NEWSLETTER
Ahhh, so this is what it feels like to be on the other side of a soul-crushing missed field goal:
❤️ to show some love for the defense! pic.twitter.com/y22fwx7E0b
— Saluki Football (@SIU_Football) March 13, 2021
We’re not quite even after the Cody Parkey thing, but this helps me feel a little bit better about things as of right now.
• It’s not just that the Bears cleared north of $23 million in salary cap space by re-structuring deals for Khalil Mack, Eddie Jackson, and Cody Whitehair piquing my interest in Sunday morning. More than that, it’s how ESPN’s Adam Schefter framed the series of transactions. It’s the “heading into free-agent week” phrasing for me. Schefter didn’t specifically reference the firepower to go hard in free agency. Instead, he simply mentions free-agency week. This upcoming week is one when LOTS of movement happens outside of free agency. So, fasten those seatbelts.
• And to think, more could be coming:
Would imagine the #Bears will be making multiple other moves in the days and weeks to come in an effort to create cap space.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) March 13, 2021
• It’s this simple: Get under the cap now, figure out the rest later. Will it take some heavy lifting? Sure. Can it get done? Absolutely.
• Take a moment to think about the things that can line up this week. Free agents signing. Trades getting agreed upon. More contract restructuring. Surprise cuts. It sure feels like there’s fun stuff bubbling under the surface. And it all kicks off at 11 a.m. CT on Monday, when the “legal tampering” period opens.
• I suppose that, in the interest of fairness, someone had to write this:
The best trades are made from inspiration, not desperation. https://t.co/VyY34mGLvX
— Dan Pompei (@danpompei) March 14, 2021
• Look … I understand the risks in mortgaging the future for a player of Russell Wilson’s stature. But I can’t vibe with a stance that suggests that just because the Jay Cutler deal didn’t work out in 2009, the Bears shouldn’t make a big trade for a potential franchise quarterback in 2021. Past results aren’t indicative of what will come in the future. And I can’t roll with the idea of a Tom Brady not being an example of why you go all-out for the quarterback, if only becausee landing someone with that gravitas opens the door for players joining your team who otherwise wouldn’t be options. Think Leonard Fournette, Rob Gronkowski, and others are taking their talents to Tampa Bay if Jameis Winston is under center?
• To me, it boils down to this: We’ve watched the Bears over DECADES build teams rooted in solid roster building at every position but quarterback. And the result has been one Super Bowl appearance and participation in two NFC Championship Games. At some point, it’s logical for the Bears to zag after zigging all these years. We know what it looks like when the Bears build a defense/ball control team first. And we have seen them unearth defensive gems over the years. What we haven’t seen is what it looks like when you team a real quarterback with a balanced team. That’s what making the big splash at QB accomplishes.
• Also, if trading for one of the league’s top-10 active quarterbacks when your job is on the line isn’t working from inspiration, then I’m not sure anything will suffice.
• LOL @ these stats:
https://twitter.com/PFF/status/1370827007299362816
• Straight-up bonkers!
• Once the Bears figure out the QB thing, they should prioritize re-signing the guy who has as many contested catches against single coverage since 2018 as DeAndre Hopkins:
https://twitter.com/PFF_Fantasy/status/1370879848705519617
• The Bears are bringing back Mario Edwards, who Kevin Fishbain tweets made a “splash play” on 7.06 percent of his snaps. That was a team-best last year. “Splash” plays are ones which result in a sack, quarterback hit, tackle-for-loss, interception, pass defended, forced fumble, or fumble recovery. More of that, please.
• And I think my dreams are weird:
Had a dream last night that the Bears selected WR Artavis Pierce with the 5th overall pick of April’s draft.
Pierce is a current Bears RB, so I'm as confused as you are, but maybe it's some kind of sign?
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) March 14, 2021
