Da Dos

Tag: 2026

  • Untampering Weekend

    Untampering Weekend

    Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson. Jeff Haynes/AP

    NFL free agency unofficially opens at noon ET on March 9 [MON] with the negotiation window (when players can agree to terms); it officially opens at 4 p.m. ET on March 11 ( WEDs when players can actually be signed).

    Top 50 FAs

    I wanted Crosby initially; however, Dalman’s shocking retirement has changed my mind. Bears now have significant question marks at:

    SS [Brisker gone], C [Dalman gone], LT [Trapilo achilles], DE [Dayo achilles/suckage], DT [only two on roster as of this weekend], LB [Edmunds gone, Edwards old, HippoWho?]

    Thuney isn’t getting any younger; plus, this assumes Poles will resign an older Byard, and that the 3rd WR [DJ Moore gone] won’t be Velus Jones.

    In other words – a rebuild – or retweak.

    This isn’t quite “Apollo 13” where shit is at critical. This is more akin to “The Martian” where Poles [with major help from Ground Control Ben Johnson] must problem solve on the fly.


    Bears are in an odd spot. They absolutely overachieved in a magical ’25 season which may distort the real talent and depth of the team.

    It SEEMS [still TBD, btw] that the Bears nailed the two most vital components of sustained success: HC, QB

    [the 3rd part is GM, but let’s not digress, ahem].

    HC/QB can go a LONG way – mask many deficiencies and mistakes [see, 2000s Pats].

    Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams are the foundation. They offer a floor that is higher than Lovie/Grossman.

    The Oline is [or was] the strength of this team. A top 5 unit by most objective metrics.

    So one could make a valid case for attaining a premium LT+C in FA.

    The top 2 for the Bears should be recently released LT Taylor Decker [former Lion] on hopefully a short 1-2 yr deal ’til we know WTF is left of Trapilo

    Also C Linderbaum [former Raven], though many predict he’s asking for north of $22M/yr.

    I could see Poles paying Decker, and sticking to a cheaper option at C. He did draft Luke Newman after all; albeit that doesn’t automatically make him viable [cough- Kiran, Hippo, Velus- cough].

    Poles will now have to do what many great GMs [Grandmasters] must:

    Sacrifice lesser pieces to win.

    The proven formula is to build the lines, but does that mean paying a C like a player who scores TDs? OTOH, one of the first things Poles did with BJ was sign Dalman, so it could be that BJ values C much more since his O lines up under C at a higher % than say the shotgun-happy Cards.

    IMO that unexpected $10M+ Dalman windfall should funnel to DE.

    LTs typically get paid, so I’d have no issue with a short-term Decker deal because the alternative is Parsons/Hutchinson/Turner-v-Benedet twice this year.

    Personally, I’d much rather the Bears pay for LT, and DE.

    Hendrickson is older and less effective vs run than Crosby, but he won’t cost draft picks.

    Between him, Booker, and whatever Dayo can muster on one Achilles, should improve Bears’ D while keeping that #25 for any number of long term solutions at DT, DE, LT, C, S.

    The other option is Poles opting for blue-bin specials.

    If Poles decides to skip on day 1 splashes, players such as these could be solid additions:

    Edge Jaelen Phillips

    DE Rashan Gary [only 28]

    Edge Mack

    Edge Cam Jordan [Allen connection]

    DT Rankins [Allen connection]

    LB Demario Davis [Allen…]

    C McGovern

    DT Jonathan Allen…

    Chicago Bears Network@bearsnetwork_
    LB Alex Anzalone is a name to watch for the Bears in free agency, per Jeremy Fowler.

    Anzalone was with Dennis Allen in New Orleans.

    (via @CHGO_Bears)

    Going into the weekend, no doubt a slew of players will get released, traded, or retire than the current list, so definitely a time to refresh news’ feed. Should be exciting for us Bear fans!

    TLDR Butch Moves.

    Pay DE Hendrickson
    Pay LT Decker
    Pay DT Rankins/Allen
    Prolly go cheap at C, draft
    Prolly go cheap at SS, draft
    Trade Bagency, get athletic project
    Try to trade Kyler Gordon, NB draft
    Maybe rework/trade Kmet
    Resign Byard and Demarco Jackson
    Maaaybe see what we can get for CB Jaylon Johnson.

    Time to totally remake roster in Ben Johnson image.


    Update:

    Gary Ross@gaross18-7h
    Courtney Cronin was on ESPN1000 this morning & said that she expects the Bears to get the comp picks for Cunningham. That would be HUGE!

