Pixote

The Bears' Training Camp is quickly approaching. Caleb & Rome are still unsigned. If they are unsigned going into camp, it will become a major distraction, amplified by the Hard Knocks coverage.

I read an interesting article on sportsmockery.com. We no longer have strong safety and free safety. Instead, we will have a right and left safety, with Byard and Brisker randomly lining up left or right. They will essentially perform both strong and free safety duties. This has been done before, with the Giants and New England, among other teams, and was very successful. It is designed to further disguise our coverage and confuse the opposing quarterback.

You are right, but I'm always the eternal optimist. LOL I hope we can make the playoffs and progress as far as the NFC Championship game this year. That is a lofty goal, considering we have such a young team with budding stars without playoff experience.

The DL, specifically our ability to pressure/hit/sack the QB, worries me. I hope we patch things up before the season starts. Who knows? We may already have the answers on our roster. I don't want to gamble on that as a solution.

I just read an article on NFL.com. It explains why the new kickoff rules will have a major impact far beyond what many realize. To support this, they gave the following historical data: So kickoff returns decreased from 2033 KO returns to 587, with KO TDs down from 23 to 4. There are so many reasons I am looking forward to this year's games. This is one of many, in addition to watching the new vastly improved Bears kick GB's smelly ass.

? I know. Like I said, hype season has begun. Last year I was pumped up for R Johnson and thought he would be our starter by week 9. My track record for prognostication is not good. Let's hope Booker is the real deal and can contribute to our D this year.

Getting to see Auston Booker's progress in preseason is high on my list of priorities. I know it's preseason hype fest in the NFL. However, I truly believe this kid can contribute this year. Yes, it will take a while before he can be an every-down player. But, in pass-rush situations, he will contribute while playing opposite M Sweat. He could easily give us 8 sacks in his rookie season. Nice short article with an equally short highlight video: College Coach Says Austin Booker is a Way Bigger Steal Than You Think

I am reading many articles raving about Dexter's potential in 2024. In the off-season, the man transformed his body with a new diet and training regiment. At 6'6" and 310 pounds, he is quicker, stronger, and totally focused on every snap. Picture this: in one play, he sprinted down the field, relentlessly pursuing Rome, who had clocked a 4.4 40 pre-draft. The sheer combination of his imposing size, strength, and lightning speed hints at the potential for a formidable 3T. When the season starts, there are so many great storylines to follow. Now, I just need to stay healthy so I can sit back and enjoy watching the Bears return to greatness.

There is an article I highly recommend on NFL.com Bent but not Broken: The History of the Rules It is a fascinating article that explains the game's evolution. The article begins with this paragraph:

Yeah, both are wild cards, unknowns, when it comes to the new KO rules. Who knows, both may find success they have yet to experience. I have also read elsewhere that players like R Johnson and Herbert might actually be ideal for the new system, and on a personal note, I thought Pettis looked good on returns. If nothing else, it will be fun to watch games this year to see what different teams come up with for this new wrinkle. And no, IMO, this does not muddy the waters when it comes to its contribution to game results. No more than when the forward pass rules for the NFL changed in the 1930s, or Ditka revolutionizing the role of the TE, or George changing defenses by becoming the first true MLB. I sure didn't find it cheap to watch Hester win a few games for us with his crazy-good return ability, although some fans from other teams may have complained. So yeah, I'm pumped up to see this in action.

Unrelated, but I found it interesting. KC just released images of their SB rings from 2023. Sweet. I can't wait to see what our next SB ring looks like. I need to win the lottery so I can buy one off a player. LOL It stated that these rings usually cost 30K to 50K each. I'm guessing this one was high-end. Then I discovered that teams not only give their players (52 roster + PS), coaches, and front office staff but also often include support staff. Strength coaches, Equipment Staff, Cheerleaders, and even janitors are sometimes rewarded with rings. We are probably talking close to 100 rings. You don't even need a calculator. We are talking anywhere from 3 to 5 Million for the rings. WOW!

The dude was with the Bears in 2020, easily forgotten, as he was nothing special. On the Bears in ‘20, he returned four punts for 30 yards and lost a fumble. I looked up his stats. In his career he has a total of exactly 250 PR + KR Out of 250 KO + PRs, he scored 1 TD. Maybe they need extra legs to work out the new KO return schemes in training camp. Beyond that, I am not excited with this signing. I think V Jones shines, and we have several good options to pair up with him. Herbert, Johnson, Pettis. Camp fodder would be his ceiling. ?

