Chicago Sports

Bulls forward Derrick Jones Jr. is feeling the love in the Paris air and making the most of the team’s trip overseas before the players have even taken the court.

The 25-year-old popped the question to his girlfriend, Shakara, during a team dinner with family and friends Tuesday.

“Man, it’s about that time, so I just got a question for you, Shakara: Will you make me the luckiest man in the world? Will you marry me?” Jones said in a microphone to cheers and applause at the restaurant.

With her jaw dropped, she responded, “Hell, yeah.”

Jones raised his arms and exclaimed “She said yes” twice.

The Bulls have been in Paris since Monday to play the Pistons in the NBA Paris Game, the league’s 119th international game since 1984 and its second global game this year. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. Central time Thursday at Accor Arena.

A southeastern Pennsylvania native, Jones is in his second season with the Bulls and seventh in the NBA. He was acquired from the Trail Blazers in a three-team trade that included sending former Bull Lauri Markkanen to the Cavaliers in August 2021.

He’s averaging 5.7 points in about 15 minutes per game this season.

In July, Jones Jr. signed a two-year, $6.6 million contract with the Bulls that includes a player option in the second year.

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Back in training camp — when the Blackhawks populated their film sessions with clips from Avalanche-Lightning matchups in the 2022 Stanley Cup Final — former Avs, now Hawks defenseman Jack Johnson kept appearing in the clips.

“We were joking [that] it’s the ‘Jack Show,'” coach Luke Richardson recalled.

One thing Johnson was regularly seen doing well, and has continued doing well this season, was making subtle moves to escape pressure from opposing forecheckers before making passes to start defensive-zone breakouts.

Johnson will never be confused for a slick puck-handler, but even at age 36 (he celebrated his birthday last week) with 1,066 regular-season games under his belt, that remains a forte.

“He knows how to use some subtle movements in his body to fool a forechecker…just to get them off pace,” Richardson said. “One step this way, it gives them an out. I think everybody’s learning from that.”

Connor Murphy, Johnson’s partner the last five games, falls in that everybody.

“Jack is a really strong guy, and he knows how to hold forwards up in the corners,” Murphy said. “And then he has a lot of skill to be able to shake off forecheckers with his puck play and passing. It’s something I’ve wanted to improve with.

“I’ve been working on some stuff with coaches. And then even in games, [I’m focusing on] having a mindset of winning the battle, then going from a stronger ‘battle feeling’ to poise with the puck and being able to find guys and move my feet to make options.”

Johnson describes the ability as instinct-based. He determines the best exit lane in any given situation on the fly because, as he memorably puts it, “hockey is an improv sport.”

Murphy, a native of Columbus, Ohio, and Johnson, a Columbus resident in the offseason, have known each other for years but have become much closer this season. So it’s surprising they hadn’t been paired together at any point until Jan. 6 against the Coyotes.

Since Richardson united his Columbusites, though, the Hawks have won four of five games. Coincidence? Maybe. But the resulting confidence that the entire team has accumulated recently — after wading through months of very little positive reinforcement — has made life easier.

“We’ve seen each other a couple times in past summers, but that’s about it; you don’t get to know each other too well,” Johnson said. “When you’re teammates, you spend more time with each other. It’s just a lot more fun trying to grow as a pair.

“We’ve tried to control what we can control defensively. We have pretty good gaps together, and I don’t feel like we’ve spent too much time in our ‘D’-zone. Those are all positives. … To be honest, I think we’ve played pretty well together.”

From a big-picture standpoint, Johnson’s play is difficult to analyze because his statistics are so poor.

His 36.6% scoring-chance ratio at five-on-five ranks last among 217 defensemen league-wide, per Natural Stat Trick. With Murphy specifically, his ratio is no better: 36.1%. His rate of 9.88 botched retrievals and failed exits per 60 also ranks seventh-to-last, per All Three Zones, even though that’s supposedly a strength.

But in his entire 17-year career — in which he has experienced a fair amount of success — he has finished with a ratio above 50% just once. It’s worth wondering if the current generation of publicly available analytics simply might not quantify his style accurately.

Regardless, Johnson’s veteran leadership, cheap contract and unheralded strengths could conceivably entice a contender to trade for him at the deadline.

