Khalil Mack is the Second-Best Defensive Player in Football Right Now

Pete Crow-Armstrong is fast. Very fast. In fact, according to the Statcast sprint speed metric, he's roughly tied as the second fastest runner in all of baseball behind Bobby Witt Jr. (and Witt has just 0.4 feet/second on him). For a little reference on how small of a gap that is, the second fastest Cubs runner according to Statcast, Nico Hoerner, is 1.6 feet per second slower than PCA, and...

The Little Boy is a big Minecraft fan, and yesterday he showed me something he's been working on for a long time: dude made a baseball stadium, complete with players on the field, clubhouses, and stands for the fans. Really impressive stuff, and a lot of fun. ... the only problem is that he made the Padres' ballpark, because he fancies himself a Padres fan. At least it's not the...

I have nothing but hatred in my heart for the Dodgers. I don't care where it comes from, whether it's justified, or what it says about me or the team I follow. I just f---ing hate the Dodgers. Top free agent reliever, Tanner Scott, is the latest to join the Los Angeles Super Team of Cowards Who Don't Want to Compete on a Real Team: Closer Tanner Scott and the...

CubsCon draws to a close today, and although the revelations were limited, it was definitely a weekend of positive vibes ... nice to see ... Nico Hoerner spoke about his offseason, but there wasn't much to update yet on his recovery from forearm surgery in October: https://bsky.app/profile/mmontemurro.bsky.social/post/3lg2cbplmqk2v If Hoerner isn't even throwing or hitting yet, it's still on the table that he won't be ready to go for the Japan...

With the Chicago Cubs Convention going on, team owner and chairman Tom Ricketts hopped on 670 The Score today, and was also quoted extensively in a piece at The Athletic. I wanted to spotlight some of the financial remarks, as those are the ones where Ricketts necessarily has an outsized role in the organization ... This is the one that seems to be getting the most play: Tom Ricketts on...

What a day. You had the full scope of the Opening of Cubs Convention - great to talk to so many folks! - wrapped around Roki Sasaki making his decision (or, well, making public a decision that was maybe made a very long time ago), two of the late-inning relievers going off the board, the official return of Sammy Sosa, and the announcement of he and Derrek Lee being the...

Among the remaining POSSIBLE things the Chicago Cubs could do this offseason, signing closer Tanner Scott would probably be just about the best. He not only fits an obvious need and dramatically improves an entire group on the roster, but he's available for only money and is coming off of a two-year run that has seen him post a 2.04 ERA over 150.0 IP, while striking out 31.3% of the...

I wasn't able to make it to the Cubs Convention's Opening Ceremonies tonight (I'll be there tomorrow!), and I'm very sad about that. But on the bright side, Brett can't get anything to post from inside the hilariously packed halls of the Grand Sheraton. And I can! So for those of you who also aren't there, sit back and enjoy Sammy Sosa re-entering our lives, complete with the mini-American flag,...

I am genuinely tempted not to write anything at all about this besides sharing the news. As everyone in the entire world knew: Roki Sasaki is signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers. There were never any finalists, there were never any "city" visits or IFA bonus pool trades that mattered. It was always going to be them. And now it is. Roki Sasaki to the Dodgers Here's the news via...

Although Jed Hoyer and the Chicago Cubs still have time to find that much-needed (and implicitly promised) back-end free-agent reliever this offseason, two solid options just came off the board. This afternoon, news dropped that Jose Leclerc signed a one-year, $10M deal with the Athletics, while AJ Minter is signing a two-year, $22 million deal with the Mets (UPDATE: Looks like he may have an opt-out after one year, which...

Let’s take another look at a 2025 NFL Mock Draft! With Divisional Round weekend now behind us, the order for the 2025 NFL Draft is beginning to take shape. As we move closer to the league's biggest offseason event, the big questions arise: Will any new quarterbacks rise up the ranks and secure first-round spots? Will the Bears manage to select one of the top offensive linemen available, or will...

Day 15 of the Chicago Bears offseason. The temperature outside when I woke up had a "real feel" of negative-8 degrees. Please be safe and stay warm if you have to venture outside today. Call it a hunch, but I think the Bears will have a new head coach by the end of the week. Of their known candidates, the only ones whose teams are still in the playoffs are...

The Chicago Bears will have a new head coach in 2025. And like the team that fired Matt Eberflus on Black Friday, we're getting an early start on the search with this series that will profile potential head coaches for the franchise that resides at Halas Hall. Former Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy isn't someone I thought I'd be writing about as a Bears head...

Day 14 of the Chicago Bears offseason. The No. 14 was my mom's favorite number. She wore it as a volleyball player in high school. Gerald Everett wore No. 14 for the Bears last year. Jim Harbaugh wore it for the team in 1987. The most memorable Bears player to wear it might have been Santonio Holmes, if only because it serves as a reminder that the Super Bowl XLIII...

