Bobref

It’s the new NFL. With the prevalence of athletic QBs and the RPO game in the college ranks, the Brady-like, stand tall in the pocket, traditional dropback passing QB will become as uncommon as running QBs were in the NFL 15 years ago.

Most QBs in the League are injured at one time or another, so I don’t consider him more “brittle” than most. The games he missed at the end of the season were more about contract than injury. And as for “aging,” he just turned 26. He is now what Justin Fields will be in 3 years.

Here’s a 3 team trade proposal I saw online. Could this happen? Bears acquire Jackson, No. 22 overall pick in 2023 (via Ravens), 2024 second-round pick (via Colts), 2025 third-round pick (via Colts) Ravens acquire QB Justin Fields (via Bears), No. 4 overall pick in 2023 (via Colts), 2024 first-round pick (via Colts) Colts acquire No. 1 overall pick in 2023 (via Bears), 2024 fourth-round pick (via Ravens), 2025 fourth-round pick (via Ravens)

Saw this proposed 3 team trade involving the Bears. What do you think? Bears acquire Lamar Jackson, No. 22 overall pick in 2023 (via Ravens), 2024 second-round pick (via Colts), 2025 third-round pick (via Colts) Ravens acquire QB Justin Fields (via Bears), No. 4 overall pick in 2023 (via Colts), 2024 first-round pick (via Colts) Colts acquire No. 1 overall pick in 2023 (via Bears), 2024 fourth-round pick (via Ravens), 2025 fourth-round pick (via Ravens)

I can see him and the Ravens reaching impasse, and the Ravens saying “we’ll use the non-exclusive tag and see where the market values him, and we’ll match it.” That’s if they really, really think the Watson contract is an outlier. But there’s a lot of risk involved. If somebody throws Watson money at him, the Ravens either pay it or give up a franchise QB for 2 first round draft choices, about half of what they’d get for him in a straight up trade.

There haven’t been very many who have tried, so it’s a pretty small sample size. He’s a unicorn.

Very insightful observations — especially for a basketball official. 😂 Seriously, every survey ever done has sho that the top 2 reasons officials leave their avocation early are family and job. Unsportsmanlike behavior by coaches/players/fans ranks below those two.

So, the QB dominoes are starting to topple. The situation of Lamar Jackson fascinates me. A former MVP, entering his prime years. A unique weapon. The Ravens slap the non-exclusive franchise tag on him, so the rest of the League can tell both them and Lamar what the market says he’s worth. Reportedly, he wants more than DeShaun Watson’s “outlier” deal from the Browns. Yet, already, 5-6 teams who are supposedly looking for QBs have said they are not interested. That’s odd. Does anyone else smell a new collusion case by the NFLPA in the making?

The new NFL year is starting, so let’s start a new Bears’ thread. And the notion that the Bears will accumulate draft capital and still get the best OT in the draft is exciting. For me, I’d rather see them address wide receiver in the draft and go to free agency for the OL. But as long as they adequately address both those areas, I’m good. https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bears/todd-mcshay-mock-draft-has-bears-trading-twice-drafting-peter-skoronski McShay mock has Bears trading twice, drafting Skoronski Talk of the Bears trading away the No. 1 pick in the draft have picked up steam since the NFL Combine started, and consensus now is that Ryan Poles wants to acquire more capital to fill more holes on his roster. Add in growing fervor for several teams to add one of the intriguing quarterback options, and it seems like the climate is right for a blockbuster deal. As more information emerges from the Combine, however, it seems more teams than previously expected are interested in trading up. And so, the idea that the Bears can trade back twice before finally picking is starting to become popular.T That’s exactly what Todd McShay projected in his latest mock draft, starting with a swap with the Colts to go from No. 1 to No. 4. “It's time for a long-term solution at QB for the Colts, and that might just mean moving to the top of the board,” wrote McShay. “No team scored fewer points than Indianapolis (15.8 per game) last season, the team's fifth straight season with a new Week 1 starter under center. The Colts will make it six straight, but this time, it should stick. With a handful of QB-needy teams lurking in the top 10 and the Bears listening on trade offers, Indy can get its top choice by jumping the line.” McShay says exactly how much the Bears receive from Indy in the trade will depend on how much they covet one specific QB. He believes that player is Bryce Young, and that the return could be the No. 4 pick, the No. 35 pick, a 2023 fifth-rounder and a 2024 first round pick. Following the Colts trade, McShay mocks C.J. Stroud to the Texans and Will Anderson to the Cardinals. With uncertainty swirling around Jalen Carter, McShay has the Bears trading with another QB-needy team: the Las Vegas Raiders, who currently control the No. 7 pick. “If this comes together, the Bears would be the third team since 1967 to trade twice in the top 10 of a draft, joining the 1983 Oilers and 1997 Jets, according to ESPN Stats & Information research,” wrote McShay. “But if the price is right, why not keep moving down? The Bears have Justin Fields under center and plenty of other needs, so draft capital is king for them right now.” McShay projects the return from the Raiders to include at least a third and fourth round pick, with the chance to get a second round pick, too. All told, that means Poles will add four or five extra picks to his war chest for 2023. That’s huge considering the Bears are still trying to build the foundation of their team. In his projections, McShay has the Raiders selecting Anthony Richardson at No. 4. Directly after that, the Seahawks pick defensive lineman Tyree Wilson and the Lions pick cornerback Christian Gonzalez. Then, finally, McShay has Poles adding a building block to his team, offensive lineman Peter Skoronski. “There were already questions about whether Skoronski fits better as a tackle or guard at the next level, and his 32¼-inch arm length measurement at the combine will keep that chatter alive,” wrote McShay. “Offensive tackles ideally have 34-inch length or more. But he is sudden, almost always balanced in his set and powerful. And the explosion showed up in his vertical (34.5 inches) and broad jump (9-foot-7), both second-best among offensive linemen. Plus, only three sacks over 33 career starts were attributed to him at Northwestern. Braxton Jones looked impressive as a rookie, but the Bears need help on the offensive line.” Justin Fields was sacked 55 times last season, which tied for the NFL lead alongside Russell Wilson. Some of that can be explained by Fields holding onto the ball too long as he tried to keep plays alive, but in too many cases Fields had a defender in his lap before plays had a chance to develop. If the Bears draft Skoronski, the hope is that improved protection will help everyone in the offense succeed. Further, if Skoronski slides into the left tackle spot, the Bears will be able to move Braxton Jones to right tackle, shoring up two positions at once. Skoronski is a Park Ridge native, and said it would be a dream come true to play for his hometown team, even though he grew up a Packers fan. Skoronski’s grandfather, Bob, played left tackle for the Packers under Vince Lombardi in 1956, then again from 1959-1968. He won five NFL Championships and two Super Bowls with Green Bay. That family history wouldn’t stop Skoronski from suiting up in navy and blue. “Obviously, you know, I'm not going to be some Packers fan saying I won't play for them,” Skoronski said on 670TheScore earlier this year. “It’d be an absolute honor to, you know, play for that franchise for sure.” The NFL Draft begins Apr. 27

