Chicago Sports

Cubs bullpen coach Chris Young walked past Tagliata, an Italian restaurant in Baltimore, last Wednesday on the way to get dinner with a couple other coaches, and spotted his relievers sitting down for a group dinner.

“I was not invited,” Young said, “which was the best part.”

The relievers saw him, and rookie Brandon Hughes sent a text to Young asking, Are you OK to eat carbs this late at night?

“So, that’s where our relationship’s at,” Young said, “Not invited to dinner by the group – it was a player’s thing, which is perfect – but then enough to come back on the way by and get a carb-loading joke at 9:30 when we get in from the road trip.

“So, I think it’s incredible that those guys are spending that amount of time together and doing those things. It’s awesome. And I think it shows and it shows in how they’re supporting each other.”

The bullpen has seen a lot of turnover this season and lost back end relievers David Robertson, Mychal Givens, Chris Martin and Scott Effross to trades a few weeks ago. With Steven Brault on the 15-day IL (strained left shoulder), Sean Newcomb and Rowan Wick – both under the age of 30, with fewer than 160 major-league appearances under their belts – are the most seasoned veterans.

The Cubs leaned on their young bullpenIn a five-game series against the Cardinals this week.

On Thursday, starter Marcus Stroman battled through a rough first inning to give his team five frames in the Cubs’ 8-3 loss. But for the fourth time in three days – thanks to a doubleheader Tuesday – the bullpen was responsible for four or more innings.

“As a [pitching] group, we want to hold the bar high for these guys,” Young said. “We understand what they’re going through, but also that we want to be doing this in a pennant race, where the level of expectation is to win every night.”

The inexperience of this group of relievers has shown at times, especially when short starts have stretched them. But they’ve also shown growth as they’ve settled into higher leverage roles.

“I feel like we’re all sort of one,” Wick said, “and pickingeach other up throughout the game.”

Young pointed to the Cubs’ 6-5, 11-inning win against the Brewers last Saturday.

“These guys were banging on the glass,” Young said, “and they were just cheering so hard for their teammates to get out of jams and pulling in for us to get hits.”

Wick seized the closer role after Robertson’s trade to Philadelphia. Dating back to mid-July, Wick went on a stretch of 11 games without giving up a run.

Then, he gave up two home runs in a blown save in Washington. The next day, he retired the side in order for his eighth save of the year.

“I hope that empowers the confidence in him that it gives the rest of us,” Young said of Wick’s bounce-back.

This past week, as Wick has worked through a couple rough outings, Hughes has seized a few ninth-inning opportunities. He recorded his first major-league save in Baltimore and has logged two more since.

“Everybody can handle the back end of that bullpen, I think we’re all capable of it,” Hughes said. “And if they look to me for a calming presence in that ninth inning, I’m there to attack hitters and throw strikes.”

Off the field, he’s there to help, too — at least when it comes to monitoring carbohydrate intake. Young ordered seafood that night in Baltimore. He insists he was already sitting down to eat when Hughes’ text came through.

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The approach of the Atlanta Braves should give the Cubs an idea of what to do with their core

The Atlanta Braves are the reigning champs and their title window is far from over. Another postseason is in sights and although some familiar faces have departed since last season, the bulk of the core remains intact. Moreover, they are here to stay. Austin Riley, Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson, Ronald Acuna Jr., Michael Harris II, Kyle Wright, and Ian Anderson are all locked up for the forseeable future. Dansby Swanson could be next. With an already strong team chemistry, this Atlanta core will get to see a lot of wins together.

So, why am I bringing this up? It was not too long ago, the Cubs had a strong core. Now, in a rebuilding era, the Cubs have an idea of what their next core could look like. Here are a few names the Cubs should consider signing long-term.

SS Nico Hoerner

In the middle of it is Nico Hoerner. The Cubs SS has taken a significant leap forward (.291 average) in his offensive game along with showing us dazzling defensive plays.

“I love playing for the Cubs,” said Hoerner, who leads the Cubs in hitting at .291 after a three-hit night in the Cubs’ win over the Cardinals Wednesday night.

“I think that being here, being part of the next great team here would be one of the coolest things you could do as an athlete,” he said. “Being there from the quote-unquote rebuild, or whatever you want to call it, to the next championship would be an incredible thing to do.”

Hoerner has proved this season that he is the top prospect the Cubs and city of Chicago were hoping for. He is an ideal candidate to be signed long-term and be apart of the next great Cubs team.

OF Ian Happ

The Happer was subject to trade rumors but remained with the Cubs through the trade deadline. Hopefully, it was for the best as the front office can work on an extension with the 28-year old All-Star OF. Batting .278 with 13 homers and 58 runs batted in, Happ has been one of the most consistent offensive pieces.

