Category: 2021 season

Odds of Bears trading for Deshaun Watson just went up

Deshaun Watson’s tenure looks like it’s coming to an end, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The odds that the Chicago Bears will trade for Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson are long, at best. The cost to acquire one of the league’s best young quarterbacks will be more than it was to snag Khalil Mack, which came at a price tag that included two first-round picks.

But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible, especially now that it appears more likely that the Texans will have little choice but to move on from Watson this offseason.

According to ESPN insider Adam Schefter, there’s a growing feeling that Watson’s played his last game in Houston.

Waston’s expressed his displeasure with the process the Texans used to hire new general manager Nick Caserio, and he’s taken to social media to make his frustration known.

And while it seemed like it would be a situation that was destined to blow over, it’s gone from bad to worse. Watson isn’t the only one who views the Texans as a burning dumpster fire.

According to Schefter, their head coaching vacancy is viewed as the most undesirable in the NFL.

The Bears are entering the offseason with quarterback at the top of their team needs. There’s little to no chance Mitch Trubisky will be back, and even if Nick Foles returns, he’ll be QB2. Chicago is armed with a first-round pick for the first time since 2018 too, so if the Texans want a package of first-rounders to strike a deal, the Bears have the ammo to at least be in the conversation.

The bigger problem for Chicago and a potential Watson trade is the salary cap. His 2021 cap hit is just under $16 million but balloons to over $40 million in 2022 and 2023. According to Spotrac.com, the Bears rank in the bottom 10 in the NFL in salary cap space entering the 2021 offseason.

I’ve often said the salary cap is fake. But in this case, it’s really, really complicated.

What we do know is this: GM Ryan Pace is an aggressive guy, and if he has a chance to land a franchise-changing player, he doesn’t shy away from pulling the trigger. He did it when he traded up for Trubisky in the 2017 draft and he proved his mettle when he struck the Mack deal, one that took a lot of courage and cost a heavy price.

Will Pace be comfortable trading as many as three first-round picks for Watson? The answer seems like it should be an obvious yes, but the Bears won’t be the only suitor for Watson should he actually be placed on the trade market.

The Bears will have the third most difficult schedule in 2021

Things are only going to get more difficult for the Bears next season as they face the third most difficult schedule in the NFL in 2021.

There’s not much reason to believe that things will change with the Chicago Bears in 2021. After all, no changes were made at the top, where general manager Ryan Pace, head coach Matt Nagy and President and CEO Ted Phillips will all return next season.

While the Bears eked their way into the postseason, the 2020 season was far from a success. It was marred by a blown 5-1 start and a six-game losing streak that made it evident that some kind of change was needed. Change that didn’t come. Now, Pace and Nagy get another year to turn things around.

But things are only going to get more difficult for the Bears next season as they face the third most difficult schedule in the NFL in 2021. The teams that Chicago will face next season have a combined winning percentage of .553.

Here’s a look at the Bears’ 2021 opponents:

Home Away
Arizona Cardinals Cleveland Browns
Baltimore Ravens Los Angeles Rams
Cincinnati Bengals Pittsburgh Steelers
New York Giants Seattle Seahawks
San Francisco 49ers Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Detroit Lions Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers
Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings

Sure, it’s difficult to judge how a team will perform from year to year. But the Bears will face some of the league’s best young talent — including quarterbacks named Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Lamar Jackson, Baker Mayfield, Ben Roethlisberger and Joe Burrow.

The Bears will face seven playoff teams from the previous year in 2021, and it doesn’t help that they only beat one team with a winning record in 2020.

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Falcons hire Titans OC Arthur Smith; first-year coach to face Saints twice in 2021

The Atlanta Falcons hired former Tennessee Titans coordinator Arthur Smith as head coach, putting him up against the New Orleans Saints.

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A new face will be scowling on the sidelines of Atlanta Falcons games next year, with the dirty birds hiring Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith as their next head coach. Smith, 38, has the unenviable task of trying to unseat the New Orleans Saints after Sean Payton’s team won four consecutive NFC South titles before Smith’s first year on the job.

Smith has only coached against Payton once before, losing 38-28 late in 2019. It’s worth noting that superstar running back Derrick Henry was inactive for that game while recovering from injury. Expect Smith to work quickly to find his own bellcow running back for Atlanta.

It’s going to be tough downgrading from A.J. Brown and Ryan Tannehill to piecing an offense together with Julio Jones and Matt Ryan, but Smith has a history of innovative offense. He opened last year’s game with the Saints by dialing up a pair of 40-plus yard touchdowns to Brown and tight end Jonnu Smith. Despite the personnel limitations he’s facing in Atlanta, he’ll find ways to create chunk plays with the Falcons offense.

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10 Free Agents for Cowboys fans to Watch in Saturday’s playoff games

10 best free agents on display in Saturday’s two divisional round matchups. several who could be targets of the Cowboys this offseason.