More’s the pity.

Add AI to the growing list of reasons I’m glad to be on the cusp of retirement.

@Irishman, you need to start a 2023 topic. I have a feeling there are going to be a lot more of these in the near future.

Michigan City

Regardless, there’s no doubt he took a big leap forward last season. They just need to keep him on that trajectory.

🤣

And the first use of the “winged” helmet design was by … The Ohio State University. http://www.spartanjerseys.com/michigan-state-football-jersey-helmet/winged-helmet/

This is a serious accusation. What say you, @temptation? https://fanrecap.com/michigan-continues-to-ripoff-ohio-state-tradition-for-winning-the-game/ Michigan continues to ripoff Ohio State tradition for winning 'The Game.' It’s becoming increasingly evident that the Michiganfootball program has tried to emulate Ohio State more than it will ever admit. From adding signage in the football facilities to embracing ‘The Game’ between the Buckeyes and Wolverines in a more aggressive manner, Jim Harbaugh and company are doing their best to get the upper hand in a rivalry that became one-sided for almost two decades. For further proof, the Michigan football program shared details of a charm that was designed and handed out to the members of the football team for the win over Ohio State last November. The Wolverines did the same thing the previous year, so apparently, there’s no such thing as imitation being too much of a good thing. The Buckeyes have been handing out gold charm pants for every victory over Michigan since 1934 and that continues to this day. Take a look at the front and back of a charm that made the rounds on the Michigan Football Twitter account that commemorated the Wolverines’ second-straight win over Ohio State on the football field. I have to admit, this does hurt a little, and here’s to hoping that next season we don’t have to see another version of this ripoff tradition being celebrated on social media. Maybe Ryan Day can start ripping off awkward press conferences, wearing khakis, and donning a hat with a suit. After all, imitation is the greatest form of flattery.

If you’re like me, craving a football fix, the XFL season opens today. I’m going to watch, and am interested in one feature of the coverage in particular. Apparently, conversations between the on field officials and Director of Officiating Dean Blandino, will be on an open mike. If that’s true, and the public actually hears what goes on in those discussions, I think more people will realize just how difficult the job is, and how hard they work to get it right. Should be both entertaining and enlightening.

I didn’t mean “contract” in the strictly legal sense. I should have made that clear. More in the nature of a social contract. Break the social contract at your peril.

Most important nonplayer in the Bears organization right now: Andrew Janocko, QB coach.Fields needs to work on accuracy, which starts with mechanics.

Exactly what they said about Hurts … and look what he grew into. Fields can do the same … and will ultimately be better than Hurts.

The Social Security System — at least, the part of it that represents a forced savings system — is a contract between the US Government and the citizens who gave up present realization of earnings in return for a promise by the Government to pay them back, according to the system’s formula. Revise, or even eliminate, the system going forward if you must. But not for those who have already paid into it.

Justin Fields is a bigger, faster, stronger, younger version of Jalen Hurts, but with superior arm talent. Change my mind.