NEWSLETTER
This is it, don’t get scared now.
• The message from GMFB’s Peter Schrager is all the Bears need to hear today:
"Don't rely on John Wolford or anyone else. My message to the @ChicagoBears? Get the job done. Take care of business. Do it in your building, against your arch rivals. Soldier Field shouldn't be Aaron Rodgers' playground anymore. Protect your home & control your fate."-@PSchrags pic.twitter.com/2lbxiCdIw3
— GMFB (@gmfb) January 1, 2021
• The whole point of controlling your own destiny isn’t to hope that John Wolford can do what CJ Beathard did to the Cardinals in Week 16. Or to wish upon a star that a Rams defense led by Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey, and Leonard Floyd can do your dirty work for you. Controlling your own destiny means you have the main stake in what happens moving forward. And because so many have futures that ride on what happens at Soldier Field on Sunday, I expect a spirited effort from the Bears. Because if the opportunity to clinch a playoff spot at home against your most fierce rival doesn’t do it for ya, then I’m afraid nothing ever will.
• If Schrager’s new-year pep talk doesn’t get Chicago’s football team in the right mindset to take down the Packers, perhaps some words from Aqib Talib will do the trick. Talib, a stud cornerback during his playing days and Super Bowl champion, relayed a story on his show about Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan reaching out to share some encouraging words before this run that pushed them into the playoff picture. The message must’ve been a resounding one, because they’re 3-0 since The Zoom Call:
“It was just about locking in. About December being its own season. It just had a lot to do with that. Just starting over. The (bleep) that y’all were on during training camp, and that first game was finna start — just start over. Wipe your slate clean and start over. Like it’s a whole new season.”
• Remember when the Bears had Peyton Manning, Cris Carter, and Doc Rivers among their offseason guest speakers? Fun times. Here’s hoping whatever lessons they learned and ultimately sparked a hot start can resurface.
• Further, it’s fitting that Trevathan was the one to pull in a surprise guest-speaker this late in the season. Trevathan is one of the longest-tenured members of this core. His signing as a free agent was one of the Bears’ first steps toward rebuilding from what was a broken organization left behind by Phil Emery and Marc Trestman. Signing Trevathan brought credibility to a franchise that lost plenty of it in 2013 and 2014. And as a performer, Trevathan has been valuable. Glue guys who perform are worth their weight in gold if you ask me.
• Talib has extra incentive to see the Bears make the postseason, as he can say it was his speech that rallied the troops and sent them on their way to bigger and better things. Win it for ‘Lib, you guys!
• As Adam Jahns of The Athletic writes, it’s an important game for a great many people in the Bears organization:
The playoffs and the Packers. From Chuck Pagano to Matt Nagy to Ryan Pace to Ted Phillips, let's explore the implications for the #Bears’ top decision-makers.
My column:https://t.co/r7QGQWUlYa
— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) January 2, 2021
• If winning it for ‘Lib isn’t enough, then do it for each other. This core has been through some things since coming together. From building up from the ashes of the Trestman-Emery regime, to an era of accountability under John Fox, to this competitive window that opened with Matt Nagy coaching. Nagy has often talked about the culture that has kept things together when it would’ve been easy to fall apart. And while I was afraid we saw that culture deteriorate when losing to the Lions, I’ve been impressed that it didn’t totally collapse in the weeks that followed.
• Let’s face it. Losing a Deshaun Watson grudge-match or division rivalry game against the Vikings wasn’t totally out of the picture. But Chicago has since rattled off three consecutive wins after its season low-point. That counts for something, right?
• I’ve been thinking about this since hearing Allen Robinson II provide this perspective:
Chicago Bears WR Allen Robinson said that QB Mitch Trubisky never lost support in the locker room.
Robinson: "We aren't just teammates. We are also pretty close friends. We want to see our brother succeed. We have a brotherhood."
(Via Bears FB Live)
— Daniel Greenberg (@ChiSportUpdates) December 30, 2020
• A few things come to mind when re-reading those words. First, it’s Robinson’s professionalism. A stud pass-catcher who does all the little things well could easily pitch a fit about the lack of consistency at the quarterback position over the last three years. Instead, Robinson paints a picture of a locker room that rallies around players because of their bond with each other. This is what that culture stuff is supposed to look like. Second, I’m reminded of when Bears receivers started to grumble about Trubisky during a rough patch in 2019. That the overall sentiment was that they were unhappy about how things were going, but still supportive of their teammate spoke volumes about how they felt about the guy without actually saying anything. If you’ve watched the NFL long enough, you know what it looks like when receivers quit on quarterbacks. We haven’t seen that in Chicago despite ample opportunities for it to happen.
• And finally, what else does Robinson need to do to earn an extension? Excellent on the field and off it, plus a strong and level-headed teammate. The guy is everything you’d want a member of the Chicago Bears to be.
• If you’ve got time to burn, Dan Wiederer’s run through all of Mitchell Trubisky’s starts with the Bears is one heckuva journey:
Entering Sunday's regular-season finale vs. the Packers, Mitch Trubisky has made 50 career starts for the Bears.@DanWiederer ranked all 50.https://t.co/Ot5iQnzgx6
— Chicago Tribune Sports (@ChicagoSports) January 2, 2021
• A minor roster move for depth purposes:
#Bears roster move:
We have activated DB Xavier Crawford from the practice squad for Sunday’s game vs. Green Bay.— Chicago Bears (@BearsPR) January 2, 2021
• Health and wellness watch out west:
Rams’ RB Cam Akers, listed as questionable with a high ankle sprain, is likely to try to play today against the Cardinals, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 3, 2021
Cardinals placed Christian Kirk on the COVID-19 list. They won't have a key receiver against the Rams.
— Kyle Odegard (@Kyle_Odegard) January 2, 2021
Cardinals are not optimistic that WR Larry Fitzgerald, listed as questionable with a groin injury, will be able to play vs the Rams, per source. With Christian Kirk out, Fitzgerald could try to surprise Arizona. But the team was not counting on having him available.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 3, 2021
• So much respect for Matthew Stafford:
Despite dealing with ankle, rib and thumb injuries that have him listed as questionable for Sunday, Lions’ QB Matthew Stafford is expected to start vs. the Vikings, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 3, 2021
• The coaching rumor mill is already spinning:
If Urban Meyer decides to stay retired… Ohio St coach Ryan Day is a potential target, sources say. https://t.co/Rw6D14iOaw
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 2, 2021
The #Jets are expected to part ways with coach Adam Gase following the game on Sunday, sources tell me and @TomPelissero. Expect a thorough and lengthy search. Our story: https://t.co/HnEgz440BV
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 2, 2021
• Don’t miss the betting preview:
Packers vs. Bears Odds, Pick, Betting Prediction (January 3, 2021) https://t.co/YWZsZ1GMvN
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) January 3, 2021
