This past weekend was one of those where I set out to get a bunch of stuff done around the house … and then I didn’t. I have no regrets about it, though, because I was able to catch up on some much-needed rest and do some other things around town that I normally wouldn’t get a chance to do.
I’ll be thankful for those extra moments of rest when the Bears’ kicking game keeps me up at night.
In case you missed it, the next time Robbie Gould returns to Chicago will be as a visitor wearing 49ers gear:
While I am obviously bummed about not getting the opportunity to write about Gould’s homecoming, part of me feels good for the ex-Bears kicker. Gould perfectly manipulated what little leverage he had in a contract stalemate and was given a new deal. Good for him. There is no denying he has earned every penny of that new contract.
And now that it’s over, we can move on. The Gould reunion story would have been special, but it’s time for us to shift our focus into the future. Elliott Fry and Eddy Piñeiro enter training camp as the two place-kickers who will go head-to-head to fill the spot left vacated by Cody Parkey. Neither has been great to this point, but both should have plenty of opportunities to make a good impression and kick their way onto a roster of a team believed to be in its Super Bowl window.
On the other hand, I suppose that means there will be opportunities for us to curse the kicking game if neither takes a step in the right direction. But we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.
There isn’t a kicker who pops up on Gil Brandt’s list of top remaining free agents, but there is a surprising amount of worthwhile talent left on the open market. If the Bears were to be looking for depth in the secondary or along the defensive line, there are still some playmakers who could probably be had at a bargain. And while there are some interesting wide receiver names on Brandt’s list, Chicago seems set with the collection of pass-catchers it has assembled.
Kyle Fuller was a shutdown corner throughout his All-Pro 2018 season, but PFF says there wasn’t a better showing for him than his Week 9 performance against the Bills:
If your fantasy team can have Mitch Trubisky in the SuperFlex spot, you’re going to be in a good place:
Crazy arm strength on display:
https://twitter.com/SInow/status/1150092571194134533
When Patrick Mahomes throws it out of a stadium, it’s newsworthy. But when Mitch Trubisky does so, it’s a referendum on him as a quarterback. I see how it is. 🙄
Tarik Cohen hosted a free football camp at his alma mater, but did so with a heavy heart. During the camp, Cohen shared the story (via Ed Hardin of Greensboro.com) of his brother being shot in nearby Raleigh, N.C., which paralyzed him from the waist down. Cohen admits the tragedy has changed him, but is inspired by the fact his brother is still alive. We wish the best to Cohen’s brother and the family as a whole and hope he continues to live on and fight the good fight.
It’s PRIME DAY at Amazon, so if you want to see a ton of huge deals, head over to Amazon and check it out.
If you’re a young athlete (or the parent of a young athlete) who is reading this post, I’d like to take a moment to direct your attention to this from ESPN’s Baxter Holmes:
Dunks are fun!
https://twitter.com/BN_Bulls/status/1150429468097466369
This is what happens when you beat the sub-.500 teams on your schedule:
NEWSLETTER
