No, I haven’t given my brackets a second look.
In fact, I haven’t really given them a first look. But at first blush, there is probably some value in Virginia, because no one is betting on them after losing to a 16-seed last year. Watching paint dry might be more exciting than watching UVA’s brand of basketball, but maybe they’ll lull their opponents to sleep all the way to the title game. Or Zion puts Duke on his back and wins the whole dang thing himself. One of the two.
The Bears chapter in Adrian Amos’ NFL career closed with this:
https://twitter.com/SmashAmos38/status/1107235348009177089
Amos crafted a post thanking the Bears for drafting him and fans for supporting him along the way. “I’m forever grateful to everyone for taking a chance on me,” Amos wrote. “My time there was special and will forever be honored.” Once a Bear, always a Bear … right?
After taking a moment to thank his former team, Amos shifted the focus of his post to Green Bay. And on that note, we’ll shift our focus back to the Bears.
On the other end of the Bears-Packers safety rivalry, Pro Football Focus’ Michael Renner believes Chicago picked up an impact player with the low-key move to sign ex-Packers standout Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. The $3.5 million price tag is lighter than what was originally expected, but the one-year “prove it” deal could ultimately benefit him and the team. If Clinton-Dix plays to his abilities, the Bears’ defense will be better for it in 2019. From there, Clinton-Dix could parlay a big year into a lucrative multi-year deal on a free agent market where he projects to be the best player available. It’s a potential win-win situation for all parties.
Pete Prisco of CBS Sports gives the Bears a “B-minus” grade for the Clinton-Dix signing. Because even though Amos is a better player right now, the contract makes Clinton-Dix a bargain who is playing for a bigger deal down the road. There’s obvious risk here, but undeniable upside with Clinton-Dix being in Chicago on a one-year deal.
An update on another Bears signing:
Kevin Fishbain’s feature on new slot cornerback Buster Skrine brings the point of view of four coaches who worked with Skrine prior to his arrival in Chicago. It’s the type of perspective we could use after losing a fan favorite in Bryce Callahan:
I’m looking forward to having Roy Robertson-Harris sticking around in a Bears uniform:
https://twitter.com/ChicagoBears/status/1107016184099160065
Robertson-Harris had a break-through 2018 season in which he set career-bests in games played and snaps as he earned a spot in the defensive line rotation with Bilal Nichols and Jonathan Bullard. He might not stick out to some, but Robertson-Harris is one of those players who has a ton of sneaky value because he does a lot of little things well. Rush the passer? He can do it in a pinch. Suffocate the running game? Robertson-Harris checks that box, too. Line up insider or outside? Yeah, he also has that type of versatility. On a team that isn’t loaded with defensive talent, Robertson-Harris is probably starting. But for now, he’ll have to settle for being a key cog and an important rotation piece.
This image from my favorite game of the 2018 season is still vivid in my brain:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BvJuNfRH8Im/
Among the unrestricted free agents the Bears could consider re-signing is punter Pat O’Donnell, who grades out really well from PFF’s perspective:
It wouldn’t be surprising if the Bears brought back O’Donnell on another one-year “prove it deal” of his own, while also bringing in a younger punter to serve as competition. Chicago did it last year with Ryan Winslow coming in and providing stiff competition throughout the summer. O’Donnell and Winslow each punted well during the preseason and the Bears sided with experience of youth. For what it’s worth, O’Donnell had a heck of a year – even if his last punt of 2018 left a sour taste in many mouths.
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