NEWSLETTER
I’m undergoing an overhaul in my bedroom, which has me sleeping on the couch for the foreseeable future. On the one hand, the basement couch is in the coolest part of the house. And that should let me sleep better. But on the other hand, I’ve got big decisions to make as I go about de-cluttering things in my living space. It feels like a tall task, but it is one that is long overdue.
• In the middle of the Blackhawks’ come-from-behind win against That Hockey Team From St. Louis, a familiar chorus broke out:
“Fire Nagy!” chants break out at the United Center. #Blackhawks pic.twitter.com/Qpr5xOWWkP
— Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis) November 26, 2021
• Another “Fire Nagy!” chant broke out in the greater Chicagoland area. This time at a Blackhawks game. We’ve now heard it at Soldier Field and United Center — at both Bulls and Blackhawks games. It is evident that Chicago sports fans have seen enough from Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy. Not even beating the Lions and keeping Bears fans the embarrassment of losing to a team that hasn’t won in nearly a calendar year could spare “Fire Nagy!” chants for one weekend. Rough crowd.
• Even though the Bears are essentially pushing public word that they aren’t likely to move on from Nagy with an in-season firing (at least, right now), part of me wonders if changing course would be a prudent move. The chants will only grow louder moving forward. And unlike last year when a soft underbelly of the schedule allowed the Bears to piece together a run that let them qualify for the playoffs, the upcoming schedule features back-to-back-to-back game against teams squarely in the playoff picture. At home vs. the NFC West leading Cardinals will be a test. But to follow up with a Sunday Night Football affair against the Packers and a Monday Night Football showdown against the Vikings a week later could lead to some real ugliness.
• Self-awareness is important:
Give Matt Nagy this: He knows outside distractions about his job probably aren't gonna go away because of one game.
— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) November 26, 2021
• There is a part of me that believes ripping the band-aid off and dealing with the short-term pain now would be a heady move. It would save the franchise from some public embarrassment, while also creating a clean break that opens a door to invite parties who have an interest in coaching Justin Fields. All of this before even noting how doing so would be doing right by Nagy. Let’s be real. Who wants to work in an environment where you know you might as well have a foot out the door.
• Jeff Hughes of Da Bears Blog has an interesting thread explaining how he would shift things at Halas Hall:
My guy is Jim Harbaugh.
• 44-19-1 as an NFL HC.
• History of hiring great staffs (Roman, Fangio, etc.)
• Coached vs Fields, would understand his game.
• Will embrace power run game as base of offense.
• Thrived with Kaepernick; will utilize Fields’ legs effectively.(3/7)
— DaBearsBlog (@dabearsblog) November 27, 2021
Harbaugh would give the Bears a football face. He’d be the front man for the program. The buck would stop with him.
And the Bears would win.
(6/7)
— DaBearsBlog (@dabearsblog) November 27, 2021
• I’ve gotta say that a Michigan guy coaching an Ohio State product to a Bears Super Bowl victory would be narrative gold. Just sayin’…
• There is no need to dive deeply into this on a Saturday morning. But Jim Harbaugh does possess some interesting qualities. And at the top of the list, his ability to build out a staff is something the Bears should want in their next coach. Having a trendy scheme is nice. Gimmick plays are fun. And being a “rah-rah” speech guy has its perks. But a coach who could build out a strong staff and delegate responsibilities to allow everyone under them to thrive is something the Bears should seek.
• As for the Jeff Ireland name-drop, that’s an interesting one. And I’m generally for folks aiming for their dream job. But Ireland had to apologize for asking Dez Bryant whether his mother was a prostitute ahead of the 2010 NFL Draft. And with that being said, I’m not comfortable with that being something the Bears associate with right now.
• Hey! This seems timely:
Huge NFL presence in the press box for #Michigan and Ohio State. Scouts/GMs from: Bears x2, Bengals, Browns, Lions x2, Packers x2, Giants x2, 49ers x2, Patriots, Falcons and Jaguars.
— Michael Cohen (@Michael_Cohen13) November 27, 2021
• I’ll take one of Chris Olave or Garrett Wilson, please and thank you. That Ohio State wide receiver tandem is a tag team that would make Vince McMahon or Paul Heyman proud. Both figure to be first-round picks, but that won’t stop me from dreaming big dreams. Football fans have seen the trend of young QBs teaming up with their favorite college targets pop up recently with the Joe Burrow-JaMarr Chase, Tua Tagoailoa-Jaylen Waddle, and Jalen Hurts-DeVonta Smith tandems. So … why can’t the Bears get in on this?
• The NFL is a copycat league. So, while it’s on our mind, maybe the idea of yoinking the Cardinals blueprint and teaming Justin Fields with his old college coach Ryan Day is worth discussing. This isn’t me climbing to the top of the Sears Tower and making a declaration to hire Day on the spot. But the conversation is worth having when the time comes.
• I hope Jaylon Johnson got the big piece of turkey when he sat down for Thanksgiving dinner:
https://twitter.com/ChicagoBears/status/1464316826251415556
• It’s good to see Eddie Jackson giving back to the community in this way:
“We can break the cycle.”@ChicagoBears FS Eddie Jackson (@BoJack4) shares how his best friend has inspired his work to provide resources to at-risk youth through his Remain to Reach Foundation. #SayTheirStories pic.twitter.com/njnz3pRPIV
— NFL (@NFL) November 26, 2021
• Amazon is on to its Cyber Monday Deals a couple days in advance. Basically, there is so much that is on sale, and there is nothing wrong with getting a jump start to get something (whether it is for yourself or others). #ad
• After back-to-back bad losses, the Bulls said enough is enough. Also, Lonzo Ball is doing his best to make a run at Justin Fields as the city’s most creative passer:
https://twitter.com/BN_Bulls/status/1464404331495669765
• Javier Báez is one of my favorite players, and I see the Tigers have an interest in signing him. On the one hand, I want him to get PAID. But on the other hand, I don’t love Detroit’s park for him. It’s traditionally a pitcher-friendly park. And while I think Báez could hit one out of Yellowstone, my preference for him would be to land in someone where he can easily hit 40 tanks a year. After all, baseball is more fun when dongs are hit over walls.
