Second-Year QB Magic, Fuller Gets Snubbed, Legendary Bears Highlights, Burner Accounts, and Other Bullets

May 30, 2018

News of Allen Robinson and Leonard Floyd participating in today’s OTAs has really put an extra pep in my step.

There’s probably no one happier about Robinson’s return than Mitch Trubisky, who is aiming to make the kind of second-year leap that would make the likes of Carson Wentz or Jared Goff blush. Speaking of Goff, Bears QBs Coach Dave Ragone reached out to Sean McVay to get the 4-1-1 on how to get that extra oomph out of a second-year signal caller. And speaking of second-year quarterbacks, it’s Patrick Mahomes who Lance Zierlein believes will be the 2017 first-round quarterback who comes up with a break-out year in 2018. WAIT, WUT?

Alright, let’s take some breaths. To be fair, Mahomes has a lot going for him in Kansas City. He’ll get first-hand coaching from Andy Reid, have Kareem Hunt to hand the ball off to with the likes of Sammy Watkins, Tyreek Hill, and Travis Kelce to target in the passing game. Mahomes also has one stellar game under his belt after a full season learning behind Alex Smith. These are all positives that suggest Mahomes could have a BIG season. But still … for Trubisky (and Deshaun Watson, for that matter) to get snubbed in this manner is eyebrow-raising at a minimum.

If you can find snubs, then you can find love … and NFL Network analyst Nate Burleson has it for Trubisky. Burleson ranks Trubisky seventh on a top-10 list of second-year players going into the 2018 season. Trubisky is one of two quarterbacks to crack the top-10, with Watson being the other as he sits atop the list. Burleson compares Trubisky’s rookie season to trying to find your way in a dark room with no lights. A year later, Trubisky has been provided light by GM Ryan Pace, and he can now see Allen Robinson and others around him waiting to catch passes and lead the Bears’ offense to pay dirt.

Maybe it’s because we’ve got the Bears at 100/1 to win the Super Bowl, but we don’t think it’s too much to ask for Trubisky to have a Carson Wentz kind of second season in the NFL. 😉 But seriously, some good stuff from Zack Person on CLTV’s Sports Feed last night:

Is it too much to have Carson Wentz or Jared Goff-like expectations for Mitchell Trubisky's second year with the Bears? @Zack_Pearson of @BearReport discussed that on Tuesday's Sports Feed with @paytonsun. Watch their discussion on the team here: https://t.co/hHLjs2sL0v pic.twitter.com/KLwopXQyxK
— @CLTVSportsFeed (@CLTVSportsFeed) May 30, 2018

Back to snubs for a moment, as Kyle Fuller doesn’t make James Jones’ list of top-10 cornerbacks for next season. Jones knows a thing or two about cornerback play after a nine-year playing career, which featured eight seasons with the Green Bay Packers. Xavier Rhodes of the Vikings tops the list, which features a total of five corners the Bears will be tasked with beating this season. Joining Rhodes among Bears opponents are Patrick Peterson (Cardinals), Richard Sherman (49ers), Darius Slay (Lions), and Marcus Peters (Rams). It should go without saying, but Trubisky will have his work cut out for him when squaring up against those particular corners.

So where could Fuller fit in? Perhaps ahead of Sherman and Josh Norman, a pair of players who make Jones’ top-10 even though their most recent production might not live up to what they did in the past. Making a case for Fuller beyond that is tough, especially with the lack of interceptions. Perhaps we’ll re-visit this next year if Fuller can repeat his 2017 performance and add to his interception totals.

One list the Bears are never lacking is in historical figures at linebacker. Former long-time NFL executive and current NFL Network Senior Analyst Gil Brandt put together a list of the top-47 linebackers in NFL history … and you can bet the Monsters of the Midway are very well represented. In fact, six Bears make the list – including four in the top-20. You’ll want to check out where your favorite Bears linebacker checks in. Maybe yours is one of the two Bears who make the top-10. Or perhaps a soon-to-be-enshrined Hall of Famer who slides into the top-20?

In either case, it’s an excuse to share some highlights:

Chicago has a great history of running backs, too. So let’s take some time and celebrate Gale Sayers, who is celebrating a birthday today:

The current edition of the Bears returned to action at minicamp, and the Chicago Tribune has photographic evidence:

Photos from today's Bears OTA at Halas Hall https://t.co/FtEydtpMt9 via @JoseMOsorio pic.twitter.com/Rt2zKqz0XT

— ChicagoSports (@ChicagoSports) May 30, 2018

The Packers have been busy on the transaction wire, recently. Green Bay signed offensive lineman Byron Bell, who the team hopes brings additional depth and versatility. And late last week, former Jaguars tight end Marcedes Lewis hopped on the Green Bay express. The additions of Lewis and Jimmy Graham have turned what was a weakness in the Packers’ offense into a strength. Defending that group already figured to be tough, and it won’t get any easier with Lewis jumping into the fray.

Ex-Bears receiver Brandon Marshall passed his physical and officially signed with the Seahawks on Wednesday. That means Marshall will make his long-awaited return to Soldier Field in Week 2 on Monday Night Football. Marshall hasn’t faced his former team since he was traded away to the New York Jets after the 2014 season.

Kevin White, a receiver who was supposed to fill Marshall’s shoes by now, pops up on a podcast hosted by Adam Jahns (Sun-Times) and Adam Hoge (WGN Radio). You’ll want to give it a listen, even if he doesn’t have much to expand on these days:

Our latest #Bears podcast.
Kevin White (Hear his entire interview)
Adam Shaheen.
New assistant coaches speak.

iTunes: https://t.co/r43XgYAx24

Stream: https://t.co/w5joCKOsnV

— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) May 30, 2018

I don’t care what anyone says, you really can’t script NBA drama:

A collection of Twitter accounts has criticized Philadelphia 76ers players and disclosed sensitive information about the team. What does that have to do with Bryan Colangelo? An investigation by @bdetrick: https://t.co/sUn6m3nkBG
— The Ringer (@ringer) May 30, 2018

*waves in Ryan Pace’s general direction*

This is absolutely bananas. Most NFL GMs have secret twitter accounts… but this next-level shenanigans 🤯 https://t.co/GNiT01W8wx

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 30, 2018

written by

Luis C. Medina

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.

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