Homecomings, Value Signings, Remembering the Year of the Fridge, and Other Bears Bullets
HBO’s Succession returns tonight. That’s it. That’s the lead-in for Sunday’s Bullets.
Well, that and this video:
OK … is it 8 p.m. CT yet?
- We’re only three months into the 2023 calendar year and it has already been a big one for Chicago sports talker ESPN 1000. First, the network took over as the radio flagship home of the Chicago Bears. Then, on Friday, the network celebrated its 25th anniversary in grand fashion. Kudos to all involved for making it this far. And during Friday’s celebration, ESPN 1000 made a little news with Robbie Gould hinting while on with Waddle and Silvy that he’d be open to returning to the Bears. Gould, 40, is a free agent looking for a new football home. And while he didn’t seem keen on coming back when discussing this in February, I suppose it’s on the table from his end. At this stage of free agency, I’m compelled to latch on to any and all rumors.
- Although, when it comes to Gould, my mind asks questions. Well, one in particular. I’m not sure what might be a bigger hangup: Gould being 40 and out of what seems to be the Bears’ target age range for free agents or that Chicago already has a kicker?
- I’m not trying to kick Cairo Santos out the door. The guy has made 90 percent of his kicks since re-joining the Bears in 2020. Considering what we’ve been through since Gould left in 2016, I know better than to take Santos’ success for granted. HOWEVER, last year’s missed extra points were a bugaboo that gnawed at me — even when we were hoping for Bears losses. Maybe it was a brief case of the yips. But if it isn’t, I hope the Bears have a backup plan.
- As for Gould, I’m open to having a discussion regarding his potential return. Gould is an all-time fan favorite and a great kicker. Plus, I’m a sucker for homecoming stories. Sometimes, we — as a sports-consuming public — get way too bogged down in the minutiae and we lose sight of potentially fun stories. A Bears-Gould reunion would be a fun story to watch play out. And I think it would be a fun one to tell.
- One player who is getting a Chicago homecoming is tight end Robert Tonyan, who is ditching the Packers for the Bears after signing a one-year deal in Chicago. This Tonyan quote via 670 The Score’s Chris Emma hits:
“My dream has always just been to play in the NFL,” Tonyan said. “I had no idea where I was going to be, how I was going to get there, whatever, but I just knew I was going to be in the NFL. And wherever that journey took me or whatever I had to do to get there – changing from quarterback to receiver now to tight end – just playing football is my dream and my life. I love it. It does so much for my friends, family, just giving opportunities across the board just to live a great life and a blessed life.”
- What makes Tonyan’s arrival even sweeter is that it is at a relative bargain:
- Tonyan and Josh Oliver are two different types of tight ends. They have different skill sets. And their respective teams have given them different responsibilities. So it isn’t exactly a 1-for-1 comp. But when it comes to TE2 types, the Bears appear to have gotten a bargain with the Tonyan signing. Good for them. Hopefully, this lottery ticket cashes in a big way for this offense.
- Speaking of players on a steal of a contract, NFL reporter Aaron Wilson has details of D’Onta Foreman’s new deal with the Bears:
- I’m rooting hard for Foreman to cash in those playoff rushing yards and postseason touchdown incentives.
- A tip of the cap to the Patriots for drawing up a creative deal for ex-Bears lineman Riley Reiff:
- In case you’re curious, the Bears are still in the market for offensive line help. And they apparently have eyes for veteran right tackles.
- Please accept my apology for being a day late on this, but better late than never … right?
- Outdoor lights, water filters, workout gear, and more are your Deals of the Day at Amazon. The newest AirPods Pro are also 20% off so you might want to jump on that one. #ad
- Play-in Pat Bev is unstoppable, so there isn’t a matchup that worries me. Then again, our friends at BN Bulls bring up some good points:
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- Love reading good news about prospects hitting dingers:
