If you’ve read my writing for long enough, you’ll remember that once in a while I’ll make reference to a Kanye West lyric “nobody gets the flowers while they can still smell ’em” — which is an homage to his friend and mentor Jay-Z in the song “Big Brother” off the Graduation album. I found myself thinking about that lyric while reading this by Jeff Hughes of Da Bears Blog, who has an homage of his own for Bears Owner Virginia McCaskey. As someone who just lost their 94-year-old grandmother, I can respect wanting to write something honoring the 99-year-old matriarch of Chicago football while she was still alive.
And remember, give out that love while you still can because you never know when your last time is the last time.
I thought JC Tretter had some gas in the tank. So much so, he was on our free agent watch list earlier in the offseason when the Bears had major offensive line needs. But instead of returning to the gridiron after being let of by the Browns, Tretter is calling it a career:
You might recall that Tretter, who serves as the NFLPA President, had some thoughts on the crummy Soldier Field turf. Said turf has since seen multiple concerts since the Bears played on it. But fear not! Tucked away in a story about the MLS Chicago Fire, Brian Sandalow (Sun-Times) reports Soldier Field will be re-sodded “using a new Bermuda grass system requested by the Bears” by the time the team kicks off its regular season on September 11 against the 49ers. Huzzah! Perhaps the Soldier Field turf won’t look so craptacular for Week 1.
A newsworthy item from the Tribune’s Robert McCoppin, who reports that a poll of Arlington Heights residents approve of the Bears’ intentions to build a stadium at the Arlington International Racecourse site. HOWEVA, a majority of the residents participating in the poll do NOT approve of the tax benefits and kickbacks that could be tied to such a move. It isn’t the largest sample, with around 300 participants. But even with a poll that has that type of sample, it is notable that 72 percent of its respondents were in favor of a Bears move to their suburb. Just as it is worth underscoring that 68 percent weren’t down to give financial incentive to help the team make it happen.
The Bears are a billion dollar entity recently valued at $5.8 billion (with a chance to grow further should they make the move to a sparkling new estate in Arlington Heights officially official). So, from where I stand, if the franchise wants to make that move, then it should foot the bill and not pass it on to taxpayers.
It doesn’t really matter what kind of turf you’re on, Robert Quinn will drive your quarterback into it:
When the Bears had Quinn and Khalil Mack, I thought it was good that they were going up against the Bears’ young tackles. Even with Mack gone, Quinn appears to be giving rookie left tackle Braxton Jones a crash course in protecting against elite pass-rushers. And it’s a challenge Jones is embracing as he closes in on being the Bears’ Week 1 left tackle.
“Some of the rushers just don’t get to the point as quick as Robert Quinn does,” Jones said, via NBC Sports Chicago. “So that’s the biggest thing for me is still having that good timing. They want to run around the edge. Robert Quinn gets to you really quickly, so then your hands are much quicker. But then when it’s a longer wait, I still have to have that punch timing.”
Jones’ next test comes on Saturday against a Browns team that will throw Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney in his direction. Ideally, Bears play-caller Luke Getsy has a better plan to combat that tandem than whatever Matt Nagy threw out there when the Bears were in Cleveland last year.
Elsewhere on the offensive line, Shon Coleman is in a battle for a job among the reserves. But after battling cancer, Coleman has a different type of perspective on life, football, and positional battles. Bears website Senior Writer Larry Mayer has more on Coleman. You’ll want to take some time to give this a read.
Think Bears players love having Roquan Smith back?
The NFL’s diversity efforts has begun seeing some results, especially with the note that six of the 12 GM hires since the 2021 offseason have been minorities. And while it was encouraging to see the Bears do more than a token interview and hiring Ryan Poles, this feels like just the beginning. More from the Trib:
Oh, my! This sounds so painful:
It’s worth point out that the Bears and Cowboys square off on Oct. 30 in Dallas. With left tackle Tyron Smith out until at least December, that means the Cowboys will be without a top blocker when the Week 8 showdown rolls around.
Whew. I was so confused by Crane Kenney being in the booth. And then magic happened:
This is how it begins:
An updated top prospects list from Tab greets us at BN Blackhawks:
NEWSLETTER
