Justin Fields isn’t playing, and the defense has a bit of Mel Tucker in it these days. So…

Why Do I Like the Chicago Bears this Week?

I.

Always.

Like.

THE.

Chicago.

Bears.

A Text with Two Jets Fans

Game Prediction

• Mike White is playing for the Jets. I have no idea if Justin Fields is playing for the Bears. How is a prediction even possible?

New York Jets 20, Chicago Bears 10

Sometimes it’s good, especially this time of year, to take a look around the league and see what’s happening with the other franchises. And instead of weighing in on teams I have spent almost no time thinking about, I’ll provide links to those who cover them and try to stay away from paywalls.

• Rashawn Slater, already one of the best tackles in the sport, spent some of his honeymoon trying to get better. What was he doing? “…pass sets in ankle-deep ocean water with a forest of tropical trees nearby.”
• While the Bears understand year two of Justin Fields will come with continued growing pains, Zach Wilson is not being afforded the same space in New Jersey. “Joe Douglas has beefed up Wilson’s offensive line through free agency and the draft. He has gotten him an assortment of weapons in the backfield and split out wide, too. If Wilson falls short, it won’t be because of his receivers not having the talent to get open or his running backs not being able to hit a hole.”
• Daniel Jones received support from Giants ownership, but the NY Post is already projecting his replacement in 2023.
• Mitch Trubisky signed with the Steelers because it was – as he saw it – his best opportunity to start in 2022. But the writing is on the wall and word out of Pittsburgh is it is Kenny Pickett’s job to lose. (I still contend Mitch should have followed Daboll to New Jersey and beat out Jones this summer.)
• Why did MVS choose Kansas City? “The opportunity within itself to go out and be a great playmaker,” Valdes-Scantling said. “Obviously, I had that opportunity anywhere I went, but I think this one was a better fit for me. Some of the things they do offensively was appealing to me — and obviously, a quarterback like Pat (Mahomes) who is going to be here for a long time, that also was appealing. So I think those two things — and then, obviously, getting here and meeting everybody and it seemed like a good fit. It seemed like home.”
• Tom Brady is going to be roasted on Netflix.
• Chris Ballard’s right-hand man, Ed Dodds, is showing a natural ability to work the media as well as his boss. Dodds – and many in the sport – believed he was getting the Raiders job. He did not. (He withdrew from the Bears process because the interview was a trainwreck.)
• Believe it or not, there are still folks in Detroit who think Jeff Okudah is going to be a thing.
• The talk of Minnesota’s OTAs? Dalvin Cook has been lining up at receiver in multiple sets. Could be nothing. Could be a significant change in his usage.
• Is Trey Lance ready? Steve Young thinks it’s a complicated question. “When they say he’s not ready, it because there’s not that body of work of him being on the field. They see what’s on the field—like amazing talent, an amazing arm, and all the things, but there’s so much more to quarterbacking. So when someone says he’s not ready, it’s easy to say because he hasn’t done it.”

Not bad for a Thursday in mid-May.

BYU (9-0) at Coastal Carolina (9-0)

5:30 PM ET, ESPNU

A big, strong kid with a big arm and sparkling college resume. When you watch Wilson on tape, though, it’s the improvisational skills that stand out. When plays break down, he doesn’t panic. He goes “schoolyard” and makes things happen. There’s a bit of Favre to this kid. There’s a bit of Kyler to him too. He’s got the skills but he also has the swagger and style. He won’t only be comfortable leading a football team. He’ll be comfortable as the face of a franchise.

The question is whether the Bears will even have the opportunity to get him.

Watch This Throw.

This Zach Wilson throw >>>>> pic.twitter.com/WAM5mIcV7x

— Nick Farabaugh (@FarabaughFB) December 1, 2020

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