We’re so close to getting my friend Jim up to 10,000 Twitter followers. This home-made, authentic Detroit style pizza recipe is a personal favorite.
With the dust settling after the NFL’s Trade Deadline, general managers around the league were left to discuss what happened (and what didn’t) in its aftermath. But no one talked shop like Bills GM Brandon Beane. You’ll want the sound on for this one:
There is nothing like seeing a general manager pull back the curtain and give a behind-the-scenes look at something we’re not often privy to in our world. It was truly fascinating to hear Beane talk about how trade rumors come to fruition and how there are times where they can be true and false at the same time. And while I wouldn’t expect more NFL general managers to be this open, it is nice to have one who opens up.
Around these parts, folks are still buzzing about the Chase Claypool trade. And with good reason! It has been a while since the Bears have brought in a receiver with Claypool’s upside. Plus, he looks good in the uniform:
I fear that fantasy football warps too many opinions on player evaluation. But with that being said, I found a fun fantasy nugget that pcould play into the evaluation process. I found it interesting that after a slow start to the season — one in which Claypool failed to meet or exceed projected stats in each of the Steelers’ first four games — Claypool has beaten fantasy projections in three of the last four weeks. To tie fantasy and reality together, I would use that data to point out that Claypool is trending in the right direction. It’s a good sign, even though it isn’t something I want to put too much stock in.
If the Claypool trade opens up more opportunities for George Pickens and Diontae Johnson in Pittsburgh, then not having to split the target share with those two should open things up for Claypool in Chicago. There is only one football to go around, but the Bears don’t have a receiver logjam like what the Steelers have. If anything, Claypool’s arrival should open things up for Darnell Mooney because defenses can’t focus all their pass defense energy in slowing down Fields’ top receiver. It wouldn’t be wise to have grand expectations for what Claypool will do out of the gate. But the potential is there to explore room for growth. And I can’t wait to see it play out.
One of my least favorite media trends is when a player leaves town and a high-profle sports talker takes a jab at a player on his way out the door. It’s not really a great way to go. With that in mind, I want to share this…
… but only because I want to share it in tandem with this:
Is a 54% contested catch rate the stuff of world-beaters? Hardly. But it’s not as if Claypool is a complete zero in the category. To discuss him in that manner is flat out wrong. And when you’re someone with a high profile, your words have cache — which leads to fans spreading tired and untrue narratives. We can all do better as far as that stuff is concerned.
One thing I like to do when trying to assess who a player is now and what he can be is to grab a hold onto what a player can do as opposed to focusing on what they can’t (or haven’t been able to) do. For instance, the numbers tell us one thing Claypool can do is go DEEP:
Justin Fields throws a pretty deep ball, so I’d like to see that in tandem with Claypool’s go-route tendencies.
Oh, hey! The Bears play a football game this week. Let’s not lose sight of that fun little thing that is happening on Sunday.
Even though Tua Tagovailoa is loaded with elite pass-catching targets and an offensive-minded head coach, Miami’s QB doesn’t sound like he is looking forward to playing in Chicago. Tagovailoa told reporters (via the Sun-Times) that the Soldier Field turf isn’t as good as it is at other venus. Evidently, Tua hasn’t been doing his homework because the Soldier Field turf stock is pointing up as of this year. Or maybe he hasn’t been updated just yet.
I think Eddie Jackson hits the right notes in assessing life after the trade deadline as a member of these Bears. Via NBC Sports Chicago:
“I couldn’t believe it. I was in disbelief. I was shocked,” Jackson said Wednesday. “I was thinking the same as everybody. We were just shocked We got rid of Rob. When you get rid of Ro? The thoughts go through your head like, ‘What are we playing for?’ Is their vision still the same as the players? We’re trying to make it to a Super Bowl, get to the playoffs, things like that. Like I said, I’m not upstairs. I get it. I understand it. But it just hits different.”
“I might not like it, but I understand it” is a perfectly normal feeling to have after the trade deadline. And I’m glad Jackson was able to express it so well. Moreover, I’m happy Jackson felt comfortable enough to share that publicly. Many players bottle that stuff up and it gnaws at them. Good on Jackson for being open about it.
Jackson, who was just given captain status after Robert Quinn’s departure, now has a large task on his plate in being a leader for this team for the rest of this season. Thankfully, his perspective on the trades leads me to believe he is ready for that challenge. The Bears need as many steady hands to guide the ship moving forward as they can get right now.
Cornerback Jaylon Johnson plays with the type of fearlessness I admire:
I guess the grass isn’t always greener on the other side:
The Bills are just built different:
Unless I’ve missed something elsewhere, this looks to be the first power player showing interest in purachsing Washington’s football team after reports surfaced that the Snyders were exploring a possible sale:
We’ve got a long way to go in this process. And we’re not even wholly convinced that the Commanders will be up for sale. Although, Daniel Snyder opening up more minority shareholder spots before a sale isn’t something I’d put past him. In any case, this is a situation worth monitoring.
This World Series has been a special brand of weird:
NEWSLETTER
