NEWSLETTER
I didn’t get around to watching “The Bachelor” on Monday because I got caught up in watching WWE’s 30th-anniversary special for Monday Night Raw is a sentence I didn’t think I’d write this morning. Or ever. I’ll get around to watching “The Bachelor” later. Hopefully, I can avoid spoilers.
- OK, I’m going to need something to happen with Sean Payton here because I’m reaching a new level of being annoyed:
- Bleep or get off the pot, dude. Seriously. You’re holding up the line!
- Sean Payton is the coaching star of this hiring cycle. And he has been interviewing everywhere. But because he hasn’t landed anywhere, so much remains up in the air. What Payton decides will likely have a trickle-down impact throughout the league. Selfishly, I want that first domino to fall because it’ll maybe help us figure out if the Bears are in danger of losing any assistant coaches to promotions elsewhere.
- Look at all the offensive coordinator openings available:
- In early January, Mike Jones (WHO!?) of The Athletic put together a list of coaching candidates to watch in this cycle and beyond. It is an interesting list, no doubt. And not just because it includes Bears Offensive Coordinator Luke Getsy and Offensive Line Coach Chris Morgan. But that really helps in our discussion, if only because I’m surprised that (to this point) Morgan hasn’t been publicly connected to any OC gig. Maybe Morgan is a year away from being a year away? Nevertheless, I’m still interested in following his name on the coaching rumor mill (if it ever makes it) this offseason.
- Also? Maybe I just want Payton to hurry up and make a call because perhaps it could give us clarity as to what might happen at the top of the draft board. Maybe a team hiring a coach like Payton who wants a particular quarterback at the top of the draft adds some juice to the Bears’ trade market as they look to move back from the No. 1 overall pick. Hey, it’s a thought.
- Over at BN NFL, Patrick is following the coaching carousel with the same vigor I’m tracking Blink-182 concert ticket prices for their Chicago shows in May.
- You should really be following our Around the League coverage online, at Twitter, and on Facebook.
- That Bears defense didn’t provide much to write home about, but the secondary showed so much future playmaking potential:
- Bears defensive backs had 10 of the defense’s 13 forced fumbles. They also accounted for 11 of the 14 interceptions. Meanwhile, Jaquan Brisker’s 4 sacks were a team-best. And while that is cool, your safety shouldn’t be leading your team in sacks. Brisker’s 4 quarterback hits were more than free agent defensive line acquisition Al-Quadin Muhammad (3) had in his first year with the team. The dudes in the secondary were holding their own. If only there was more pressure up front to help things out on the back end.
- I’ll say this in defense of the line: Justin Jones (3 sacks, 7 QB Hits, a team-high 12 tackles-for-loss) looks like a solid, rotational defensive tackle. And if you consider the cost of doing business, I think there is a strong argument that he out-performed Larry Ogunjobi (1.5 sacks, 7 tackles-for-loss, 11 QB hits) in Pittsburgh. GM Ryan Poles probably dodged a bullet with that failed physical.
- On the other side of the ball, can you pick a receiver who is the best fit for the Bears in 2023 and beyond?
- I’m going to read this as a prelude to the Bears spending a chunk of change to upgrade at the receiver and tight end positions:
- To the victors go the spoils (and a schedule that I’m not envious of one bit:
- The Bears will get to play the Chiefs next year, too. But the rest of their opponents list might not be as tedious as what it was this season.
- Welp, it doesn’t look like the Bears are in line to get a compensatory pick in the 2023 NFL Draft:
- I wouldn’t bet on ’em getting one in 2024 either.
- It feels like we’ve been passing along condolences a ton lately. May Walt Hanza rest in peace and may his family find comfort in a time of grieving:
- DeMar DeRozan made some history and the Bulls beat the Hawks. I like seeing Trae Young take the L at the UC.
- The Blackhawks are on trade watch:
- Chip Caray is doing WHAT!?
