Tag: Kyle Long

Kyle Long says stepping away was ‘easiest decision I’ve ever made’

Bears OL Kyle Long said stepping back from the NFL was the easiest decision he’s ever made as he didn’t recognize the player on film.

While many anticipated that Kyle Long wouldn’t return to the Bears in 2020, his retirement still came as a bit of a shock considering his long tenure in Chicago.

But when Long joined Ian Rapoport on Rapoport and Friends, he said that the decision was an easy one considering how things had transpired for him as an athlete.

“It was the easiest decision I’ve ever made,” he said. “Because I didn’t recognize the guy on film. I was an ass-kicker … there became a point where I couldn’t do that anymore.”

Injuries are the reason that Long is hanging up his cleats, and they’re also the most frustrating part about his time in Chicago. A three-time Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro in 2014, Long was one of the best guards in the NFL when he was healthy.

Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to stay healthy over the last four seasons. This was the fourth straight season that Long was placed on injured reserve, and he hasn’t played an entire season since 2015.

Could Long play more?

“Absolutely,” he said.

But that remains to be seen. Although, Long wouldn’t necessarily rule out a return to football after a hiatus where he can take some time to get healthy.

“It’s nice to be able to have a break,” Long said. “And I keep hearing the word ‘retired’ and you know, the air quotations ‘retirement’ and what that entails, and I think I’m more on hiatus trying to figure out what is next.”

If Long were to return to football, he made it clear that he would only ever play for the Bears.

“They did it right,” Long said about how the Bears gave him every opportunity in his career. “And I want to do it right by them. I’ll never wear another set of colors than navy and orange.”

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How does Eddie Jackson’s contract extension impact Bears’ salary cap?

Details about Eddie Jackson’s four-year extension were revealed, and it looks good for the Bears’ 2020 salary cap.

When the Chicago Bears signed two-time Pro Bowl safety Eddie Jackson to a mega four-year extension last week, it was a surprise given how the Bears already had such little salary cap space heading into 2020.

Details about Jackson’s $58.4 million extension have trickled out, and general manager Ryan Pace found a way to structure Jackson’s contract in a way that allows Chicago to have some decent cap space heading into free agency on March 18.

Jackson’s cap hit is projected to be $3.71 million this season, according to Over The Cap.

While the Bears are catching a break with Jackson’s cap hit in 2020, the same can’t be said in the future. Here’s a breakdown of what that cap hit is expected to look like over the next five years.

  • 2020: $3.71
  • 2021: $11.45
  • 2022: $13.5
  • 2023: $15.5
  • 2024: $16.55

Pace can free up more cap space by releasing veteran cornerback Prince Amukamara ($8 million) and negating outside linebacker Leonard Floyd’s fifth-year option ($13.22 million) before the start of the new league year on March 16.  Then there’s right guard Kyle Long, who announced his retirement, which will free up $8.1 million in cap space.

Altogether, that would free up $29.32 million in salary cap space, should the Bears choose to move on from Amukamara and Floyd.

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5 candidates to replace Kyle Long at right guard

The Bears will have a new starting right guard in 2020 following Kyle Long’s announcement he’s stepping away the NFL. Who could replace him?

For the last seven years, the Bears have entered the offseason with no question about who their right guard would be come the start of the season.

But following Kyle Long’s announcement that he will be stepping away from the Bears and the NFL, the Bears will need to fill that spot at right guard on an offensive line that will be under new management in Juan Castillo, who was hired to replace Harry Hiestand as offensive line coach.

There are different routes the Bears could turn to replace Long — including in-house, free agency or even the NFL Draft.

Here are five candidates that could take over for Long at right guard in 2020:

1. Alex Bars

Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Under contract, Chicago Bears

The popular candidate to replace Long at right guard is rookie offensive lineman Alex Bars, who the Bears fought hard to keep in Chicago. The Bears paid Bars more money to remain on their practice squad — rather than him choosing to join the Patriots active roster.

Bars was promoted to the active roster on Oct. 15, although he didn’t get any significant reps in the final half of the season. Still, the Bears clearly have plans for Bars, and you’d have to believe it involves giving him a chance to win the starting right guard job in training camp.

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How Kyle Long’s exit from Chicago affects Bears’ salary cap in 2020

With Kyle Long’s career done in Chicago, the Bears will have to find a replacement at RG, but they’ll benefit in terms of the salary cap.

