Alabama’s Saban on Jackson, Cutler vs. Romo, House’s Transition, Bears Admission, and Other Bullets

The Chicago Bears will be playing a regular season football game in exactly 18 weeks from today.

Dang, I thought that was gonna sound a lot closer …

  • As part of a series in which the Chicago Tribune picks the brains of the coaches who were in on developing the Bears’ draftees, Rich Campbell goes one-on-one with Alabama head coach Nick Saban in an attempt to get a better feel for what fourth-round safety Eddie Jackson is all about. Saban has a unique perspective on Jackson beyond being a head coach because he also coaches the team’s defensive backs, which he had done previously during college stops at West Virginia, Ohio State, Navy, Michigan State, and for the Houston Oilers of the NFL. Saban describes Jackson as a cover safety with top-end punt return skills. And while his tackling leaves something to be desired, Saban called Jackson “a good tackler” but could stand to be more physical.
  • If you missed it, we talked about how Jackson figures into the Bears’ mix in the near-term future, and how much they’ll need him to make an early impact.
  • With Mitch Trubisky in the fold, you can probably count the Bears out on any quarterback hunt. Still, it will be worth keeping an eye on how the top college quarterback prospects fare in 2017 leading into the 2018 NFL Draft. Draft analyst Chad Reuter has an early look at the highest-rated prospects who fit into various sub groups at this point in the offseason. I wonder what would happen at the off chance the Bears are in a spot to take an elite prospect like USC’s Sam Darnold, UCLA’s Josh Rosen, or Louisville’s Lamar Jackson. How would the Bears proceed if the team had a high pick? And what if Mitch Trubisky proved nothing? Or worse, what if he proved not to be capable at the position? The Bears don’t project to be a contender right now, so the front office could conceivably demand a king’s ransom from a team looking to trade up for a high pick to take a quarterback in 2018. That would be one way to recoup some of the picks GM Ryan Pace dealt in order to acquire Trubisky.
  • Around the NFL writer Kevin Patra breaks down the differences between Jay Cutler’s move to the media side of the NFL coin to what Tony Romo did earlier in the offseason. It’s interesting how two very different situations played out to similar results. It was a bit of a stunner when Romo announced his move to CBS because it seemed as if there was a market for him with competitive teams like the Denver Broncos and Houston Texans having an eye on a quarterback as a potential missing piece to a championship puzzle. On the other hand, Cutler’s market didn’t develop beyond brief rumors tying him to the New York Jets and quiet rumblings about a minor interest from the Texans. Quarterback injuries are inevitable, and FOX’s three-man booth is set up for Cutler to leave for a job if one comes up. However, that possibility seems unlikely after this offseason of disinterest in the former Bears signal caller.
  • How will the Bears’ number two pick turn out when compared with these ones:
  • Trubisky’s selection marks the third straight year a quarterback was taken second overall, with Carson Wentz going to the Eagles in 2016 and Marcus Mariota going to the Titans in 2015. In each of those drafts, however, a quarterback was also taken first overall (Jameis Winston and Jared Goff).
  • Canton, Ohio – home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame – is angling to get the 2020 NFL Draft.
  • Brett Taylor contributed to this post.

    written by

    Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.

    more bears news

    WATCH: Caleb Williams is Already Making Connections with DJ Moore and Keenan Allen at Halas Hall

    Caleb Williams clips, however brief, will always grab my attention. Because while I can tell myself over and over again that I will not get googly eyes over spring practice videos, the reality is that I can't wait to see...

    Kiran Amegadjie Reportedly Signed His Rookie Deal (UPDATE: It’s Officially Official)

    Chicago Bears offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie is reportedly signing his rookie deal. NFL reporter Aaron Wilson has details on the contract, which includes: A $1.121 million signing bonus Annual workout bonus of $50,000 per year from 2025-27 Total deal worth...

    This Is What the Chicago Bears 2024 Strength of Schedule Looks Like

    Let's get this out of the way from the top. Looking at an NFL team's strength of schedule for the upcoming season based on the previous year's opponent winning percentage means almost nothing. So much change (roster moves, philosophy shifts,...

    Around the NFL: Schedule Release Teasers, Amazon’s Upcoming NFL Documentaries, More

    The NFL's schedule release is just over 24 hours away, but we're already getting some juicy teasers this week. Here's a roundup and some upcoming NFL-related productions coming to Amazon in today's NFL Notes. Chiefs Will Host the Ravens in...

    NFL Schedule Notes, When Should Bears Debut? Goff, Winfield, Parks, and Other Bears Bullets

    Coming home to a wonky wifi wasn't on my to-do list. But at least I'm home in one piece. Anyway, apologies if this set of BN Bears Bullets is brief because I can't spend all day on mobile hotspot. The...

    Bears Rookie Minicamp Takeaways: Caleb Williams and the Best of the Rest

    I've said it, and I'll continue to say it: this chapter of Chicago Bears football feels different. Perhaps it's because the last time we did this, we were in a pandemic, and when the Bears jumped up to No. 11...

    Jared Goff Becomes the Highest-Paid Lion Ever!

    The Detroit Lions have been busy in recent weeks securing their core after a run to the NFC title game last season. Jared Goff became the latest player to get a new deal in Detroit, and he became the highest-paid...

    Antoine Winfield Jr Signs Record-Breaking Extension

    The Buccaneers have made Antoine Winfield Jr the highest-paid defensive back in the history of the NFL. On Monday afternoon, Winfield Jr and Tampa Bay agreed to a four-year, $84.1 million deal. It also guarantees the Bucs' star $45 million....

    Bears Sign 6 Players After Rookie Minicamp Weekend Tryouts

    The Chicago Bears offseason roster churn continues. In addition to their five-player draft class headlined by Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze (plus nine more players who were signed as undrafted free agents), the Bears have signed six free agents who...

    They’re No. 1: Bears Wide Receivers Room Ranks as NFL’s Best

    One of my biggest frustrations with the Ryan Pace regime was how the former Chicago Bears general manager didn't invest in wide receiver upgrades the way you'd expect a team building around a young quarterback should. Meanwhile, his replacement, Ryan...

    Latest News

    Nico Hoerner Was Scratched Just Before Tonight’s Game Started

    You know that expression, when it rains, it pours? This is like that, except instead of raining, it is pouring deluxe turds. Just an absolute monsoon of shit. Another Cubs injury issue to another key Cubs player: https://twitter.com/maddie_m_lee/status/1790522697002455532 So, Nico...

    WATCH: Caleb Williams is Already Making Connections with DJ Moore and Keenan Allen at Halas Hall

    Caleb Williams clips, however brief, will always grab my attention. Because while I can tell myself over and over again that I will not get googly eyes over spring practice videos, the reality is that I can't wait to see...

    How to Watch Phillies Games: Full 2024 Schedule, Live Stream and More

    If you are a Philadelphia Phillies fan and looking to catch their games, you can watch most of them on TV with a cable subscription or via streaming with one of the many different apps. Let’s break down the cable...

    Connor Bedard Scored Again for Canada

    Oh hey! Blackhawks' star Connor Bedard scored his fifth goal of the World Championships for Canada on Tuesday afternoon. https://twitter.com/BN_Blackhawks/status/1790468565675483262 Bedard helped Canada sprint to a 6-1 lead... which evaporated as Austria scored five unanswered goals in the third period...

    How to Watch Yankees Games: Full 2024 Schedule, Live Stream and More

    The Bronx is booming! Yankee Stadium crackles with energy as the New York Yankees chase another World Series title. Whether you're a die-hard Yankees fan bleeding pinstripes or a baseball enthusiast captivated by the American League East race, their remaining...

    Adbert Alzolay Update: Imaging Results, Timeline, and a Sprinkle of (Unexpected) Optimism

    I had the weirdest reaction to what is objectively bad injury news on Adbert Alzolay just now. According to Meghan Montemurro, medical imaging confirmed that Adbert Alzolay has a right flexor strain. While I should have been upset to learn...

    Kiran Amegadjie Reportedly Signed His Rookie Deal (UPDATE: It’s Officially Official)

    Chicago Bears offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie is reportedly signing his rookie deal. NFL reporter Aaron Wilson has details on the contract, which includes: A $1.121 million signing bonus Annual workout bonus of $50,000 per year from 2025-27 Total deal worth...

    2024 PGA Championship Prize Purse and Payout Breakdown: How Much Money Does the Winner Make?

    The countdown has begun for the highly anticipated PGA Championship. As the second major of the 2024 calendar, this prestigious event will grace the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, from May 16-19. This year marks the 106th edition of the championship,...

    Lonzo Ball Shares a Very Optimistic (Nearly Unbelievable) Update on His Rehab

    Lonzo Ball's new podcast "What an Experience" didn't avoid the elephant in the room. Within the first few seconds of the inaugural episode, Ball addressed his current health status and provided an update on his return to play. To be...

    2024 PGA Championship Odds & Field: Scottie Scheffler & Rory McIlroy Favored Over defending champ Brooks Koepka at Valhalla

    2024 PGA Championship Odds & Field- The second major tournament of the 2024 season is taking place this week at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky. The PGA Championship will run from Thursday, May 16 through Sunday, May 19. Defending...

    more bears news