Here’s a parody song you didn’t know you needed to hear until today (because I wasn’t aware of it myself until a friend put me on it yesterday):
• It was a week ago today in which the Bears wrapped up a widely praised NFL Draft weekend. And while last weekend was an absolute joy ride from start to finish, we won’t get a chance to experience that again until 2023 (at the earliest). That’s because Chicago sent its 2022 first-round pick to the Giants for the opportunity to draft Justin Fields. With that in mind, PFF is already looking ahead to the 2022 NFL Draft.
• Based on current Super Bowl odds, the Giants would be using the No. 11 overall pick from the Bears. And with that pick, New York would choose Liberty QB Malik Willis. Much like its 2021 predecessor, the 2022 NFL Draft has three quarterbacks going in the top-10, with Willis being the fourth to come off the board at 11. Without falling too far down the rabbit hole, seeing this has me asking: “Would you rather have Fields now or a shot at Willis later?” Based on the buzz that’s built over the last week, I think Bears fans would rather have Fields now.
• Matt Bowen provides keen insight into NFL things over at ESPN. Over at The Chicago Audible, Bowen chimes in on the Bears’ draft class. Discussion topics include Justin Fields’ strengths, as well as Teven Jenkins’ projected move to left tackle. Check it out:
• Someone make this happen:
My dream is to throw the first pitch at a @Cubs game!
— Tev (@TevenJenkins) May 8, 2021
• Justin Fields makes Chris Roling’s lsat of rookies who won’t begin the year as starters, but should. The Bears are making it clear that Andy Dalton is QB1 right now. But I’d bet a dollar to a donut that Fields’ development could sway their opinions. However, since we have quite a way to go until we cross that bridge – let alone get to it – there is no reason to dive in right now.
• One day after requesting an interview with Bears Assistant Director of Pro Scouting Jeff King for the team’s Assistant GM job, the gig is going to former linebacker Dan Morgan. King was a Panthers tight end from 2006-10. But since leaving the game, King joined Chicago’s front office as a training camp/scouting intern in 2015 and has moved up the ladder in the years that followed. Perhaps King is next on the list of Bears front office execs whose stock is on the rise. Remember, Carolina had an interview with Champ Kelly for its GM opening earlier in the offseason.
• I think it’s gonna cost a little bit more than this to pry Aaron Rodgers out of Green Bay:
Packers get: Sterling Shepard, 2022 first-round pick, 2022 first-round pick (from Bears), 2023 first-round pick, 2023 second-round pick
Giants get: Rodgers
Here are potential trade destinations for Aaron Rodgers: https://t.co/w3XVvEeCLt pic.twitter.com/KuWQ1LHO22
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) May 7, 2021
• Chargers, electric mosquito repellers, massagers, and more are your Deals of the Day at Amazon. #ad
• I want to dive into this later. But at first blush, I’m getting a kick out of the Bears and Packers trending in different directions:
It’s never too early to look at next offseason! Here are the projected salary cap for the 2022 NFL season. #Packers all the way at the bottom; #Steelers all the way at the top. Where does your team stand? pic.twitter.com/LOq14HOoYS
— All Sports Culture (@ASCSportsMedia) May 7, 2021
• Makes you wonder:
On the same day Tom Brady delivered a roughly 6-minute speech to fellow players in support of the NFLPA’s push to boycott and ultimately modify offseason workouts, three teams opened rookie minicamps, all with perfect or near-perfect attendance. @nflnetwork @NFLTotalAccess pic.twitter.com/YZP2xVuBcf
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 7, 2021
• Yeah, the beef between the NFL and NFLPA regarding voluntary training isn’t ending any time soon:
Union statement (2/2): "Despite open threat of "NFI" designation Ja’Wuan was working out to stay in shape under a program recommended by his coach.
*Clubs who care about their players have in past honored a player’s contract for simply working out to stay in shape." #9sports— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) May 6, 2021
"Between the end of mandatory minicamp & training camp if they want to do this of 'If I get hurt they're not going to have my back even though I'm trying to get better & make the team better..'
Then now I've been disincentivized to train" ~ @JCTretter #PatMcAfeeShowLIVE pic.twitter.com/afVZkaC4r6
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 6, 2021
• I love reading stories like this:
James White followed through on a promise to his parents, and will earn his degree in Life Sciences Communication from Wisconsin today. He took a final class online.
"My parents always stressed how important it was for me to get my degree," White said. https://t.co/Zyr2iz0T7M
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) May 8, 2021
• Still cracking up about this one week later:
https://twitter.com/Hawk/status/1388227639740014592