There are two types of naps that I have: One that feels refreshing as heck and one that leaves me dazed, confused, and wondering where I am and what time it is. Good luck finding the in between.
- Things appear to be heating up when it comes to the New York Jets’ pursuit of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers:
- There is a popular sentiment in some circles that wants this deal to get done. And on the one hand, I understand. Cross your fingers, hope it goes through, and move on in a football life without having to face Rodgers twice a year. That guy has been a nuisance for as long as he has been in Green Bay. A tormentor. Someone who has made our lives as Bears fans as nightmarish as one could imagine. But on the other hand, we might be looking at Rodgers’ decline era. And Rodgers being on the downside while having a contract that handcuffs the Packers is a dream scenario. Why are we wishing that away? Seems counterproductive. But maybe that is just me.
- With the Bears settling in with Justin Fields as their QB1 moving forward, GM Ryan Poles isn’t surveying that market. Instead, he’ll look at filling a dozen other positions. Free agency is an important first step for these Bears. And with as many holes as the franchise has, I’m open to looking at different paths toward unearthing fits. With that in mind, I found Cynthia Frelund’s free-agent fits based on win-share projections to be a unique way to pair a player and team. Give it a read and allow yourself to think differently about free agent fits.
- Maybe this is my baseball brain talking, but I do like to view free agency through the lens of the movie Moneyball every now and again. Mostly because it makes me think of this line: “Your goal shouldn’t be to buy players, your goal should be to buy wins.”
- Tom Pelissero (NFL Media) lists seven “less-heralded” free agents who are in line to get PAID. Among them are likely Bears targets such as defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones and a trio of offensive tackles (Jawaan Taylor, Kaleb McGary, and Mike McGlinchey).
- Our friends at BN’s NFL wing have run down the top free-agent receivers and running backs.
- One free agency signing in the books for the Bears: The return of fullback Khari Blasingame.
- A cool thing the Bears are doing is helping to launch the first intramural girls’ secondary school flag football league in the United Kingdom. Shakeia Taylor (Tribune) has the details behind Chicago’s football team getting into this new endeavor. I also love that Chase Claypool is involved:
- It rocks watching the Bears give back to the community.
- And I’m still holding out hope for Claypool. Before last season, ESPN’s Mike Clay’s projections had Claypool going for 60 catches, 862 receiving yards, and 4 touchdowns. Claypool fell well short of thoat forecast, catching 46 passes, picking up 451 receiving yards, and scoring just once. If Claypool can hit his 2022 projections in 2023, I think I’ll feel better about Chicago’s collection of receivers. But only if Darnell Mooney can revert to his 2021 form and if the Bears add another impact pass-catcher.
- ‘Tis a real shame that it doesn’t appear as if a star receiver is making it onto the trade block. But that doesn’t mean GM Ryan Poles can just sit on his hands. Ideally, the counter move here is to build a WRs room that has its strength in its depth. Easier said than done, I’m sure. But not impossible.
- Save some for Saturday when I’m in attendance out in Miami, Nelson:
- I forgot the Bulls could do stuff like this:
- Blowing out the West-leading Nuggets on the road is one way to conjure up the last remnants of hope.
- A Blackhawks prospect is on a roll: