NEWSLETTER
I’ve been having some great conversation with friends recently. Helpful. Productive. Enlightening. Truly wonderful. I can’t wait to give them all big fat hugs next time I see them (once it’s socially acceptable, of course).
• Allen Robinson hasn’t received an extension yet. He should get one. Every day that passes without one bugs me that much more. Don’t get me wrong. History is on the side of Bears GM Ryan Pace. In prior years, Pace has locked up extensions for Kyle Long, Akiem Hicks, Eddie Goldman, and Cody Whitehair in September before Week 1. So with that in mind, I want to give Pace the benefit of the doubt here. At a minimum, history suggests he deserves that much.
• These numbers are eye-opening:
Need any more reasons why Allen Robinson deserves a contract extension?
He caught 98 passes for 1,147 yards with 7 TDs.
All other Bears wideouts combined for 116 catches, 1,347 yards with 7 TDs.
It is time to pay the man.
— Matt Eurich (@MattEurich) July 30, 2020
• Robinson is the offense’s best and most productive player. Compared to the other receivers on the roster, his value is off the charts. Reward him.
• Eddie Jackson is freaking good:
EJack coverage stats:
2018:
50% comp, 311 yds allowed, 5.8 yards/tgt, 17.7 MTkl%2019:
53.5% comp, 233 yds allowed, 5.4 yards/tgt, 15.5 MTkl%Filmed showed a VERY dominant season. Stats show the same. Grades show a lie. https://t.co/jEgltiSVWY
— Brandon Robinson (@BRobNFL) July 30, 2020
This is what elite coverage looks like from a cornerback. Except it comes from a safety. And that safety’s name is Eddie Jackson. #HeIsGood pic.twitter.com/68qadwqAbO
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) July 31, 2020
• Gary Davenport (Bleacher Report) re-drafts the 2015 NFL Draft using what we know now to guide us. And with the seventh overall pick, the Bears take wide receiver Kevin White Stefon Diggs. Even though Diggs wasn’t picked until the fifth round, he has been one of the league’s most productive receivers. Considering my alternatives, I don’t have much beef with the pick. I’d consider running back Todd Gurley as my long-term Matt Forte replacement. But I wonder if the Bears would have rolled the dice on Jameis Winston (who didn’t go until 12th in this re-draft) had they been given the opportunity.
• ICYMI: The Bears added John Jenkins to the reserve/COVID-19 list. Jenkins was the next-man-up on the nose tackle depth chart behind Eddie Goldman. Chicago now has three players on the list, with Jenkins joining running back Artavis Pierce and tight end Eric Saubert.
• Chargers, solar charging stations, portable gyms (yup, that’s a thing), and more are your Deals of the Day at Amazon. #ad
• Anybody looking for a kicker?
#Panthers release kicker Graham Ganohttps://t.co/bhnxMtIqAr
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) July 30, 2020
Thank you 9️⃣ pic.twitter.com/zZo2Pmvjz1
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) July 30, 2020
• In a different time and place, I would have been kicking down the door for Graham Gano. He was a Pro Bowler as recently as 2017 and has been one of the game’s most reliable legs in recent years. Gano missed the 2019 season due to an injury, but was successful on 85.8 percent of his kicks from 2015-18. That’s respectable. And yet, I don’t imagine the Bears are in the market to add another kicker to the competition. As things stand, it will be Eddy Piñeiro vs. Ramiz Ahmed at Halas Hall. But if things go sideways this summer, maybe I’ll budge and make a push for another competitor.
• Also … Graham Gano got a “goodbye” highlight video from the Panthers, but Cam Newton didn’t? That’s whack.
• For your listening pleasure:
The start of Bears training camp, the QB race and @MarkPotash's coming court date are discussed in the new Halas Intrigue podcast. https://t.co/BYGPHzpbbT
— Sun-Times Sports (@suntimes_sports) July 30, 2020
• Some college football scheduling nuggets:
Big Ten source tells me the Ohio State-Michigan game is likely to be moved from last game of schedule. Not set in stone but looks like September or October. Not since 1942 has The Game not been the regular-season finale. https://t.co/c4QdcQUfhr
— Bill Rabinowitz (@brdispatch) July 31, 2020
NEWS | @SEC establishes new football start date of September 26 and Conference-only football competition.https://t.co/UhFFOfQ2lK
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) July 30, 2020
• Still looks like a team taking the L in Week 5:
The new-look Bucs….thoughts? pic.twitter.com/K2s79AthCQ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 30, 2020
• The No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft is officially on the roster:
Signed, sealed, time to deliver. ✍@JoeyB | #SEIZETHEDEY pic.twitter.com/UZShbrYccQ
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) July 31, 2020
• Mike Ditka remains in the headlines:
There’s this: https://t.co/zQr7xIeZNb
— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) July 30, 2020
