The Rookies Are Here, Local Rooting Interests, What’s Your Chipotle Order? And Other Bears Bullets

May 10, 2024

I’m trying to put myself in a mindset where I don’t take it for granted that I made it to Friday. Not everyone does, so be mindful of that as you go throughout your day.

Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, and the rest of the rookies are practicing for the first time as members of the Chicago Bears today. Yes, that’s right. We’re talking about practice.

Are you aware of the background of Allen Iverson’s famous “practice” press conference? It has quite the backstory. And while this piece is two years old, I think you should check it out. But I digress. Time to go back to the Bears and the Caleb Williams era, which Mark Potash (Sun-Times) points out will begin during this weekend’s rookie minicamp. As a reminder, every hero’s origin story has humble beginnings. Let’s get it.

This is what it looked like when Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, and Kiran Amegadjie showed up to Halas Hall:

.@CALEBcsw reporting for duty 🫡 pic.twitter.com/5XllIQQhde
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 9, 2024

First day in the office 💼 pic.twitter.com/OPq0mIU0qv
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 9, 2024

The claw is catching on 👀 pic.twitter.com/rlzxnRMTTj
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) May 9, 2024

The Bears dropped a photo set sharing snaps from the rookies’ arrival at Halas Hall.

Random: I wonder what is in Rome Odunze’s Chipotle order? Oh, yeah. I went there! Did you think I wasn’t going to see that bag? For me, I go steak burrito (extra steak), white rice, easy black beans, easy red and green salsa, light sour cream, cheese, and lettuce. Chipotle isn’t my go-to burrito. But when I’m in a pinch or get a random craving for this specific order, I can’t help myself. But maybe that is OK. After all, it harms no one to treat yourself to something nice.

I’m a fan of the Caleb Claw thing. Sure, I realize it isn’t for everyone. But as someone who embraces quirky, I can say that it is certainly for me. The Caleb Claw isn’t even the oddest quirk in the division. Packers fans wear foam cheese blocks on their heads. The Vikings blow some sort of horn when they get first downs. Let’s embrace weird, friends.

670 The Score’s Chris Emma shares the Bears rookie minicamp roster:

The Bears have set their roster for rookie minicamp, which begins tomorrow at Halas Hall. pic.twitter.com/QGaYKJv4Lv
— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) May 9, 2024

Josh Schrock (NBC Sports Chicago) has more on the nine UDFA signings and the 24 players who were given invites for tryouts.

If you’re someone looking for a local angle to root for, the Bears have several Illinoisans (DT Keith Randolph Jr., DT Deshaun Mallory, OT Kiran Amegadjie) and an Eastern Illinois product (defensive back Russell Dandy) at camp this weekend. If you’re looking for future All-Name Team candidates, I’d point you toward T.D. Ayo-Durojaiye, Decorian Patterson, Kendarin Ray, Reddy Steward, Geor’quarius Spivey, Josh Sokol, Jamree Kromah, and Noah Atagi. All of those players sound like they are from a Star Wars universe to ball. And I’m here for it.

Kevin Fishbain (The Athletic) ranks the Bears’ undrafted rookie class. Illinois DT Keith Randolph Jr. is the player I think has the best shot to make the team and play his way into an impact role. Something in Randolph’s game reminds me of how I felt about Roy Robertson-Harris when he was climbing the ranks and his arc is something I’ll watch with great interest.

With that being said, the most fun player in this UDFA class might be quarterback Austin Reed. Caleb Williams will get all the buzz. And I an’t forget about Tyson Bagent. But Reed has the potential to be the fun summertime upstart story. We’ll need stories like that to break up the monotony that can sometimes come with training camp.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Carolina Panthers have released running back Tarik Cohen. The All-Pro return specialist from the Bears’ 2018 division title-winning team has been on the bounce back trail since suffering a nasty knee injury in 2020. I truly thought he’d get a legitimate shot from a Panthers team that doesn’t have much going for it these days. And while Cohen hasn’t made it all the way back, I’m still rooting for him to complete the comeback.

A bunch of FOX-TV affiliates are picking up a syndicated version of NFL Network’s “Good Morning Football” program, with episodes set to debut in September. Check your local listings. (The Hollywood Reporter)

Former Bears punter Tress Way gave up his No. 5 jersey to rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. I hope he got substantial compensation for his trouble:

BREAKING NEWS 🚨 pic.twitter.com/ge1vnAJnWT
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) May 9, 2024

HAPPY FRIDAY! The Bleacher Nation Newsletter

The Chicago Cubs announced their upcoming rotation before a series against the Pittsburgh Pirates that begins tonight. But it has an ominous “TBD” and I’m worried.

A Chicago sports television update that impacts the Blackhawks, Bulls, and White Sox fans among you:

UPDATE: Stadium to Partner With Standard Media Group to Build #Blackhawks, Bulls & White Sox TV Network (Report)https://t.co/Z6XctGRhpZ
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) May 9, 2024

The Indiana Pacers are testing the limits of how many complaints you can levy without being annoying about it.

written by

Luis C. Medina

Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.

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