Tag: Bears

Chargers GM Joe Hortiz explored ‘multiple options’ with Keenan Allen before trade

Joe Hortiz spoke for the first time since Keenan Allen was traded to the Bears.

Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz spoke to local reporters on Thursday for the first time since wide receiver Keenan Allen was traded to the Bears a week ago.

Asked about Allen, Hortiz said they explored “multiple options” before their eventual final measure.

“There was extensions, there was everything. We kind of went down every path, and in the end, this was the one that fit us best and fit him best.”

Allen was asked about a potential extension with Chicago at his introductory Bears presser last week. There seems to be mutual interest on both sides in getting something done there, as the former Chargers’ receiver said something could be done “down the line”. While nothing is imminent, he said he expects to remain a Bear past the 2024 season.

It’s worth noting that the extension offered to Allen and what the star receiver was willing to take are probably different figures. Mike Evans received a two-year, $52 million contract extension with Tampa Bay earlier this offseason. As Allen aims for what could be his final big-money NFL extension, it wouldn’t be surprising to see that deal used as a framework by his team.

Considering it’s been reported that the team asked him to take a pay cut prior to the trade along with Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack, it seems unlikely that the AAV or guaranteed structure offered on a new deal probably would’ve ended up satisfying Allen.

The Chargers will technically be more rich with cap space next offseason than the Bears. But as the Bears look to be staring down a cost-controlled, five-year contract with star prospect Caleb Williams, it’s understandable that they may feel more confident in their ability to complete this deal.

We’ll likely never know what went down with Allen and the front office or what the financials were exactly. The pressure of getting a proper plan of WR succession going at April’s draft has ratcheted in intensity one week after the Chargers moved on from both Allen and Mike Williams.

Jaguars sign former Bears, Titans OLB Trevis Gipson

Trevis Gipson, who was once a fast rising star in the Bears defense, will look to get his career back on track with the Jaguars.

The Jacksonville Jaguars signed former Tennessee Titans outside linebacker Trevis Gipson, the team announced Monday.

Gipson, 26, was a fifth-round pick of the Chicago Bears in the 2020 NFL draft and played the first three seasons of his career with the team. While he recorded seven sacks and five forced fumbles in a breakout second season in 2021, Gipson struggled to make the transition to the Bears’ new defensive scheme under Matt Eberflus in 2022.

After recording only three sacks in 2022, Gipson was granted permission to search for a trade ahead of the 2023 season and was eventually released by the team in final cuts. He signed with the Titans in August, but was a healthy scratch in nine games and finished with only one sack.

In Jacksonville, Gipson will try to rediscover the momentum he had early in his career when he was seen as a fast rising and promising young pass rusher. The Jaguars could certainly use the edge rushing depth after getting very little out of K’Lavon Chaisson and Dawuane Smoot in 2023 and allowing both to reach the free agency market.

Terms of Gipson’s contract with the Jaguars haven’t yet been revealed.

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Saints could have traded for Justin Fields, if they had wanted to

The Saints had the draft picks to trade for Justin Fields, and they just hired his quarterbacks coach. It says a lot about their plans that he wasn’t considered:

It says a lot about the New Orleans Saints’ plans at quarterback that they never entered trade talks while the Chicago Bears were trying to find a new home for Justin Fields. The 25-year-old was dealt to the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2025 draft; if he’s able to get on the field ahead of Russell Wilson and play well, it can turn into a fourth rounder.

The Saints could have beaten that offer. They own multiple picks in rounds five and six this year which is more lucrative than selections in 2025. They could’ve made a stronger offer than Pittsburgh did, had they chosen to.

And they had an inside scoop on Fields after hiring his quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko. Janocko worked closely with Fields the last two years in Chicago and knew everything there was to know about the young quarterback. If the Saints liked what he had to say, they would’ve made a move. But they didn’t.

Which gets to our point: the Saints weren’t interested. As we’ve been saying, they want to support Derek Carr, not threaten his position on top of the depth chart with someone who might be better. They don’t want to have more ugly moments were fans were booing him off the field and cheering on Jameis Winston as happened last year. That’s why they signed a mediocre backup in Nathan Peterman, whose best-case scenario is getting blitzed by Jake Haener in training camp before hanging on with the practice squad, maybe.

Carr was a tough watch for much of the 2023 season. Still, Saints decision-makers like head coach Dennis Allen and general manager Mickey Loomis are confident he can deliver on the expectations that come with his $150 million contract. To his credit, Carr was much more impressive through the last six weeks when ex-offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael began tailoring the offense to his strengths with more play-action passes and pre-snap movement. Allen hired an entirely new offensive coaching staff this offseason, including Janocko, with the goal of putting Carr in a position to succeed.

