After a weekend of dining out with friends, I’m committing to cooking at the house for at least four of the next five days. But that’s fine. I’ve got culinary skills and meat in the freezer. Last night, I turned a pound of ground beef and half-pound of ground chorizo and turned it into meatballs. The end result was delicious. My preferred way to make ’em is with a blend of ground beef and Italian sausage, but I worked with what I had at my disposal. Will I make these again? Probably. Shout out to my friend Jim’s recipe, which you should check out if you want meatballs of your own.
The ugly Taylor-related breakup you’ve been waiting for all summer long appears to be on the horizon. Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has been granted permission to seek a trade. Nothing lasts forever, but this is getting good now:
You’re probably wondering why I’m leading Bullets with this. Not only is that is a fair question to ask, I’m going to give you an honest answer. The Chicago Bears have a ton of future cap space and draft picks they could trade for an impact player. I would consider Jonathan Taylor to be an impact player. HOWEVER, just because the Bears have cap space, draft picks, and are perceived to have question marks at running back doesn’t mean the Bears are going to fork over a king’s ransom to acquire him. And I’m going to need everyone to get a grasp on that concept.
Don’t get me wrong. If all things were equal, I’d be banging the table for the Bears to get Taylor. Imagine what the Bears offense could look like with Taylor joining Justin Fields, D.J. Moore, Darnell Mooney, Cole Kmet, and a healthy Chase Claypool. That team would put up crazy Madden numbers. But we don’t live in a vacuum and the Ryan Poles regime has proven it has minimal interest in coughing up significant draft capital (or cash) for the running back position. To those who wish this wasn’t the case, I’ll channel the words of my grandmother who’d say “lo siento muchacho pero…” as she’d trail off into why something wasn’t happening the way I’d like.
Maybe things would be different if Jonathan Taylor was an offensive lineman. Because the Bears’ depth is about to get tested with Teven Jenkins’ absence. I didn’t know it was possible to suffer calf strains in both legs. But that is what Jenkins is reportedly dealing with right now.
It is a game of musical chairs at Halas Hall with Lucas Patrick taking snaps at center and Cody Whitehair sliding back to left guard during Monday’s practice. So much for Alex Leatherwood getting the first crack at the gig. This month has felt a lot like August ’22 to me for reasons not related to football. But seeing a lineup with Whitehair at guard and Patrick at center definitely has me flashing back. Are we sure I haven’t been sent back in time? Because, if I have, I’ve got some things to change. I’ll be sure not to step on anything I shouldn’t. The last thing I want to do is break the space-time continuum.
The Sun-Times (Potash), Windy City Gridiron (Householder), CHGO (Moreano), NBC Sports Chicago (Schrock), and 670 The Score (Emma) are among those weighing in on the impact of Teven Jenkins injury and subsequent offensive line shakeup.
Bears Wire (Barbieri) and NBC Sports Chicago (Schrock) have 53-man roster projections for the Bears. The cut-down day is one week from today. So brace yourselves for your favorite fringe player’s most important day of the year.
One position group that figures to get whacked a bit is wide receiver. Have you realized the Bears are rostering 11 wide receivers? Well, if you didn’t know it before you certainly know now. Over at Bleacher Report, Kristopher Knox circles Nsimba Webster as someone on the fringe of the receivers room who could get cut.
Tomorrow is today. And we’ve got something to look forward to as Steve “Mongo” McMichael awaits his Pro Football Hall of Fame fate:
It’s possible that tomorrow Steve McMichael could be chosen as a senior finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Class of 2024.
A request to Bears fans from his wife Misty. Wear your #TeamMongo shirt Tuesday. Share a pic here. Help him feel the love.— Dan Wiederer (@danwiederer) August 22, 2023
Happy belated birthday to Jim McMahon, whose big day was yesterday. There has never been a QB like Jimmy Mac — and there will never be another like him ever again. So … let’s enjoy some highlights:
The Chicago White Sox may be “pondering” a move out of Chicago. From what I’ve heard, the following cities have shown an interest in being home to a professional sports team: Arlington Heights, Naperville, Waukegan, Richton Park, and Aurora. I don’t think the White Sox would be bold enough to move. But because pro sports owners have shown at every turn that their top priority is maximizing profits, I can’t ignore how moving a team elsewhere could boost the bottom line. We’ll watch this situation with great interest.
Lonzo Ball speaking candidly about his injury and one of the biggest “what-if?” stories in Chicago Bulls history had Eli imagining an alternative future:
One thing I love about the bye week being as late as it was for the Chicago Bears is that it allows folks to clear their heads, and then come back with a plan of attack for the stretch run....
A collection of scatter-brained Bears thoughts as I attempt to turn the corner and leave the bye week in my dust. News of the Bears reportedly having an interest in Commanders Offensive Coordinator Eric Bieniemy came across our timeline on...