  • Combine ’26

    Combine ’26

    Don’t know why, but the combine really snuck up this year. I had a few ideas for pieces, but it came and went quickly. Then moving to Indiana and Dalman retiring [NTM the U.S. launching another Middle Eastern War].

    Likely a combo of factors. Bears for once weren’t irrelevant by Thanksgiving, even winning the division and a playoff game. So the season was actually longer. Must’ve thrown off my circadian Bears’ rhythm conditioned to suckage and checking mock drafts in November.

    It’s also a little hard to get super-hyped over this draft because.

    1. It’s more than likely Poles trades away the 1st [+ change] rd pick.

    2. Even if Poles keeps it, it’s still the 25th. Not complaining. Better than the alternative of perennially drafting in the top 10.

    But mostly it’s reason #1 that’s keeping me from getting truly invested though that will change as we near April.

    As such, I’ll let Unbearble Sports breakdown the ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ from the combine.


    Two quick Butch notes.

    I know Bears desperately need Dline, but man, if Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles miraculously drops to #25, Poles needs to waddle his ass to the podium.

    Styles recorded a blistering 4.46-second 40-, a 43.5-inch vert, and an 11-foot-2 inch broad jump at 6’5″, 244 lbs.

    That is INSANE. Those are Urlacher metrics

    I must admit I haven’t watched the other Buckeye’s tape because he keeps shooting up the boards, but if Safety Caleb Downs also somehow tumbles to #25, I’d have no issue with Poles pulling the trigger. It’s a copy-cat league, and many just witnessed what a rookie S in SEA named Nick Emmanwori can do. SEA didn’t exactly have the ’85 Bears pass-rush, but they rostered exceptional talent all through the “Darkside.”

    Kyle Hamilton on the Ravens is another example of how a versatile S can impact games.

    I doubt Caleb Downs’ RAS will surpass theirs, but from most ‘experts’, he’s the goods.

    UPDATE. Bears Trade DJ Moore to Bills.

    That’s not a shabby exchange actually. DJ’s production didn’t match his contract, and it dropped mostly because of circumstance.

    Under Ben Johnson, the Bears are a run-first team. Feeding Swift-Monangai tandem ate a lot of snaps. Then the acquisitions of Rome, Burden and Loveland siphoned away more targets [let’s not forget that Kmet is also still on the team].

    I mean, if Flus was still HC, and if Fields is still the QB with DJ as his lone target, then DJ is a 100 catch/1200+ WR [if he stays upright]. Thankfully, that’s no longer the case, and now he can be the true #1 or #2 target on the Bills while the Bears can use that extra 2nd rounder for a Center, LT, S, LB, or even to sweeten the pot for a DE/DT via trade.



  • Mock Draft #1!

    Mock Draft #1!

    It’s waaaaay too early for mock drafts, but here we are! Unlike Jeff, I do not view them as ‘slave auctions.’

    I think they’re quite entertaining and excellent ‘filler’ post-SB.

    No, I am not entirely comfortable with strange old men measuring young athletes like a slab of meat, but if someone is willing to throw me millions to measure my arms and run, jump and bench in spandex, sign me up.

    Kiper, aka Legohead, was the OG. He’s probably over the hill, but hey, time makes us all fat Elvis. There’s a lot of Draftniks out there, but Joel Klatt eats, drinks and breaths college football year round. He’s a maniac, and doesn’t do ‘hot takes’ for hits.


    Spoiler alert, he has Bears drafting DT Kayden McDonald, Ohio St @ #25. I don’t know much about McDonald, but I DO love selecting a DT since I still believe that’s the Bears’ biggest need. The sooner the Eberflus leftovers are gone, the better [and Jarrett didn’t exactly wow either].
    Debating who the Bears should draft at #25 is almost useless at this point though since everyone believes Poles is trading it for an Edge.

    Speaking of which, Harrison Graham discusses the price [via insider] which Maxx Crosby might take.

    Long story short.