And one more legitimate playoff run — maybe even back to the Cup Final — would be a deserved reward for the dedication Johnson has shown this Hawks team in spite of the couldn’t-be-more-different timelines of his career and their rebuild.

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PARIS — Joakim Noah, like his father, is now a winner on the clay at Roland Garros.

The former Bulls center teamed with Gabby Williams of the WNBA’s Seattle Storm to beat former Detroit Pistons guard Richard Hamilton and Spanish tennis player David Ferrer in a basketball game on the famed clay of Court Philippe-Chatrier on Wednesday night.

Noah and Williams won in three “sets” — the first two were to six points, the final set to three points.

“I’d never played basketball here, for sure,” Noah said after the game, part of the lead-up events for Thursday’s game between the Bulls and Pistons in Paris. “I’ve hit some tennis balls a few times on this court. It’s a really special place.”

Noah’s father, Yannick Noah, was the French Open men’s champion in 1983. Joakim Noah was born in 1985, won two NCAA titles at Florida and was a two-time All-Star in a career that spanned 13 seasons — mostly with the Bulls.

For the record, Joakim Noah says he’s not exactly good at tennis. But it was a special moment to be on the clay where his father once reigned.

“Every time I see the pictures and the videos I know it’s it’s a part of my history,” Noah said. “And I’m really proud of it. I know how hard it was and how much sacrifice went into being able to play at this level and to have that special moment of winning.”

The game, a promotional event for Wilson Sporting Goods, was 2-on-2 on half a tennis court, using the baselines and sidelines as out-of-bounds.

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PARIS — Joakim Noah, like his father, is now a winner on the clay at Roland Garros.

The former Bulls center teamed with Gabby Williams of the WNBA’s Seattle Storm to beat former Detroit Pistons guard Richard Hamilton and Spanish tennis player David Ferrer in a basketball game on the famed clay of Court Philippe-Chatrier on Wednesday night.

Noah and Williams won in three “sets” — the first two were to six points, the final set to three points.

“I’d never played basketball here, for sure,” Noah said after the game, part of the lead-up events for Thursday’s game between the Bulls and Pistons in Paris. “I’ve hit some tennis balls a few times on this court. It’s a really special place.”

Noah’s father, Yannick Noah, was the French Open men’s champion in 1983. Joakim Noah was born in 1985, won two NCAA titles at Florida and was a two-time All-Star in a career that spanned 13 seasons — mostly with the Bulls.

For the record, Joakim Noah says he’s not exactly good at tennis. But it was a special moment to be on the clay where his father once reigned.

“Every time I see the pictures and the videos I know it’s it’s a part of my history,” Noah said. “And I’m really proud of it. I know how hard it was and how much sacrifice went into being able to play at this level and to have that special moment of winning.”

The game, a promotional event for Wilson Sporting Goods, was 2-on-2 on half a tennis court, using the baselines and sidelines as out-of-bounds.

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The popularity of online casinos has risen rapidly in recent years, and the improved quality of the technology available to players has made the gambling process even more thrilling. It should also be stated that sports slots are among the most well-liked options at virtual casinos. The excitement of participating in one’s preferred sports is combined with the prospect of winning substantial sums of money in these activities. The most played sports-themed slot machines at US-facing, mostly New Jersey-based, online casinos will be examined here.

Football-Themed Slots

Not surprisingly, given the enormity of football’s fan base in the United States, there are several slot machines with a football theme. To provide players with the most authentic gaming experience possible, these games include symbols, images, and sound effects that are all relevant to the sport. Games like “Touchdown,” “Football Frenzy,” and “Gridiron Glory” are based on football and are quite popular. You can find these games at a variety of NJ online casinos, and they all come with exciting extras like free spins, bonus rounds, and progressive jackpots, where the top winners may take home thousands of dollars.

Online casino gamblers in New Jersey may choose from a plethora of sites. Sports-themed slot machines are available at many of the best New Jersey online casinos (you can click on the Source link and find out online casinos by yourself), and these establishments are always adding new titles to their libraries. As a result, slot players in New Jersey may enjoy some of the best and latest games in the genre that include sports.

Slot machines with a sports theme have a broad appeal. There is a sports-themed gambling game out there for any lover of football, basketball, baseball, hockey, or any other sport. Enjoy the thrill of online gambling while indulging your passion for your favorite sport with these exciting games.

