THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL
Something a wee bit harder today, I think... How about a tune by those nice young men from Des Moines...
BEAR DOWN, CHICAGO BEARS, BEAR DOWN!!!!
BEARRRSSSS
Can the Bears Afford Another Playmaker in Free Agency? – On Tap Sports Net - The Chicago Bears have $9.5 million left on their salary cap, per Spotrac. Realistically, they have enough money and can afford another free-agent signing or two, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they will go that route.
Chicago Bears kicker Ramiz Ahmed goes from college tryout to NFL - Chicago Sun-Times - Less than three years later, Ahmed has earned an even greater opportunity — to compete with Eddy Pineiro, who went 23-for-28 last year, for the Bears’ kicker job.
Matt Nagy: Mitch Trubisky, Nick Foles both doing well in Bears virtual meetings - NBC Sports Chicago - The coach briefly touched on how QB Competition 2K20 is going.
Kevin White given fair shot with Bears in 2018 but didn’t take advantage - NBC Sports Chicago - Kevin White didn’t sound like a wide receiver.
Kevin White admits he ‘checked out’ at times during Bears tenure - NBC Sports Chicago - Speaking to NBC Sports Chicago, the receiver opened up about his struggles in Chicago.
Cutting Edge: Veteran Defenders Have Jobs on the Line - SI.com - Each NFL season brings about turnover, veterans standing down while rookies enter the league.
Rocky Ride: Nick Foles’ Highs and Lows by the Numbers - SI.com - The reputation quarterback Nick Foles has for being a roller-coaster ride pertains to his overall career.
Not Everyone Agrees on the Precise Likelihood of a 2020 NFL Season - Bleacher Nation - It’s not the most optimistic, but there’s a sense that realistic expectations are being set here.
New Coach, New Players, New Mentality for the Bears Rushing Attack - Da Bears Blog - The question was finally asked. During Matt Nagy’s presser two weeks ago, Brad Biggs asked it bluntly. “What makes Juan Castillo better than Harry Hiestand?”
Mitchell Trubisky has embraced quarterback competition - ProFootballTalk - The Bears’ quarterback competition won’t begin until on-field work commences. Bears coach Matt Ngay reiterated Wednesday that the battle between Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles won’t play out over Zoom.
Matt Nagy: Mitch Trubisky has been ‘really good’ about QB competition - Chicago Sun-Times - Still, he admitted “the big question” will be how Mitch Trubisky will handle the competition with Nick Foles, for whom the Bears traded a fourth-round pick in March.
Bears coach Matt Nagy weighs in on proposed onside kick change - Chicago Sun-Times - The NFL will vote Thursday on whether to replace onside kicks with an offensive play: fourth-and-15, played from the kicking team’s own 25-yard line.
2021 NFL Draft: What picks do Bears have left after trades? - Chicago Sun-Times - General manager Ryan Pace has been working with a depleted stock the last two years, but cupboard is reasonably full in 2021.
POLISH SAUSAGE
Bettors aren't believing in Ravens, Rams projected win totals - ProFootballTalk - With gamblers able to bet the over or under on projected team win totals for 2020, bettors don’t believe in the ability of two specific teams of beat their numbers.
2020 All-Under-25 Team: Patrick Mahomes heads NFL's rising stars - Who are the NFL's rising stars? Marc Sessler identifies the league's best young talent with his All-Under-25 Team. Check out who made the cut at each position.
Cost, fear of unintended consequences killed "Sky Judge," for now - ProFootballTalk - The NFL, still smarting from last year’s pass interference replay-review debacle, has no desire to tempt fate again with another device aimed at fixing the mistakes of on-field officials — especially since this year’s primary option would be far more expensive.
Report: Jadeveon Clowney turned down big offer from Browns - ProFootballTalk - Free agent defensive end Jadeveon Clowney apparently doesn’t want to go to Cleveland.
KNOW THINE ENEMY
Aaron Jones aims to be ‘Packer for life’ entering contract year - NFL.com - The Green Bay Packers have a decision to make on RB Aaron Jones. With his rookie deal set to expire after 2020, the rising star said he
Lions planning to move CB Jamal Agnew to receiver - NFL.com - For his career, Agnew, a former All-Pro returner, has three receptions for 16 yards and four carries for 35 yards on 29 total snaps.
Detroit Lions among 10 most injured teams in 2019 - Pride Of Detroit - The numbers match the perception.
Kirk Cousins: Most Underrated QB in the NFL - Daily Norseman - And why QBs ‘carrying their team’ is more hype than reality
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON
Infante: Way-too-early Bears 55-man roster predictions - Windy City Gridiron - How will the Bears’ roster look in 2020? Even though rosters still start the year at 53, they can increase to 55, so let’s predict their 55-man group, as well as their 12-man practice squad.
Which Bears projected starter are you most concerned with in 2020? - Windy City Gridiron - After asking the WCG staff to pick the Chicago Bears player they were most excited to see play in 2020, we had to get their thoughts on the flip side to that as well.
THE RULES
Windy City Gridiron Community Guidelines - SBNation.com - We strive to make our communities open and inclusive to sports fans of all backgrounds. The following is not permitted in comments. No personal attacks, politics, gender based insults of any kind, racial insults, etc.
Editor’s note: The COVID-19 pandemic is a subject that requires sensitivity and care. Many families and people have already been impacted by this crisis as it unfolds. This is a reminder to please express yourself respectfully while also exercising common courtesy in interactions with one another in the comments. All WCG commentary guidelines remain in effect and apply especially. Stay safe and healthy, everyone.
WCG CONTRIBUTORS BEARS PODCASTS & STREAMS
Windy City Gridiron Podcast Channel which includes Bear With Me from Robert Schmitz, Bears Over Beers featuring Jeff Berckes & EJ Snyder, Bears Banter hosted by Bill Zimmerman, and T Formation Conversation from Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.; EJ also co-hosts The Bootleg Football Podcast with Brett Kollmann; R. Schmitz has a film breakdown show on YouTube titled Run Pass Opinion; and Steven’s Streaming Twitch Channel from Steven Schweickert.
Click on our names to follow us on Twitter: Jeff Berckes; Patti Curl; Eric Christopher Duerrwaechter; Kev H; Sam Householder; Jacob Infante; Aaron Lemming; Ken Mitchell; Steven Schweickert; Jack Silverstein; EJ Snyder; Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; Whiskey Ranger; Robert Schmitz; Robert Zeglinski; Bill Zimmerman; Like us on Facebook.