NEWSLETTER
A miserable cough has thrown my weekend plans for a loop. Which I guess is fine because I could use the rest. Last weekend was busy (and soooo much fun) and I’ve got some big Thanksgiving plans coming up. So I should probably use sick time as downtime to rest up. But there is part of my brain that wants to do so much. Maybe I’ll rest on it.
- One the one hand, it is shagadelic to see that Justin Fields is SO GOOD that The Wall Street Journal is parachuting in with stories about a Chicago Bears quarterback:
- Hey, now! When was the last time a Bears QB was worthy enough of receiving national press? I mean, for good reasons. Not because he was someone who was drafted instead of a megastar at the position. It is neat to see Fields garnering headlines for what he’s doing. But on the other hand, sometimes, these big national pieces lose the forest through the trees and lack important context. Unfortunately, there are too many moments when that WSJ piece feels like one of those pieces. And it’s a bummer.
- C’mon, man. You can’t write a tweet making it seem like Fields is the reason the Bears are winless in their last three games when a defense coughing up more than 38 points per game in those games is a major culprit.
- Did Fields have a costly pick-six against the Lions? He sure did. But he single-handedly scored a 60+ yard rushing touchdown on the very next possession, leaving the player he just threw the pick to in his dust. Are Fields’ fumbles an issue? Yeah, you’d like to see more ball security. But that is going to be part of the risk-reward calculus moving forward. Fields is going to hold it longer while big-game hunting. Sometimes he’ll unleash a bomb down the field. Other times, he’ll scramble for a chunk play. And then there will be times when the defense gets the best of Fields. Hey, those guys on the other side of the ball get paid, too! Again, context matters. And, in my opinion, it was lacking in that piece.
- Even still … I found it to be a worthwhile read — even if the piece came off as something written by someone who lost their fantasy matchup to a team starting Fields and demands answers as to how losing to a team rostering a Bears QB could’ve happened.
- The fantasy impact is legit, though:
- It could’ve lost me with a cheesy zinger about deep-dish pizza that was so out of touch that you’d need NASA to contact it. And it probably should’ve lost me when I read the “a well-regarded offensive line” line. Don’t get me wrong. I like Teven Jenkins, who has grown into a starting-caliber right guard. Left tackle Braxton Jones is a decent developmental piece who could turn out to be a nice bridge to a better, more stable option at the position. Cody Whitehair is a sturdy vet with versatility along the interior. But save for some early season success (that, in hindsight, was probably too small of a sample to give a ringing endorsement) this offensive line has been widely panned by observers who use traditional methods, eye-testers, and advanced metrics users who cite PFF or ESPN’s data.
- TL;DR: You want to write an overarching piece about Fields being a quarterback whose stats are winning fantasy leagues but not games at the NFL level, then show your work.
- Cole Kmet was given captaincy for this Sunday’s game against the Falcons. On the field, the third-year tight end is putting in work:
- And off of it, he is making strong impressions with his coaches:
- Matt Nagy’s weekly deployment of random captains didn’t bother me as much as it did others. HOWEVER, I’m digging how Head Coach Matt Eberflus is using the weekly rotating honorary captain status every week. Captaincy is earned, not given. And it isn’t earned by merely having previously played for a given week’s opponent. Establishing captains before the season (with a player vote) and then choosing someone whose efforts merit putting the “C” on their chest is a good way to go about it.
- SIDE NOTE: I’m almost at a point where it could be worth dissecting what a potential Kmet extension could look like at year’s end. Because just like receiver Darnell Mooney and cornerback Jaylon Johnson, Kmet can sign an extension as soon as this season ends. At this point, Kmet wouldn’t likely demand a bank-breaking deal. What would it take to keep the local standout home?
- Also? Chase Claypool will be up for an extension at year’s end, too. And it is one reason why we’re hoping he’ll get more playing time and a larger percentage of targets down the stretch. The Bears should be wanting to get every look at Claypool that they can before engaging in extension negotiations.
- The Luke Getsy head coach candidacy hype train is rolling along:
- Yo! A Fields rookie card went for $90,000. (NBCS Chicago)
- It is a personal policy of mine to not share dumb takes unless it comes with someone absolutely shredding it in the process, which is what happens here:
- Amon-Ra St. Brown is going to be a nuisance to Bears defenders twice a year so long as he stays with the Lions. But I respect his hustle:
- Holy Buffalo!
- The NFL isn’t taking Titans OC Todd Downing’s DUI after his team’s win against the Packers on TNF lightly:
- Don’t forget, it’s Early Black Friday all week at Amazon, so it’s a good time to head over and poke around. #ad
- An important reminder for Blackhawks fans who are planning to attend the Marian Hossa festivities on Sunday:
- Bring him to Chicago, Jed!
- What in the world is happening with the Bulls?