Basketball-Themed Slots

Because basketball is another one of the most popular sports in the United States, online casinos often have many slot machines with a basketball theme. Players may anticipate a genuine recreation of a sports event since game-specific symbols, graphics, and sound effects have been included in the simulation. The popularity of basketball is used as the inspiration for a variety of games, including “Hoop Dreams” and “Basketbull.”

Hockey-Themed Slots

It’s no surprise that many online casinos have slot machines with a hockey theme, given the popularity of the sport in the United States. Players may expect an authentic sporting experience thanks to the inclusion of game-specific symbols, visuals, and sound effects. “Ice Hockey” and “Slapshot” are two examples of well-liked hockey-themed slot machines. These games may be found at a variety of NJ online casinos and provide players with several avenues to increase their bankroll via bonuses, free spins, and progressive jackpots.

Other Sports-Themed Slots

Not only can you play the aforementioned games, but there are also dozens of additional sports-themed gambling games that can be found at other online casinos. Slot machines with sports and racing themes are among them. Players may expect an authentic sporting experience thanks to the inclusion of game-specific symbols, visuals, and sound effects. It is worth highlighting that free spins, progressive jackpots, and other incentives are just some of the ways that players may increase their chances of winning on these games, which can be found at several New Jersey online casinos.

Conclusion

Online casinos include several sports-themed slot machines, particularly in New Jersey. Playing one’s favorite sports and earning big money is exciting. Football, basketball, and hockey slots have unique features and graphics. Free spins, bonus rounds, and progressive jackpots make these games enjoyable and profitable.

In conclusion, if you want to combine your enthusiasm for sports with the thrill of online gambling, look no further than sports-themed gambling games. The excitement of participating in one’s preferred sports is combined with the prospect of winning substantial sums of money in these activities. Online casinos in the United States, especially those in New Jersey, provide a plethora of slot machines with a sports theme, giving gamers plenty of possibilities. Check out the sports-themed games at your preferred online casino for a novel and entertaining gambling experience.

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The White Sox have some promising talent coming up the pipeline and one of the more exciting prospect that has drawn a lot of attention has been outfielder Oscar Colas.

The 2023 Chicago White Sox are a team that is bouncing the line of contender/seller for this season. Having lost a few players via free agency and not having made many moves to replace said players, the south siders are gonna have to rely on some young talent to put them over the hump. One of those names to keep an eye on is Oscar Colas.

Colas, a 24-year-old outfielder from Cuba, signed with the White Sox last January after a brief stint in the Nippon Baseball League, where he played seven games with the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks in the Pacific League and 64 games in the Western League, which is considered the minor leagues for the NPB. Colas also bounced bank to Cuba where he played three seasons in the Cuban National Series with the Avispas de Santiago de Cuba.

Overall, Colas played a four seasons outside of the U.S. and posted a slash line of .282/.343/.483 and an OPS of .826. He displayed some pop with bat belting 28 homers and adding 38 doubles as a left-handed hitter. Colas also tried his hand at pitching, eventually being billed in Japan as the “Cuban Ohtani”, he pitched three innings that were registered in the Cuban league. While the arm was there having a 95 mph fastball, Colas decided to remain a full time position player.

The White Sox brought in Oscar Colas and assigned him to Winston-Salem where he proceeded to post a batting average of .312 and belting seven homers in 59 games. He was then selected to the 2022 Futures game in Los Angeles where he went 1-2 at the plate and made a web gem catch to rob Nationals’ prospect Darren Baker of a hit.

After the All-Star weekend, the Sox promoted Colas to Double-A ball in Birmingham. He made an even bigger impact and a bigger display of power by belting 14 homers and posting a batting average of .306 and a slugging percentage of .563.

After the Double-A season ended, the Sox sent Colas to AAA Charlotte to give him more reps. In seven games, Colas posted a .387 average with two homers. Ending his first season in the states with 117 games played, 23 homers and a slash line of .314/.371/.524.

Now entering Spring Training, Oscar Colas is definitely a name to lookout for as the Sox have an opening in RF that could very well be Colas’ to take. After the Andrew Benintendi signing and Luis Robert patrolling CF, Colas could fill in RF over guys like Andrew Vaughn and Gavin Sheets who were subpar defenders last season and are slated to platoon over at first base.

“I’m motivated, and I really want to earn that spot,” Colas told MLB.com last month. “That’s my goal right now. I’m working hard for that, and we’ll see what happens.”

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One mayoral candidate has suggested that, if the Bears abandon Chicago for Arlington Heights, the city should renovate Soldier Field and lease it to another NFL team. Another with deeper pockets has talked about buying a team and making the 99-year-old stadium its home. And Mayor Lori Lightfoot has said, “There’s plenty of cities that have two NFL teams.”

Is revenge a good enough reason to want a second franchise in Chicago?

After what Bears ownership has put the city through, after all the losing and all the ineptitude, yes.

The chances of another team moving to Chicago seem slim on the surface. The Jaguars often are brought up as a possibility because owner Shahid Khan has an engineering degree from the University of Illinois and because, well, Jacksonville. As much as we sports sophisticates might think a move to Chicago is obvious, the challenge of relocating an NFL franchise to a city that has a deeply entrenched team – and succeeding – would be a major challenge.

And no matter how much mayoral candidate Willie Wilson is worth – the Internet says $25 million – and no matter how much the NFL would like an African-American owning a team, allowing someone to invade the territory of one of the league’s original franchises isn’t the kind of business that commissioner Roger Goodell usually dabbles in. All he seems to care about is massive new stadiums, the kind the Bears are planning on the site of the former Arlington International Racecourse. The kind that makes billions of dollars for its owners.

But Chicago is big enough for two teams. Gambling money is going to bring more money to the NFL, which very well could lead to league expansion. Why not here? Why not an AFC team to compete with the NFC Bears? It’s worked in New York and Los Angeles.

It sure would be nice if someone made the McCaskey family pay for all the bad football they’ve brought to the city. I won’t depress you with the long list of Bears’ lows. I won’t tell you that the team hasn’t won a playoff game since the 2010 season. I won’t tell you that after inheriting a talented team that went on to win a Super Bowl in 1985, Virginia McCaskey’s franchise has made the playoffs just seven times in the past 28 years. I won’t tell you that the hated Packers have made the playoffs 21 times in the same span.

I won’t tell you any of this because the sun hasn’t shone nearly enough the past two weeks and you’re already in the fetal position.

I don’t mean to be dismissive of the accomplishment of winning a Super Bowl, even though the McCaskeys had very little to do with putting that team together. But it was 37 years ago, folks. As in, four decades ago. With a salary cap in place since 1994, giving each NFL team the same amount of money to spend, the Bears’ lack of success is even more glaring and more appalling.

So, revenge. Or anger. Or spite. Whatever you want to call it, if it makes you yearn for another team to move into Soldier Field to give the McCaskeys a run for their considerable money, it’s valid.

A new stadium for the Bears seems like a foregone conclusion, especially after listening to new team president Kevin Warren talk about the project at his introductory press conference Tuesday. (By the way, Betty White never got as royal a treatment as this guy is getting.) There’s no doubt wide-eyed Bears fans are going to sprint to the shiny bauble in Arlington Heights when it opens. They look at the state-of-the-art stadiums that have risen in Los Angeles and Las Vegas the past few years and dream of a similar game-day experience.

I’m here to remind them that a game-day experience brought to you by the McCaskeys involves more losing than winning. It doesn’t involve the playoffs in any meaningful way.

What would happen if another franchise made Soldier Field its home and did the unimaginable by winning a Super Bowl? My guess is that many Bears fans are so true to their team that they couldn’t fathom switching allegiances. But there certainly are many others who are so fed up with the lack of success from the team and the poor decisions in hiring coaches and general managers that they’d be willing to change sides. This is a large city with more NFL fans than available Bears tickets.

There would be no reason for a Cubs/White Sox split, with one team being much more popular than the other. Everything the NFL touches turns to gold. The problem, of course, is that much of the gold comes from taxpayers. There isn’t an appetite these days for public money going into a private enterprise. The Bears say they’ll shoulder most of the burden of building the Arlington Heights stadium, but anyone with common sense and a knowledge of history knows that these deals rarely end up in favor of the citizens.

While we’re imagining a second team in Chicago, we can also fantasize that Khan, who’s worth an estimated $11.7 billion, will put a dome on Soldier Field with his own money. Hey, a city can dream, can’t it?

Here’s reality: The McCaskeys haven’t had a good reason to be good owners. Their profits are built in. Loyalists get angry at the lack of winning but keep buying tickets. There isn’t a fire under the family. There’s a cushion.

Bears fans shouldn’t have to put up with this. But they do because the NFL is great entertainment and because they’re afraid they’ll miss something if they look away. So team officials can sell the fanbase on hope, on the idea that Justin Fields is going to be a star and on the notion that having the top overall pick in the 2023 draft means the franchise is going places. It’s always something.

Wouldn’t it be nice if there were an alternative?

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Wednesday, January 18, 2023

CHICAGO PREP

Ida Crown at Christ the King, 7:00

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL

Latin at Northridge, 6:00

KISHWAUKEE RIVER

Richmond-Burton at Harvard, 7:00

Woodstock at Marengo, 7:00

Woodstock North at Johnsburg, 7:30

LAKE SHORE ATHLETIC

Beacon at Lycee Francais, 6:00

Wolcott at Christian Heritage, 7:00

NIC – 10

Jefferson at Belvidere North, 7:30

NOBLE LEAGUE – BLUE

Hansberry at UIC Prep, 7:00

Muchin at DRW Prep, 7:00

Noble Street at Rauner, 7:00

NOBLE LEAGUE – GOLD

Comer at Rowe-Clark, 5:30

NORTH SUBURBAN

Libertyville at Mundelein, 7:00

Zion-Benton at Warren, 7:00

NORTHERN LAKE COUNTY

Grayslake Central at North Chicago, 7:00

Grayslake North at Lakes, 7:00

Wauconda at Antioch, 7:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE RED-WEST / NORTH

Lincoln Park at Farragut, 6:15

Orr at Lane, 5:00

Prosser at Clark, 5:00

Westinghouse at Perspectives-MSA, 5:00

Young at North Lawndale, 7:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE WHITE-NORTH

Foreman at Senn, 5:00

Lake View at Amundsen, 6:30

Mather at Schurz, 5:00

Northside at Von Steuben, 5:00

Sullivan at Taft, 6:30

PUBLIC LEAGUE WHITE-WEST

Austin at Jones, 6:30

Collins at Legal Prep, 5:00

Ogden at Marshall, 5:00

Payton at Crane, 7:00

Raby at Wells, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE BLUE-NORTH

Chicago Math & Science at Alcott, 5:00

Rickover at Intrinsic-Belmont, 5:00

Roosevelt at North-Grand, 5:00

Steinmetz at Marine, 5:00

Uplift at Chicago Academy, 5:00

PUBLIC LEAGUE BLUE-WEST

Chicago Collegiate at Kelvyn Park, 5:00

Chicago Tech at Little Village, 5:00

Douglass at Manley, 5:00

Phoenix at Juarez, 5:00

Spry at Clemente, 5:00

NON CONFERENCE

ACERO-Cruz at Cristo Rey, 6:00

Earlville at Alden-Hebron, 7:00

Excel-Englewood at Johnson, 5:30

Galva at Lowpoint-Washburn, 7:00

Golder at Holy Trinity, 5:00

Hinsdale Adventist at Southland, 7:00

Hononegah at Beloit (WI), 7:00

Joliet Central at Lincoln-Way West, 6:30

Kewanee at Putnam County, 7:00

Manteno at Clifton Central, 7:00

Marian Central at Harlem, 7:00

Naperville North at St. Charles North, 7:00

St. Bede at Midland, 7:00

St. Francis de Sales at Sandburg, 6:30

University High at Lake Forest Academy, 6:30

Walther Christian at IC Catholic, 7:30

Wheeling at Leyden, 7:00 (at West)

SALEM

Mt. Vernon vs. Champaign Central, 6:30

Madison vs. Carbondale, 8:00

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The Chicago Bears season was…something

The Chicago Bears had a pretty dismal campaign in head coach Matt Eberflus’ first year. Eberflus said after the season that the foundation had been set for the culture he and general manager Ryan Poles are trying to build in Chicago. Let’s hope so because the path to rebuilding the Bears proved costly this season, as the team lost prestigious records and finished with the worst overall record in the league.

Looking at the roster that will likely come back in 2023, there’s more of that offseason hope to go around that those players will be foundational sound next season than actual reason to believe based on the product on the field this season.

The roster was bad all around. And the parts that were the best, like Justin Fields and a few rookies, still have miles of improvement to make before the Bears can be genuine competitors in the NFC. Here are three studs and duds from the Bears’ pitiful season.

Chicago Bears Studs

Justin Fields rushing attack

The Chicago Bears’ leading rusher in 2022 was Justin Fields. Fields broke numerous records running the ball this season. The Bears’ decision to pull Fields before Week 18 kept the second-year quarterback from breaking Lamar Jackson’s single-season rushing record for a quarterback. He finished with 1,143 yards rushing and eight touchdowns on the ground. Fields proved this season he can be dangerous as a running quarterback.

Justin Fields with the longest TD run of his young career

And. It. Was. Sick. pic.twitter.com/w68Vvx6Ljg

— Bears Nation (@BearsNationCHI) November 6, 2022

Jack Sanborn

Chicago Bears signed Jack Sanborn as an undrafted rookie free agent after the 2022 draft. The Wisconsin Badgers product proved he belonged in the draft class. When the Bears started him at middle linebacker following the Roquan Smith trade, Sanborn made excellent plays and tackles for the Bears before he ended the season on injured reserve.

His stats numbers mirrored what Smith produced for the Chicago Bears as the weakside linebacker in the first half of the season. Sanborn needs to improve in pass coverage and run defense when he’s not rushing gaps. Sanborn’s play should put him in the running to start next season, even after the Bears address Smith’s replacement in free agency or the draft.

Watch how quickly Jack Sanborn recognizes run and explodes downhill.

Sanborn had 15 tackles (10 solo) against the Jets on Sunday. #DaBears pic.twitter.com/OWuFJ0ckDY

— Josh DeLuca (@JoshDeLuca4) November 30, 2022

Eddie Jackson

Eddie Jackson had a comeback season for the Chicago Bears. After acknowledging his struggles in 2021, the veteran safety returned to his former Pro Bowl-esque form. (Jackson was upset that a bad NFL policy prohibited his name from being on the Pro Bowl ballot.)

Jackson intercepted four passes this season in the 12 games he played in. (He finished the season on injured reserve.) Even with an injury-shortened season, Jackson finished with 80 tackles, the second-highest of his career.

Chicago Bears Duds

Justin Fields passing performance

Justin Fields was unstoppable in the running attack. He was pretty easy to beat in the passing game. In his defense, Fields didn’t have much help surrounding him this season. The Bears’ pass protection by the gutless wonders up front was atrocious. His wide receivers didn’t get much separation and dropped plenty of passes.

While the surrounding cast of NFL gap-year-cap misfits wasn’t his fault, Fields made plenty of mistakes on his own. Fields finished with just 2,242 yards passing with a 17-11 touchdown-to-interception ratio. The Chicago Bears finished ranked dead last in passing in the NFL. Their average was nearly 30 yards a game less (130.5) than the second worst, the Atlanta Falcons (158.8). That’s hard to do in the modern NFL, even with a lack of talent, because the rules are jerry-rigged in the offense’s favor.

Fields made some awful decisions when passing the ball. One play that will stick in my mind this offseason was the final throw of the first half against the Detroit Lions. Fields couldn’t have read the defense before the snap and threw a terrible interception to a rookie defensive lineman.

Interceptions this year

Aidan Hutchinson — 3
Jalen Ramsey — 2
pic.twitter.com/31luE1ZkKH

— Barstool Sportsbook (@BSSportsbook) January 1, 2023

Next season Fields will have a better offensive line and wide receiver help through the draft or free agency. He must show improvement as a passer, or the Bears will likely move on after 2023.

Chicago Bears drafted rookies

Many Bears fans hoped Poles’ choices in the draft could be the team’s saving grace in 2022. (After he dismantled the best pillars of the 2021 roster and started the rebuild with limited cap space.) They didn’t do that.

Second-round picks Jaquan Brisker, and Kyler Gordon had their moments, but they struggled most of the season. How much of that was because of a feeble defensive line we’ll learn in the next couple of seasons. Pro Football Focus gave Brisker an overall grade of 67.8, but tackling was one part of his game that brought his score down. He made bizarre pursuit angles and gave up scores with his poor tackling this season.

