:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69059146/53469463.0.jpg)
THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL
BEARRRSSSS
Chicago Bears: George McCaskey voted against NFL’s 17th game - Chicago Tribune - The NFL’s landmark move to expand the regular season schedule to 17 games did not come without opposition this week. Bears Chairman George McCaskey voted against the measure.
Pompei: Bears making Andy Dalton the starter during negotiations is baffling – The Athletic - The free agent could be a good bridge to the quarterback of the future, but competition with Nick Foles would be the team’s best approach.
Thoughts about Bears, NFL Draft and second-tier QBs: 5 takeaways – The Athleti - The 49ers’ recent trade up to the third overall pick leaves the Bears looking at the second tier of quarterbacks in the NFL Draft.
Zach Wilson film analysis: The BYU QB has plenty of strengths, but is he a Day 1 starter in the NFL? – The Athletic - Although BYU’s Zach Wilson is projected to go high in the draft, there are concerns about how NFL-ready he will be by Week 1 of next season.
New 17-game NFL regular season could impact playoff races for Chicago Bears, NFC North opponents - With the NFL season expanding from 16 to 17 games, the number of matchups determined by where teams finished in the previous year’s standings also has increased from two to three.
Chalk Talk: Why do the Chicago Bears play at the Las Vegas Raiders for 17th game? - ChicagoBears.com - Senior writer Larry Mayer discusses why the Bears play the Raiders in Las Vegas in their 17th game, when the schedule could expand to 18 games and if teams will play their 17th game the final week of the season.
Roger Goodell: We expect full stadiums in 2021 - Chicago Sun-Times - That optimistic goal is dependent on local jurisdiction, but already Mayor Lori Lightfoot has helped pave the way for fans to attend Fire games at Soldier Field — in addition to having Cubs and Sox fans to attend games at Wrigley Field and Guaranteed Rate Field.
Bears chairman George McCaskey voted against NFL’s 17th game: report - Chicago Sun-Times - The owners’ vote was assumed to be unanimous until new broke of McCaskey’s dissent.
POLISH SAUSAGE
Supreme Court questions validity of amateurism in NCAA’s business model - ESPN - The Supreme Court is questioning the validity of amateurism as part of the NCAA’s current business model while also acknowledging concerns about judicial influence on an American tradition.
NCAA faces its long-overdue reckoning - ProFootballTalk - The NCAA’s best argument is that fans somehow value amateur status. That argument, frankly, is hogwash wrapped in bullspit.
Offseason programs to begin with remote work, in-person work is expected - ProFootballTalk - PFT has obtained a copy of the memo that the league sent to all teams informing them that programs will be conducted remotely when they start next month. The league also said that it does not anticipate the programs being virtual throughout the entire offse
KNOW THINE ENEMY
After Vikings' nightmarish defensive season, Mike Zimmer rejuvenated following free agency - It didn't take but one week for the Vikings to realize their season of defensive transition would be difficult in 2020.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON
Wiltfong's Chicago Bears Free Agency news and rumor tracker - Windy City Gridiron - It’s happening right now!
Zeglinski: Chicago Bears, NFL, to start off-season program hybrid - Windy City Gridiron - Organized team activities will begin virtually. But with COVID-19 vaccinations ramping up, that virtual reality is not expected to stay steady.
Infante's Pro Day round-up: Florida’s Kyle Trask in same QB camp as Bears’ Andy Dalton - Windy City Gridiron - Takeaways from Minnesota, LSU and Florida’s Pro Day press conferences on Wednesday.
Wiltfong; The Bears voted against the 17 game schedule - Windy City Gridiron - Chicago Bears chairman George H. McCaskey was against the NFL expanding the regular season to 17 games.
Wiltfong: David Montgomery readying for another big year - Windy City Gridiron - Watch Bears’ tailback David Montgomery getting after it again this offseason with the Footwork King.
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.
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; Jack R Salo; Steven Schweickert; Jack Silverstein; EJ Snyder; Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; Whiskey Ranger; Robert Schmitz; Robert Zeglinski; Bill Zimmerman; Like us on Facebook.