NEWSLETTER
I’m rolling the dice on outdoor decorations this year. Not like anyone is going to be out to see them. But maybe they’ll make me happy? Happier? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
• The Dez Bryant thing sure was wild last night. In case you missed it, here’s a rollercoaster in the form of a series of tweets:
Dez Bryant Reveals That He Tested Positive for COVID-19 Minutes Before Game Timehttps://t.co/8JYWGhWcby
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) December 9, 2020
Yea I’m going to go ahead and call it a quit for the rest of the season… I can’t deal with this
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) December 9, 2020
I’m about to drink some wine and cope….
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) December 9, 2020
I’m not drunk yet.. I only had one glass of wine… I’m getting my business stuff together to share with you all lol
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) December 9, 2020
• Catch a bad break, then turn to a glass of wine and reflect? I’ve never related to a football player more in my entire life. I can only speak for myself, but I’m rooting for you Dez. Now, if you don’t mind, please pass the red.
• Thomas Ives is on the Bears’ Reserve/COVID-19 list after testing positive, reports Patrick Finley of the Sun-Times. That’s now three Bears players landing on the COVID list in two days. ESPN’s Jeff Dickerson reports in Ives’ case is independent of those involving Manti Te’o and LaCale London. Suboptimal, but that’s life in the NFL while trying to play through a pandemic.
• Let’s feel good about something, shall we? Kristopher Knox (Bleacher Report) brings to light each NFL team’s best move from the 2020 offseason. And yes, the Bears did something worthy of inclusion on this list. Drafting Jaylon Johnson has helped salvage the Bears’ 2020 NFL Draft class. Johnson has been a starter, contributor, and playmaker since Week 1. He is challenged weekly and is often up to the challenge. The combination of size, speed, swagger, and skills makes him an excellent rookie corner. And to think, there’s still room for growth. Johnson is still awaiting his first interception. One of these days, he’ll turn a pass breakup into a pick.
• Darnell Mooney deserves recognition for his efforts, too. The fifth-round pick has emerged as a starter. And while he isn’t utilized to perfection just yet, that he’s shown game-breaking ability suggests he’s a quarterback away from having a dreamy breakout. We often think about downfield speed when it comes to young wideouts, but the Bears finally using him on crossers last week shows me that can be a useful way to get him the ball. There’s something about how Mooney runs with speed and aggression that makes him a joy to watch in the open field.
• And where would this team be without Cairo Santos? The Bears’ kicker ranks 16th in field goals made, but 21st in total attempts. His 90.5 percent success rate makes him one of 13 kickers who have been at least 90 percent accurate on their kicks this season. Any which way you slice it, Santos has been good. Not just good enough to make Eddy Piñeiro’s pending return from a groin injury a non-story. Just plain ol’ good!
• How good is Khalil Mack? He hasn’t come up with a sack in four games and is still the NFL’s second-highest-graded edge defender by PFF’s standards:
https://twitter.com/PFF/status/1336408469809860612
• Mack should have had one last week, if not for a soft penalty that negated it. Even still … Mack needs to break out of his funk ASAP.
• The EA Sports Madden franchise does right by Bilal Nichols:
Catching +5
Spec Catch +5🤝 #RatingsAdjustor pic.twitter.com/9Lu0pBlxrx
— Madden NFL 24 (@EAMaddenNFL) December 8, 2020
• For your listening pleasure:
https://twitter.com/TheAthleticCHI/status/1336418937811185664
• Who’s your pick and why is it Coby White?
So who has the best 2020-21 season? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/FKubLoFfmk
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) December 8, 2020