Eddie George is one of the most decorated football players of my childhood. The Ohio State product won the Heisman, Walter Camp, Maxwell, and Doak Walker awards in college. He was a unanimous All-American and first-team All-Big Ten to wrap up his college career. As a pro, he was a two-time All-Pro, NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and four-time Pro Bowler. And now, he'll add Chicago Bears Head Coach...

Don't worry. We'll find some time to discuss Ben Johnson, the Chicago Bears, and a head coach search that is about to hit another gear. But first, we should really give Kliff Kingsbury his flowers. This is what the Washington Commanders offense did in its 45-31 win against the Detroit Lions in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs: 39 points 73 plays 481 yards 6.6 yards per play 27...

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was spotted on TV at the Wisconsin-USC basketball game with a wrap/cast on his throwing hand, which made it easy for folks to spiral into confusion and fear. Thankfully, NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport has a suitable explanation: https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/1880728432847503747 Phew. My heart skipped a beat there for a minute. NFL Network insider reports Caleb Williams is "fine" We are now two weeks removed from Caleb...

The Chicago Bears will have a new head coach in 2025. And like the team that fired Matt Eberflus on Black Friday, we're getting an early start on the search with this series that will profile potential head coaches for the franchise that resides at Halas Hall. Minnesota Vikings Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores is interviewing with the Bears for the second time in three years. Flores was the first interview...

Day 13 of the Chicago Bears offseason. Yesterday, we got weird. Today, we get reflective. On this date in 2023, I began seeing a therapist. Two years into it and the decision remains one of the best things I have ever done for myself. If you've thought about it in the past, I'd strongly recommend taking the steps toward making that happen. And if you have any questions, I'll be...

A new report from ESPN shows how wide the Chicago Bears have cast their net in the team's search for a new head coach. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Bears phoned in a request to speak with Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin about the team's head-coaching vacancy: https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1880602243923390591 More from Schefty: Discussions never made it to Tomlin, nor is it likely they would they have been successful even...

The Chicago Bulls came out looking like a team eager to snap out of their four-game skid. Patrick Williams turned trade rumors into fuel, scoring 7 of the Bulls' first 9 points in versatile fashion. He drilled a three, got to the free throw line, and finished a two-handed jam after a nice dive cut to the rim. Meanwhile, Zach LaVine was getting just about anything he wanted against one...

The Chicago Bulls sound like they're having buyer's remorse. Only months after signing Patrick Williams to a five-year, $90.0 million contract in restricted free agency, Arturas Karnisovas is reportedly willing to move him, per the Chicago Sun-Times Joe Cowley. Williams is in the thick of his worst season yet, averaging a mere 9.3 points and 3.8 rebounds on 37.7. percent shooting from the field. "A source Saturday told the Sun-Times...

The Chicago Bulls will look to snap a four-game skid on their first Western Conference road trip of the season. I'm sure that will go over well! https://twitter.com/chicagobulls/status/1880963424777040024 Look, there are far worse trips the Bulls could take. The Trial Blazers, Clippers, and Golden State Warriors make up the next three games. All three are beatable teams. At the same time, this is the exact thing we could've said about...

The Chicago Bulls have now lost five of their last six games. @ Pacers – 129-113 L vs. Wizards – 138-105 W vs. Kings – 124-119 L vs. Pelicans – 119-113 L vs. Hawks – 110-94 L vs. Hornets - 125-123 L Is the tank officially on!? While the Chicago Bulls remain No. 10 in the Eastern Conference, there is no doubt this last week has helped them significantly when...

To the likely dismay of Charles Lee and Billy Donovan, defense was optional on Friday night at the United Center. The Chicago Bulls quickly found themselves down to the 14th-seeded Charlotte Hornets, who started the night 5-7 from the field. Multiple defensive breakdowns forced Donovan to call one of his vintage early timeouts. Dropping four of their last five games, it felt like we could be in for another low-effort...

Jimmy Butler is set to return to the Miami Heat's starting lineup on Friday night after a seven-game suspension. All things considered, nobody knew if the veteran forward would suit up for the organization again. He reportedly requested a trade following weeks of reports about the Heat's willingness to listen to offers. Shortly after he made his desires known, the front office suspended Butler for what they deemed "conduct detrimental...

Who's ready for the Ball Bowl?! Charlotte is in the house tonight.⏰: 7:00 pm CT 💻: https://t.co/dLgvAjeEdl 📻: @670TheScore@AmericanExpress | #SeeRed pic.twitter.com/ej2klenuKW— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 17, 2025 Game Info Charlotte Hornets (9-28) at Chicago Bulls (18-23) – 7:00 p.m. CT on Chicago Sports Network (TV) and 670 The Score (Radio) Lineups Chicago Bulls Coby White Josh Giddey Zach LaVine Patrick Williams Nikola Vucevic Charlotte Hornets LaMelo Ball Josh Green Brandon Miller...

