NEWSLETTER
Between April and the end of September, nearly every day at 1:20 or at 7:05, there’s a Cubs game on. And that game has that one voice who is always there for you. And in an era where players come up through your favorite team’s system only to leave after a few years of stardom, the person doing the play-by-play is the constant. So, losing Len Kasper doesn’t hurt because he’s going to the White Sox. It hurts because losing the play-by-play voice is like losing a trusted friend who you know is always there for you. For 16 years, Len Kasper was there for Cubs fans. Treat him well, South Siders.
• Lions vs. Bears on Sunday … oh my!
Follow the yellow brick road… at your own risk.#DETvsCHI | #DaBears pic.twitter.com/Bp50hmgVwE
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 4, 2020
• The last time the Bears and Lions squared off, Jaylon Johnson secured the win with a game-ending pass breakup. And to think, he’s only gotten better since:
Check out how @ChicagoBears CB Jaylon Johnson (@NBAxJay1):
Disrupts the play ✔️
Demonstrated proper technique ✔️
Earned the Week 12 #NFLWayToPlay Award ✔️Learn more about the award: https://t.co/C4uiuAwCL7 pic.twitter.com/0Ag3qiaspC
— NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) December 3, 2020
• Even on a defense that has Pro Bowlers at every level, Johnson’s emergence has been eye-catching. He is aggressive, but not reckless. Johnson plays the ball with the intent of making sure it doesn’t get caught. No, Johnson doesn’t have an interception. But if quarterbacks continue to challenge him, then Johnson will soon turn one of those breakups or deflections into an interception. Then it’s all gravy from there.
• None of this is to say that Johnson is a finished product as a player. Not in the least. Johnson still needs improved tackling technique. There are moments when he allows splash plays at inopportune times. And he’s been called for defensive penalties more often than I’d like. However, Johnson is a rookie who has done more good than bad. To do it as a Day 1 starter in a year with no training camp, preseason, or normal offseason program speaks volumes to how good he is. And that says nothing of how excellent he could be for years to come.
• It’s wild to me that Allen Robinson didn’t come up with that 50/50 ball on Sunday Night Football because he’s generally pretty good at that. At least, that’s what the numbers say:
Leaders in contested catches:
1. DeVante Parker – 19
T-2. Allen Robinson II – 16
T-2. Keenan Allen – 16
4. A.J. Green – 14 pic.twitter.com/ptUNcczmUg— PFF (@PFF) December 4, 2020
• Robinson has missed out on coming down with a handful of those types of catches. Perhaps the reason they stick out is because they don’t happen as frequently as the times he makes those catches. It’s almost as if our brains sometimes operate in a way that makes us remember the stuff that stinks because it happens infrequently, while also simultaneously forgetting the good stuff that happens because it occurs often. Weird. In the end, Allen Robinson is good at catching footballs.
• There might be a feeling that this Bears thing is coming unglued, but at least these guys still seem to like each other:
My dawg ✊🏿 #PAYTHEMAN
— cordarrelle patterson (@ceeflashpee84) December 4, 2020
• There’s no Pro Bowl this year. But if you’d like to reward your favorite player by giving them a push to Pro Bowl status, then by all means, do it. They might even get a kick-back via contract incentives. And who doesn’t want some more green during the holiday season?
• New year, same issues:
Image from last night’s outdoor film study with some friends. So much fun. Will try to capture more of it next time and share here.
Big takeaways:
• Mitch hasn’t progressed mechanically/mentally
• Nagy needs to do more to pry receivers open
• How well prepared Packers’ O was pic.twitter.com/zOXHH4orG3— dan durkin (@djdurkin) December 4, 2020
• The coach gets in on the #MyCauseMyCleats movement:
• Every year I find myself more impressed with these:
🧡: @ARWithinReach
👟: Underprivileged youth & social justice
@AllenRobinson x #MyCauseMyCleats pic.twitter.com/JTnXtsUxP4— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 3, 2020
🧡: Gittlen Cancer Research Fund
👟: Cancer Research
@PatODonnell_16 x #MyCauseMyCleats pic.twitter.com/xPfypjiJ65— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 3, 2020
https://twitter.com/ChicagoBears/status/1334512724898766848
This year for #MyCauseMyCleats I am honored to represent @amazinggoodwill. 100 years strong of helping strengthen individuals, families and communities!
@amazinggoodwill @nfl @ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/l8qrHp0kE5
— Cairo Santos (@cairosantos19) December 1, 2020
🧡: @Blklivesmatter
👟: Black Lives Matter@AnthonyMiller_3 x #MyCauseMyCleats pic.twitter.com/h2j0FtVBFj— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 4, 2020
More than 30 players and coaches from the @ChicagoBears are participating in the #MyCauseMyCleats initiative this season. They will wear them this weekend against the @Lions.
Check out how cool they look! pic.twitter.com/VfRqDz66tV— Jen DeSalvo (@trafficjamjen) December 2, 2020
• Khalil Mack is a terror on quarterbacks. More than that, Mack is the Bears’ 2020 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award nominee.
• For your listening pleasure:
Will Mitch Trubisky continue his dominance over the Lions?
🎙️@AdamHoge & @adamjahns welcome @ChrisBurkeNFL for the Detroit angle, plus the guys bring their weekly Big Questions, Bold Predictions, picks & more on a NEW Hoge & Jahns!
📸USA Today pic.twitter.com/TijsVbFhnb
— The Athletic Chicago (@TheAthleticCHI) December 3, 2020
• PFFFFFT. Playoff picture? That’s easy. Want a challenge, Steve? Give me a road map to the Bears drafting Trevor Lawrence:
.@SteveKornacki will make his Football Night in America debut this Sunday at 7 p.m. ET on NBC to break down the NFL playoff picture leading into and during halftime of @Broncos–@Chiefs on @SNFonNBC.
More: https://t.co/EuABe6j6Zq pic.twitter.com/qeB6vprPRW
— NBC Sports PR (@NBCSportsPR) December 3, 2020
• It was only a matter of time:
Also of note here: Players can use the weight room and fields on restricted days “provided that such areas are under video camera surveillance (which is recorded)” — a logical mandate given the nature of #Ravens’ outbreak. Everyone must wear PPE and tracking devices at all times. https://t.co/4JoaI95Sjn
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 4, 2020
• Ugly sweaters, projectors, and more are your Deals of the Day at Amazon. #ad
