Tag: Mark Grote

Bears insider believes Lucas Patrick will replace Sam Mustipher at C

Sam Mustipher has taken every snap at center this season. But one Bears insider believes Lucas Patrick will still inevitably replace him.

Six weeks into the 2022 NFL season, the Chicago Bears are performing as many expected with a 2-4 record after dropping their latest game to the Washington Commanders. But one area that has not gone as expected is the center position on the offensive line.

Since the start of the season, Sam Mustipher has snapped every ball to quarterback Justin Fields while veteran Lucas Patrick, signed in the offseason to be the team’s center, has rotated at guard since returning from his thumb injury suffered during training camp. Mustipher has been the target of heavy criticism on the line, not only for his blocking, but his issues with snapping the ball and causing delay of game penalties. But if one Bears insider is correct, that won’t be the case for much longer.

670 The Score’s Mark Grote joined the Bear Down Chicago Podcast this week and shared his insight on what the team is doing with the fourth-year center and whether a switch will be made at the position or not.

“I don’t think they want to necessarily be in the predicament that Sam Mustipher has to continue to start at center. I think they had envisioned that by now, Lucas Patrick would be playing the part of center and you would hope you would have Cody Whitehair and Teven Jenkins and Mustipher would take a seat in that scenario.

I still think that’s coming unless they pull a fast one and think Mustipher can slide over to the guard spot. It’s going to be interesting to see how that goes. I don’t know if by the Monday night game in New England that change in the lineup can be made, but it’s going to come eventually. You will see Lucas Patrick playing center eventually.”

Mustipher has had consistently low grades at center this season and was thought to be a temporary solution at center while Patrick got himself healthy. But since Patrick returned, there’s been no indication that he will return to the center position, despite playing there all throughout offseason activities. Injuries to the guard position made things even more complicated when Whitehair landed on injured reserve two weeks ago.

But after head coach Matt Eberflus vowed to look at each position closely following Thursday’s 12-7 loss during the team’s mini bye week, changes might finally be coming sooner rather than later. If Grote is correct, it’s a matter of when and not if.

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Akiem Hicks breaks his silence, wants to retire a Bear

Akiem Hicks, who’s in the final year of his contract, is hoping to retire a Bear.

For all of training camp and the preseason, Chicago Bears defensive end Akiem Hicks went radio silent when it came to talking with the media. The former Pro-Bowl lineman was present for most of camp, outside of one absence, and was an active participant throughout the summer. But through it all, Hicks declined to speak to the media. Until now.

Volunteering at the SOS Children’s Villages in Chicago on Tuesday afternoon, Hicks spoke with Mark Grote of 670 The Score and explained his desire to not talk this summer.

“I know that there’s been talk about me not speaking for months at a time. Going into training camp, I think for me I’ve wanted to focus on the celebration of this moment in my career. No matter what I said, no matter how I phrased my intention on being a Bear for the rest of my career, that’s what I want, that’s what I feel is right for me. I’ve just had so many joy-filled moments as a Chicago Bear. I can’t see myself in another jersey. I think for me, less battle about contract situations and just enjoying this space.”

Hicks told Grote he still intends to retire as a Bear.

“I think I’ll do everything in my power to do so,” he said.

The veteran lineman is in the final year of his contract and reports surfaced during camp he was looking for an extension, according to his agent Drew Rosenhaus.

Hicks also said he’s not concerned about his contract status at the moment and is solely focused on football, according to Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun Times, who was also in attendance at the event.

“All that contract [stuff] goes away when you’re out there doing that thing you love,” Hicks said.

Judging by his performance on Sunday where he had three tackles and half a sack, he’s probably telling the truth.

The 10-year veteran has been with the Bears since 2016 when he signed as a free agent. Hicks quickly became a fan favorite and signed a four-year, $48 million deal the next season, anchoring a formidable defensive line over the next few seasons. He had a career year in 2018, earning Pro-Bowl honors. Hicks has 225 total tackles, 28 sacks, and five forced fumbles in his time as a Bear.

The future is unknown for No. 96 and is turning 32 this fall. This very well may be his last year as a Bear, but there’s no denying his heart is in Chicago. If he keeps playing like he did on Sunday, a contract extension could become more of a reality.

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