    Bargain cost: #25 + DJ Moore

    Expensive cost: Two 1sts, another 2nd/3rd + DJ Moore

  • Rams@Bears Div Rd

    Rams@Bears Div Rd

    Well, gonna ride or die with Saint Brown!
    Plus, da WAGs

    Get your Bear kit ready:

    Some interesting notes:

    Bears Facts@DaBearsTakeOver

    Sean McVay’s 1st year as Head Coach • 3,804 passing yards • 28 passing TDs • 1,953 rushing yards • 17 rushing TDs Ben

    Johnson’s 1st year as Head Coach: • 3,942 passing yards • 28 passing TDs • 2,456 rushing yards • 19 rushing TDs

    Jake@Jake_B30

    The #Bears have given up 415 points this season The crazy part is, they’ve given up 136 (32.7%) to 3 teams alone (all away games) In the other 14 games, they gave up an average of 19.9PPG. In their 9 home games (including the playoffs) they’ve allowed 18.7PPG, which ranks 10th

    NFL Researcher@NFL_Researcher

    Only two defenses had 3 players with 50+ pressures during the 2025 season, per
    @NextGenStats
    :

    @Broncos
    | #BroncosCountry
    🔸Nik Bonitto – 80
    🔸Zach Allen – 59
    🔸Jonathon Cooper – 50

    @RamsNFL
    | #RamsHouse
    🔹Jared Verse – 67
    🔹Byron Young – 54
    🔹Kobie Turner – 52

    [Needless to say, Verse vs LT will be a battle to monitor]

    The game may come down to how windy it is. If it’s too windy to pass, both teams will be forced to rely on the run, and neither have run as well as earlier in the season. If Thuney is indeed moved to LT, and McFadden starts at LG, gotta wonder how that may affect chemistry, combos, timing, etc.

    Wind may also screw with the Rams’ specials which have struggled mightily. Santos may not have the strongest leg, but he’s made 50+ yarders in cold blustery clutch conditions.

    If it isn’t that windy, then Stafford [likely MVP] can definitely dissect this toothless D IF it can’t generate pressure.

    Allen is caught in a catch 22:

    The front 4 aren’t monsters, but if he blitzes, Stafford has been a stone cold assassin:

    Clay Harbor@clayharbs82

    Matt Stafford has a 125.4 passer rating with 32 TDs and an INT when facing the blitz. He also doesn’t turn the ball over; he set a record with 28 consecutive TD passes without an INT earlier this year.

    So Da Beloved have their work cut out for them either way, but hey, what’s new?

    They’ve been defying the odds all year. No reason to stop bearlieving now.

    🐻⬇️!

  • Saturday Div Thread

    Saturday Div Thread

    Bills@Broncos first to kick-off.
    My stepdad is from CO, so he’s a semi-casual Donk fan [who naturally despises the Raiders]. As such, I’ll be rooting for them; however, Bo Nix is young; they’re loaded and Payton isn’t going anywhere, so if they lose on Saturday, they’ll still be perennial contenders for a few more years.

    I think the Broncos will win mostly because the Bills’ D seems to fall apart in the playoffs, and Payton is a smarter Sean than McDermott.

    I am curious to see if the vaunted Donks’ D can contain Allen though.

    The Broncos are similar to the Bears in starting slow but finding magic late with a sophomore QB, the difference being their D tends to keep it low scoring. I seriously doubt Bo can put up 25 points in the 4rth like Caleb, but he seems to do just enough.

    That’s how they ended up with the #1 Seed after all. Like most, I got a soft spot for Bills’ Mafia, so I just want a good game.

    9ers@Hawks. The most unpredictable games are division games, esp division playoffs games as we gleefully witnessed in the WC RD.

    For our purposes, we want SEA to lose so that 9ers must travel to SF, but I tell you, I almost prefer the Bears facing SEA on the road than playing SF at home because Purdy/Shanahan absolutely paddled the Bears’ ass to the tune of 42 points, and it could’ve easily been 50.

    This game will come down to mostly one thing.

    Will Darnold see ghosts?

    The SEA D IMO is the best this season. They held the 9ers to 3 measly points last time they played for the #1 Seed, and it’s hard to envision the 9ers’ O suddenly becoming more explosive against them esp w/out Kittle [achilles]. I think the 9ers’ INJ plague finally catches up to them, and they lose; obviously I wouldn’t mind the opposite to set up a 9er rematch at SF.

    For what it’s worth, think the COY should come down to Shanahan and Ben Johnson, and this weekend might determine who wins it.

    Courtesy of GP from last thread!

  • Rams@Bears Divisional RD Preview

    Rams@Bears Divisional RD Preview

    Well, I suppose I could write-up the usual musts:

    1. Stop the run
    2. Get the run game going
    3. Control TOP
    4. Win TO & Redzone battle
    5. Play a COMPLETE game

    Well, we can just trash any traditional script.

    ’25 Bounceback Bears defy all standard winning “formulas.”

    Take these ridicules facts:
    —
    Kirsten Tanis@Kirsten_Tanis1

    Per ESPN, Bears had a 13.5% chance before the season to win the NFC North.

