NEWSLETTER
The bird app has its failures and shortcomings, but I learn something new from it (almost) every day:
Yep. And the original brownie recipe: https://t.co/J8osDhJnmH https://t.co/zz9bpPy7DH
— Kelly Bauer (@BauerJournalism) January 19, 2022
Everything that is good and righteous was either made in or made better by Chicago. That’s just facts.
• Even when the Bears’ needs are clear, the path to filling voids is anything but. Colts Defensive Coordinator Matt Eberflus is set for a second interview to be the team’s next head coach before general manager interviews see a conclusion. Jim Harbaugh doesn’t know what he wants, but it could involve the Bears one way or another. Go figure.
• After operating under the assumption the Bears were interviewing two candidates yesterday, the team announced Eliot Wolf was the only GM applicant interviewing. Morocco Brown, the Colts Director of Scouting who was believed to be interviewing on Tuesday, will reportedly (Dan Wiederer) do be in line for a Thursday meeting.
• I’d say thorough, diligent, and exhaustive are there three best words one could use to describe this search:
‘Thorough, diligent and exhaustive.’
Assessing the Chicago Bears’ search for a new coach and a new GM — and why the ever-growing candidate list may be a concern https://t.co/wocGONWaGM
— Dan Wiederer (@danwiederer) January 19, 2022
• Then again, I’d also use flabbergasting, befuddling, perplexing, and exhausting. These are the Bears after all. Those words are bound to come up during this journey.
• Marv Levy is a respected football coach and a beloved Chicago native. So part of me is glad he signs off on the Bears reaching out to Bill Polian:
I wanted to know more about Bill Polian, so I called Marv Levy: https://t.co/xHnbewd9X9
— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) January 19, 2022
• This isn’t to say Polian is the perfect person for this gig. I’m sure there were a handful of others Chicago could’ve reached out to and given this responsibility. But Polian isn’t on that Ernie Accorsi level of being disconnected from the game. Depending on how these searches turn out, we may (or may not) get to that point. However, we won’t try crossing that bridge until we get to it.
• No GM? No problem! Bears still making moves:
#Bears roster move:
We have signed DB Lamar Jackson to a Reserve/Futures contract.— Chicago Bears (@BearsPR) January 19, 2022
• In the interest of clarity, it isn’t THAT Lamar Jackson. C’mon, now. You couldn’t expect the Bears to get that right. Sorry if we got your hopes up.
• Also, a point worth sharing: While the Bears still don’t have a GM, the team still employs a variety of front office members. Among them are pro and college scouts and other personnel types. Josh Lucas (Director of Player Personnel) and Champ Kelly (Assistant Director of Player Personnel) are at the top of the organizational pecking order for the time being. They’ll handle decisions of this magnitude until a full-time GM steps into their role. In the meantime, expect the Bears to take advantage of having whatever staff they can at this time. And because those contracts tend to run through each year’s NFL Draft, I’d caution against expecting full-tilt changes in that regard until after the draft sees its conclusion.
• The Cardinals seem to be in a similar position to where the 2020 Bears were. A hot start and a cold finish results in a “meh” playoff team getting out-classed against a far superior opponent. Said hot start-cold finish team enters the offseason with questions about roster construction, team depth, and has a high-ranking member of the power structure set to enter a lame-duck year. But instead of it being the GM, it’s the head coach.
• It’s almost as if there is a reason this hit so close to home:
Arizona’s meltdown last night can’t be pinned solely on Kyler, or Kliff: It was an organizational collapse—and revealed the team’s lack of depth. pic.twitter.com/AiDrb4p2X7
— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) January 18, 2022
• Technically, this is Harbaugh-adjacent:
From NFL Now: #Raiders owner Mark Davis is interviewing interim head coach Rich Bisaccia today for the full-time job. He has an uphill battle. pic.twitter.com/wTJLYCt3gf
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 19, 2022
• Dang! I was hoping this guy would hit free agency:
No surprise retirement will take place here. The six-time Super Bowl champion HC will come back for a 23rd #Patriots season https://t.co/V2dT2Ed9tx
— Pro Football Rumors (@pfrumors) January 19, 2022
• Maybe someone in Seattle came away impressed with Sean Desai after that surprising post-Christmas Bears win:
Seahawks Reportedly Request Permission to Interview Bears DC Sean Desaihttps://t.co/4GanoIwk3q pic.twitter.com/IdTf6t0mYx
— Bleacher Nation Bears (@BN_Bears) January 19, 2022
• An utterly ridiculous blast from the past:
Watching the ‘85 Bears defense operate never gets old…
Dan Hampton with the tip, & @Richard_Dent95 comes in for the cleanup on a pick 6 he didn’t have to leave the endzone for. #TurnoverTuesday | #DaBears pic.twitter.com/DMkDYkvVm1
— Bear Down Blog (@BearDown_Blog) January 18, 2022
• SIU Carbondale, my alma mater, made ESPN’s list of the best 100 college football games of 2021. Did yours?
• This is a wild thing to happen in the middle of a player’s free agency while it plays out during a lockout:
Let's talk about this Correa-to-Boras thing. https://t.co/YKHQH9YfU4
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) January 19, 2022
• I trust this Bulls front office not to push through a trade just for the sake of making one:
I don’t think Grant is the way to go if Williams is the asking price. https://t.co/n5XLeIVU2Q
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) January 19, 2022
• Is this what’s best for the Blackhawks? It really depends.
The Blackhawks Have “No Intention” of Trading Kane or Toews (Unless They Ask For It)https://t.co/DW1zTbNIsU pic.twitter.com/QvXkZ3vzv1
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) January 19, 2022