While the natural inclination once a fanbase’s team is eliminated from the playoffs to turn their attention to the draft. Following the draft has become far more than a cottage industry as some argue it’s more entertaining than the regular season when it comes to loving the pursuit of a championship. However, unlike other sports which wisely start with their amateur draft, the NFL holds free agency first.

That means the Dallas Cowboys and 23 other teams will now be focusing on plugging holes with veteran players available in free agency. While scouting departments spend months and months watching film of prospects, coaching staffs are finally getting a chance to dive into the fun of watching other NFL teams, which means the playoff games are breeding grounds for offseason crush developments.

Here’s a guide as to which higher-profile players who will be unrestricted free agents come March and the new league year, are playing in the two Saturday contests. We’re using Pro Football Focus’ Top 100 free agents list to compile this collection.

Cowboys News: Best and Worst from 2020, takeaway review

The Cowboys have a number of former players finding success in the NFL, as players or coaches. Plus, names to remember for the NFL draft

With the Dallas Cowboys watching the playoffs from home, more attention is being paid to former Cowboys, at least for this weekend. Saturday night, Dez Bryant has a chance to get farther in the playoffs than he ever did in Dallas, as does Cole Beasley. Former Cowboys offensive coordinator Scott Linehan is the leading man to run Urban Meyer’s offense in Jacksonville, and former Cowboys TE Dan Campbell might potentially land his first head coaching gig with the Lions.

The Cowboys draft needs are abundant and clear, and the theme of the needs is defense. Get familiar with names of potential defensive prospects that Dallas could add come late April. A pair of young defensive backs were a bright spot for the Cowboys this season. The Cowboys staff writers going over their best and worst events from the 2020 season. Plus, is it already time for this young Dallas defender to switch positions again?

Mario Edwards Jr. suspended for first two games of 2021 season

The NFL has suspended Mario Edwards Jr. for two games after he violated the league’s violated the policy on performance-enhancing substance.

The NFL has suspended Chicago Bears defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. without pay for the first two games of the 2021 season.

Edwards violated the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances. While he won’t see action for the first two regular-season games, he will be allowed to participate in training camp and the preseason.

Edwards had four sacks, six tackles-for-loss and seven quarterback hits in 2020. He’s slated to hit the free agent market this offseason.

Report: Ex-Cowboys TE now frontrunner for Lions’ HC job

Dan Campbell played tight end for three seasons in Dallas, overlapping with Jason Witten. Now he may be the next Detroit Lions head coach.

The Detroit Lions may be zeroing in on their man, according to reports. He has a ton of Cowboys connections, and he may have beaten out another Cowboys alum for the job.

Current Saints assistant head coach and tight ends coach Dan Campbell is said to be the leading candidate for the Lions’ head coaching job. Campbell played tight end for Dallas for three seasons, leaving for Detroit after the 2005 season once it became clear that Jason Witten would be an immovable fixture in the Cowboys’ starting lineup at the position.

Now according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, the 44-year-old Campbell may be returning to the Motor City as the man in charge.

Campbell was a third-round pick by the Giants in 1999. The Texas A&M product appeared in Super Bowl XXXV as a rookie.

When Bill Parcells took over as Dallas’s coach in 2003, Campbell was one of the first free agents signed. But the immediate splash made by the rookie Witten relegated Campbell to, primarily, a blocker.

In 2004, Campbell played in three games before going on injured reserve with a foot injury. The following season, he missed just ten days of practice following an appendectomy and came back to start all four preseason games. During the season, he started 12 games alongside Witten in the two-tight end set run by the Cowboys offense.

Over his three seasons in Dallas, the gritty and hard-nosed Campbell played in 35 games. He caught 25 balls for 235 yards and two touchdowns.

Campbell played three seasons with Detroit before heading to New Orleans, where he was signed by his former Cowboys offensive coordinator Sean Payton. Despite spending the year on IR, Campbell earned a championship ring for the Saints’ win in Super Bowl XLIV. He retired after the 2009 season.

After progressing through the coaching ranks in Miami (under former Dallas assistant Tony Sparano) and even acting as interim head coach there in 2015 (when current Cowboys offensive line coach Joe Philbin was ousted by the Dolphins), Campbell was reunited once again with Payton in New Orleans, where he’s been since.

Detroit, having just hired a new executive vice president/general manager on Thursday, was expected to interview Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator- and Cowboys secondary coach from 2005 to 2007- Todd Bowles for the head coach position Friday. The two sides have decided to cancel that interview, though, as per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Despite not even having had a face-to-face meeting, the Lions gig appears to be Campbell’s to lose.

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COVID-19 and the pandemic’s role in saving jobs at Halas Hall

When you peel back the curtain, COVID-19 likely had an impact on this year’s Bears team as they grinded through a unique season.

When Chicago Bears Chairman George McCaskey met the media on Wednesday morning in the team’s season-ending press conference, the first words out of his mouth were about the COVID-19 pandemic.

