Making the Grade, Finding a Future Minshew, HOF Finalists Selected, and Other Bears Bullets

Jan 03, 2020

Mid-week holidays have thrown me for a loop. Are you sure it’s Friday? Because it totally feels like a Tuesday.

For teams like the Bears, the time to reflect on the season that was is now. Over at Bleacher Report, Maurice Moton gives the Bears a “C” grade for their regular-season efforts. Frankly, I’m surprised it isn’t lower. A team that drastically under-performed across the board, fell flat when it mattered most, and came up short of the lofty expectations they put on themselves arguably deserves a worse grade than a “C.” Passable seasons get “C” grades. Was this season passable? It is hard for me to answer “yes” to that question.

It is wild to think about where we were at this time last year. Gearing up for a playoff game at Soldier Field while riding the emotional highs of a 12-win season and the elimination of a division rival feels like it happened ages ago. The similarities between the core of a team that brought so much joy and the one that brought disappointment makes my stomach queasy.

Good luck looking at the Bears’ 8-8 record and the NFC playoff field without feeling bad about what could have been. For all the stuff about the first-place schedule, the Bears had losses against three teams that didn’t make the playoffs — two of which were sub-.500 teams. They also lost to a Philly team that ultimately needed the Bears help (again) to make it into the postseason. In reality, all the Bears had to do was beat a Raiders team that finished at 7-9 and a Chargers team that finished in last place in the AFC West to get to 10 wins and control their own destiny. And they couldn’t even do that, which is what hurts the most at this point.

I suppose this is a better way to go about talking about a quarterback who is under contract, but also leaves something to be desired:

"The jury's still out" — Chris Ballard on QB Jacoby Brissett being The Guy in Indianapolis.

Says he believes Brissett will be the team's starting quarterback come Week 1 of 2020, but doesn't seem to rule out the possibility that could change.

— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) January 2, 2020

My brain says it is logical to think the Bears are going to bring in real competition for Mitch Trubisky, even though GM Ryan Pace “committed” to him as the starter. Indeed, his newer non-committal commitment (about picking up the fifth-year option) still sticks with me. And that he mentioned he wanted competition at all positions (quarterback included) continues to rattle around in my mind. History says Pace’s actions will speak louder than words, so a part of me is going to reserve judgment until actions are made before ultimately dissecting an offseason that is in its opening stages.

I’m all in on finding this type of quarterback prospect:

Draft Twitter: who are this years Gardner Minshew’s?

Not asking who will replicate what he did this year

Just looking for: seasoned older QB prospect, has shown he has it between the ears and can efficiently run an offense, physical limitations like arm strength drag him down

— Brad_OTC (@BradOTC) January 2, 2020

Two names from the top of the brain who could fit the bill: Anthony Gordon (Washington State), Jalen Hurts (Oklahoma).

Josh McCown is a real one:

Here’s the story of how Josh McCown played a vital role in the #Eagles turnaround this season and the things he’s done behind the scenes to help make Carson Wentz’s life easier. https://t.co/3M23foYgYy
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) January 2, 2020

The Bears’ 2018 Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee has some words for the 2020 candidate:

Watching @AllenRobinson strive for greatness both on and off the field has inspired me and many others. @Nationwide this guy is one to watch! Congrats to Allen on the @NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year nomination! #WPMOY #sponsored pic.twitter.com/w76eQ8cAUI
— Trey Burton (@TreyBurton8) January 2, 2020

No one with Bears ties is among the Class of 2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists:

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1212886583017459712?s=20

Something to keep in mind during the NFL coach-hiring process:

New study: Minority coaches still fare worse during NFL hiring process — The Undefeated https://t.co/AelUgBhRTo

— Jason Reid (@JReidESPN) December 31, 2019

Oh, Bulls. How your willingness to cough up double-digit leads knows no limitations astonishes me:

Another Familiar Loss: Jazz 102, Bulls 98https://t.co/5A5elKdy56

— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) January 3, 2020

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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