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THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL
BEARRRSSSS
Bears to release LT Charles Leno - On Tap Sports Net - The Bears, in a surprising move, have moved on from their former starting left tackle Charles Leno Jr. on Monday morning.
How the Chicago Bears Replace Charles Leno Jr. - Sports Illustrated - The departure of Charles Leno Jr. doesn’t necessarily mean the Bears plan on Teven Jenkins playing the left tackle spot, as there are other options available.
Ryan Pace’s Reversal of Fortune - Da Bears Blog - In a moment. It changed. A jilted fan base found love again.
How Ohio State coach Ryan Day described QB Justin Fields to Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy - ChicagoBears.com - During a phone conversation last year, a term that Ohio State coach Ryan Day used to describe quarterback Justin Fields made a lasting impression on Bears coach Matt Nagy.
Chicago Bears receive high marks for draft class - ChicagoBears.com - The Bears nearly earned straight A’s from national analysts for a 2021 draft class headed by quarterback Justin Fields and tackle Teven Jenkins.
Roster Move: Chicago Bears release veteran left tackle Charles Leno Jr. - ChciagoBears.com - The Bears on Monday released veteran left tackle Charles Leno Jr.
Chicago Bears Podcast: Justin Fields, Teven Jenkins, Charles Leno gone! - Windy City Gridiron - Bears Banter and Bears over Beers cross the streams and recap the NFL Draft and Charles Leno’s release!
NFL Great Sid Luckman's Dark Family Secret - Only A Game - Sid Luckman led the Chicago Bears to four championships and was a national celebrity. But he harbored a dark family secret. Ken’s Note: Not a new article but I missed it the first time and it’s really interesting.
Bears release left tackle Charles Leno - Chicago Sun-Times - The 2014 seventh-round draft pick started 95 consecutive games since 2015 and made the Pro Bowl as an alternate in 2018. But a salary cap crunch — and the Bears drafting Teven Jenkins in the second round — forecast this move.
2021 NFL Draft: Vikings coveted Bears first-round pick Justin Fields - Chicago Sun-Times - Had they not traded up, the Bears might have spent the foreseeable future playing against Fields rather than having him.
Bears drafting Justin Fields quiets Ryan Pace’s critics - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears general manager received A+ grades from draft analysts for the bold move to get Fields — a far cry from the universal criticism for moving up to take Mitch Trubisky in 2017
Charles Leno: Chicago Bears release offensive lineman - Chicago Tribune - Ryan Pace doubled down on his statement that second-round pick Teven Jenkins potentially can play left tackle. That’s the biggest takeaway after the Chicago Bears released Charles Leno Jr., their longest-tenured offensive lineman.
Chicago Bears: Did offense get better after NFL draft? - Chicago Tribune - The Chicago Bears still have so much work ahead, particularly in the development of QB Justin Fields and the improvement of their offense as a whole.
Pompei: Cowboys, Chargers, Giants, Jaguars among drafts praised by fellow NFL brain trusts – The Athletic - Front offices and scouts also admire what the Jets, Ravens, Steelers and Vikings did, like the Justin Fields pick and question the Raiders.
NFL Power Rankings 2021: Post-NFL Draft standings for all 32 teams - RSN - Where every NFL team stands after 2021 NFL Draft and factoring in the picks and other offseason moves teams made. Could the draft have gone any better for the Bears? The entire outlook — and even reputation around the league — flipped with the trade up for Justin Fields.
KNOW THINE ENEMY
Aaron Rodgers uncertainty unsettles betting markets - ProFootballTalk - With the Packers and Aaron Rodgers at odds, the oddsmakers are getting nervous.
Lack of owner complicates Aaron Rodgers situation in Green Bay - ProFootballTalk - It’s both good, and bad, that the Packers don’t have an owner who can move quickly and decisively to address issues that exist within the organization.
The Green Bay Packers’ 2021 draft class is precisely whelming - Acme Packing Company - Despite all the fireworks surrounding Aaron Rodgers, this draft weekend was incredibly boring, but not in a bad way. Ken's Note: Actually, kind of in a bad way. The Packers were the only team in the NFC North to "underwhelm" in perceived draft performance. Of course, only time will tell.
Vikings alter Kirk Cousins succession plan after losing out on Justin Fields - ESPN - Fields was in reach of the Vikings, who lost out to the Bears and turned to Kellen Mond for a long-term approach at quarterback.
Matt LaFleur told Kyle Shanahan he was wasting his time asking about Aaron Rodgers - ProFootballTalk - “So, I just called [Packers coach] Matt [LaFleur]and asked him if there was anything to it, and Matt told me I’d be wasting my time if we had Lynch call, so Lynch did not call anyone the next day. But, yes, I did reach to Matt the night before and asked him, ‘Hey, man, I don’t want to wake up the next day and see that Aaron was traded for something, and I didn’t even at least look into it.’ That’s what I did with Matt. He gave me a very quick answer. . . . That worked out I guess. We were happy to get our guy, and hopefully it’ll work out for them.”
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON
Householder: Chicago Bears draft winners and losers - Andy Dalton, Ryan Pace, Miller - Windy City Gridiron - Coming out of draft weekend, who lost an edge they had and who has more clout now?
Infante & Sunderbruch: Bears release OT Charles Leno Jr. - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears have let go of Leno after seven seasons with the team.
Wiltfong: Ryan Pace is the valedictorian of the 2021 NFL Draft class - Windy City Gridiron - The grades are in and the Chicago Bears — with a 3.99 draft class GPA — sit atop the NFL.
THE RULES
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