New Taylor Swift music hitting my ears this morning was such a delight.
• What a day for the Chicago Bulls:
BOOM: Bulls Are Trading for Nikola Vucevic!!! https://t.co/fFxO8nSXy6
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) March 25, 2021
Bulls Trading Chandler Hutchison and Daniel Gafford to the Wizards https://t.co/w6a7Y8nLPl
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) March 25, 2021
Bulls Aquire Big Man Daniel Theis and Guard Javonte Green from Celticshttps://t.co/0aICkwrlup
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) March 25, 2021
Arturas Karnisovas Explains Bulls Crazy Deadline: “We Are Serious Here About Winning”https://t.co/hRmyWAEhoA
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) March 26, 2021
• I couldn’t look at the Bulls’ Thursday movement without viewing it through the prism of what’s happening with the Bears. Looking at what the Bulls did serves as a reminder of why we, as fans, want change in the first place. Over at the United Center, we’re seeing what it looks like when fresh eyes get set on old problems. And what happens when new ideas are infused into an organization running on the treadmill of mediocrity. Most importantly, it appears as if the Bulls have (1) a plan, (2) the means of executing it, and (3) approval from ownership without top-level meddling. I never thought I’d write this sentence, but here I am: George McCaskey could learn a thing or two from the Reinsdorfs.
• Begrudgingly, I have to hand it to Michael Reinsdorf. He saw a flailing product, an avenue to making changes, and took that path. Out with the old, in with the new. Maybe instead of kicking around ideas with fellow old-head NFL owners, perhaps Mr. McCaskey can lean on someone he shares a city with on how to get out of this current rut. Hey, this could be one of those can’t hurt, could help situations. But you’ll never know unless you ask.
• The Bulls are a work in progress, to be sure. But there is a plan and a process, which has me excited to see how it plays out.
• And if you don’t want to dive into the basketball world and take that advice, maybe listen to this from Alabama football coach Nick Saban:
“I grew up with the idea that you play good defense, run the ball, control field position on special teams, and you’re gonna win… you’re not gonna win anything now doin that”
Nick Saban, King of the Nerds
— Brad Spielberger (@PFF_Brad) March 26, 2021
• Can someone *PLEASE* forward this message over to Halas Hall?
• I’m so over the Andy Dalton discourse:
"Andy Dalton last year, with better weapons than Mitchell Trubisky, had a worse QBR. … [the Bears GM] went out and found a worse alternative, and he paid more money for it. It makes no sense!"@ChrisCanty99 goes off on the Bears for the way they've handled their QB situation. pic.twitter.com/NUmD3sNAqV
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) March 25, 2021
The Chicago Bears Twitter account put out a tweet declaring Andy Dalton QB1, and the internet had some hilarious responses 🤣
Are fans being too harsh on Dalton? https://t.co/N2r5UmiMvy pic.twitter.com/DYIxi4iEi9
— The MMQB (@theMMQB) March 26, 2021
• Sometimes these pundits get really close to making good points. And they just don’t seal the deal. Ironically, it’s EXACTLY what the Bears offense does.
• There are times when this all runs together, so I forget who it was who said “you can’t just force someone to give you their QB.” Which, naturally, is an angle too many of these analysts seem to forget when it comes to making trades. It takes two to tango. I realize the value and importance of making the bold point loudly. But to do so without perspective and balance is wrong at a basic level of sharing insight and information.
• As for the Dalton signing, sure, I’ll level with you and call it uninspiring. But there wasn’t a free agent out there who would make fans go: “Yep, that QB situation is settled. Super Bowl, here we come!” Ryan Fitzpatrick would’ve been fun. Big beard, big arm, and big energy would’ve brought a bit of a buzz. But you can get only so excited for a 38-year-old journeyman quarterback. Were you getting excited for Jameis Winston? Or hearing the Bears justify that signing? Trading for Gardner Minshew wasn’t turning heads. Neither was acquiring Marcus Mariota. A one-year stop gap isn’t the best solution. But it’s one that gets us one step closer to the Bears realizing they are in the same position the Bulls were in at this time last year.
• Wait … are the Bulls the new blueprint?
• Some contract details:
Elijah Wilkinson (Bears) one year, $1.127M, $987,500 gtd, $137,500 signing bonus, $990K base salary ($850K gtd)
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 26, 2021
• The artist renderings here are interesting to me:
Need all of these STAT. 🤩 #AirMaxDay pic.twitter.com/AtI9AXkt1y
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) March 26, 2021
• Art is cool:
🐐 things.#TBT | 🎨: @VarianFordJr pic.twitter.com/vtbKQOzTDl
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) March 25, 2021