BearFan2000

I agree too, were it not for the injury he'd have likely remained the kicker in Oak. He's definitely got the leg to make all the kicks. Here's to him (or whoever it ends up being) makes us forget about the Parkey experiment.

Mitch did pull of the pretty cool Ditka look last Halloween. I really like seeing that Naggy has an appreciation for the history of the Bears and encourages that with his team. I don't know if the headband thing fits Mitch's personality. It became an outward rebellion thing with McMahon in response to Rozelle, for the 5,000 fine he got for wearing the Adidas one. It'll be interesting to see if or how Mitch incorporates headbands, but, I love how the Pace/Naggy, and the Bears are embracing their rich history. Even more so as this is the 100 year celebration.

Chris Blewit waived I for one am breathing a sigh of relief that we won't open the season with a kicker named Blewit (not his fault), but the jokes write themselves. So now we're down to Frey and Pineiro. Ultimately what's most important is finding a long term solution at the kicker position. We can't continue having the kicker position cost us games.

I expect him to take some major steps forward this season. Year two in this offense, year three in the NFL. We now have 3 RB's who can catch out of the backfield, we've added talent at WR to an already talented group. Year 1 hampered by a horribly predictable and bland offense, year 2 he and his teammates were learning a new system and he was working with virtually a completely new group of weapons. This year he is heading into camp running the same offense with mostly the same teammates. There should be no excuses for Mitch and the offense to show significant progress. This is his year to start shutting up some of these critics. You never know how long the championship window will stay open, but now is the time to strike. We have the talent to contend for and win multiple championships.

IDK, if it were Parkey he'd probably miss and hit the cross bar so to speak lol

Well, when the Bears are in the Super Bowl and his Packers are taking their annual playoff vacation you can invite him to your Super Bowl party ;P

Also possible he has just tried to power through it hoping it will go away on it’s own. I know I tend to do that, while my wife starts saying I should see the doctor and I try the Monty python approach “I think I’m getting better.” lol Anyway this seems to be a recurring issue that he’s just tried to live with/deal with. Hopefully getting the surgery done takes care of the problem and he can help the Bears win games. If he can’t stay healthy and can’t be dependable the Bears will have to look at other options. It sucks that we’ struggled to find long term consistency at the TE spot. We can find talented guy who can’t stay healthy or we find guys who can but are duds on the field.

I think so to, it sounds like a general offseason compliment, that mostly means he feels Mitch is more fluid and comfortable/confident in leading the offense. And the game has slowed for him to the point where he's more focused on reading the defense better in understanding what they're doing and how best to attack it. Proof will be in the pudding when the season starts and the games count.

this is a good point, and Naggy does like to get creative. It would eliminate drawing attention to him being eligible as teams are now all to aware that inside the 10 Naggy likes to pull something from the bag of tricks. Not having an official make the announcement of Sowell being eligible. Good point also by BearFan NYC that he'll likely still fill the roll of a 6th OL as more of a blocking TE who will occasionally catch the ball. He did show good hands on his one TD reception for an OT. Looking at it in this light it makes more sense. Like others I have a feeling Mizzell will be gone and that I see as addition by subtraction. He's not good at RB, he won't be good at WR, with our group of WR's I'd rather see someone else get the practice squad spot.

No way Mixzell makes t roster at WR. We are stacked there with real WRs. The Sowell move is puzzling

They've definitely been exploring options at TE. Maybe it says something about their confidence level in Shaheen.

Wasn't long ago when we were one of those other teams agonizing over 3-4 other key positions and even more. There is an element of comedy in it all including a kicker who's name lends itself to jokes. I've heard Chicago Sports radio personalities laughing at it and using the term circus and while I haven't listened much to "experts" takes on it I'm sure the guys on the Score aren't the only ones seeing humor in it. When we signed Parkey his past performance wasn't the thing being question it was more the contract. Now after his one season here in which he cost us at least a couple wins that would have gotten us at least a #2 seed and a first round bye and then cost us a first round playoff win. My take is people can laugh all the want. I really don't even care what the process looks at finding a solution at kicker as long as we find a solution at kicker. If Pace can get this position fixed the how won't matter so much anymore. I have a feeling Pineiro has a legit shot of winning the competition, and being our week 1 kicker.

Plus, it’s a conditional 7th two drafts from now. If he doesn’t win the job and gets cut the raiders get zilch for him. Very low risk. For a kid that has legit leg strength. It is a situation where there is great pressure to get this right. No stone or gain of sand unturned

Consistent footwork is an important key to consistent success. Parkey's footwork was often inconsistent which made every kick an adventure. We risked very little to bring him over from the Raiders. Dude's got a powerful leg. The majority of our FG attempts last season were from 30 to 49 yards, looking at his time with Florida he was very accurate in that range. Granted that's Florida and not Soldier Field in Chicago. But he's got the leg to make the kicks, it's adjusting to the swirling winds. And his last name isn't Blewit.

we let that guy go lol

How crazy to think that not that long ago we were one of those "some team's" The difference in talent and depth in our WR's now vs just 2-3 years back is astounding. Pace has certainly set up Trubisky with weapons.