Kyle Long has called it a career — at least in Chicago. Although his tweets indicate that the seven-year veteran is indeed calling it a career.

Long was one of the best guards in the NFL when he was healthy. But ultimately, injuries were his downfall. Long finished his last four seasons on injured reserve, including this past season when his season was cut short with a hip injury following Week 5.

So how does Long’s impending Chicago departure affect the Bears moving forward in 2020? Aside from having to find a replacement at right guard, the Bears will benefit in terms of the salary cap.

Long, whose contract was set to expire following the 2020 season, was due to make $9.6 million this upcoming season.

If the Bears release Long before March 18, they’ll free up $8.1 million in cap space — $6 million against the 2020 cap and $2.1 million on roster and workout bonuses — with a dead money hit of $1.5 million.

The Bears are projected to have roughly $16 million in cap space for 2020, according to Spotrac.

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Twitter reacts to Kyle Long stepping away from the Bears

Twitter had plenty to say following Bears RG Kyle Long’s tweets that indicated he is hanging up his cleats.

While it was news that felt inevitable this offseason, that didn’t make Kyle Long’s announcement that he was stepping away from the Chicago Bears and the NFL any less heartbreaking.

Long’s potential retirement is bittersweet. On the one hand, Long was one of the best guards in the league when he was healthy, but he was an even better teammate and leader. But on the other hand, Long struggled with injuries later in his career, and he put his body on the line.

Long took to Twitter to confirm that he’ll be stepping away from the game to focus on his body, and he shared his thanks to the fans for their support during his time with the Bears.

As you can imagine, Twitter had plenty to say following Long’s tweets that indicated he was hanging up his cleats.

Kyle Long confirms he won’t be a Bear next season

While Bears RG Kyle Long didn’t officially come out to say he’s retiring, his comments indicate he won’t be playing football anytime soon.

After months of speculation and cryptic messages on social media, one Chicago Bears veteran says he’s played his last down for the team.

Chicago Bears right guard Kyle Long, one of the longest-tenured players on the team, tweeted out a few messages on Sunday evening indicating he’ll be stepping away from the game to focus on his body and offered heartfelt thanks to the city.

Long continued, thanking the Chicago Bears organization for bringing him and keeping him around.

Long’s messages stem from another tweet earlier in the evening, when a fan asked how excited he was to work with new offensive line coach Juan Castillo. Long’s response was a gif of former Los Angeles Lakers President Magic Johnson when he resigned from his position, saying “I’m not going to be here.”

The former 2013 first-round draft pick brought stability and leadership to an offensive line that lacked both since center Olin Kreutz left in 2010. Long ends his Bears career with three Pro Bowl selections in 2013, 2014 and 2015, and was named second-team All-Pro in 2014.

Long struggled with injuries over the last four years, however, needing surgeries to repair a torn shoulder, broken ankle and more from 2016 through 2018.

After spending last offseason surgery-free, Long felt he was in the best shape of his life and was eager to return to the football field. But after early struggles in 2019, Long was placed on injured reserve following the Bears’ Week 5 loss to the Oakland Raiders, ending his season and effectively his career with the Bears. He was the second-longest tenured player on the team, behind defensive back Sherrick McManis.

While Long didn’t officially come out to say he’s retiring, his tweets indicate he won’t be playing football anytime soon.

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With Rashaad Coward ruled out, could we see Alex Bars vs. Vikings?

With Bears OL Rashaad Coward ruled out, rookie OL Alex Bars could get some significant playing time against the Vikings.

The Bears’ season finale could provide some opportunities to get a look at some of the younger players.

Now that the Bears have ruled out right guard Rashaad Coward for Sunday’s game against the Vikings, it could open the door for rookie offensive lineman Alex Bars to see some significant playing action.

Given that there’s nothing left for the Bears to play for other than pride, this season finale provides an opportunity for some younger guys to get some valuable reps headed into the offseason.

Bars is a player that the Bears have been particularly high on since signing him as an undrafted free agent this offseason, and they signed him to their practice squad.

When the Patriots came knocking — wanting to sign Bars to their active roster — Bars declined the offer to remain on the Bears’ practice squad, where Chicago had paid him more money to remain with the team.

He definitely looks to be part of the Bears’ plans for the future, especially with right guard Kyle Long’s future in doubt beyond 2019. And perhaps we’ll see him get some significant playing time against Minnesota.

