NEWSLETTER
If you admire somebody you should go on ahead, tell ’em
People never get the flowers while they can still smell ’em
• As fans, we knew Jeff Dickerson as a Bears beat guy who was always there for us as a conduit between fans and the team we love. Whether it was asking questions in press conferences, dropping knowledge on the radio, or doing so online, everyone loved what Dickerson did as a reporter. But his colleagues who knew him best came through with an amazing outpouring of love in the wake of his passing that was heart-warming:
I have so much to say about you, @DickersonESPN, but a social media post will never do it justice.
I love you brother. https://t.co/fNgb5dCdBk— Silvy (@WaddleandSilvy) December 29, 2021
There are so many wonderful things to say about Jeff Dickerson. He wasn’t just liked-he was admired.
Even while going through Cancer, he set up a scholarship in the name of our friend Vaughn McClure, who passed away last year.
That’s who he was. Incredible human!
— Laurence Holmes (@LaurenceWHolmes) December 28, 2021
Jeff Dickerson was one of the truly nicest people. He emanated positivity and approached everything with an exemplary attitude and work ethic.
We had so much fun calling Loyola games together for 10 years. He was a great partner and supportive friend.
I will miss him.
— Jordan Bernfield (@jordanbernfield) December 28, 2021
"You’re going to see a lot of people come together and they’re going to laugh and shine some of that positive light on each other during a very difficult time."
RIP to Jeff Dickerson, a friend and trusted voice for so many.https://t.co/z7yKjQjd0B
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) December 29, 2021
Statement from the Chicago Bears on the passing of Jeff Dickerson: pic.twitter.com/tAr8nrXElQ
— Chicago Bears (@BearsPR) December 29, 2021
Jeff Dickerson was the best of us, writes @DavidHaugh.https://t.co/IK1ki8QdyM pic.twitter.com/h4jbiAoxn8
— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) December 29, 2021
Private words of encouragement from those established in the business are immeasurably important to someone trying to break in. Jeff Dickerson was so supportive when I started writing about baseball. He was always kind to those working their way up, which meant so much to so many
— Sahadev Sharma (@sahadevsharma) December 29, 2021
No one will ever forget Jeff Dickerson. @kfishbain, @adamjahns, @danpompei and me write about our friend 🔓: https://t.co/ygE5GTbFti
— jon greenberg (@jon_greenberg) December 29, 2021
Crushed. Best partner you could ever work with is gone. He never cared about credit, as long as "we" got it. We throw around the term "good people" too freely. JD really embodied that in every facet. Will miss my guy tremendously.
— Michael C. Wright (@mikecwright) December 28, 2021
• I could go on with the shares. Dickerson was a positive influence on so many lives. And that speaks volumes for who he was as a person, especially in an industry where not everyone is kind to others.
• In a reminder that there is still good in people, a GoFundMe to financially support his son Parker Dickerson has already more than doubled up on its initial goal. Parker, 11, has now lost both parents to cancer in the span of a few years. I imagine it’s been tough, but it’s nice to see the community rally around a good cause. May we, as a society, continue to do right for those who are deserving and needing of our help and support. Be good people. Do good things.
• This is a nice touch from our friends at Obvious Shirts, who are donating 100 percent of the proceeds of these shirts celebrating Jeff Dickerson’s life to the GoFundMe linked above.
• Not too long after Dickerson’s passing, news came across the wires announcing John Madden’s passing. And the flood of memories flowed:
There was nobody like John Madden in the booth and there never will be.
Listen to him talk about William Perry against the Rams back in 1986 and you’ll get why. pic.twitter.com/M3RpgVxRCY
— Michael Piff (@Mike_PiFF03) December 29, 2021
John Madden is one of the main reasons why I love watching football
— Wosny Lambre (@BigWos) December 29, 2021
"Chicago is a lot like the Bears"
John Madden, January 1986 pic.twitter.com/CyWn7yIWrP
— Kevin Kaduk (@KevinKaduk) December 29, 2021
I would sit in my room for hours, playing Madden 94, dreaming about the NFL. John Madden voiced countless childhood memories and help cultivate my love of football.
Now I make new memories with my boys playing Madden.
I never met John Madden. But I feel like I knew him. 🙏
— Greg Olsen (@gregolsen88) December 29, 2021
• Bears fans were treated to a ton of Madden over the years:
With CBS, Fox holding the NFC rights, Madden was on a number of Bears' game broadcasts, including the NFC Championship in the 1984, 1985, and 1988 seasons. Madden's last Bears' game broadcast was Nov. 30, 2008 against the Vikings in the Metrodome for NBC. @WGNNews https://t.co/3Ki5MQCNuj
— Larry Hawley (@HawleySports) December 29, 2021
• Here’s a rabbit hole you’ll want to fall down:
During the 2002 NFL season I kept a notes on random stuff John Madden would say during games, to see if I could learn his philosophy on life through the observations he dispensed in the broadcasts. I recently came across the notebook so here’s a thread of #Maddenisms
— J.A. Adande (@jadande) January 8, 2020
• Today feels like a good day to have some lighter conversations. For instance, I’m looking forward to the replies here and perhaps your sharing of your favorite Madden moment. Everybody’s got one:
Madden Football is a dynasty unlike any other.