    After starting 0-2 in the division, odds plummeted to the low single digits.

    Tonight, they earned the crown. 👑🐻⬇️

    Against all odds, the Chicago Bears kept the faith & kept fighting until it was theirs!
    —
    Jacob Infante

    Since the NFL merger in 1970, just 43 of 422 teams made the playoffs after an 0-2 start, a percentage of just 10.1%
    —
    Caleb on that 4th & 8 throw of the year: Running 13.2 MPH to his non-dominant side 35.3 yards in the air

    —
    Bears vs Packers this season:

    Offensive plays with the lead
    Packers: 106
    Bears: 0
    —
    The Bears are 3-3 when down 10+ points in the final 5 minutes of the 4th quarter this season.

    The rest of the NFL is 3-158

    —

    Bears have won 6 games trailing inside 2 minutes. That’s impossible – Collinsworth
    —
    Notable #Bears win percentages in key games they’ve won this year:

    • Raiders: 19.3%
    • Commanders: 15.9%
    • Bengals: 14.1%
    • Giants: 4.0%
    • Vikings: 24.9%
    • Packers: 3.0%

    The probability of all those games being wins? 0.0001295%.

    Raiders needed a blocked FG
    Commies needed a fumbled snap/recovery
    Bengals score over 42 points + Loveland
    Gmen down 20-10 with 4:00
    Vikings down 16-17 with :50 left + Durvernay KR
    Packers onside recovery, TD, 2 point etc
    Packers III 25 points in 4rth QTR

    Wish Data was around to quan the maths, but needless to say, Bounceback Bears have defied all logic. There’s a word for that – magical. Christian Watson expressed the improbable season best.

    These Bears will find a way. The Bears are the living avatars of “Just win, baby.” How many game day threads began “Same Ole Bears” and ended “How the F did they pull that one off!”

    By now it’s a feature, not bug. Granted, that doesn’t make the Bears invincible. They were home underdogs vs Packers, now Rams, and likely will be the dogs until confetti drops on their heads; however, their “magic” fizzled out vs Ravens, 9ers, Lions[2X], and NEARLY to 6 other teams.

    So here are some pertinent deets vs the Rams specifically.

    It should be noted that Matthew Stafford [whose thumb may or may not be INJed] was born in FL, grew up in TX, played at GA, then for domed Lions and now sunny LAR.
    He has struggled in cold weather games, and has a penchant for self-destructing a la Jared Goff. Did you watch the final Aaron Rodgers’ game? Old QBs don’t like being hit, and they REALLY don’t like being broken in half like an icicle when it’s freezing, snowy and windy.

    In general, domed teams this past decade are 1-15 in the playoffs when kickoff was at/below 40°

    That being said, what WOULD worry me is that Goffesque QBs can dissect this “Bend Don’t Break D.” Goff did it twice. Brock Purdy once. Shit, even Grandpa Joe Flacco lit them up for 42 and had all of us sniffing glue on that final drive that ultimately floundered.

    Savvy vet QBs [and two efficient backups] have made this defense look terrible, and they weren’t coached by Sean McVay.

    Rams also roster lethal talent: Nacua, top 3 TE combo, top 3 HB combo, Verse, Young…

    So none of us should bet our mortgage down quite yet.

    Jeff’s famous line was “Why Do I like the Bears? I always like the Bears.”

    Well, these Bears convert even haters into fans like Rocky-v-Drago.

    Why do I like the Bears? I don’t. I LOVE these Bears, and I Bearlieve.

    🐻⬇️

  • CHI Defeats GB 31-27. NOT the Same Ole Bears!

    CHI Defeats GB 31-27. NOT the Same Ole Bears!

    I don’t even know where to begin! I am ecstatic!

    So I’ll just post a quick victory Saturday thread!

    Bearlieve and Bear Down!

    Bears offense in the 4Q vs the Packers:

    🐻 4 drives
    🐻 3 TDs
    🐻 1 FG

    Outscored Green Bay 28-6 in the second half 😳-PFF

  • Packers@Bears III. SNL edition II. WC I.

    Packers@Bears III. SNL edition II. WC I.

    In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a superstitious man! Saint Mike Brown and Da Gals oversaw the last epic comeback.

    We all know what’s at stake. This is only the 3rd time the Bears have faced the Packers in the playoffs, and for all we know, they may not square off again in the playoffs for another 50 years, so this is YUGE.

    So Bear da fuq down and FTP!!!