Does that mean they were right to pass on Fields? No. Teams should keep adding quarterbacks until they know they have the right one, whether that means rolling the dice in free agency, taking a flyer on another team’s castoff, or drafting one themselves. Carr, who turns 33 in a few weeks, has probably hit his ceiling without ever winning a single playoff game. Allen, Loomis, and the Saints as an organization are determined to find out if he can lead the team to success in spite of that. They’re going with Carr, sink or swim, and that’s why they’re not in on an exciting young quarterback like Fields. It’s why fans shouldn’t expect them to draft another passer coming out of college, either.

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‘Never push a slower friend down’ and other tips for bear season

Grizzly bears will soon emerge from hibernation and the National Park Service has offered humorous but also serious advice on how to stay safe.

Grizzly bears will emerge from hibernation beginning this month and the National Park Service has advised hikers to exercise common sense and avoid temptation.

“If you come across a bear, never push a slower friend down… even if you feel the friendship has run its course,” the NPS joked via X.

From a more serious followup tweet: “What about your other friend? Seeing a bear in the wild is a special treat for any visitor to a national park. While it is an exciting moment, it is important to remember that bears in national parks are wild and can be dangerous.”

The NPS then tweeted a link that offers tips for those who plan to enter bear country. They include carrying bear spray, hiking in groups, making noise on trails, maintaining a safe distance from bears you see, and avoiding surprise encounters by remaining on trails.

If you do come face to face with a grizzly bear, don’t run. Instead, talk calmly to the animal while remaining in place because fleeing could trigger an attack response. Also, be prepared to use the all-important bear spray.

Grizzly bear images courtesy of the National Parks Service

“Remain still; stand your ground but slowly wave your arms,” the NPS advised. “Help the bear recognize you as a human. It may come closer or stand on its hind legs to get a better look or smell. A standing bear is usually curious, not threatening.”

For other NPS tips, click here. The information could keep you and your loved ones safe in the wilderness.

Saints ST coach Darren Rizzi leading onside kick rules change proposal

Successful onside kicks have become a rare thing in the NFL, but Saints special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi is working to reverse that:

Successful onside kicks have become a rare thing in the NFL as health and safety-minded rules changes cut down on opportunities for teams to design a clever play, but New Orleans Saints special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi is working to reverse that.

Rizzi workshopped a proposal with other special teams coordinators around the league (namely the Dallas Cowboys’ John Fassel and Chicago Bears’ Richard Hightower, per the MMQB’s Albert Breer) to present to the NFL competition committee with hopes of making the game’s third phase more exciting while keeping player safety in mind.

According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, their proposal would limit onside kick attempts to situations in which teams are trailing in the fourth quarter, as well as requiring them to declare their intentions before trying it. But they would be allowed to use old-school unbalanced formations, giving the kicking team a numbers advantage in recovery.

This is one of several ways in which the NFL is trying to relitigate kick returns after their last wave of rules changes essentially nullified them; we’ve never seen so few kicks returned or onside kicks recovered in the history of the game. Pelissero adds that other aspects of the proposal include more limitations on when and where players can move before the kick is touched, as well as increasing the distance gained from a touchback to 35 yards.

Still, if these rules already existed we’d be without one of the most memorable plays in Saints history: “Ambush,” the surprise onside kick to start the third quarter of Super Bowl XLIV.

The NFL has written itself into a corner by coming down so hard on kick returns. More rules changes could help, but they’re just as likely to continue whittling the play’s impact on the game even further down. Having experienced special teams coaches like Rizzi at the forefront may be good for the process, but the results will speak for themselves.

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2024 NFL mock draft: Predicting the first 32 picks after the combine

Trades abound in our post-combine mock draft for 2024’s first round. Sean Payton’s Broncos make a big move for a divisive quarterback prospect:

We learned a lot at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine — not just which prospects are rocketing up (or slipping down) big boards ahead of the 2024 draft, but which positions teams are hoping to attack in free agency. Making smart moves in March’s opening waves of signings allows teams to gamble in April’s draft, and we’re trying to reflect that in our updated mock draft.

And with that in mind, here’s how we see the first 32 picks shaking out (with the New Orleans Saints in the middle of the action):

2024 NFL mock draft: Predicting the first 32 picks before the combine

2024 NFL mock draft: Our pre-combine predictions for the first 32 picks have the Broncos getting their new QB and the Broncos adding a sleeper WR

We’re just days away from the start of the NFL Scouting Combine — an all-hands-on-deck event where teams are meeting with draft prospects and putting them through their paces. NFL teams like the New Orleans Saints are going to learn a lot next week, and the tapped-in beat writers and journalists covering them are going to get a better idea of what each team is looking for in the spring because of it.

So we’re going to roll out a first-round mock draft of all 32 picks to try and guess who might land where in April. It’s a good exercise for getting an idea of what each team needs to address this offseason and which prospects might be available when they’re on the clock. We’ll aim for accuracy later once more information is available and after teams have had the chance to check off big-ticket items in free agency.