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A-Robbed: Bears players, fans react to WR Allen Robinson’s 2020 Pro Bowl snub

Allen Robinson’s snub from the Pro Bowl was a hot topic on Twitter, where teammates and fans sounded off on how Robinson was A-Robbed.

The Chicago Bears had three players named to the 2020 NFL Pro Bowl roster in kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson, outside linebacker Khalil Mack and safety Eddie Jackson. Nose tackle Eddie Goldman, cornerback Kyle Fuller and punt returner Tarik Cohen were all named alternates.

One name glaringly missing from that list is wide receiver Allen Robinson, who has been the lone bright spot on a dismal Bears offense this season. Robinson has 83 receptions for 1,023 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games this season. He became the first Bears receiver to eclipse 1,000 yards in a season since Alshon Jeffery in 2014.

But perhaps most impressive are the circumstances under which Robinson has achieved his impressive season. The Bears offense has been mediocre to say the least, and opposing teams knew that the ball was going Robinson’s way. And he still managed to post three 100-yard games this season.

If there was one Bears player that earned a Pro Bowl nod this season, it was Robinson, who wasn’t even named an alternate.

Robinson’s snub from the Pro Bowl was a hot topic on Twitter, where teammates, media and fans sounded off on how Allen Robinson was A-Robbed.

Even a Packers fan acknowledged the obvious:

Bears WR Allen Robinson snubbed in 2020 NFL Pro Bowl selections

While the Bears are sending three players to the Pro Bowl, one name notably missing from that list is WR Allen Robinson.

The NFL is loaded with talent, so it’s difficult to please everyone with Pro Bowl selections. But with that said, Bears receiver Allen Robinson was absolutely robbed when he wasn’t chosen as a member of the 2020 NFL Pro Bowl roster.

There is certainly a lot of talent at the receiver position in the NFC — Michael Thomas, Julio Jones and Mike Evans. But Robinson wasn’t even named an alternate, which is just absurd considering the season he’s having.

With Robinson in his first healthy season with the Bears, he’s been the lone bright spot in a sputtering offense. He’s the first Bears receiver to hit 1,000 receiving yards since Alshon Jeffery in 2014, and he’s brought relevancy back to the position.

Robinson has 83 receptions for 1,023 yards and seven touchdowns. But perhaps more impressive is that he’s been able to do it in less-than-ideal circumstances.

What Robinson has managed to accomplish in a mediocre offense — with questionable quarterback play and teams knowing that he’s going to be the go-to guy — it’s been astounding.

Maybe if Robinson was playing on a playoff-bound team then he’d get more attention. Given Robinson is only 26 and entering the prime of his career, his name should be on that roster next season.

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Bears tight on cap space as NFL projects salary cap increase as high as $201.2M in 2020

The 2020 NFL salary cap is projected to be between $196.8 and $201.2 million, leaving the Bears just over the salary cap for 2020 right now.

NFL teams are going to have a lot more money to play with this offseason as the 2020 NFL salary cap is projected to be between $196.8 and $201.2 million.

The salary cap is expected to increase by more than $8 million from the current cap of $188.2 million, but it’s still going to be challenging for Bears general manager Ryan Pace heading into a busy offseason.

The Bears have roughly $202 million committed to the salary cap in 2020, according to Over the Cap. Depending on where the NFL and NFLPA agree to set next year’s salary cap, the Bears need to clear between $1.8 and $6.2 million just to get under the projected salary cap.

It won’t be easy for Pace, but he’s managed to get creative in creating cap space. His offseason priorities are locking up some players in-house, including safety Eddie Jackson, receiver Allen Robinson and linebacker Kwiatkoski, who is an unrestricted free agent in 2020.

Among the Bears’ in-house free agents in 2020 are linebacker Danny Trevathan, safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, defensive back/special teams ace Sherrick McManis, defensive tackle Nick Williams, linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis and quarterback Chase Daniel.

Pace could manage extra cap space by releasing players like right guard Kyle Long, cornerback Prince Amukamara and receiver Taylor Gabriel, who combined would give the Bears an extra $20.6 million in cap space, among others.

Chicago has a lot of needs to address this offseason — be it in free agency or the NFL Draft — including tight end, offensive line, edge rusher and backup quarterback.

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