My alma mater (Southern Illinois University Carbondale) plays football against BYU today, which means I can officially be excited about the return of college football.
- Here is how a select group of Bears players reacted to the return of college football:
College football is BACK 🙌 pic.twitter.com/CHFDvrzurz
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) August 30, 2024
- Noted Notre Dame backer Cole Kmet told the Chicago Sun-Times’ Patrick Finley Caleb Williams “has the potential to be a top-five quarterback” in the NFL. That is high praise, and not just because I’m not accustomed to Fighting Irish folks saying nice things about players who suited up for arch-nemesis USC. The first pass Kmet catches from Caleb will be his third reception from a Bears first-round quarterback. Kmet has seen tough times in Chicago, but his play has improved every year. I’m excited to see what the 2024 season brings for Kmet (and the rest of the Bears.
- The Tribune’s Brad Biggs answers questions about the Bears’ decisions on roster cut-down day in his latest mailbag. Meanwhile, former Bears Scouting Director Greg Gabriel takes a deeper dive into the four newest Bears over at Windy City Gridiron.
- There are just 8 days until the Chicago Bears kick off their regular season slate of games against the Tennessee Titans. Rex Grossman, who has as many NFC Championship Game victories as Aaron Rodgers, wore No. 8 for Chicago’s football team from 2003-08. The more you know!
- The No. 8 is not the best or most popular number in Chicago Bears history.
- Cade McNown? Yuck. Jimmy Clausen? Ick. Mike Glennon? Gag. I’m holding out hope that Cairo Santos can turn the tide when it comes to this seemingly cursed number.
- The folks at Good Morning Football asked which “tortured” fan base deserves a Super Bowl win. My answer: Not the Detroit Lions. But here’s how the conversation went on NFL Network:
Which 'tortured' fan base is most deserving of a Super Bowl win? 🏆🤔@TheRokuChannel pic.twitter.com/vvSNXWJZtk
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) August 30, 2024
- I respect the petty: Pro Bowl running back Josh Jacobs told The Athletic’s Dan Pompei the Kansas City Chiefs tried signing him in free agency, but he turned down their interest because he didn’t want to play for a rival. Jacobs spent the first five years playing for the Raiders, whose rivalry with the Chiefs is one of the NFL’s most fierce. It makes sense that Jacobs would turn them down if he has built up enough animosity from his time in Oakland and Vegas. We can rule out Jacobs, who joined the Green Bay Packers this offseason, signing with the Bears in the future.
- Over at Pro Football Talk, Mike Florio is already exploring which teams might pursue Dak Prescott if the Dallas Cowboys can’t sign their star quarterback to an extension. In many other years, you’d probably see the Bears on this list. Heck, I remember when Bears-Prescott rumors were hot. But with Caleb Williams in tow, this isn’t something that’ll be a hot topic for us. Thank goodness!
- Heads up, fantasy fans:
BLEACHER NATION ON FACEBOOK: Bears | Cubs | Blackhawks | Bulls
- This Cody Bellinger homer capped off a 7-run second inning for the Cubs. And they needed it to secure their 69th win of the year.
- Stephen Curry signed an extension with the Golden State Warriors โ will it be his last? I’ve always wondered if we’d get on “Last Dance” kind of year with Steph and LeBron on the same team. The basketball lover in me hopes they make it happen. But the Curry fan in me wants Steph to be in one uniform for the entirety of his NBA career.
- Who would you put on a Chicago Blackhawks Mount Rushmore? (BN Blackhawks)
- My first fantasy football draft is TOMORROW, so Iโll check out our friends at 4for4 and their fantasy football guides before getting inside the draft room: