NEWSLETTER
I read this Chicago Reader story from 2021 trying to explain why there isn’t a Waffle House in the greater Chicagoland area and all I want to do now is stuff my face with something scattered, smothered, chunked, and covered.
Probably should’ve eaten breakfast before starting this Bullets journey.
• The NFL owners meetings are coming up. And while I’d love to hear what George McCaskey has to say about re-shaping his franchise, plans to jet for Arlington Heights, and what will become of the Soldier Field lease, there are other things that will take center stage. Who’s ready for potential rule changes?
The Competition Committee’s proposal is in — bringing us to three rules change proposals for the 2022 season.
During the upcoming @NFL annual meeting, clubs will vote on the potential new rules. Learn more about the process: https://t.co/zs12kSDUPE pic.twitter.com/aSKVUYnTjG
— NFL Football Operations (@NFLFootballOps) March 25, 2022
• I’ll hold out hopes and optimistic vibes until the NFL actually votes for progressive changes. But these proposals have potential to move the game forward in a way that makes it more fun and competitive. That should be a win-win. Of course, they’ve gotta get the votes for it first.
• One tweak that doesn’t seem to be happening soon:
NFL competition committee chair Rich McKay says they’ve heard no feedback from clubs, coaches subcommittee or the NCAA that the league should be back off on sportsmanship: “It is paramount to the integrity of our game.”
Expect the taunting crackdown to continue in 2022.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 25, 2022
• Let me tell ya, I don’t want to hear about the “integrity of our game” when Deshaun Watson is about to speak to the Cleveland media in a few hours.
• After watching a bunch of quarterbacks change hands in recent weeks, the Bears are getting in on the action. It begins with Trevor Siemian signing a two-year deal to presumably be QB2 behind Justin Fields. And it figures to end with Nick Foles becoming yet another quarterback going to another place. How Foles gets there is still to be determined. The Bears are (once again) exploring trade possibilities for Foles. New GM Ryan Poles will try to successfully do what Ryan Pace failed to do last offseason and unload Foles for something of use. As far as I’m concerned, the Bears would do well enough by getting a conditional 7th-rounder that turns into a 6th if certain incentives hit. Sure, that’s a low bar to clear. But it isn’t one Pace was able to get over last summer. Just sayin’.
• Let’s get weird:
Yes, I dig Foles + a 6th for 'Viska
— Brad Spielberger, Esq. (@PFF_Brad) March 25, 2022
• The Bears need to unload a backup quarterback. Meanwhile, Laviska Shenault looks to be the odd-man out in Jacksonville’s receivers room. Someone get these two sides in a room so they can iron out a deal that makes both sides happy.
• Add Joel Iyiegbuniwe to the list of Bears leaving the den. PFF’s Doug Kyed reports the fourth-round pick in 2018 is going to the Seahawks on a one-year deal. Upon arrival, he’ll reunite with former Bears DC Sean Desai. Gotta love when the ex-Bears stick together. It makes it easy to track their post-departure progress.
• OK, this is getting out of hand:
The Falcons hosted free agent OL Germain Ifedi on a visit. He spent the past two seasons in Chicago with Ryan Pace, who is now in the Falcons' front office.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 24, 2022
• If Germain Ifedi joins Ryan Pace, Dave Ragone, Charles London, Michael Pitre, Ted Monachino, Cordarrelle Patterson, Mike Davis, Damien Williams, Rashaad Coward, Teez Tabor, James Vaughters, and Elijah Wilkinson in the exodus to Atlanta, my only request is that – in return – the people of Chicago get some wings from Magic City. It is a small request, but one the city of Atlanta shouldn’t balk at in the grand scheme of things. It’s not like I’m asking for wings and a Waffle House.
• We’re still on Ryan Bates watch in Chicago. While the Bills have four days to make a decision on matching the Bears’ offer sheet, Kevin Fishbain shares a worthwhile read from a teammate at The Athletic on the free agent who is hanging in the balance:
For Bears fans wanting to know more about Ryan Bates, check out this story from last March by colleague @MatthewFairburn https://t.co/vQ3Xecw2SL
— Kevin Fishbain (@kfishbain) March 24, 2022
• More on the offer sheet signing from Brad Biggs (Tribune), Mark Potash (Sun-Times), and Alex Shapiro (NBC Sports Chicago).
• Heck yeah, you better believe Trevor Siemian highlights exist on the internet. And there’s even one where he is throwing to an (ex) Bears receiver:
https://twitter.com/Saints/status/1454933176695013385
https://twitter.com/Saints/status/1455589954969604098
"Trevor Siemian, who hasn't thrown a TD since 2017, to Kevin White, who hasn't caught a pass since 2018. That is what we are doing on #CoolPlaysBro." –@PSchrags pic.twitter.com/JsRS0HizPX
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) November 2, 2021
• The Bulls are in the bad place right now, but Zach LaVine is still skywalking on ’em:
OH MY: Zach LaVine Just Slammed His Angriest Dunk of the Season!https://t.co/81piRlgXGD pic.twitter.com/CU4JL1OQbU
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) March 25, 2022
• In a year that hasn’t been all that much fun, Chicago hockey fans needed a laugh:
LOL: Have You Seen the Ridiculous Patrick Kane Interview Yet?
Davidson v. Dubas in an imaginary fight?
Who's Leaving first, Kane or Toews?
Wayne Gretzky *and* Will Arnett?!https://t.co/5Zmcg15vNY pic.twitter.com/WdAHmq3qjI— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) March 24, 2022
• I’ve been enamored with Clint Frazier’s potential since the days he was a hot shot prospect in Cleveland, so I’m rooting for him to get off the deck with a clean bill of health and start living up to that untapped potential:
Clint Frazier Speaks About What Happened Last Year, What He’s Been Dealing With, and Where Things Stand – https://t.co/MBO82TlxLY pic.twitter.com/KIiCgZjCQX
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) March 24, 2022