He spent time offering his support to those impacted by the virus, and saluted essential workers for their efforts over the past year. He then recognized the league and key members of the organization for their hard work to maintain a safe environment, most notably head athletic trainer Andre Tucker, for his role in keeping the facilities clean and ensuring the team was compliant in the league’s protocol.

The pandemic created a surreal football landscape at Soldier Field, one that was devoid of fan attendance, tailgates in the south parking lot, intimate media access and much more. While the football was the same, the atmosphere surrounding it was completely different. It’s probably a significant reason why general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy still have jobs today.

It goes without saying that the COVID-19 pandemic has been disastrous for many businesses and individuals over the last 10 months. It’s changed the way we all live and has presented numerous challenges no matter what line of work you’re in. It’s truly nothing to make light of, but when you peel back the curtain, it likely had an impact on this year’s Bears team as they grinded through a unique season.

Lions head coach search zeroing in on Saints assistant Dan Campbell

The Detroit Lions have identified New Orleans Saints assistant head coach Dan Campbell as the favorite candidate to replace Matt Patricia.

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Sean Payton’s coaching tree could soon grow a new branch. The Detroit Lions have identified New Orleans Saints assistant Dan Campbell as the favorite among their candidates to replace fired coach Matt Patricia, so much so that the team canceled an interview with Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, who was also interested in the job. Campbell previously interviewed with the Lions virtually, before the hiring of general manager Brad Holmes.

The Lions’ pool of candidates was also thinned down as their options were snapped up by rival teams. San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh was hired by the New York Jets, while Tennessee Titans offensive play caller Arthur Smith was offered to work with the Atlanta Falcons.

As reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, league rules dictate that in-person interviews cannot be conducted and new contracts cannot be signed until a coach’s current team has finished their season. That means the Lions want to wait until the Saints have either won Super Bowl LV or been eliminated from the playoffs to seal the deal with Campbell, much like the Falcons are on standby until Saints executive Terry Fontenot is available.

Campbell first got on the NFL’s radar as the Miami Dolphins interim head coach back in 2015, later returning to New Orleans (where he’d once played for Payton) to coach tight ends. He earned the assistant head coach title and now appears close to running his own team soon.

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Has Anthony Miller played his last down with the Bears?

Has Bears WR Anthony Miller played his last down as a member of the Chicago Bears? It certainly sounds like it.

The worst thing an NFL player can be is that guy who everyone is waiting until next year to breakout. In the case of former second-round pick Anthony Miller, his ‘next year’ may have finally run out.

After a standout collegiate career at Memphis, Miller brought that ‘Memphis grind’ with him to Chicago when he was selected by the Bears with the 51st pick in the 2018 draft. He was pegged as a guy with exceptional playmaking ability on all three levels of the field; a player who’s after-the-catch skills would make him a field-flipper in Chicago’s offense.

If we’re being honest, he’s been anything but that.

Miller’s best season came in 2019 when he caught 52 passes for 656 yards and two touchdowns. He scored seven touchdowns as a rookie, and his catches and yards improvements in Year 2 had 2020 circled as his breakout campaign.

All Miller did last season was regress, both on the field and off of it. He ended the season with 49 catches for 485 yards and two scores and continued the career narrative that’s haunted him since his rookie year: he was unreliable and at times appeared uncoachable.

It all came to a head in the Bears’ wild card loss when Miller took the bait from Saints defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. He threw a punch (or, maybe it was a hard palm to the facemask) and got ejected.

Remember: The Bears warned the wide receiver group. They knew Gardner-Johnson would play dirty (or talk excessive smack) with the goal of making a Bear lose his cool and draw a penalty. The message was clear and obvious. Play smart, don’t screw up.

Miller screwed up.

In fact, his screw up was so bad that it’s worth wondering if we’ll ever see him in a Bears uniform again. Chicago can cut him this offseason and pay just $493K in dead cap. There may be a bigger risk in keeping him around then cutting him loose at this point.

And if you care about what Chairman George McCaskey thinks? Yeah, it doesn’t look good for Miller.

McCaskey was asked this week whether he was more annoyed with Miller’s actions or with Javon Wims’, who fell victim to Gardner-Johnson’s antics earlier in the year.

“I have a bigger problem with Anthony’s ejection because they sat him down and they told him, ‘Listen, watch out for this player. He’s a punk. He’s going to try to get under your skin. And with Darnell Mooney out, we really need you to be in this game and help this team,’” McCaskey said. “And Anthony had the benefit of having seen Javon’s experience.

“I think they need to be evaluated separately. I’ve got a bigger problem with Anthony’s ejection than I do Javon’s.”

McCaskey wouldn’t comment on whether Miller will be back in 2021, saying instead that that isn’t a decision that’s his to make.

And yet, it sounds like he made it, doesn’t it?

Go ahead and move wide receiver even higher on the list of offseason needs for the Bears.