I respectfully disagree; I do not perceive Flus as a mediocre coach. This is just my personal viewpoint, and I value your differing opinions.

IMO, Leno didn't "earn" a big payday when his rookie contract expired, so they let him go. IMO, Braxton has yet to earn a big payday when his rookie contract expires. Unless he shows a vast improvement, I wouldn't pay him the big $$$ LOTs are getting in today's NFL.

Okay, I can see your point. It isn't that much different from the Bears' version, except for the cost. If it were free to view, cool, but to subscribe to a service just for this short serial, I'm not sure I can afford such a luxury. It's a bitch when you live on a small SS check with no other support. But alas, the price one pays for being self-employed in order to raise 5 kids as a single parent.

The Bears do not need this distraction. Sure, I want to see everything I can about the Bears. But I don't want to do so at the expense of their development. This was expected, so it didn't need inside sources to predict. The Bears have been targeted for several years and the league finally said enough, you're time is now. I also can't see subscribing to HBO. The NFL is raping the fans. Netflix, Peacock, Prime, NFL+, and it never ends.

I just read an article about Yannick Ngakoue's progress after his ankle injury. The guy let us down last year, having the least productive season of his career. However, I firmly believe he could be a valuable addition to our DL, providing a strong complement to Sweat, with a cost-effective, incentive-laden contract. The interview tells me he has the proper attitude to turn things around and give us 8+ sacks. Check out the article I linked in line one of the post, and let me know what you think.

The only thing we are missing on D is more pressure on the quarterback. Sweat cannot be expected to be a one-man show. What happens if he gets injured? We need to bring in a vet to add to the mix to secure a top 5 D.

Thanks! There was also a mention of 2 on the OL. Does anyone know who?

When they mentioned that Caleb had a rough day, they also said he was missing two WRs and two OLs. Now, I know it isn't unusual for players to miss OTAs. However, I was hoping for a solid turnout. The WRs need to continue developing chemistry with Caleb, and the OL needs to mesh as a unit with a new center yet to be named. Does anyone know who skipped the OTA and the reasons for their absence?

Thanks for the heads-up! I was going to check it out, but now I realize that his credibility is shot to hell. It's not worth a second of my time.

I agree with you guys. Keeping Flus was the right move. We expect Williams to be a future GOAT. I say future because he has a lot to learn. The transition from NCAA to NFL isn't easy nor a given. What we need to see this year are two things. Continued development into the powerhouse franchise QB we have all been waiting for. That is obvious. But in the process, he has to win over the team. Leadership skills. Can he motivate his teammates to match his intensity, maximize their skill sets, and become winners? I say this because the same can be said for Flus. Coaches are no different from players. The transition from an NFL DC to the head coach of a storied franchise isn't easy or given. While he develops as a head coach, he must also rely on his leadership skills. Taking a team that was (I hate to say it) garbage and bottom feeder and keeping the players motivated through a long rebuild takes unique skills. That he has already proven capable of.

You certainly should be proud. The young man not only turned his life around but is also making a significant difference in the lives of young athletes through his program. I never knew biracial kids dealt with identity issues. I had a biracial friend in HS. I wonder if he had the same problems.

What I find hard to understand is that they'd confess to this! Let's look at it this way. A GM brings in a veteran QB to mentor his new Rookie QB. A very important position. The Rookie QB screws up by allowing himself to be distracted by his phone while the veteran QB is providing instruction. (We don't know what the issue was. Playing a game? Received a text message from a hot babe, his wife, or both, LOL. Or maybe a family emergency? Doesn't matter.) Instead of explaining the importance of paying attention, the veteran scolds him, saying he is now on his own and abandons the rookie. If I were the GM, I would cut the Veteran and bring in another mentor for my rookie QB. Yes, I'd be disappointed the rookie was distracted (we still do not know for sure why), but the Veteran failed the rookie and the team. If this 'rumor' is true, we failed Fields in more ways than play calling, OL, and depth at skill positions. We gave him an asshole for a mentor.

Yes, and with the escalating QB salaries, it will be for more than 100M per year.