FanPost

Pagano, Parkey, and the Pro Bowl (and plenty of optimism!)

It's been an interesting couple weeks for the Bears. Following an unexpected (at least the way I saw it) first-round playoff loss, a lot is new with the NFL's charter franchise.

Highly successful four-year defensive coordinator Vic Fangio left to be the next head coach of the Denver Broncos. Vic, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts and wish you nothing but the very best. Oh, and by the way, if John Elway gets on your nerves, you are more than welcome to come back here.

Not to worry, however. Because a few days after Fangio left, he was replaced by former Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano. Pagano may not have been the best head coach ever; however, he had a 53-43 record and three playoff appearances in six seasons. Not too bad. He is a great defensive mind and should be a more than serviceable replacement to Fangio. Whether he takes the Bears' defense to the next level of elite will be the X factor.

There's been more. Bears coach Matt Nagy, who deserves plenty of credit for bringing in Pagano, was not happy about "kicker" Cody Parkey appearing on The Today Show.

"We always talk about a 'we and not a me' thing, and we always talk as a team, we win as a team, we lose as a team," Nagy said. "I didn't necessarily think that that was too much of a 'we' thing."

Let me translate that: Bye bye, Cody!

So the Bears will certainly have a new kicker next season. That'll be completely fine with most Bears fans. I was more on the side that the Eagles game wasn't Parkey's fault, but I can see the logic here. The Bears will still have to pay Parkey because he signed a multi-year contract, but the damage he's done exceeds that. He won't be back.

The kicker drama aside, it's been a good past couple weeks for most Bears players. The Bears had eight Pro Bowlers--eight! These players were safety Eddie Jackson, cornerback Kyle Fuller, defensive end Akiem Hicks, tackle Charles Leno Jr., linebacker Khalil Mack, kick returner Tarik Cohen, center Cody Whitehair, and quarterback Mitchell Trubisky.

Quarterback Mitchell Trubisky.

The Bears haven't had a Pro Bowl quarterback since, well, 1986, which was Jim McMahon. Sure, Trubisky was Super Bowl-bound Rams quarterback Jared Goff's replacement, but it's still very exciting. Trubisky made plenty of strides this season, and it's great to see him get some recognition.

Watching the videos on the Bears' YouTube channel, I saw a different Trubisky this week. He was funny, relaxed and happy, and not just because it's January and he was in Orlando and not Chicago. He was obviously excited to be in the Pro Bowl, and he should be. Bears fans, we can officially say that we got our quarterback.

We can complain all we want about how people like Jordan Howard and Roquan Smith were snubbed out of the Pro Bowl, but eight is a great number. Three players in the Bears' 2017 draft class are already Pro Bowlers. That was the same draft class that the media mocked and ridiculed.

The Bears had an terrific year in 2018. Sure, next year will be harder--a tougher schedule and lack of a first or second-round draft pick--but the Bears will come back stronger.

I'm not going to say it, but...I'm going to say it. I may be biased, but the Chicago Bears are my pick to be the 2019 Super Bowl champions. And you can take it to the bank.

This Fanpost was written by a Windy City Gridiron member and does not necessarily reflect the ideas or opinions of its staff or community.