Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent always puts me in a reflective mood. Here’s to being a more mindful me.
• There are few voices in media circles as polarizing as Colin Cowherd, but I think he’s onto something here:
The Bears are the sleeping giant in the NFL:
"What's the bar in Chicago? It's not like Carson Wentz would be replacing a legend." — @ColinCowherd pic.twitter.com/qLaeDWHYFd
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) February 16, 2021
• It takes some real flexibility to get to where Cowherd lands, but I can’t shake it. The Bears making the playoffs two of the last three years with that offense and that quarterbacking speaks volumes for … something. Is it the culture? That’s what I imagine Matt Nagy would point at in his defense. Would it be the overall roster building beyond the QB? I’m sure that’s what GM Ryan Pace would underscore. That Chicago’s football team still gets to the cusp of something despite sub-optimal quarterback play says something about the sum of the parts. Maybe the Bears are a sleeping giant until they land a quarterback. Until then, they’re cartoons with animated “Z’s” floating on top of their heads.
• I mean, if Bart Scott says it…
https://twitter.com/GetUpESPN/status/1361346083755077637
• And yet, there seems to be a growing conversation about Carson Wentz’s preference to go to the Colts:
Carson Wentz should 100% prefer Indy. Career hangs in balance after a terrible 2020.
Colts offer stability, HC he trusts, strong OL.
Bears' staff has shown no ability to find answers on offense, HC/GM fighting for their jobs.
What Eagles get back is irrelevant if you're Wentz.
— Sheil Kapadia (@SheilKapadia) February 17, 2021
I don't know what the Bears will do, but if Wentz prefers Indy — which it sure seems like he does — that gives the Colts added leverage. If the Eagles are waiting for a monster offer, like the two 1s they asked for at the start, that won't come from the Colts.
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) February 17, 2021
• This all seems to add up to the Colts gaining leverage in a deal that nets them Wentz. But until that goes down, the saga continues.
• Gosh, Allen Robinson is good:
https://twitter.com/PFF_Fantasy/status/1362054195034128384
https://twitter.com/PFF_Fantasy/status/1361857900306706432
• This should be interesting:
Pop in with the crew, Thursday, on clubhouse! Catching up, and my thoughts on… The Franchise Tag
— Allen Robinson II (@AllenRobinson) February 17, 2021
• Get your popcorn ready:
I put @JJStankevitz back to work on the podcast this week. He has a plan to fix the #Bears. Take a listen to what he & @KingsleyEllis came up with: https://t.co/l9TXPsVieF
— Laurence Holmes (@LaurenceWHolmes) February 17, 2021
• Shot:
In a couple months Bears must make a decision on exercising his 5th Yr Option that’ll be for $10M+ and Guaranteed for injury & skill. Serious injury history and went AWOL in 2019. Plus, Zach Cunningham is locked up long term and Roquan’s skillset doesn’t fit today’s NFL ideally. https://t.co/ri1mJ8DpM2
— Chad Forbes (@NFLDraftBites) February 16, 2021
• Chaser:
Went back & watched more Roquan Smith. I was wrong. Fits Today’s Game. Much better in coverage than I realized. A few flaws in his game, but he’s a player.
Thanks for the Feedback!
— Chad Forbes (@NFLDraftBites) February 17, 2021
• A reminder that nobody’s perfect and that there’s never a bad time to go back to some tape.
• Something to keep in mind as we ramp up the pre-draft process:
Friendly reminder: NFL Personnel departments don't care about college awards. I sat in draft meetings for 8 years, we never mentioned Heisman, Outland, 1st team all conference etc…It doesn't carry any weight.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) February 16, 2021
• I love learning about Bears players from the past:
Vince Evans visualized himself going to USC as a teenager in North Carolina and wound up making history in the NFL. My story for our Bears QB series: https://t.co/7M3l1YzXal
— jon greenberg (@jon_greenberg) February 17, 2021
• In that same vein, I enjoyed reading from Larry Mayer (ChicagoBears.com) on how Gale Sayers and Willie Galimore being Civil Rights activist during their playing careers.
• The icon turns 58 today:
https://twitter.com/BN_Bulls/status/1362055973553201159