NEWSLETTER
Today marks Jackie Robinson Day in the baseball world, which leads me to share this:
typically for Jackie Robinson Day, we have a kick ass event @niseilounge and we donate the proceeds to the foundation. since i can’t do that today, i would like to ask that you donate (if you can) to Lost Boyz Inc. https://t.co/tRBohXuKRi
— sugar shake (@curlyfro) August 28, 2020
Do what you can if you can.
• The Jaylon Johnson hype train is sooooo ready to take off:
https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/1299361597043875841?s=20
• As the arrow points up on his heath, Johnson continues to gain position the inside track on the starting CB job opposite of Kyle Fuller. Recovery from offseason shoulder surgery slowed Johnson in the ramp-up period. However, seeing beat reporter tweets highlighting Johnson’s performance and watching him pop up with interceptions in team-released highlight packages is encouraging. Rookie starters are few and far between. And there are few positions as challenging as cornerback. But Johnson has skills and a unique prospect pedigree, which give him a shot at being one of the rare impact rookie starters at his position.
• In search of a rookie DB who made an immediate impact as a Bears rookie? Look no further than Eddie Jackson. Like Johnson, Jackson had first-round potential until injuries softened the buzz. But the Bears took a Day 3 roll-of-the-dice and were rewarded by elite safety play over the last three years. I’m not sure Johnson has the type of prospect hype (or upside) Jackson had when he was drafted. But there are enough similarities there if you’re willing to stretch.
• Khalil Mack doing a Zoom conference call with Bears reporters while working out is inspirational:
• I’m not being hyperbolic either. If this man can talk about football in a thoughtful way while simultaneously putting in work, then I can take some time out of my day and get my steps in while taking an extended walk.
• Dear Bears, please mic up more of your coaches:
• Some free agents whose names might pique your interest as a Bears fan:
Notable #NFL Free Agents
DB Earl Thomas
DB Logan Ryan
DB Eric Reid
DB Tony Jefferson
DT Damon Harrison
DT Marcell Dareus
EDGE Jadeveon Clowney
LB Nigel Bradham
LB Clay Matthews
LB Darron Lee
OL LaAdrian Waddle
OL Jamon Brown
RB Devonta Freeman
WR Antonio Brown
WR Paul Richardson— Spotrac (@spotrac) August 28, 2020
• I see the Bears are already in the win column:
Bucs are simulating a game today on and off the field, so the out-of-town scoreboard is up and even has the new Washington logo, though they’re not doing too well. pic.twitter.com/JKZHNvPDsj
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) August 28, 2020
• Nick Williams is putting in that work to shake up the NFC North from the bottom up:
Detroit Lions DT Nick Williams: We're here to change the NFC North pecking order https://t.co/DZ08kOH680
— Freep Sports (@freepsports) August 28, 2020
• An old friend finds a new home in the land of podcasts:
#Seahawks TE Greg Olsen is hopping in the podcast game with a 7-part series ‘TE1,’ unpacking the legacy of 1 of the game’s underrated positions.
Greg and I talked about that, being in the world of sports media, his decision to sign with Seattle & more. https://t.co/1wkfUppZ9U pic.twitter.com/9RkjhD97dA
— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) August 28, 2020
• Jaguars receiver Chris Conley calls on NFL quarterbacks and other big-name players around to lead the march for change, writes Cole Pepper (News4Jax). Because even as players around the NBA, MLB, and other professional sports leagues show an insistence on making change happen, Conley wants to see some of the NFL’s brightest stars do similarly. For what it’s worth, stars such as Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson spoke out in a video that helped lead NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to respond and move the league toward making a positive difference in the fight for social justice.
• Powerful stuff from Chargers Head Coach Anthony Lynn, the rest of his team, and elsewhere around the league:
"This football team is committed to fighting for a championship and social justice."
Instead of today's scrimmage, we decided to do something different. pic.twitter.com/D5PJlGOLTg
— Los Angeles Chargers (@Chargers) August 27, 2020
“I think we need to stand up and make a change and make a difference in our communities.”
Well said, @PatrickMahomes and @tkelce. (via @SiriusXMNFL)
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) August 27, 2020
Statement from the Baltimore Ravens: pic.twitter.com/Q8kOzQ8qAZ
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 27, 2020
Payton on the decision to wear Jacob Blake's name on the players' helmets at today's practice pic.twitter.com/LdeOXTCceX
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) August 27, 2020
Cam wants to see change pic.twitter.com/7Yl048dA1c
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) August 28, 2020
• NFL players aren’t alone in protesting for social justice:
#BREAKING Ole Miss football team walked out of practice today to protest for racial justice and an end to police brutality. Team is chanting “no justice no peace” at town square pic.twitter.com/t2B3JVJadA
— Jalyn Souchek (@Local24Jalyn) August 28, 2020
• The NFL’s semi-Bubbles are working to this point:
With the season scheduled to kick off between the Texans and Chiefs two weeks from tonight, Jaguars’ OT Ryan Pope is now the only NFL player on the league’s COVID-19 Reserve List.
A job well done.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 27, 2020
• This is curious:
Sources: A start date around Thanksgiving weekend is among the options the #B1G is discussing for the 2020/21 season, as @jaypo1961 first reported. Early January start still getting the most attention. Several coaches have told me a top priority is not altering fall 2021 season.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) August 28, 2020
• Playing in a pandemic is going to be hard enough. So I understand moving the fall sports season to spring for precautionary reasons. But I can’t get a grasp as to why starting around Thanksgiving is better than playing now. What’s the point of postponement if you’re going to go back on it? I’d feel better about these rumors if the nation had a better grip on handling the pandemic. But I’m not sure it does. So while things could be better after Thanksgiving, I’d like to see more evidence to support that notion.
• And don’t miss out on the freebie from our partners at DraftKings for the NFL’s Opening Game. A huge deal that lasts only through the weekend.