Now that we got the disclaimer out of the way — here’s our forecast for the first 32 picks:

PFF: Chargers listed as potential landing spot for WR Darnell Mooney

Darnell Mooney possesses the speed the Chargers need in the wide receiver room.

The Chargers could be retooling their wide receiver room this offseason. Mike Williams is a possible cap casualty. Keenan Allen could be, too, but even if he stays in Los Angeles, he will be 32 years old next season.

Should the Bolts seek free agency to address the position, Pro Football Focus’ Brad Spielberger believes Bears’ Darnell Mooney could be a potential target.

The Chargers have some interesting in-house decisions with their own wide receivers, but they need to add more talent even after using their first-round pick in 2023 on Quentin Johnston. Mooney historically has created quick separation at the intermediate level, a skill set that would pair quite well with Justin Herbert. Jim Harbaugh may prioritize wide receivers that can block at a high level, but they have plenty of bigger bodies already.

Mooney’s 2023 season wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, as he finished with a career-low 31 catches for 414 yards and a touchdown.

This was two seasons after his breakout year in which he posted 81 receptions, 1,055 yards and four TDs.

The Chargers need more speed at the position, which Mooney possesses, having run a 4.38 40-yard dash. He could be a solid target for Justin Herbert in the intermediate and deep parts of the field.

PFF is projecting Mooney’s contract to be worth $9 million for a year.

While I believe in addressing the wide receiver position in the draft, if Los Angeles were to get Mooney in a buy-low situation, it might be worth it as he’s only 26 years old, and he could inject the offense with the explosive ability to consistently separate from coverage.

Why the Steelers would be perfect fit for Justin Fields

The Bears are most likely going to trade Justin Fields this offseason. Right now, the Steelers are emerging as a top landing spot.

The Chicago Bears are looking like an NFL organization that is going to select a quarterback in the upcoming NFL draft. They have the No. 1 pick (via the Carolina Panthers), and a lot of people think they’re eyeing USC quarterback Caleb Williams.

If Chicago were to select Williams first overall, they would most likely move on from Justin Fields, their former first-round pick in 2021, who hasn’t blossomed into a star the way that we thought he would. Fields has shown flashes, but that isn’t going to win you a Super Bowl. You need a star at some point. Fields still may become a star but having the No. 1 pick — with a potential generational talent up for grabs — rushes that evaluation.

If the Bears are to move on from Fields, a quarterback-needy team that doesn’t have a top-10 pick is going to consider him. One team that makes perfect sense is the Pittsburgh Steelers, an organization that values winning and are not afraid to make a big move.

Fields may or may not turn into a star, but Pittsburgh may consider trying him out. They just released former Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky and Mason Rudolph is set to be a free agent. That leaves only Kenny Pickett on the roster for next year.

To be honest, Pickett is in the same boat as Fields. He was a first-round pick and had a lot of expectations but hasn’t lived up to them yet. He has shown flashes but even Fields has been better up to this point. Pickett has done more winning, but he is in a better situation. If Fields went to Pittsburgh, he might find more success.

Seeing Fields go to the Steelers would be amazing. He’d have a chance to take his career to the next level while the Bears would be starting fresh. Head coach Mike Tomlin has made it known that he likes Fields, so it is a perfect fit for them in every way. With Tomlin at the helm, you might see Fields take steps that would be impossible for him to take in Chicago.

The Steelers are a smart team that knows how to move on before it becomes too late. Pickett is not the guy and they know it. If they feel that Fields can give them a better chance to win, they will do it.

Saints expected to finalize hires of Klint Kubiak, several assistants after Super Bowl LVIII

NFL Network reports what we’ve been expecting: the Saints plan to finalize their hires of Klint Kubiak and several assistant coaches after Super Bowl LVIII:

Here’s more support for what we’ve been expecting: NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that the New Orleans Saints plan to formalize their hire of Klint Kubiak and introduce him as their new offensive coordinator after Super Bowl LVIII, an expectation which has already been reported. Kubiak is the San Francisco 49ers pass game specialist and has previously called plays for the Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos. Out goes Pete Carmichael and in steps Klint Kubiak.

That’s not all. Pelissero confirms that two coaches are expected to join Kubiak’s staff after previously being targeted by the Saints. John Benton only worked with Kubiak briefly while coaching the Houston Texans offensive line under Gary Kubiak, his father, but he brings a wealth of experience after spending decades in the NFL, and he’s expected to replace Doug Marrone as the Saints’ offensive line coach.

Additionally, and as previously reported, ex-Chicago Bears quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko is expected to join the Saints in the same capacity. He held that position under Kubiak on the Vikings back in 2021 and will be replacing Ronald Curry.

While Kubiak is retaining Saints tight ends coach Clancy Barone (who he has worked with before) and a few assistant coaches, it’s going to be an entirely new offensive system for New Orleans derived from the Shanahan-Kubiak coaching tree. It’s unclear who will take over as the Saints’ new wide receivers and running backs coaches (and who else may be in the mix for other positions), so stay tuned.

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