The basketball game did not go as well as I would’ve liked, but at least the company was good. So, in an attempt to wash last night’s bad taste out of my mouth, I’m going to the Cubs game today. Hopefully, it yields a more palatable result than last night’s Bulls game.
รขโฌยข Eddie Jackson, who was also in attendance for the Bulls-Bucks game at United Center, had a thought that has my attention:
Can we bring back @The_Dream99 ๐ค
— Eddie Jackson (@BoJack4) April 23, 2022
รขโฌยข After giving it some thought, I wouldn’t say no to an Akiem Hicks reunion. Things ended on a sour note for Hicks last season (in more ways than one). However, Matt Nagy getting the boot, a new regime in charge, and Hicks still on the free agent market, maybe there could be middle ground that provides a launch-point for a reunion. Admittedly, I struggle to see where Hicks fits in this new scheme. Moreover, this offseason’s transactions have been trending younger, so envisioning this front office running it back with an older veteran is tough.
รขโฌยข Also … I’ve grown to accept that not all breakups are bad. Change can be good. Part of me wonders if Hicks doesn’t deserve something more than being on a team in a building phase. The 32-year-old was an anchor for some great Bears defenses of recent years, but was a part of zero playoff wins despite his efforts. I’d contend that Hicks has played his way into deserving an opportunity to go ring-chasing (should that be the thing he wants). As a fan who thinks Hicks embodies what the Bears want to be and think they are, it would be a fun story to follow a popular player’s unexpected return (and a bounce-back campaign that follows). It is just tough to see it happening. But, hey, I won’t stop BoJack from campaigning for an old teammate’s return.
รขโฌยข No word if Jackson is going back-to-back with a Cubs game after last night’s Bulls outing, but his head coach will be around:
A first pitch at Wrigley requires some serious training.
See you tomorrow, @Cubs. ๐
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 22, 2022
รขโฌยข Apparently, Kerry Wood has a future as a pitching coach. “His coaching was excellent,” Bears Head Coach said of Kerry Wood, via the Bears’ website. “in terms of being smooth, take a deep breath before you do it, soak it in, enjoy the moment, and then just [throw] it in there. It was really good advice.”
รขโฌยข Getting to work with Wood is pretty cool. And any time you get a chance to get on the diamond at beautiful and historic Wrigley Field, you gotta take it. I’m looking forward to seeing what Eberflus does when he gets the ball. Do you think he was consulting Justin Fields (in addition to getting Wood’s guidance) before any of this? Remember, Fields has a baseball background. And there is nothing wrong with asking for some help.
รขโฌยข BONUS: If you’re attending today’s game, here’s the lineup you’ll see to start the ballgame.
รขโฌยข If Kerry Wood can visit Halas Hall, and Matt Eberflus can throw a pitch, then why can’t Roquan Smith be WR1? I mean, how can you look at this picture and not think that this guy has pass-catching potential:
https://twitter.com/RoquanSmith1/status/1517573266583572490
รขโฌยข Let’s just say Roquan has a knack for catching passes:
#DaBears defense doing what #DaBears defense does.
Roquan Smith PICK SIX!
(via @nflbrasil)pic.twitter.com/mrdaPNS9JC
— Audacy Sports (@AudacySports) September 19, 2021
TAKEAWAY 2รฏยธยรขฦยฃ
Roquan Smith with the INT#CHIvsLAR | #SNF
(via @NFL)
— PFF (@PFF) November 18, 2019
#DaBears LB Roquan Smith has picked off Jared Goff in each of their last two meetings.
Roquan is also playing faster in 2020 than ever before.
What will this add up to on Monday? You tell me ๐ pic.twitter.com/5mn7Vhil9k
— Robert Schmitz (@robertkschmitz) October 22, 2020
รขโฌยข Where was Matt Nagy’s gimmick using defensive players on offense when you need it? So many missed opportunities to get Roquan the ball.
รขโฌยข Jared Goff and Roquan Smith seem to have a real connection. Love it when a QB and his top-pass catcher have that going for them. I’m looking forward to seeing if they’ll re-kindle that connection when the Bears and Lions play this season.
รขโฌยข This is a bold take:
.@keyshawn thinks it'll be a mistake for the Lions to replace Jared Goff with a QB in this year's draft.
"Jared Goff, simple and plain is better than every quarterback in this draft right now." pic.twitter.com/pS3OrmD93a
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) April 22, 2022
รขโฌยข How would you rank the NFL North’s quarterbacks? Be honest. I won’t hold your rankings against you.
รขโฌยข It could be worse, Bears fan:
no team had more 1st round draft capital since 2018 than the Giants
here's who Dave Gettleman used the #1 most capital on:
2018 #2 Saquon Barkley
2019 #6 Daniel Jones
2019 #17 Dexter Lawrence
2019 #30 Deandre Baker (cut)
2020 #4 Andrew Thomas
2021 #20 Kadarious Toney (trading?)— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) April 22, 2022
รขโฌยข The 2022 NFL Draft is coming, which will certainly give the Giants another opportunity to waste precious 1st-round capital:
Just five days left. ๐
(by @Lexus)
๐บ: 2022 #NFLDraft โ April 28-30 on NFLN/ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/RzLFh9nq8o
— NFL (@NFL) April 23, 2022
รขโฌยข For those of you who have an interest in such a event:
#BearsDraft Party RSVP list:
รขลโรฏยธย @JuiceHerbert
รขลโรฏยธย @Twenty7Savage
รขลโรฏยธย @ColeKmet
รขลโรฏยธย @MontgomerDavid
รขลโรฏยธย @Darnell_M1
รขลโรฏยธย Nicholas Morrow
รขลโรฏยธย @Qua_Nito
รขลโรฏยธย @lucaspatrick62
รขลโรฏยธย @RoquanSmith1
รขลโรฏยธย @WhItehair76
รขลโรฏยธย @peanuttillman
รขลโรฏยธย @ZMiller86Be there รขลโฐรฏยธย
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 22, 2022
รขโฌยข It had been a minute since Tom Brady was in a headline:
Tom Brady and the Buccaneers restructured his 2022 contract today, creating over $9 million of added salary cap space for Tampa Bay as it gets ready to head into next week's draft, league sources tell ESPN. Brady still is scheduled to be a free agent after this season.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 22, 2022
รขโฌยข I can’t believe this is happening:
Ben Simmons Eyeing a Game 4 Return for the Brooklyn Netshttps://t.co/34hjXk3ggb pic.twitter.com/9QNWMYVHwi
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) April 21, 2022