The annual announcement of the NFL's Walter Payton Man of the Year award came with a little twist this year. In a very cool moment captured on video, you can watch how Bears Head Coach Matt Eberflus surprised Justin Jones...
This is a very interesting bit of reporting here from long-time NFL reporter Josina Anderson, who hears the Chicago Bears "are expected to have interest" in Washington Commanders assistant coach Eric Bieniemy. https://twitter.com/josinaanderson/status/1732061557880754598?s=46&t=U02QfOvkevNNl1wqUjnTzQ Bieniemy, 54, is in his first season...
Are you following Bleacher Nation Bears on Facebook? If not, then you should change that. We'll start Bullets with a nugget about someone who isn't even on the Bears. Well, not yet anyway. USC quarterback Caleb Williams won't play in...
The Chicago Bears are back from the bye and Head Coach Matt Eberflus just had his first press conference since taking the extended time off after the team's Week 12 Monday Night Football win against the Minnesota Vikings. Eberflus addressed...
We've come back to December. And for Chicago Bears fans, that means we're watching the 2024 NFL Draft positioning like it's a horse race. This is what it looks like for the Bears as we start December: https://twitter.com/BN_Bears/status/1731533028692836661 Don't get...
Just when you thought the Bears being off meant that your Sunday couldn't be ruined by football, here come the Packers to prove you wrong. Chicago's football team returns from the bye as 4-point underdogs against Detroit (h/t Brad Biggs)...
Thankfully, the Bears are on a bye this week. Bears-less Sunday allowed me to sleep in on Sunday. I felt as if I earned the right to sleep in after staying up late to watch my alma mater (SIU Carbondale)...
While ESPN's NFL FPI gives the Chicago Bears just a 2.3 percent chance of making the playoffs entering this Sunday's action, my favorite college football team (my alma mater, SIU Carbondale) returns to action TODAY for a second-round postseason battle....
Tyrese Haliburton and the Indiana Pacers (11-8) are 4.5-point underdogs against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks (15-6) Thursday, December 7, 2023 at T-Mobile Arena. The game tips off at 5:00 PM ET on ESPN. The matchup's over/under is set...
The New Orleans Pelicans (12-10) are only 2-point underdogs against the Los Angeles Lakers (13-9) at T-Mobile Arena on Thursday, December 7, 2023. The game starts at 9:00 PM ET on TNT. The point total for the matchup is 230.Lakers...
To beat his 3-point prop, Cole Anthony must make two from downtown on Wednesday, when his Orlando Magic meet the Cleveland Cavaliers, starting at 7:00 PM ET.Cole Anthony's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the CavaliersCole Anthony's over/under for three-pointers in this...
The Los Angeles Kings are predicted by sportsbooks to top the Montreal Canadiens when they play on Thursday at 7:00 PM ET, with the visiting Kings at -218 on the moneyline, and the Canadiens big underdogs at +180.Kings vs. Canadiens...
The Colorado Avalanche are moderate favorites (-155) on home ice versus the Winnipeg Jets (+130) at Ball Arena on Thursday.Avalanche vs. Jets Favorite, Moneyline, TotalFavorite: Avalanche (-155)Underdog: Jets (+130)Total: 6Best Avalanche vs. Jets Promo Codes[lasso type="table" id="1"]How to Watch Avalanche...
The Toronto Maple Leafs are moderate favorites (-130) on the road against the Ottawa Senators (+110) at Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday.Maple Leafs vs. Senators Favorite, Moneyline, TotalFavorite: Maple Leafs (-130)Underdog: Senators (+110)Total: 6.5Best Maple Leafs vs. Senators Promo Codes[lasso...
The New York Islanders and Columbus Blue Jackets face off on Thursday at UBS Arena in Elmont, and the oddsmakers like the home team (-198) over the visitor (+164).Islanders vs. Blue Jackets Favorite, Moneyline, TotalFavorite: Islanders (-198)Underdog: Blue Jackets (+164)Total:...
The Arizona Coyotes meet the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday and are -120 on the moneyline, with the latter at +100.Coyotes vs. Flyers Favorite, Moneyline, TotalFavorite: Coyotes (-120)Underdog: Flyers (+100)Total: 6Best Coyotes vs. Flyers Promo Codes[lasso type="table" id="1"]How to Watch Coyotes...
The oddsmakers fancy the New Jersey Devils to defeat the Seattle Kraken in their meeting on Thursday, December 7, with the visiting Devils given moneyline odds of -142, and the Kraken at +120.Devils vs. Kraken Favorite, Moneyline, TotalFavorite: Devils (-142)Underdog:...
The Detroit Red Wings and San Jose Sharks play on Thursday at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, and the oddsmakers give a big edge to the home team (-290) over the visitor (+235).Red Wings vs. Sharks Favorite, Moneyline, TotalFavorite: Red...