“We’ll see what happens with this group,” first-time Cubs All-Star Ian Happ said. “There’s been a lot of talk about the last group, but with this group I think there’s an opportunity to maybe have it be a little bit different.

“But as players, it’s out of your control. We’ll see if anybody else follows the [Braves’] lead. I don’t know.”

There is a lot of uncertainty with his future, but the Cubs have the time and money to get a deal done.

SP Justin Steele

Steele has completely turned around his season. He started off average, but has been on a dominant tear. In his last seven games, Steele is sporting a strong 1.45 ERA. Additionally, his season ERA sits at a comfortable 3.25. In his second big league season, Steele has grown and alongside fellow starter Keegan Thompson, the Cubs have two budding stars.

OF Christopher Morel

It may be too early to sign Morel to an extension, however, the Braves signed Michael Harris to an extension not even a full season into his career. Morel has provided a Javy Baez type spark and bodes a similar level of excitement. He gives the Cubs tons of versatility and does everything on the field. He better be locked up sooner rather than later.

C Willson Contreras

He may not be here next season. He may be on the older side to be apart of the core. All I see is a player who has spent his entire career with one organization and has brought a level of love that is rarely seen. If I were Jed, this man would have been signed a long time ago. He should be part of the next core.

Other players that should be in the mix: SP Keegan Thompson, 2B Nick Madrigal, LHP Brandon Hughes 

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Teven Jenkins acknowledged trade rumors Thursday

Teven Jenkins has been the subject of much conjecture during the offseason and training camp. During the team’s most recent preseason game, the second-year Chicago Bears offensive lineman started at right guard.

Jenkins’ position status on the offensive line has been switched around, as has what group he gets to go out with at practice. Rumors were going around that there were hard feelings between the Bears’ new coaching staff and Jenkins.

Jenkins tried to downplay those reports during training camp. Recently, more reports came out that the Bears are still looking for a trade partner for Jenkins.

At Thursday’s press conference, Jenkins discussed the complications of playing with the rumors. Jenkins considered the last month a “rollercoaster” for him. Jenkins acknowledged the actual likelihood that the Bears want to trade him.

Teven Jenkins is in a challenging position

The Bears’ management are putting Jenkins in a challenging position here by allowing leaks to come out without responding in Jenkins’ favor. Jenkins has handled this situation well, considering the levels of abuse Bears fans have levied his way since.

General manager Ryan Poles will make another significant mistake if he trades Jenkins. Jenkins is considered to be the Bears’ most talented offensive lineman. With the awful roster Poles has constructed, the Bears will need Jenkins to help keep quarterback Justin Fields upright.

However, with Poles irritating veterans and trading elite players away, shopping the Bears’ best hope for the offensive line might be par for the course. He certainly isn’t going out of his way to defend a player who has said these rumors are messing with his emotions.

Add this to the Roquan Smith situation; we’re finding out that this isn’t a player-friendly regime

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The resurrection of Teven Jenkins’ career has been the feel-good story of the Bears’ training camp.

After being demoted from the starting left tackle to the second- and third-string right tackle, the 2021 second-round draft pick has emerged as the front-runner at right guard — 11 days after first moving to guard as the back-up on Aug. 15. He didn’t even find out about the move until coaches told him the night before.

Jenkins has his final audition Saturday in the Bears’ preseason finale against the Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland. He’ll still have to prove himself in the regular season if he wins the job. But he knows it’s his job to lose Saturday night.

“It’s been like a rollercoaster and a mix of emotions for me,” Jenkins said. “Going from two right tackle, three right tackle to second right guard and I’m starting right now — it’s a lot about season opportunity. That’s one thing I’m looking forward to doing this weekend. Just keep being physical. No [missed assignments]. Don’t mess up and just trust myself.”

Position changes for a highly drafted player like Jenkins often are a last resort. But Jenkins looks and sounds like a player who has found a new home.

“[I’m] a lot more comfortable than when I started,” Jenkins said, “because I actually had more reps under my belt and Im starting to learn all the tendencies, all the consistency I need to have to be a guard instead of a tackle.”

Playing guard is a pretty big transition for a tackle. But Jenkins seems well-suited for it.

“Physicality,” he said. “It’s like you have a dude right there, right now instead of all this space. At tackle you have a lot of time to think about what’s going to happen and a lot of space to do whatever technique you’re thinking about. At guard it’s happening a lot quicker — like really fast.”

But he knows the story — feel-good or not — is far from over. He’s just appreciating the opportunity.

“Ultimately, any film is good film,” Jenkins said. “I know [about] the trade rumors and all that stuff. Wherever that may be, I’m trying to get good filmand be the best player I can be for myself. And hopefully right now it’s for the Chicago Bears.”

Injury report

Wide receivers Velus Jones, Byron Pringle and N’Keal Harry did not practice Thursday and are not expected to play against the Browns.

