Bearstalk

Since we dont have anything else to talk about, i thought it might be a good time to say that the "new" kickoff rule looked pretty good this past year. I was initially unsure. You guys may remember that I worried that there might be some new unintended wrinkles that would allow cheap or lucky free touchdowns. But in truth, having seen it tested across a season, it seems even more solid than the previous rule when it comes to dumb little mistakes causing cheap touchdowns. Im not talking about earned touchdowns, where a Devin Hester type scores because of his skill or dominance - those are always good. But of those that were not earned, i think the new rule p…

GMs, I have renewed our annual TalkBears Fantasy Football Keeper league, which is now entering its 16th season. We need at least one new GM for this upcoming season. There may be more openings if we don't get commitments in time for the draft. Once we get the confirmations, we can schedule the draft for late August and I can send out the LeagueSafe payment dues ($75 per team). The winning payouts are as follows: 1st - $440 2nd - $200 3rd - $75 4th - $35 The payment deadline is usually Week 4, so people have some time to pay the dues. However, if payment is not received by then, that GM will be removed and the best recommended roster will be …

With the Bears finishing 5-12 last year makes it feel like a herculean effort to even get to a winning record at 9-8. However, turn arounds with much more wins are almost commonplace nowadays. Last year alone, 3 of the top 9 teams in the NFL all had a win differential of +6 from the previous season: WAS 4-13 > 12-5 (+8) MIN 7-10 > 14-3 (+7) LAC 5-12 > 11-6 (+6) I feel like there is less correlation from year to year than ever before. In the season prior to winning 12 games, WAS lost their last 8 games, MIN finished 1-6 with their only win a 3-0 barnburner against LVR. LAC finished 1-8 and their only win was a 6-0 win against NE. So as mu…

So I have seen media discussing the leap Goff took when he went from LA to DET. They have tried to project that same leap onto Williams this year. Now I can see using that as a starting point, but Williams is destined for a much bigger leap in my opinion. The gap between McVay and Waldron/Brown is massive. The fact that Johnson got something more out of Goff than McVay did should speak to how good of a coach and play caller he is. This is also evident by the down year Goff had in between McVay and Johnson with Anthony Lynn as OC in 2021.

We are in the quiet period of Bears talk since most beat writers are taking vacations while coaches and players are doing the same before camp. It is a good time to make your predictions on players who surprise or emerge in this new DA scheme. Let your imagination out and lets hear who your player is and some reasons why.

5 years

In low information times everyone is doing stories on favorite of all time, most popular, Bears. Many answers to those but since 2000 who was the most fun to watch. D or O ? I am torn between Devin Hester and Brian Urlacker. You can click on Youtube and they will play for you. Anyone know how to share without getting blacked out?

The first of the second rounders, that will all be signed by time players hit the field.

According to my TTNL guys, Burden has signed with a fully guaranteed deal.

He missed mandatory camp and now he is starting training camp hurt with a non football injury. Hope it isn’t serious but I’m a little concerned his ego has gotten a bit too big - need to see him show that hunger. I know he wants a huge new deal just one year after signing. If he wants it - go out and crush it - go be an all pro db! Less talk - more production. Will be curious how BJ and Dennis Allen handle cause this could be a test of leadership - but hopefully it’s nothing.

So I guess DJ Chark visited the Bears, and there is some interest in signing him. Chark is over 30, and he has had great seasons and not so great ones. One big advantage is that he has played in Ben Johnson's system before. I dont expect anything fast or soon, but it makes me wonder if DJ Moore might be in trouble int he next couple of years. It's interesting that the three players who mouthed off this year have all been addressed with depth. Cole Kmet and then Coltson Loveland DJ Moore and then Luther Burden, and possible Chark as a stop gap measure while Burden (who is a lot like Moore) comes up to speed Jaylon Johnson sitting out right now…

Instead of starting a new thread on roster moves we might as well just list them here. Today we signed DB Tre Flowers and DL Tanoh Kpassagnon. Tanoh was a reliable backup for KC for 8 yrs. We added WR Jahdae Walker and Ian Wheeler (RB) fron the non performance list We waivered DB Alex Cook and DL Jereme Robinson. Also Poles talked to today (did not hear the speech) but said Braxton Jones was ready to go. Can anyone verify that?

So it looks like Micah Parsons wants a trade. Hes only 26 and hes a dominant edge rusher. We sure could use him. Trade values I've seen look like the Khalil Mack trade tho. 2026 1st round pick 2026 2nd round pick 2027 1st round pick Montez Sweat and more Its a steep price, and Parsons would eat up a lot of cap with a new deal too. But as i think it through, a few thoughts come to mind: 1) Next years 1st is no problem, because we were probably going to use it to draft a DE anyway. If we took Micah Parsons with our 1st rounder next year, wed all be thrilled. A proven vet etc. 2) Where will the salary cap space come from? 3) We are …

Might mean nothing, but here are some interesting developments: 1. Loveland and Kmet both as "starters" 2. Jones over Trapilo at starting LT 3. Monangai as RB6, Homer still RB3 4. Duvernay as WR4, Burden WR5 5. Bagent as QB2, Keenum QB3 6. 3x DTs listed as starters (Jarret, Dexter, Billings) 7. Sewell over Hyppolite at LB 8. Stevenson as CB2 over Smith and Wright

Here we go, the first dress rehearsal for the new regime. I will be watching to see how the young bucks looks, and how the communication is with the new staff. Hoping for a cleaner game with minimal pre-snap penalties, and no major injuries. We will see if the physicality carries over from the joint practices, or if Miami comes out with some payback in mind. Bears by 20.

Reports are that starters will play, which is nice to see. Bagent and Co started with back to back 3 and outs against Miami, so I hope Caleb can lead a scoring drive and show real progress on Sunday night.

Ok, I have been tempering my excitement and it is only the preseason but I always felt that there are things you can take away from the preseason even if it is not game outcome related. The operation as a whole looks crisper, tighter, and it feels like everyone understands what is going on. Communication looked good, no delay of game penalties or wasted time outs. The buy in is real. Burdens blocks at the goal line were impressive. If the players have confidence and trust the process, there is another level that can be achieved, something we haven't seen since the Lovie era. Now this might not equate to wins right away but I feel like once they get on a ro…

Johnson said starters will play some, so I assume at least one drive for offensive starters. I like how Johnson ramped this up.

Honestly, in my lifetime, I can't remember a team with a better, deeper collective group of receivers than this team with: Moore, Odunze, Burden, Zaccheaus, Loveland, Kmet, and Swift. The best that I can remember for the Bears was 2014 with Marshall, Jeffery, Bennett, and Forte who all 4 of them had over 100 targets. I asked some different AI's to give me a list of the best Receiving Corps in NFL history. The 1999 Rams were considered the best, and I can understand that at the top end, the Bears do not compete with Bruce, Holt, and Faulk, but from Receiving option #4-#7, I think the Bears have the edge. Isaac Bruce (WR): A second-round pick in 1994,…

2yr $10mil incentives up to $16mil. This is good for both sides. Tyson gets more time in Ben Johnson’s system which will only help him down the road. We get a quality backup at a critical position.