Angel Reese will help usher in a new era of women's basketball on Friday night. The Chicago Sky's emerging superstar will be a part of the Unrivaled Basketball League's inaugural season. The 3-on-3 competition will feature six teams made up of 36 WNBA players. Some of the biggest names in the game – including Breanna Stewart, Naphessa Collier, Arike Ogunbowale, Kelsey Plum, Jackie Young, Cameron Brink, and many more – have...

The Chicago Bulls' matchup with the Charlotte Hornets is bound to get some extra attention tonight! Despite both teams on track to finish in the bottom half of the Eastern Conference, they will provide NBA fans with one of the more exciting matchups of the season. Lonzo and LaMelo Ball will face off for only the fourth time in their careers. To be sure, the Bulls have already met the...

The Chicago Bulls began the week with what felt like their easiest four-game stretch of the entire season. They were 18-21 and had a clear path toward surpassing the .500 for the first time since Oct. 30. The Bulls proceeded to lose back-to-back games to the New Orleans Pelicans and Atlanta Hawks in embarrassing fashion. They are now 1-4 in their last five games and closer to the No. 11...

So let's take a minute to chat about this whole top line situation the Blackhawks have going on right now. I think a lot of us really like the idea of Frank Nazar being a second-line center behind Connor Bedard when he initially came up, and he was doing a really nice job at the dot and playing a good, defensively-responsible game. Then the Hawks threw him on the wing...

The Blackhawks won a game against a really good opponent -- again -- last night. Beating Vegas 5-3 was probably a result that some folks in the home town of the Golden Knights appreciated. The first period was one of the best they've played all year. The second was your classic wheels-about-to-fall-off that got bailed out by a late goal and the third period saw the Hawks get back on...

What if I told you the Blackhawks came out a little sluggish, gave up the first goal while chasing the puck and then... scored three times in the final four minutes of the first period? Yeah, it really happened. I swear it did. Nine different Blackhawks had a point in the period. It was something else. The Blackhawks out-shot the Golden Knights 13-5 in the first period. The next goal...

And so here we are. It's Saturday night in Chicago. Since beating the Kraken on Dec. 19, the Blackhawks are a stunning 2-9-1. And they get the Pacific Division-leading Vegas Golden Knights. The good news: Vegas played in Carolina last night and had to fly in overnight. So we can hope for a trap game against a tired team? Broadcast Info Puck Drop: 7:00 PM CTTV / Streaming: Chicago Sports Network (if/where available)Radio: WGN...

It's been a minute since we heard something about the NHL's revenues, but a report that popped up on Friday appears to indicate things are going quite well for the league. Marco D'Amico at RG Media reported that the NHL and NHLPA have agreed that, "effective January 30, 2025, the escrow withholding rate will drop from 6% to 0% for the remainder of the season." D'Amico also reports this may...

Usually I don't lead my bullets with something that isn't Blackhawks specific, but it's Saturday, the Blackhawks aren't playing well and didn't skate last night and... this is fabulous. Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic made NHL history last night. He scored a goal -- and picked up an assist in a 5-2 win over the Sabres. The goal wasn't a cheap one, either. ALEX NEDELJKOVIC GOALIE GOAL! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/VY3nmoV2jF— Sportsnet...

The Blackhawks lost last night in Nashville. If your concern at this point is lottery balls -- which I wouldn't blame you if it is -- then that's a good result (Nashville currently sits third in the order and have three picks in the first round in 2025). But when you look at the GameScore Impact Card from the game, you'll note that the top line was easily the Blackhawks'...

If Seth Jones hasn't been the most popular player on the Blackhawks' roster the past few years, Lukas Reichel's fan club has been vocal and consistent -- even if his play hasn't followed suit. Reichel has bounced up and down (and in and out of) the Blackhawks' lineup this season. He has never found a groove with any line since getting on a bit of a heater with Pat Maroon...

We've talked a lot about Seth Jones here since he arrived. He's been a polarizing player throughout his tenure in Chicago, and fans either don't like him at all or defend him to a fault. Those who don't like Jones generally like to throw around comments on social media like "trade him for a bag of pucks" or "buy him out" without considering the actual value of a right-handed defenseman...

Another familiar script started the game tonight. The Blackhawks came out of the gates well, carried the play for about seven minutes and then an unfortunate penalty (Ilya Mikheyev putting a puck into the seats) opened the door. Nashville scored 12 seconds into their power play. Right off the following faceoff Pat Maroon dropped the gloves with Michael McCarron (legit heavyweights). Overall, even with a one-goal deficit, the first period...