AZ54

The Bears did right by waiting on Conner Williams. He's had another month to not just heal the knee but gain strength. Now they have the full training staff in place and it's easy to bring him in for a thorough eval. There is no DE available who will dramatically change the roster, they'll just be expensive depth pieces on a 1yr rental. I'm not happy with Nate Davis so far this offseason. Williams, if healthy, presents a chance to give Caleb an elite Center for the next 4 seasons. We have the money now if we choose and can sort out the oline future next season but unless there is a dramatic turnaround Davis isn't likely in the picture for 2025. Even if Davis did play well, assuming Jenkins does the same and is healthy I think the team would rather build around Jenkins who definitely is putting in the offseason work to get better. IMO Bates is a better Guard than Center and sitting between Williams and Wright he'd be fine. Translation for me: I'm holding onto my options with Williams as long as possible to validate his health. Then I decide.

As expected the contract chatter before camp was much ado about nothing. Yes, Phx you are correct all that contract 'ownership" stuff looks to have been nothing but noise and distraction. We'll see how the career and contracts go in the future but I'll forever wonder what Tom Brady told Caleb when they were talking over the summer. Many players make their money off playing (i.e. the contract). Brady was never focused on being the highest paid, he was focused on making his money off winning, and still is earning big money off that. You need to believe in yourself to make that happen... https://sports.yahoo.com/tom-brady-retires-record-475-180432340.html Brady repeatedly signed below-market deals with New England to help its roster-building under the cap, but he still retires with a record $293 million in playing salary and bonuses. Sportico estimates Brady earned $180 million off the field over the past 22 years from endorsements, licensing, appearances and memorabilia. Taken all together, his career earnings are estimated at $475 million, which would rank No. 22 among athletes all-time, not adjusted for inflation, and is a record haul for an NFL player while active.

Odunze is signed.

Well earned! If the standard is that you changed the way the game had to be played when you were on the field then nobody is more deserving. Can't wait for the ceremony. https://x.com/ProFootballHOF/status/1812905556815798409

Sign Connor Williams.

100% this makes sense. The biggest data point for that is the fact Odunze hasn’t signed. #1 picks overall may or may not have details to iron out but not really at #9. Also we’ve seen nothing from Odunze, nor Williams, that they don’t want to get to work right away. Williams is focused on setting records in his career. The first one he can get is to be the first #1 overall QB to win his first NFL game.

I doubt they change a safety this far into his career, especially one new to the team and scheme. Add in that our safety depth is a big problem, at least IMO. Gordon's backup might be sliding Tyrique Stevenson inside and then put Smith outside. As a physical CB Stevenson is built well for that role. He might not have the elite quickness of Gordon but as discussed in the article I think he has the other attributes needed plus we play more zone coverage. This is definitely a backstory to watch in training camp.

Good article with some interesting background on how NB are used. Also the '22 draft was insane for DB talent. https://www.matchquarters.com/p/golden-age-of-the-nickel-defense-titans-mccreary

Totally classless. I support Pix having the right to his opinion. I support you having the right to yours as well.

Someone put part of that on X and was making a big deal about how accurate Williams was on warm up throws to receivers who were jogging.

Almost by definition there will be significantly more KR and therefore more KR TDs. It will affect the outcome of games just as Hester did for us. I like it because I'd rather not see the league beholden to the teams with the best QBs. Keep it a team sport in all phases. Poles thought enough of special teams to use a 4th Rd pick on a punter. I still enjoy watching the kicks and kick returns precisely because of that unknown factor... be it a fumble, muffed punt, big return to flip the field, etc.

How is a team “better” if they can’t cover kick or even punt returns?

Hard to imagine anything worse than watching touchback after touchback. What is the point of paying millions of dollars for coaches and players and running a non competitive play?

?

Believe it or not that is actually just a minimum wage contract for the NFL. Go look at min salary for each year. No risk to the team whatsoever. If he makes the practice squad it’s done on a different deal. https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cba/minimum/

It certainly feels like we're going to add one more decent vet FA. I'd say most likely on the Dline but can't rule out Williams at Center.

AI is complete and utter BS. To borrow a phrase from the 1980s.... garbage in garbage out. Plus on the top of the "data set" they are using or not using you have absolutely no idea how that AI is programmed. The most common AI systems in use today are simply plain text readers. Meaning you can interact with the computer via everyday language. Which is cool but you still have no clue what the underlying program is designed to do. Drug company using AI to find new cancer drugs... but does it program it to find drugs that maximize profits? Is the most economical for consumers? Most efficacious? Just using a theoretical example people can relate to.

I watched the Kay Adam’s interviews from Halas Hall today. It’s safe to say it’ll be game on in practice.

I’m just joking around a little bit although I am at the point where I just want to see him throwing too NFL caliber receivers. Fortunately we actually have some of them on our roster now. Smile.

The past doesn’t matter. Now that it’s done he must be the one.

Much appreciated!

Thank you!

I agree. Caleb needs that extra time as does everyone with a brand new offense. I don't expect we'll see much of anything with the new offensive starters during this game but I'll gladly take that extra week of practice.

Finding a better option at Center is still at the top of my list. Regardless of all the other talk about pick this guy or that guy, the reality is Caleb appears to be happy to be in Chicago and it wasn't clear to me early on that would be the case. I can't argue with Odunze either. I also realize pairing a rookie QB with a rookie C is a really bad idea. After Fields was cut and it was clear we were all Caleb or nothing pinning my hopes that we'd get one of the top two or three prospects at C was fantasy. But we could we have at least had a Day 3 prospect in the chute instead of a punter. This punter better be eye opening good. Bates needs to be sufficient at C and Waldron needs to be better at play calling than what we've had to endure recently. Williams needs to play on time for the most part and we should be ok.

Pix, My condolences. I just lost my mother about 10 days ago so I haven't been online much recently. I cannot imagine what you have endured. Your message rings true. Our families are a gift, Bear Down and make the time for them.