there’s some truth to that. Closer to home, he then addressed the widely held (mis)conception that the Bears are not planning to use the franchise tag on Jay Cutler:
  • “I would say ‘disregard completely’ is an oversimplification of what the franchise tag is in relation to contracts and caps and player contracts overall,” Emery said. “What I had said before was that just make sure when you look at the franchise tag (you know) what that means from a quarterback’s contract perspective and the amount of room and space that it eats up. It’s not necessarily a solution. It’s not the first thing we would think about. The first think we’d think about if we wanted to sign a player is a long-term contract. That fits better in our cap situation.”

    This goes back to an online chat he held a few weeks ago, and I said this on the topic at the time:

    “Regarding the potential use of the franchise tag Emery noted that for quarterbacks, if you can’t reach a long-term agreement after the tag is applied, it becomes a real hindrance to the salary cap for next season. I take that to mean that if Cutler is tagged, it won’t be for a one-year experiment, it will be with an eye on signing him to a long-term deal.”

    I still believe this to be the case. The tag is a nice leverage tool for the Bears, and it essentially prevents Cutler from being poached by another team looking to throw money at a quarterback. His chat response was a typical thoughtful Phil answer; he didn’t commit one way or the other, but he tried his best to give a substantive response. That got him into trouble, as multiple people somehow misinterpreted his position, and things spiraled from there. Attempting to read the tea leaves (which I already sort of tried to do) I really do think Emery wants to sign Cutler to the most team-friendly deal he can get; whether that comes before a tag is necessary or under the tag, I’m not sure. I don’t think Cutler has much interest in playing under the one-year tag either; suffering two fairly major injuries this year and seeing how quickly opinions can turn may encourage him to shave a few million off of his asking price. (The desire to play with one of the best collections of offensive talent this side of Denver must also be quite appealing.)

  • Speaking of Cutler, reader Brad Nelson pointed out on Twitter that Jay is just 221 yards behind Sid Luckman for the Bears all-time passing yards record. I’d like to hope that he breaks that mark this Sunday, which would be a pretty cool thing. If Cutler does return on a long-term deal, he will probably own every major franchise passing record in the book when his career is over. He’s such an outlier among Chicago quarterbacks. They spent nearly a century waiting for someone like Cutler at the position; it seems rather arrogant to assume they can find a suitable replacement in one offseason. (I once spent an offseason hoping Danny Wuerffel would get the starting job. It can be much, much, much worse than it is now.)
  • HubArkush.com’s Kevin Fishbain has this analysis of the Bears snap counts for Week 15. Notables: Jeremiah Ratliff took 44 snaps on defense, while Shea McClellin somehow led the defense with 46 snaps. (That’s a problem, because at best he’s a situational pass rusher.) Personal favorite DE (Non-Peppers Division) David Bass received 21 snaps, which was nice to see after his playing time had tailed off recently. On offense, Martellus Bennett led the team with 65 snaps taken; rookie receiver Marquess Wilson had been receiving some spot duty lately, but he failed to take the field with the offense this week.
  • Before I leave you, here’s a reminder: the Bears are in first place!

    written by

    Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

    more bears news

    Dan Campbell is Happy To See Justin Fields Leave the NFC North

    There was no escaping the mixed emotions from Chicago Bears fans when the Justin Fields trade went down earlier this month. But there were none of that from Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell. Heck, I'd argue there was just...

    Another Pass Rusher Signs Elsewhere: Jadeveon Clowney Lands With the Panthers

    Another day. Another pass rusher signing. And another defensive lineman going to a team that isn't the Chicago Bears. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport was the first with the news of Jadeveon Clowney signing with the Carolina Panthers. Meanwhile, ESPN's...

    Malik Nabers Might’ve Run His Way Out of the Chicago Bears Draft Spot

    Today was LSU's Pro Day and Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles was scheduled to be in attendance, per The Athletic's Adam Jahns. Assuming Poles made his flight, he got a good look at the likes of quarterback Jayden Daniels, as...

    Goodell on Bears Stadium Deal, No to Hard Knocks? More Old Friends Go to Steelers, and Other Bears Bullets

    I keep forgetting that I have a Starbucks gift card from Christmas that has gone unused to this point. Maybe I'll remember it next time I go out for coffee. A big shout out to PFF Brad, who made the...

    Ryan Poles Was Pissed Off By RGIII’s Comments About Caleb Williams Situation

    When I saw them pop up, RGIII's comments suggesting Caleb Williams pull an Eli Manning and refuse to play for the Chicago Bears were met with an eye-roll, audible groan, and immediate dismissal before moving onto more pertinent topics. But...

