Good morning, Bears fans!
Woof. What a stinker by USMNT last night. I was hoping they’d provide a nice pathway of diversions right up until training camp, but the rest of the field will have to take the lead.
It also made me think of what historical Bears team most resembles the U.S. squad and I think it’s the 2001 team. A fun run that instilled hope after more than a decade of ineptitude, only to be completely outclassed in the playoffs.
I still hate Hugh Douglas.
6️⃣8️⃣ Days Until The Season Opener
🎂Bears Birthdays: Matt Suhey (68), Chase Claypool (28), Benny Cunningham (36), Khyiris Tonga (30)
01 Off The Field
Caleb 🎁 Pope Leo
Caleb 18 sent Leo 14 a signed Bears jersey to celebrate the Fourth of July. As one does.
02 Training Camp
Camp tickets available tomorrow
Don't forget to set a reminder for 10 am. Full details.
03 NFC North
Terrion Arnold clears waivers
The ex-Lions CB can now sign with any team while he’s out on bond. He’s reportedly been contacted by three other teams since being cut by Detroit.
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From the files of “national media raining on our parade” comes ESPN’s ranking of every starting lineup in the NFL.
The Bears are listed 17th by the triumvirate of Mike Clay, Aaron Schatz and Seth Walder. If my math is correct, that places them in the bottom half of the league.
It’s not exactly the type of thing you want to hear before a season that’s being anticipated as much as this one, but it’s worth further examination.
The Bears rank third in the NFC North behind the Lions (sixth) and Packers (10th). The Vikings clock in at No. 22.
The Bears are eighth overall in the NFC, which would put them outside of the playoffs. The Rams, Eagles, Seahawks, Niners and Cowboys join the two NFC North teams ahead of the Bears.
ESPN lists offensive line as the Bears’ biggest strength, defensive line as their biggest weakness and Caleb Williams’ as the team’s “X-Factor.” “For all his highlights last season, there is still plenty to iron out in Williams’ game, with accuracy being the most critical,” the article reads.
So what to make of the list?
I’m not placing too much on it. ESPN ranked the Bears ninth in its power rankings back in May and the evaluation in the article is a mile wide and an inch deep. There’s nothing there you wouldn’t find as a bullet point on a First Take cue card.
I can live with the Lions’ ranking based on the sheer amount of offensive talent they have, but the Packers seven spots ahead of the Bears at No. 10? C’mon. Green Bay had much more roster turmoil in the offseason than the reigning division champions and ESPN almost put Jordan Love as the team’s biggest strength. They instead chose … checks notes … safety. Look, if safety is your lineup’s biggest strength, the dude’s name better be Ed Reed to be ranked 10th. (Xavier McKinney’s been great in Green Bay so far, but he’s not Ed Reed.)
If this ESPN panel still sees Caleb as a “big if,” then they’re not seeing a potential Top 5 offense that’s going to vault the Bears past a lot of the teams listed ahead of them. While the starting defense as it stands is rightly a drag on any ranking, I think the presence of Williams plus the RB, TE and WR rooms places them higher.
Bottom line, though, we’re heavy in the middle of the time-killing list season and this list … well, it’s one of them. Last year’s Bears team ranked 15th in this same exercise, five spots ahead of the eventual Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
Make time for some reading today: My first round of player previews have dropped!
I’m about to start working on the next batch … Who should I tackle next?
Ryan Heckman on how Ben Johnson is lapping the field in one interesting metric. (Bear Goggles On)
Usayd Kohsul on Logan Jones’ chances to win the starting center job (Bear Report)
Should the Bears sign Gervon Dexter to a value-laden extension rather than run the risk he turns in a great season and gets too expensive? Parker Hurley examines the question. (Da Windy City)
Is that Brandon Bostick or Tim Ream?
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