NEWSLETTER
HBO’s Succession is coming back for Season 3 and I’m ready for it:
But first, I need to binge Season 2. Guess I now have something to do during MLB’s All-Star Break.
• The deadline to extend designated Franchise players is in two days. And as things currently stand, the odds don’t look good for a Bears-Allen Robinson II deal. Over at PFF, Brad Spielberger puts a number on it and gives it a 15 percent chance of happening. Frankly, I feel that’s a bit high. This isn’t an issue that came about overnight. We’ve been discussing the idea of an extension for Robinson since the winter of 2019. That nothing has come of it to this point fills me with doubt. But so long as there’s a chance, I’m willing to follow this through until the end. Once the deadline passes, we’ll sort through the next steps.
• On the off chance the Bears and Robinson get a deal done, Spielberger’s projection appears to be a fair one. A four-year deal worth $81 million which includes $55 million in total guarantees and $35 million worth of guarantees sat signing feels like the type of contract both sides would sign off on. This type of deal would rank 5th in total value, 6th in total guarantees, and 7th in fully guaranteed. All things considered, this doesn’t seem like too much of an ask for either side. And to think, Robinson’s asking price last summer was reportedly in the $18 million range. Sigh. This is why you try to be ahead of the ball when possible. Instead, this feels like a potential missed opportunity to keep a really good receiver at a fair market deal.
• Is it just me, or do these look awfully similar to the Rams’ regular white jerseys?
This is what @AaronDonald97 will be wearing Week 1 vs Bears. @RamsNFL unveil their “modern throwback”. Pretty cool. They will wear them 3x in 2021. pic.twitter.com/sHyzEkITdM
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) July 13, 2021
• And, yes, this means the Bears will open up on the road wearing navy blue tops. What’s next? Opening up at home in white? What chaos!
• Speaking of road blues, the Bears haven’t had them under Head Coach Matt Nagy. Chicago’s football team is 14-10 away from home the last three years. Winning on the road is difficult, so to see the Bears with a good record away from Soldier Field is actually one of the most encouraging stats I’ve seen. And this isn’t necessarily a product of that deliciously wonderful 2018 season. Sure, they went 5-3 on the road that season, but they also hit 5 road wins last year when they were 8-8. In other words, keep on doing what you’re doing away from home. But also … get it together for the Soldier Field faithful!
• So many of the Bears’ best moments came on the road last year:
Perfect placement from Mitchell Trubisky on the game winning touchdown to Anthony Miller. He really does own the Lions. pic.twitter.com/ACJ7T7actR
— Johnny Kinsley (Peanut Tillman Hive CEO) (@Brickwallblitz) September 14, 2020
https://twitter.com/PointsBetIL/status/1310314078460612608
Nick Foles to Cole Kmet for the Bears TD. pic.twitter.com/R58lwGjDRJ
— Matt Clapp (@DaBearNecess) October 18, 2020
📽 Le rookie David Montgomery porte la défense des Vikings en route pour un TD sur cette course ! #Bears100 pic.twitter.com/wBWoLP4EeJ
— NFL France (@NFLFrance) December 29, 2019
• Sure, the best moment of the year came at home while beating Tom Brady and his band of merry men. But losses to the Colts, Saints, Vikings, and Lions were gut punches in their own special ways. And this is to say nothing of that home loss to the Packers, which was flat-out agonizing. The Bears have to play better at home in 2021. Full stop.
• Next year’s road slate of games will be the toughest slate Nagy and the Bears will have had to deal with. Trips to visit the defending Super Bowl champs (Bucs) and five (!) other playoff teams (Browns, Steelers, Rams, Seahawks, Packers) won’t be easy. But nothing worth anything ever comes easy, so I hope the players and coaches are looking forward to taking on the challenge as much as I am looking forward to watching it unfold.
• Another legendary Bears icon makes The Athletic’s list of 100 best NFL players to lace ’em up:
The Bears defense of the 1980s was defined by pandemonium. But it couldn’t have worked without an eye in the hurricane, a presence to calm, organize, unify and rationalize. That was Mike Singletary, No. 93 on the NFL 100. https://t.co/Pawr44b5z2
— Dan Pompei (@danpompei) July 12, 2021
• One of the best Blackhawks ever is moving on:
Blackhawks Trade Duncan Keith to Oilers, Receive Caleb Jones and Third-Round Pick in Returnhttps://t.co/PiBJVLoUBY
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) July 12, 2021
Duncan Keith's run with the #Blackhawks may never be duplicated.
– 2nd-most games played in team history
– 2nd-most points by a defenseman
– 3x Stanley Cup winner
– 2x Norris winner
– 2x Olympic Gold winner
– 2015 Conn Smythe winner
– 7 teeth left on the ice
Thank you, Duncs. pic.twitter.com/zkJvJkfPQK— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) July 12, 2021
In His Words: Duncan Keith Says Goodbye to the Blackhawks, Ready For Chance to Win A Cup in Edmonton https://t.co/E4f8HXR0zW
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) July 13, 2021
• This would be WILD:
Would the Chicago Bulls Ever Reunite with Bobby Portis?https://t.co/bKndbiyoqn pic.twitter.com/jYHdlmNruY
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) July 13, 2021
• Love hearing about teams taking big swings in the Draft:
The Cubs Took Some Big Swings in Rounds 2-4 of the Draft (Triantos, Gray, Franklin) – https://t.co/OZKYjxk3q4 pic.twitter.com/KyxersEsfa
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) July 13, 2021