Which one was your favorite? https://t.co/J7NDhK6WcD
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) December 29, 2021
• Oh, yeah. The Bears play a game this week. Their opponent happens to be the New York (Football) Giants. Much like the Bears, the Giants are a team with quarterback questions stemming from the health of QB1. But at least Chicago’s options aren’t this bad:
Mike Glennon and Jake Fromm will both be prepared to play Sunday in Chicago, per Joe Judge. He adds “expect both guys to play.” 🤔
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) December 29, 2021
• Robert Quinn, whose next sack will give him the Bears’ single-season record, must be licking his chops at the tweet above.
• Which Bears QB will oppose the Giants “D” is still unknown right now. Will it be Justin Fields? If so, it would make for a nice storyline facing Jake Fromm, his former Georgia teammate. Or will it be Nick Foles? He did just post a passer rating in the 98s and led the Bears to their most recent win. Is Andy Dalton even available?
• A worthwhile thread relating to Fields:
A look at games Justin Fields has started & finished.
Combo in ADOT & CPOE in PIT game is ludicrous.
Has not had one game where pass catchers registered a snap weighted receiving grade above avg.
Only 3 games with snap weighted pass block grade above average (DET, LVR, MIN). pic.twitter.com/dsE1hpvmmg
— Butkus Stats On Tap – Quinten Krzysko (@ButkusStats) December 29, 2021
A few games here (DET, PIT, and SF) that scream special arm talent based on combo of ADOT and CPOE. But that's something most Bears fans already knew. Would have to check to see how that stacks up against rookie QBs historically, but I think it's a solid sign.
— Butkus Stats On Tap – Quinten Krzysko (@ButkusStats) December 29, 2021
• Get Fields some blockers. Throw in some fresh targets. And maybe there’s hope for 2022 (and beyond).
• Allen Robinson II’s future with the Bears is up-in-the-air. He is a free-agent-to-be, but the Bears could hand him the Franchise (or Transition) Tag in the offseason. After a disappointing season, it’s tough to see Chicago go the tag route again. But frankly, I just hope he can get out of this year healthy:
#Bears WR Allen Robinson said he lost 10 pounds due to COVID.
— Zack Pearson (@Zack_Pearson) December 28, 2021
• This feels like good news. I just hope this is being done for the right reasons and not with the intent of shoehorning in football just because:
There is no testing requirement for NFL players to be released from quarantine after five days, source confirms. So this will all hinge on players honestly reporting their symptoms after testing positive.
— Lindsay Jones (@bylindsayhjones) December 28, 2021
• Relying on players who will play through so much to honestly report symptoms after a positive test feels like asking a lot of humans who are used to going at one speed. I’m hoping for the best, but preparing for the other shoe to drop.
• The Jaguars continue to be BUSY:
The #Jaguars put in an interview slip for #Colts DC Matt Eberflus, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 28, 2021
The #Jaguars will interview Super Bowl-winning former #Eagles head coach Doug Pederson on Thursday, source said. Their first interview as they try to replace HC Urban Meyer.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 29, 2021
The #Jaguars put in a request to interview #Packers OC Nathaniel Hackett for their head-coaching job, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 28, 2021
• It’s been a while since the Jags got one of these coaching searches right, but I appreciate the hustle. Different strokes for different folks being what they are, I truly believe the best way to do aa coaching search is to do it in waves. Pick as many brains as you can. Gather all the nuggets, tidbits, and notes from the best and brightest while the possibility is here. Take everything into consideration. Then move on with the best hire your team can make.
• Then again, if it was that simple, then everyone would do it. But the least one can do is try.
• Reading about the Blackhawks depth issues at center should be relatable for Bears fans who bemoan the lack of depth at *gestures at the roster*:
Lack of Center Depth Has Finally Caught Up with the Blackhawkshttps://t.co/77ODdz1mhS
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) December 28, 2021
• I love a good revenge game:
Revenge Game This Week: The Wizards Just Signed Alize Johnsonhttps://t.co/pGF8PU7RT3
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) December 28, 2021
• In-season pitch development and implementation into one’s repertoire is one of those things I love about baseball:
Did Adbert Alzolay Quietly Develop a Better Cutter Late in the Year? – https://t.co/TqQwtx5HHk pic.twitter.com/aump9Jvkoq
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) December 28, 2021
