NEWSLETTER
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
From attending afternoon mass at St. Gabriel’s on 45th & Wallace to the drunken ritual of my teens and early 20s of attending the South Side parade on 103rd & Western, St. Patrick’s Day and its festivities have always been a staple for me. But, of course, it looks a little different these days. Green food dye for my beer and the kid’s drinks, usually a mixture of Spring Training baseball and March Madness in the background as we all listen to music and catch up. Nonetheless, it’s one of my favorite days of the year.
Anyways, we’re hosting a little get-together next month at HVAC Pub in Wrigleyville in a couple of weeks—April 6, to be exact. There will be drinks, food, Bears and Cubs Q&As, special guests, and live music. It’s going to be a great time, so grab a ticket and come hang out!
Alright, FOOTBALL!
- The Cincinnati Bengals have a little situation on their hands. After signing tackle Orlando Brown Jr. on Wednesday evening, the assumption was that Brown would play left tackle and Jonah Williams would flip to the right side. However, it seems that Williams isn’t too keen on that idea, and now he wants to be traded.
- Ian Rapoport reported this morning that Williams asked the Bengals to trade him. Williams has played left tackle for all 47 games that he has played with the Bengals since he was drafted in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Williams had a down year in 2022 but was solid the previous two seasons.
- Williams had a 61.0 offensive grade this season over at PFF and allowed 12 sacks. However, he was much better in 2021, posting a 74.5 offensive grade. If the Bengals agree to trade Williams — or at least explore the idea — there will be interest in the tackle. But how much? He’s coming off of a down year and a knee surgery in February. He’s also set to make $12 million in the final year of his rookie deal, meaning whoever trades for him will be negotiating a long-term contract with him.
- The New England Patriots have added another weapon for Mac Jones next season. Former Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki will be griddy-ing up to New England. Gesicki’s deal with the Patriots is a one-year deal worth up to $9 million.
- Bill Belichick is hoping that Gesicki can pair with Hunter Henry to give the Patriots the two tight end combo that New England was looking for when they gave big-money deals to Henry and Jonnu Smith a couple of years ago. The Patriots shipped Jonnu Smith to Atlanta for a seventh-round pick earlier this week.
- Gesicki caught only 32 passes for 362 yards in 2022 after losing the starting job in Miami to Durham Smythe. In 2021 Gesicki caught 73 passes for 780 yards as the starter in Miami.
- So, the Eagles have landed their new backup quarterback. Marcus Mariota will be heading to Philadelphia on a one-year contract. Mariota’s deal is $5 million but could reach as much as $8 million. Mariota signed with the Falcons last year after they traded Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts. He started the first 13 games of the 2022 season for the Falcons before being benched at the bye for rookie Desmond Ridder, who started the final four games.
- The Buffalo Bills released wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie today. McKenzie had a roster bonus coming up this weekend, and the release will save the Bills $2.7 million against the cap. McKenzie has been with the Bills since 2018 and has 137 catches for 1,316 yards and 11 touchdowns while also running the ball 46 times for 226 yards and four touchdowns.
- Cooper Rush is sticking around in Dallas:
- Are the Blackhawks winning too many games? Tab discusses the challenge of balancing the desire to land the No. 1 pick with Luke Richardson coaching up a rag-tag group of youngsters. Give it a read:
- This is music to my ears, friends:
