Bears Bullets: Looking at McPhee’s 2015, Whitehair’s Potential, NFC North Happenings, More

There are just 40 days until training camp starts and 86 days until the football season kicks off … it’s all coming together so quickly.

  • Adam Hoge of WGN Radio rounds up 10 things to know upon the conclusion of the team’s mandatory mini-camp. Among the revelations, Hoge makes sense of Kyle Long’s move to left guard, notes there could be as many as four starters sidelined during the opening of training camp due to injuries, and details some of the Bears’ practice schedule changes.
  • Over at The Athletic, Dan Durkin details how center Cody Whitehair can become one of the NFL’s premier centers. Whitehair is off to a good start, earning an 87.2 grade from Pro Football Focus that was the best among Bears linemen. In fact, Whitehair’s rookie year was one of the most productive for a Bears offensive lineman since 2013. While center isn’t the most important position on the line, there is still value in stability and strength in the middle.
  • On the other side of the ball, linebacker Jerrell Freeman says he sees potential improvement all over the defense. Freeman missed four games due to a suspension for PEDs, but was the team’s top-graded defender in 2016 and is an integral part of the 2017 group. The defense could feature four new starters, including three in the secondary.
  • He sounds like he’s ready to do so, but I’d love to see Pernell McPhee recapture the magic of 2015:
  • I don’t expect Mike Glennon to be in this group, but Pro Football Weekly has a look at some quarterbacks who have eyes on gaining top-12 status for 2017.
  • In an attempt to bolster the team’s offensive line, the Detroit Lions have acquired offensive tackle Greg Robinson from the Los Angeles Rams for a conditional draft pick. Robinson was the No. 2 overall selection in 2014, and was the team’s primary left tackle in 2016. However, he failed to live up to the lofty expectations of being such a high pick. Robinson never posted a Pro Football Focus grade higher than 41.3 in his three seasons with the Rams, and his 38.0 grade in 2016 ranked 71st of 78 qualifying tackles. The team also signed Cyrus Kuoandijo, who has made just seven starts in three seasons, but earned a 76.7 grade in limited snaps in 2016.
  • Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer missed some time during the offseason training period because of an eighth surgical procedure on his right eye, but still found a way to keep steady contact with quarterback Sam Bradford as things progressed at camp.
  • Staying at Vikings camp, there is a battle brewing at backup quarterback between Case Keenum and Taylor Heinicke. Unfortunately, Teddy Bridgewater is still in the rehabilitation process from a season-ending leg injury suffered last summer and has not been cleared to practice.
  • And now, the calm before the storm. A six-week layoff between the end of mini-camp and the start of training camp is the offseason’ final hurdle. And yet, there are still things left unresolved. Gregg Rosenthal offers up five storylines with loose ends, including a handful of free agents who remain unsigned.
  • 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

    Enhanced Box Score: Braves 7, Cubs 0 – May 14, 2024

    Not every game is a referendum on a team. Actually, come to think of it, a single game is NEVER a referendum on a team. Anyway, point is, a whole lot of teams are going to get stomped by these...

    Pablo Aliendo Goes Way Deep, Alexander Canario Goes Way Grand

    Pablo Aliendo gave the Tennessee Smokies an early lead on Tuesday night. Matching up with the Rocket City Trash Pandas, Aliendo sent a ball deep into left field during the 2nd inning. The homer gave the Smokies an early 1-0...

    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,...

    more bears news