Gordon finished with a 49.9 overall grade by PFF. He made strides toward the end of the season, at least until a pathetic Week 17 showing against the Lions. Gordon was burnt in pass coverage most of the season. He finished with three interceptions, but some of those were lucky with underthrown balls on routes he was well behind the receiver on.

While the secondary is tough to learn as a rookie, Brisker and Gordon were chosen over offensive help because Poles felt they were the best player to be taken at their respective position. While they have potential, neither were players you’d look at now and think the Bears got stellar value for. The Bears could have taken a wide receiver or lineman over them and still picked someone like Jack Jones, who for sure was overlooked in the draft.

Third-round wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. was a bust this season. He wasn’t helpful for Fields, and his turnovers cost the Bears games. The most you can say for Jones was that he helped the Bears get the number one draft pick. Left tackle Braxton Jones was a great run blocker. Horrible in pass protection. Six sacks and 30 pressures given up… Yikes.

The rest of the class, punter Trenton Gill excluded, were unmemorable. Dominique Robinson certainly didn’t provide much of a boost to the defensive line this season.

Chase Claypool Trade

I was hoping Chase Claypool would come in and have an immediate impact on Fields development and the Chicago Bears offense. I was wrong. Following his trade, he spent weeks learning how to line up in offensive coordinator Luke Getsy’s system. Getsy’s complicated offense is a bug, not a feature for the team going forward. Claypool finished with 140 yards receiving and no touchdowns after the trade.

I still think he will be a good player for the Bears. After he learns the offense this offseason and the Chicago Bears improve the offensive line, Claypool will have a chance to thrive with Fields. But none of that potential progress was evident this season.

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Asked why the Bears didn’t win more under his tenure, outgoing president/CEO Ted Phillips pointed to under center.

“Let’s see, we’ve had 45 different quarterbacks, I think, since we won the Super Bowl,” he said Tuesday. “So that’s probably No. 1.”

Technically, 44 different quarterbacks have started for the Bears since 1986 — thanks to new additions Trevor Siemian and Nathan Peterman in a woeful 3-14 season.

To paint it as a damn-our -luck situation, though, is passing the buck far more efficiently than the Bears have ever passed the ball. The inability to find a steady quarterback through the draft (No. 2 pick Mitch Trubisky), trade (Jay Cutler for a two first-round picks, a third and Kyle Orton) and free agency (too many to name) has been, for decades, an organizational failure.

That’s why it matters what Kevin Warren, who is taking Phillips’ place, has previous experience with quarterback Justin Fields. And that he likes him.

While Warren will be judged by how he shepherds the Bears toward their next stadium, he knows that winning will also shape his legacy. And nothing in the sport affects winning more a quarterback.

“I have the greatest amount of respect for [Fields] because I know he’s gonna do everything he possibly can with the talent that he has to be a leader,” Warren said of Fields. “He wants to win championships.”

Speaking publicly for the first time since the 2022 season began, chairman George McCaskey managed to praise Fields for almost everything but his production. The implication: he needs to get better, even if the Bears like his intangibles.

“Well, I’m not a football evaluator,” McCaskey said, giving his usual caveat. “But what I saw that I liked was his leadership, his toughness, his work ethic. His teammates love him. He wants to win. He wants to be great. And he wants to bring championships to Chicago. So, there’s a lot to like there.”

McCaskey and Warren pointed to intangibles because that’s a safer argument than citing passing statistics. The same can be said about McCaskey’s evaluation of coach Matt Eberflus and general manager Ryan Poles after the first 14-loss season in franchise history.

“What were some of the things that you really appreciated,” he said. “Obviously the record wasn’t there, but you like the direction this thing is going …

“The players are buying into it. They’re giving it everything they’ve got. We have a lot of opportunity to improve with Ryan and Matt and Kevin.”

And with Fields.

Tuesday, Warren walked into the weight room at Halas Hall to find the quarterback working out. They embraced.

He and Warren met in 2020, when the Big Ten commissioner canceled fall sports because of the coronavirus. Fields, that Ohio State, was among the players to protest. The league eventually decided to play a truncated season.

“Those are the people that I want,” he said. “Because if someone was not upset about [not] playing, then I really would be concerned.

He has him now.

“He’s talented,” Warren said. “He’s a leader. I loved his passion.”

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