Around The League: Coaching Staff Shakeups, Kupp Out, Dez, Marshall, Super Bowl Odds, More

I have rooting interest in tonight’s 49ers-Giants game because I need Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard to not score points in order to secure a win this week in fantasy football. And I suppose I’ll watch to give myself an idea of what two future Bears opponents bring to the table. But just a little bit because I can only take so much of a matchup between a 1-7 team (Giants) and a 2-7 squad (49ers).

  • It doesn’t sound like Le’Veon Bell is coming back to Pittsburgh this year, which ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports could be quite costly for the stud running back. As in Bell could forgo nearly $200,000 if he doesn’t report to the Steelers by Tuesday’s deadline. Bell is taking a calculated risk by sitting out, but I can’t bring myself to tell someone to play for less than what they think they are worth. These contract squabbles are always more complicated than we are led to believe
  • The Rams have been the best team in the NFL, but will proceed without wide receiver Cooper Kupp:
  • Kupp was on pace for an 80-catch, 1,132-yard, 12-touchdown season as a second-year receiver catching passes from Jared Goff in Sean McVay’s Rams offense. Here’s how good Kupp has been: Goff has completed 71.4 percent of his passes and posted a 132.0 rating when targeting Kupp this season. The Rams are talented and well-coached, but there’s no doubt Kupp will be missed.
  • I hate when the injury bug is contagious:
  • Dez Bryant tore his Achilles on the last play of Friday’s practice with the Saints. It’s a bummer for a player who was given a tough draw when he was cut right before the NFL Draft and waited out the season for the right opportunity to arise, only to suffer a season-ending injury. Here’s hoping he bounces back next year because when that guy is rolling, there are few receivers more entertaining to watch.
  • The Saints didn’t wait long to find Bryant’s replacement, signing Brandon Marshall to a contract. You would usually be happy if your team signed two ex-Pro Bowl receivers in the span of two weeks, but these aren’t the greatest of circumstances for the Saints, who saw Bryant and Cameron Meredith go down with season-ending injuries in the matter of days.
  • Here’s an updated look at Super Bowl LIII odds, which view the Bears in a more favorable light than a few three weeks ago:
  • On the opposite end of the competitive spectrum, you’ll find the Oakland Raiders:
  • Watch this with the sound ON:
  • I mean … my goodness:
  • Quenton Nelson is a monster. Like … a literal monster. No wonder he was a top offensive line prospect in the 2018 NFL Draft.
  • Shoot your shot, dude:
  • https://twitter.com/halleberry/status/1061746191728291840

  • I can’t wait until next year when Mitch Trubisky is name-dropping Jennifer Love Hewitt, Kristen Bell, Olivia Wilde, and Taylor Swift in audibles. Do it, Mitch. Just do it.
  • Remember when we were debating Allen Robinson vs. Jarvis Landry as a potential No. 1 receiver target on the open market this offseason? Well, it doesn’t look like the Browns are making the most of their highest-paid skill player:
  • Landry is on pace for a 91-catch, 960-yard, 3-touchdown season. Those aren’t awful numbers by any stretch, but they don’t live up to the high expectations that were set when the Browns acquired Landry in an offseason trade with the Dolphins. Landry averaged 105 catches and 1,093 yards over the last three years, so I feel as if not reaching those levels would be a disappointment. And while that might seem unfair, that’s what happens when the bar is raised. For the sake of long-suffering Browns fans, I hope Landry gets it going in the right direction soon.
  • Teams appear to be more aggressive with making in-season changes with coaches:
  • If you’ll recall, Teryl Austin (who was the Lions’ DC last year) was on a list of reported potential candidates to replace John Fox back in December 2017 and covered it here. There was a vocal segment of Bears fans who wanted the team to hire Austin, though I never really understood the thought process of it, but to each their own.
  • While we’re on the topic, what ever happened to that Matt Nagy fella?
  • It sounds like New York Jets Head Coach Todd Bowles is sticking around until the end of the regular season. ESPN’s Rich Cimini reports the Jets’ ownership will make a decision on Bowles’ fture after the season. There were some wild rumors after Sunday’s loss that he was on the hot seat and could be potentially removed as early as today, but that never left the hot rumor phase.
  • It looks like I was a week off with my LeSean McCoy breakout prediction:
  • https://twitter.com/NFLfantasy/status/1062118667629064193

  • Aren’t you getting sick and tired of guys named Aaron making your life as a football fan miserable? I know I am, but it looks like that’s going to continue to happen with That Team in Wisconsin:
  • I embrace opportunities to learn about the history of football, even when it comes in pieces like the one below. My thoughts and prayers are with Wally Tippett’s family. May he rest in peace:
  • 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.

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