NEWSLETTER
There are times where I’m uneasy thinking about how we’re living during a time that will be studied immensely by future students studying history. But then I read something like this, then hope that history will treat those who deserve it with some love:
NYC has a top-rated quarterback named Noah Bodden. He turned down some major college programs to attend an HBCU. “I want to be a trendsetter,” he said. https://t.co/pKtmvAxgVa
— NYT Sports (@NYTSports) November 25, 2020
• The 2020 football year has been a mucked up mess, but the timeline could get a bit more entertaining down the stretch. Folks … we’ve taken our first steps toward a Mike Glennon vs. Mitchell Trubisky Week 16 grade match. NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero tweets Glennon gets the call in place of Jake Luton, who looked fine in his debut against the Packers (and not so much in his second act against the Steelers). Glennon, 30, hasn’t started since Week 4 of the 2017 season when the Bears’ demolition at the hands of the Packers was the last straw before John Fox moved to starting Trubisky. Time flies!
• What a tangled web we weave:
Here's the craziest part: Mike Glennon got benched in 2017 for Chicago's Mitchell Trubisky, who got benched this year for Nick Foles, who got benched last year for Gardner Minshew, who got replaced by Luton, who is now benched in favor of Glennon
— Mark Long (@APMarkLong) November 25, 2020
• The other step toward this showdown between the two stars of the Bourbonnais Bears of 2017 was taken when early indications suggested that it’ll be Mitchell Trubisky under center to start Week 12. We’ve got 32 days until Bears-Jaguars kicks off. And while the quarterback situations can change multiple times between now and then, I’m pulling for the bizarro grudge match to be on our schedule on December 27.
• I want to circle back to Trubisky’s return. Because for me, it’s as simple as this: If Trubisky is healthier than Nick Foles, then he should start. Full stop. Start the healthier player, for he gives your team a better chance to win. Sometimes, football can be broken down into which team does simple better. And I’m not certain it gets any simpler than starting the healthy quarterback.
• Oh, by the way, Trubisky may well be the starter, but this is probably not the direct evidence people believe it to be. As a rule, the Bears don’t have their injured players speak, and Foles is injured (indirectly, that could obviously lead to Trubisky, as we’ve discussed, but this isn’t because Trubisky is starting).
#Bears have now switched their email from Nick Foles and players available at 10:45 to just players available.
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) November 25, 2020
• This is pretty damning, even if it’s not on everyone’s radar:
There is no greater indictment on the state of the Chicago Bears than the fact that their starting quarterback this week could be Nick Foles, Mitch Trubisky, or Tyler Bray but the sportsbooks don't think it matters and are happy to post their line against the Packers anyway.
— Lee Sharpe, Fully Vaccinated (@LeeSharpeNFL) November 24, 2020
• Adam Jahns of The Athletic explores how we got here in the first place:
When it comes to a potential switch back to QB Mitch Trubisky, #Bears coach Matt Nagy definitely changed his tune from a few weeks ago.
Let’s explore those messages, where things possibly went wrong with Nick Foles and more in my 5 takeaways column. https://t.co/zCnjenUzAc
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) November 25, 2020
• Protecting the quarterback hasn’t been easy, so maybe we should see more Demetrius Harris:
Most pass blocking snaps this season without allowing a QB pressure, among tight ends:
1. Demetrius Harris
2. Blake Bell
3. Travis Kelce#Bears pic.twitter.com/enjbXbgMeq— PFF CHI Bears (@PFF_Bears) November 23, 2020
• It doesn’t matter who starts, so long as they target Allen Robinson downfield:
https://twitter.com/PFF_Fantasy/status/1331432950509023234
• Seriously! Throw him the dang ball:
Davante Adams has seven red-zone touchdowns this season.
Allen Robinson has had seven passes thrown to him in the red zone this season.
— Dan Wiederer (@danwiederer) November 24, 2020
• On the other side of the ball, we’ve seen how team work makes the dream work. Which is why I’m fascinated while watching the Bears defense when they’re on the clock:
• They’ll need that type of effort to slow down Aaron Jones, who is one of the league’s best running backs.
• PFF’s Bears wing notes that David Montgomery is tied for the fifth most avoided tackles on rushes and receptions among running backs. In other words, get him the dang ball once he fully clears concussion protocol.
• For your listening pleasure:
https://twitter.com/NBCSBears/status/1331614232668934147
• Flipping back to the other side of the ball, I hope Chuck Pagano has tricks like this one up his sleeve:
https://twitter.com/danorlovsky7/status/1330970809897259019
• And I thought the Bears’ deep ball issues were bad:
#Bucs QB Tom Brady has struggled recently with the deep ball. How much? Per @NextGenStats… pic.twitter.com/wx8Gf3Ivym
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 24, 2020
• Adjust your calendars accordingly:
Week 15 schedule update just revealed on @nflnetwork for Saturday, Dec. 19:
#Bills at #Broncos, 4:30 p.m. ET#Panthers at #Packers, 8:15 p.m. ETBoth games on @nflnetwork
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 24, 2020
• Bears dodged a bullet:
Patrick Mahomes Says He'll Slather His Thanksgiving Turkey In Ketchup, 'You Know Me' https://t.co/S7HpSXtkpi
— TMZ (@TMZ) November 24, 2020
• Giannis for Bears QB?
Miami Signs Bam Adebayo to the Rookie Max Extension (Which Could Actually Tell Us a Bit About Giannis Antetokounmpo)https://t.co/rl6ZfWA2n2
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) November 24, 2020
• Baseball players are untrustworthy:
You Should Never Trust Your Opponent … They’ll Always Tell You It Was Foulhttps://t.co/U0OiEjEsIo
— Baseball is Fun (@flippingbats) November 24, 2020
