Cairo Santos Wins a Major Award and Other Bears Bullets

Brett nailed it in his BN Cubs Bullets post today:

You may have noticed that we took some time away starting yesterday afternoon as events were unfolding at the U.S. Capitol. Like has happened so often over the past few years, and the past year especially, you knew what was happening was historic – in a truly regrettable sense – and it just wasn’t the time to write up the latest trade rumor or quarterback note. There was no political motive behind the decision to quiet down; just an acknowledgement that the world happens around us, and sometimes we just have to observe it in horrified awe.

There’s nothing more I can say on the events that you haven’t already found, or can’t already find, from other more qualified sources. So, instead, we’ll return to what I hope we do well enough at these times: providing something else interesting and entertaining to think about when you want that distraction. Be well, folks.

I don’t have much else to add beyond that we should consider ourselves fortunate to live another day and that we should cherish the moments we have together. Because even in the darkest hours, I’m reminded that light will soon follow.

And with that, we’re onto football things.

•   I don’t know what the Special Teams Player of the Month award trophy looks like, but I’m imagining a re-furbished version of the leg lamp from “A Christmas Story.” Whatever it is, Cairo Santos now has something to put next to his NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award from earlier in the season:

Kick it like Cairo.@cairosantos19 is your NFC Special Teams Player of the Month! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ksUgTAFSRY

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) January 7, 2021

•   This is telling:

#Bears have had 22 all-time Player of the Month honors (goes back to 1986).

12 on special teams (Hester 3x, Gould 2x)
8 on defense (Peppers 2x)
2 on offense

Rex Grossman (2006) and Neal Anderson (1989) are the two offensive players.

— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) January 7, 2021

•   Santos nailed all 12 of his field goal attempts and 16 of 17 PATs. His one miss came on a block in the Lions game after a blown blocking assignment at the line of scrimmage. In other words, save for the one moment that Santos himself couldn’t control, he’s been perfect. Santos has navigated the Soldier Field winds and found his groove after an extended stretch from 2017-19 when he was downright not good. It’s a comeback story that should get more love. Santos could make a case for being the offense’s most valuable player. After all, he’s scored a  healthy chunk of the points this season. But maybe he’ll settle for a new deal? I mean, it can’t be ruled out.

•   While we’re thinking about players who deserve extensions:

Allen Robinson said of the 8-8 Bears: "I know it wasn't a 12-4 season like we had a couple years ago. I know last year we went 8-8 and didn't get to the playoffs. … We're still alive and we're still giving ourselves a shot to compete for that trophy."

— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) January 6, 2021

•   You play to win the game, as Herm Edwards once eloquently said. These guys know 8-8 aim’t it. But they also know they have an opportunity to write one heck of a redemption story by doing something unpredictable. But one step at a time, my friends. It all starts on Sunday.

•   Because I know you need a chuckle:

•   It’s the Matt Nagy getting low-key dragged via cartoon for me.

•   Back to reality, where this has me nervously tugging at my collar:

The first is Trubisky's last 5 games in which he has faced the 17th, 18th, 30th, 31st & 32nd ranked defenses, according to @fboutsiders DVOA metric.

The second is Trubisky, this season, against top 20 defenses none higher than 14th

Saints' Defensive DVOA Rank: 2nd@VSiNLive pic.twitter.com/DA92PyQuaE

— Jonathan Von Tobel (@meJVT) January 7, 2021

•   Just so we’re all clear here: Mitchell Trubisky faced – by far – the easiest defensive matchups among all quarterbacks last season. Keep that in mind when reading Trubisky’s stat line. And do so before putting too much stock into whatever late-season numbers you want to bring up about his end-of-year renaissance. This isn’t a hit-job or a tear-down piece. Instead, this is me offering up context and perspective to something that too many have viewed through tunnel vision.

•   This read is equal parts fascinating (because of the football breakdown) and annoying (because Aaron Rodgers):

Aaron Rodgers in the most QB-friendly system in the NFL is unfair

The Shanahan/McVay system has helped mask the weaknesses of a long list of physically underwhelming quarterbacks around the league but with Rodgers, it’s accentuating his strengths. https://t.co/iBWd9ZZ4jR

— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) January 6, 2021

•   Speaking of the Packers…

The #Falcons are doing a virtual interview with #Packers OC Nathaniel Hackett today, per me and @PSchrags. A big part of GB’s offensive machine, this is Hackett’s first HC interview this cycle.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 7, 2021

•   Hey, Falcons: If there’s any info you wanna share regarding how the Packers run things, meet us at Magic City and we can discuss over wings.

•   Checking in on the Broncos, who have Champ Kelly (and others) in their sights:

#Broncos have requested and received permission to interview #Bears Champ Kelly. Also have asked to talk to #Vikings George Paton, and are scheduled to interview #Saints Terry Fontenot and in-house candidate Brian Stark, who played key role in recent #Broncos’ drafts #Denver7

— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) January 7, 2021

 

•   It’s not that the Bears don’t spend money, it’s just that it’s not always spent well or efficiently:

Total Cap Payroll Ranks for the 14 #NFL Playoff Teams

1. #Colts
2. #Bills
3. #Titans
4. #Chiefs
7. #Bears
12. #Buccaneers
14. #Packers
16. #Browns
18. #Seahawks
19. #Rams
22. #Ravens
24. #Steelers
26. #Saints
28. #WFT https://t.co/smgBpjZvT9

— Spotrac (@spotrac) January 7, 2021

 

•   A nice gesture:

I donated to Invest in Chicago Youth with Charles Leno Jr. on PledgeIt! You can do it too! Let’s help @charleslenojr72 🐻⬇️ https://t.co/VjWrypJnuP

— Ryan Badgley (@RyanBadgley40) January 7, 2021

•   You really can’t predict football:

Just realized 2 major things happened this year in the #NFL:

1. The Bills won 11+ games for the first time since 1999, when Doug Flutie was their QB.

2. The Browns won 11+ games for the first time since 1994, when Bill Belichick was their coach.

— Butkus Stats & Analytics (@ButkusStats) January 7, 2021