    Bears Stadium Update: Kevin Warren Reiterates Plans to Build in Downtown Chicago

    It sure is starting to sound like Arlington Heights fumbled the bag when it comes to locking in Arlington Park as the future home of a Chicago Bears stadium. While meeting with the media at the NFL owners meetings in...

    The NFL is Playing a Christmas Day Doubleheader in 2024

    Christmastime is generally full of cheer. And in 2024, it will be full of cheering. In fact, we're talking double the cheer. ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reports the league will play not one, but *TWO* Christmas Day games. It's...

    2024 NFL Mock Draft: How High Can J.J. McCarthy’s Stock Rise?

    Hard to believe we're less than a month away from the 1st Round of the 2024 NFL Draft! With just weeks remaining until the NFL's most noteworthy offseason event, there are plenty of rumors floating. As we work through all...

    NFL Rules Shakeup, Tomlin on Fields, Trubisky’s Linsanity Run, and Other Bears Bullets

    The Bachelor's season-finale had a couple of jaw-dropping moments. Once the group chat catches up, it is going to be lit. What better way to start Bears Bullets than with breakfast anecdotes? I think I'm going to enjoy D'Andre Swift's...

    Around the NFL: New Kickoff Rules Explained, NFL Trade Deadline Extended, More

    NFL owners ratified a sweeping overhaul of the kickoff play on Tuesday, embracing a format inspired by the XFL following three days of deliberations at the league’s yearly gathering. Essentially, the new format relocates the bulk of both kicking and return teams...

    Latest News

    Los Angeles Chargers Offseason Preview: 2024 Free Agents and Team Needs

    The Los Angeles Chargers enter the offseason with a new era dawning. After a disappointing season, they landed a marquee hire in Jim Harbaugh, fresh off his national championship win with Michigan. Hailed as the top coaching prospect, Harbaugh brings a...

    Rangers vs. Cubs Probable Starting Pitchers – March 28

    The Texas Rangers (0-0) and the Chicago Cubs (0-0) square off on Thursday at Globe Life Field for Opening Day. First pitch is at 7:35 PM ET.The Rangers will call on Nathan Eovaldi against the Cubs and Justin Steele.Rangers vs....

    Best NBA Prop Bets Today – March 28, 2024

    The Boston Celtics and the Atlanta Hawks take the court for one of two exciting matchups on the NBA slate today.Looking for NBA player prop bets for today's games? This article includes NBA player props for every matchup, so take...

    UNC vs Alabama Predictions and Odds: March Madness Best Bets

    We have a great matchup in the Sweet 16 between (1) North Carolina and (4) Alabama. Let's break down the odds, ATS records, and more for UNC vs Alabama as March Madness continues. Read More: Today's schedule and upset picks...

    Seattle Seahawks Offseason Preview: 2024 Free Agents and Team Needs

    The Seattle Seahawks turn the page on a historic era as they enter the 2024 season without Pete Carroll at the helm for the first time since 2010. Carroll's impact on the franchise is undeniable, crafting a period of sustained...

    Who Is In The Sweet 16? Updated Bracket, Odds to Win, and More

    It has been a great March Madness so far and we have more great matchups in the Sweet 16. Check out what teams are in the Sweet 16, odds, and more as the college basketball season rolls on. Latest March...

    Today’s March Madness Schedule: Updated Bracket, TV Channels for Every Game

    The Sweet 16 is here as March Madness brings us some great matchups tonight! Check out today's March Madness schedule along with game times, TV channels, and more as the college basketball season's biggest games continue. The Sweet 16 Begins...

    2024 MLB Mock Draft: Opening Day Mock Draft Projections

    Happy Opening Day! As the new baseball season begins, and hope is present among most fanbases, why not take a look at a new 2024 MLB Mock Draft? Various mock drafts meticulously analyze potential picks, emphasizing the abundance of talent...

    WAKE UP, BASEBALL IS BACK

    The day has arrived. Opening Day. The most glorious day on the baseball calendar, save for the day of each Chicago Cubs World Series win, of course. See, I get to say things like that on Opening Day. Maybe the...

    Pac-12 Basketball Predictions, Computer Picks and Best Bets | March 28

    There is one game featuring a Pac-12 teams on the Thursday postseason college basketball schedule, the Clemson Tigers versus the Arizona Wildcats. Make sure you check out below for today's best bets!How to Bet on Pac-12 Games[lasso rel="draftkings-promo-1" id="299003"]Best Pac-12...

    more bears news