And next year at this point we will have nice draft capital to add even more. 8 picks I think. Could be wrong.

I like the pick. Watching tape on him I also came away with aspects of his game reminding me of Payton no one will be as smooth as sweetness. But I saw the balance, determination, taking the fight to the defender. Walter’s forearm was a registered weapon. Monty seems to have that mentality. He is quicker than he is fast displays decisive vision which is different than just patient. I see a back that makes his cuts quickly and decisively. He can make you miss but isn’t a dancer. The highlight videos don’t show off his receiving skills, but it sounds like he didn’t always get the opportunity to showcase that due to QB play. I wish Howard well except against the Bears. Part of seeing him gone that’s hard is he’s a good back for the right system. He’s a stand up guy that is easy to root for. I do find it a little interesting that even with Howard the Eagles still spent a 2nd rounder on Miles Sanders. It makes me think they view him as more of a situational back than a feature back in their offense. I’m looking forward to seeing how our run game looks with the new pieces.

What a crazy turn of events it would be if Robbie ends up back in Chicago this season. I'm not holding my breath that it happens but, I would be thrilled if Pace could pull it off. We've gone from hoping he wouldn't get tagged, to seeing him get tagged and that seemingly made it a lost hope. But him requesting a trade and knowing he'd like to be back in Chicago, and that he likely won't be signing that tender and is opposed to signing long term. SF is now in a bit of a pickle. What's funny is we could end up on the opposite sides of the kicker issue. Right now we're the team in search of a kicker before the season starts. If a deal could be made for Robbie to come back home, SF would be in that situation. We could give them one or all of the three guys we have, and we have 2020 draft capitol. It is SF and I could see them trying to screw us and use Robbie as a pawn. Question though as Gould is not currently under contract and though he's been tagged he hasn't signed the tender. I'm drawing a blank but how would a trade work in this case? Is a trade agreed on and Gould signs the tender and the team acquiring him takes on the franchise tag status with the ability to then sign long term?

Along those lines also is whoever we draft if we do take one will more than likely be part of a RBBC this coming season unless we hit a home run and wind up with a bell cow that fits our system. We have plenty of picks next year and could likely be sitting in a similar spot with not a lot of pressing needs and can swing for a true feature back and some luxury pics as we currently have 9. It's not a hole we HAVE to fill this draft, As long as this year we can find a rotation of RB's that makes for a good ground game.

I'm kinda thinking the same thing on this. There are a lot of mocks and common thought that we'll be targeting a RB possibly in the 3rd especially after the Howard trade. As we know Pace likes to play things close to the vest and not show his hand. Especially if he feels he can nab someone he wants by miss-direction. It's entirely possible that they feel they know all they need to about someone like Henderson that they feel good about taking him if he's there without showing public interest in him. Pace, I think rather enjoys the gamesmanship aspect of the Draft. One thing for certain he has his plan, and without a 1st or 2nd rounder I'm sure he and his scouts have gone over various scenarios based on how the draft is going. It could also mean they don't have interest in Henderson at all. With Pace anything is possible.

It is a tougher schedule but at the same time I don't feel like it's brutal with our defensive talent and Pagano's philosophy to get more aggressive as needed I don't see a huge drop off and possibly even see the D playa at an equal level or better than last year. The offense should take a step forward now as they aren't learning a new system but are now able to fine tune it. If the D continues to play at a high championship level and the offense steps up their game, and we are able to stay relatively healthy or are able to deal with injuries well. I don't see why we couldn't go 12-4 again. We lost a lot of close games last year that could have easily landed us a 1 or 2 seed. And watching the playoffs I don't see how we couldn't have competed and possibly won it all had we not fallen in the first round. Plenty of tough matchups on our schedule but I feel we belong with those teams and can hang with anyone.

That’s what’s easy to forget as it is a bummer having to wait till round 3. But Mack and Miller basically are our day one picks. I would take those two over unknowns any day. Plus we come into the draft not looking to fix our team but add depth and complimentary players. We’re not used to this quiet of an off-season.

I’m sure it’s a low risk deal that we can get out of easily. Perhaps even contingent on him winning the job. If he does get the job we have him for 3 years. It does give me the sense that he might be the favorite at this point. I’m glad we are adding more kickers to the list. I expected extra us to add at least one more either a late rounder or an UDFA. Pace knows we need to do all we can to get this right. It has been slow, it’s that dead period between when FA slows down till the draft. Which for us the draft starts on day 2 unless Pace makes a deal and gets us a day one pick. Either way April 25/26 seems like an eternity away.

Elliott Fry signed to a three year deal. Interesting that it’s a multi-year deal. Jones is signed to a reserve/future contract. Not sure about Blewitt.