Jon Gruden Is Still “Sensitive” About the Khalil Mack Trade and Other Bullets

Feb 28, 2019

Last night, I had to bribe my grandmother with a piece of chocolate in exchange for her eating everything on her dinner plate. Weird how life goes, eh?

Here’s some BEARS stuff.

Rising temperatures, melting snow, and Jordan Howard trade rumors are all sure signs that spring is just around the corner. In case you missed it, Howard’s name is on the rumor mill again, as one report hears the Bears are shopping their starting running back. And while we are ready to pump the brakes (the source isn’t exactly ironclad), the timing of the report (with the NFL’s 32 GMs meeting in Indy) and Chicago’s apparent need to clear additional cap space makes a fair bit of sense. Pair that with previous reports of Howard being on the block and it’s not as wild as we otherwise might’ve expected.

I think the Bears still think highly enough of Howard, but it’s clear that the team wants a little something extra from their running back game. Kareem Hunt was discussed (but not seriously, apparently) as a possibility for the Bears, before he signed with the Browns, and GM Ryan Pace has already interviewed four backs before NFL Scouting Combine festivities could begin in earnest down in Indianapolis. So, yeah, you can see why Howard’s name is making its way back onto the rumor mill.

It’s worth pointing out that the Bears don’t have to draft a running back in April. JJ Stankevitz of NBC Sports Chicago sees the need at the position, but also warns against the idea of drafting for need. Remember when the Bears had a need at edge rusher last year and didn’t draft one until taking Kylie Fitts in the sixth round? There is no denying the Bears want to upgrade at the position, but they shouldn’t sacrifice the opportunity to take the best player at any given position for the sake of filling a perceived need elsewhere. Especially when that “need” position features a two-time 1,000-yard rusher and a do-it-all back who gained 1,169 scrimmage yards last year.

@ProFootballDoc is a must-follow for football fans. And if you don’t follow him, here is his latest regarding Bears receiver Anthony Miller:

About 6 months.
Should be fine for start of training camp and next season. https://t.co/WS6eFvbzxW

— David J. Chao, MD (@ProFootballDoc) February 28, 2019

While meeting the press yesterday, Pace said Miller had successful shoulder surgery after the season. That’s fine and dandy. But as Patrick Finley of the Sun-Times notes, Pace also said Miller could be limited in OTAs and spring minicamps. The Bears prioritized player health last year unlike any other year that I can remember. A one-year sample size isn’t the best to draw strong conclusions from, but I feel as if it’s safe to suggest the team will take all precautionary measures to ensure their projected starters will be healthy and available for Week 1.

Shot:

The No. 1 fantasy defense last season?

The Chicago Bears of course. pic.twitter.com/o5y99Nx4M9

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) February 27, 2019

Safe to say Khalil Mack's acquisition in Chicago paid dividends for the Bears pic.twitter.com/ZlY26CStQO

— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) February 28, 2019

Chaser:

Gruden was asked about Mack trade twice. One answer: "I get tired of you bringing that up, Khalil Mack. We made the trade for a lot of reasons. Whether it's popular or not, we did what we had to do. …It's hard to replace a guy like that. It's sensitive. I'm sensitive about it."
— Scott Bair (@BairNBCS) February 28, 2019

The idea of trading for Khalil Mack wasn’t even on our radar at this time last year. Sure, the Bears look like big winners now and figure to be viewed in that light for the foreseeable future. HOWEVER, the Raiders received what they wanted, which was to better position themselves for their Las Vegas arrival. I don’t know a fan who doesn’t want their team to be the outright winner of any given trade, but I’m convinced that – down the road – we’ll view the Mack trade as beneficial for both sides.

Phil Rosenthal of the Tribune calls the Combine “the Westminster Dog Show for humans” and I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Roquan Smith was a pretty darn good college prospect, so Devin Smith (and whichever team drafts him) should be happy with this comp:

https://twitter.com/nflnetwork/status/1100969085234540544

Tickets for the Bears’ Draft Party are on sale. I doubt we’ll see the level of awkwardness that was on display when Mike Glennon was the star attraction of the draft party, only to see Mitch Trubisky drafted with the second overall pick. But who doesn’t want to party on a Saturday in late April?

You just have to hand it to Tarik Cohen …

Fun fact: 5-foot-6 Tarik Cohen has bigger hands (10 1/8”) than 37 of the 56 offensive linemen at the combine.

— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) February 28, 2019

*Chancellor Palpatine Ironic dot gif*

All the Bears’ beat writers are asking Mike Zimmer about how to deal with long-term kicking issues, and it’s making my heart hurt.

— Robert Mays (@robertmays) February 28, 2019

Lots of kitchen needs, dash cams, and socks are among the Deals of the Day Amazon today.

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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