Alaskan Grizzly

Been awhile since I’ve been in the area but isn’t Arlington Heights pretty much a suburb of Chicago? I know where my grandparents used to live, in Woodstock, used to be way outside the city limits. Not so much anymore.

And they tried out Brandon Marshall (the LB not WR) Monday. Played a few years with Danny T while in Denver then left football in 2018. Might be a good cheap depth add? https://bearswire.usatoday.com/2021/06/14/former-broncos-linebacker-brandon-marshall-workout-bears/

Funny you say that and just purely by coincidence saw an article yesterday speculating about the Bears maybe being interested in Zach Ertz. I can’t really see this happen for a lot of reasons (money, cap, need elsewhere and money) but maybe? https://247sports.com/Article/Zach-Ertz-trade-Buffalo-Bills-Chicago-Bears-teams-to-watch-Philadelphia-Eagles-166537449/

Thought he was #11(?). But... was curious to see how our last 1st round pick compared. LB Roquan Smith picked 8th overall in 2018 signed a deal very similar to what Fields’ was (~$18 million). If you consider Smith was 8th overall (to Fields’ 11th) , is an LB and Fields a QB and that Roquan held out for his deal (?) then not only was Fields’ deal a steal but also Fields himself is ready to get to work and not mess around.

Amen! and... his whole contract at just under $19 million is just about half what Trey Lance Zach Wilson will be making? Amazing... Fields is unquestionably more talented than both those guys.

Because I’m lazy and I know you know this stuff, how does this compare to other 1st round QBs? Is this pretty ‘norm’ these days? I ask as it doesn’t seem as he held out whatsoever and wondered what the going rate was. Is his deal higher, lower, about average? And I assume like any other rookie he has the fifth year option?

I get your concern. Being a disciple of Fangio you’d think he’d be a bit more coarse in his response. But if Fangio were put in the same position he might not have said anything but in his mind thought ‘you’ve got to be [friggin] kidding me’ while out loud he might’ve muttered a very sarcastic ‘right’.

How about this for Fields?

Ha! I had started looking it up and found his injury history. His was more with his legs and then he hurt his scapula (shoulder blade) later in his career. The dude was made of glass. Miller’s been injured a few times in his short career. But the team hasn’t given up on him...yet.

Is it me or is this the first time Pace has not drafted at least one player from the D2 ranks? Bottom line, he did pretty well this time and seems to actually be fulfilling the role of what a GM is supposed to do. Amazing what a hot seat and learning from past mistakes will do if given one more year to prove one's self.

Sucks to hear this about a strong prospect. Best to him on a quick road to recovery. Out of curiosity and because I recall Rodgers having had a broken collarbone I looked up his injury history. Turns out he’s broken both collarbones, once in 2013 (non throwing) and again in 2017 (throwing side). He was back to practice in six weeks and playing about 8 weeks after having aggressive “trauma” type surgery on the right side. https://www.sbnation.com/2017/12/2/16724018/aaron-rodgers-packers-practice-return-broken-collarbone

Putting this here. Former Washington Olineman Morgan Moses will be visiting the Bears tomorrow. Several outlets have this story. He’s a cap casualty after Washington signed former Bear Charles Leno. Been a solid player for the last number of years. https://bearswire.usatoday.com/lists/chicago-bears-morgan-moses-visit-fan-reaction/

Not only that but they also addressed one of the other large weaknesses by drafting linemen with the 2 very next picks. It’s like suddenly a light went on after years of guesswork. I didn’t regard Fields as high as everyone else right away. I only saw limited play in his games against Nebraska (who doesn’t beat them anymore?) and during the BLS (or whatever it’s called now) championship last year where he didn’t do so well. What I didn’t know was that he played hurt and had a whole lot more to him than just that game. I did see him play against Clemson the week before and where he got clocked, but apparently forgot about it and that he almost literally jumped right back into that game. Coming out about his epilepsy just before the draft took some cajones and now that he’s under the Chicago Bears microscope even more, I really like what I see and hear.

Saw a write up on Cervenka that says Clemson was “29-1 in his two seasons as a starter”. He’s an IOL but maybe has a chance to make it(?) And who can’t love a TE named “Scooter”? https://www.chicagobears.com/news/roster-moves-bears-ink-undrafted-free-agents-2021-rookie-minicamp

Blake Bortles signed to GB for 1 year. I used the Twitter link for the humorous replies.

Looks like I’ll be in Seattle the day after Christmas or Las Vegas in October! First live Bears game. I’ll be sure to wave at the camera!

I wonder if it’s because Leno signed as an LT versus Massie signing as an RT? Or that Massie has an injury history and Leno not so much? ??‍♂️

He’ll be practicing against one of the best from time to time with Mack. Can’t do much better.

One more because why not?

They picked up once highly regarded draft pick (and eventually drafted second round by Cleveland) DeShon Kizer for a ‘cup of coffee’. That one game where Mack made his Bears debut and Rodgers got hurt was when Kizer stepped in. We all remember how that game went until Rodgers returned late in the game. That’s how I expect the Pack to play once Rodgers leaves. Except this time he won’t be returning to save them.

Thank you. I was going to do a side by side with he and Rodgers (from when he was in college). If memory serves, Rogers had a bit more prolific collegiate career. I honestly see Love being more along the lines of Trubiksy or I dare say Trey Lance. Some decent play when they did play in a couple games but nothing really that transpired over the course of many games or years. Part of why I’m settling more in with Fields as our QB. He’s proven himself.

And checking the math, didn’t the Bears free up $9 million with the release of Leno? In theory that equates up to 9 separate $1million “one year prove it” contracts.

Absolutely right about a horrible precedent. I was trying to come up with a scenario involving a 50+ year old Brady vs the Bucs GM but it’s possible he’ll still be productively be playing then so never mind. . The ‘masking of the draft’ is also right on. They’re team barely got by with only Rodgers heroics saving them. And then their “wizard HC” calls the wrong call at the end of last year’s Championship game to seal their fate. After that they immediately fire DC Pettine (who is now on the Bears staff) as a ‘fall guy’ for it all and to cover up the ineptitude. Yeah they’re destined for despair once Aaron leaves.

I agree. Graham is a proven commodity and did better with Trubisky than he did when playing for Rodgers. And with the uncertainty at slot receiver, might not be a bad idea to consider double TE formations. After all, we hope now our Oline is a little more stout than it once was and won’t need as many extra blockers. I’d like to see how 7th round pick Tonga pans out. I see him as a relief player for someone like Hicks. And a perfect opportunity for him to learn from one of the best. He looks the part for a great NT/DE in a 3-4.

Good thought. Wims was a top ranked WR the year he was drafted after one (?) year at Georgia. Now if he can just keep his head in the game. And I’m guessing Ridley just needs a good QB to throw to him to see his potential. After all Pace wanted to draft his brother when he ended up drafting Wims.