NEWSLETTER
I’d bet on this being a hit:
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is considered to be Kanye’s masterpiece. But is there more to this album than meets the eye? On this season of Watching the Throne, we seek to find even more beauty to this story as Kanye plunges further into the lonely hellscape of celebrity. pic.twitter.com/fmw2GPgENd
— Watching the Throne (@KanyePodcast) August 16, 2021
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is my favorite piece of music ever. Full stop. The album incorporates everything that makes Kanye West one of the best musicians to ever do it. The lyrical crispness, deep pulls for samples, and superstar cameos are among the album’s highlights. But that sentence doesn’t really do the album justice. However, I have a feeling this podcast series will fill in the blanks.
• Brace yourselves, the cuts are coming. Unlike recent years which have seen NFL teams have one sizable cut-down date, the league has reverted to cuts coming in layers. Recently, the Bears have parted ways with WR Justin Hardy, as well as OL Gage Cervenka, DB Dionte Ruffin, and WR Jester Weah. Chicago has to be down to 85 players by 3 p.m. CT this afternoon. After that, further tidying up on the roster front is set for August 24 (80 players) and August 31 (53).
• Obviously, we’re keeping tabs on whom the Bears cut. But I imagine Chicago’s front office is browsing through the waiver wire for bodies it might think can be helpful. Remember, this is the same front office that used the waiver wires to scoop up Cre’Von LeBlanc to solidify the nickel corner position in 2016. And this group also swooped in to sign Josh Sitton after he was a surprise cut by the Packers that same summer. Sitton put together a Pro Bowl season in Year 1 with the Bears. I’m struggling to envision that type of player popping up on the scene in 2021. Then again, I didn’t see the Sitton cut coming either. In any case, that’s why we’ll have an interest in what happens elsewhere.
• With that being said, I’m glad the Bears were able to address OL needs by signing Jason Peters — even if there is an admission this isn’t the perfect fit:
Jason Peters is still going through the COVID-19 intake process and will not practice today.
Matt Nagy said there was enough good tape from Peters last year to sign him, but he also acknowledged it wasn't perfect. They'll get him in here and see what the future HOF'er has left.
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) August 17, 2021
• There are some real 2009 Orlando Pace vibes happening with this signing. If you’ll recall, the Bears brought in Pace hoping to squeeze one last great season after a stellar 12-year career with the St. Louis Rams that ultimately created his path to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But that storybook ending never came to fruition, as Pace made just 11 starts in what was his final year of his career. I’ll say this in defense of the Peters signing: If the Bears can receive competent left tackle play for 10+ games from Peters, it could buy the team enough time to get the line up to snuff elsewhere.
• How about some training camp highlights for your perusal:
• This was one of those throws, in person, that gave me goosebumps. It was weird because it was incomplete, but from the end zone, you could see how Fields was seeing the play develop. And that was kinda neat.
Bears WRs had a rough time getting open. I thought this was one of Fields best throws of the day even though it was incomplete. Put the ball where it needed to be vs tight coverage. Almost threw his guy open. pic.twitter.com/Y1npPn9nbY
— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) August 16, 2021
• Brad Biggs (Tribune) nails it with his latest column, as he underscores preparing Justin Fields to be the starting quarterback at some point as being the Bears’ top priority this preseason. Because, no matter how you slice it or frame it, everything being done this summer is with Fields’ future as QB1 being top of mind.
• Hang *THIS* inside the hallowed halls of The Art Institute of Chicago:
https://twitter.com/joeyspathis/status/1427468596834353158
• Somebody’s gotta win the nickel defender spot, right? Might as well be Marqui Christian:
Marqui Christian just broke up a Justin Fields pass on first down and intercepted him on third down
— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) August 17, 2021
• For your listening pleasure:
Bonus: Will the Bears be able to protect the QB? https://t.co/S0uC96aOK3
— The Athletic Chicago (@TheAthleticCHI) August 16, 2021
Oh Justin, my Justin, how long must we wait for thee? @ThatsDavis, @strobes312 and @AlexShapiroNBCS share what they made of Justin Fields' impressive first preseason game on the latest Under Center Podcast.https://t.co/13R3WpcfAU
— Bears Talk (@NBCSBears) August 16, 2021
• Just days after the Tim Tebow Tight End Experience™ was going viral for all the wrong reasons, the Jaguars did what’s right for their football team:
Jaguars have released TE Tim Tebow.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 17, 2021
Thank you to the @Jaguars organization and everyone who has supported me in this journey.
And we know that…God works all things together for good. Romans 8:28
— Tim Tebow (@TimTebow) August 17, 2021
• Should the Bears kick the tires on Tim Tebow? No. Not unless he can bulk up to 300 pounds and learn how to properly execute a block between now and the time he clears waivers. HOWEVER, the Cubs could make that phone call. How many sold Tebow jerseys would make up for the “biblical losses” suffered over the last two years?
• Good news on the health front for a former Bears receiver:
Texans wide receiver Anthony Miller who has slight dislocated shoulder, won't need surgery and back by Week 1 of Week 2 pic.twitter.com/LdfPVOusnC
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) August 17, 2021
• Surge protectors, battery backups, power tools, and more are your Deals of the Day at Amazon. #ad
• I see we’ve entered the knife-twisting phase of the breakup where your exes words on social media hurt more than they should:
Kris Bryant on Being with the Giants: “It Feels Right … We’re Not Flashy, We Go Out There and Do the Job” – https://t.co/41rZGj7gKt pic.twitter.com/x6xGZYRto7
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) August 17, 2021
• Some of the numbers in these NBA extension make my eyes pop out of my head like a cartoon:
Joel Embiid Signs a Massive Contract Extension to Stay in Phillyhttps://t.co/5NBUkxhPan
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) August 17, 2021