Other players who did not practice were center Lucas Patrick, defensive tackle Angelo Blackson, defensive end Mario Edwards, Jr., running back Trestan Ebner and cornerbacks Tavon Young and Thomas Graham.

Time running out?

Pringle, the leading contender for the No. 2 wide receiver role behind Darnell Mooney when camp started, has been out since Aug. 6 with a quadriceps injury. Eberflus remained hopeful Pringle could still be ready for the season opener, but also seemed to know the time is running short.

“The sooner the better,” Eberflus said. “He’s gotta get in there and get the game plan and get ready to go. We’re hopeful he can do that.”

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When Roquan Smith was still a hold-in last week, Bears linebacker Nick Morrow was asked if playing next to Smith was one of the reasons he signed with the Bears in free agency.

“No,” Morrow said. “The biggest reason I wanted to come here is one –opportunity; and I have been following coach [Matt] Eberflus for a while — I enjoyed his scheme and wanted to be a part of it.”

Fair enough. With his speed/physicality quotient, Morrow is a natural for Eberflus’ defensive scheme — and could end up being another prime example of Eberflus’ knack for putting the right player in the right spot that worked so well with the Colts.

After a breakout season in 2020 with the Raiders — 78 tackles, three sacks and eight tackles-for-loss in 14 games — Morrow could flourish in a defense he has envisioned himself playing for years.

Bears linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi sees that possibility.

“That’s up to Nick and that’s up to myself and the rest of the system,” Borgonzi said. “Nick can flourish because he’s smart and can run. And he plays physical. When you get those three things … any player has a chance to be successful.”

With that said, the day Smith returned from his 24-day hold-in, the 27-year-old Morrow became a better linebacker. The two have yet to play together in a game, but on paper, it looks like a pairing that will click.

“They’re both cerebral and they’re both high-level thinkers in football,” Borgonzi said “And they complement each other well because they both study the game and they help each other. I can see that and I can hear that in the locker room.”

Though Smith just started participating in 11-on-11 team drills in practice on Tuesday, the Roquan-Morrow pairing figures to come together quickly. While far from a finished product, the Bears’ defense under Eberflus and defensive coordinator Alan Williams has been a quick study, even with rookies and several newcomers on the field.

Morrow pointed to the impact of reserve linebacker DeMarquis Gates as an example. After just five practices since being signed on Aug. 6, Gates was making plays in the preseason opener against the Chiefs — three tackles, including one for loss, in 26 plays.

“I don’t know how long he’s been here,” Morrow said following that game, “and you see him plug and play and able to make plays, stay within the confines of the scheme and not have any mental errors … saying with your fundamentals, sticking to the philosophy of the defense and that’s kind of encouraging. You see guys that can come in and have success because they believe in the scheme.”

Morrow played in a 4-3 defense with the Raiders. But Smith will be making a transition as a weakside linebacker in Eberflus’ 4-3 after being an inside linebacker in the Bears’ 3-4 under Vic Fangio, Chuck Pagano and Sean Desai.

Watching films of 4-3 defenses is part of the learning process.

“I don’t have to tell them. They like to do it,” Borgonzi said. “We even watch old Bears film when [Brian] Urlacher and [Lance] Briggs were here. And they enjoy that. They like seeing the former players in the system play –whether it’s Chicago film, Tampa Bay film with coach Dungy, Dallas film when Flus [Eberflus] was there, Indianapolis. We always talk about the system and the style of play. They really enjoy doing that.”

Urlacher and Briggs, of course, were one of the best linebacker tandems in Bears history. That’s a high bar for Smith and Morrow, but the chemistry could be similar.

“I can’t speak to that because I wasn’t in those meeting rooms,” Borgonzi said, “but you can see how they played –it seemed like they were very in-line and these guys [Smith and Morrow] just started playing tougher. There’s guys playing 10-plus years together.

“So it would be our goal some day looking back that you can make that comparison. But right now we’re just trying to get to San Francisco and Cleveland.”

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Justin Fields hasn’t talked to rookie tackle Braxton Jones about the last time the Bears quarterback played in Cleveland.

“I’m glad,” Jones said. “I mean, that was last year. We’ve got a different group of guys –and obviously we’re looking for a better outcome.”

It will be hard for the Bears to play a worse game Saturday when they travel to FirstEnergy Stadium for their preseason finale.Fields was sacked nine times and hit on six more occasions in the Bears’ 26-6 loss on Sept. 26. On the shores of Lake Erie, head coach Matt Nagy’s offense totaled 47 yards — the franchise’s fewest in 40 years — on 42 plays. The Bears’ 1.1 yards per play were the second-fewest by any NFL team this century.

What began as a monumental day in Bears history — Fields was making his first career start — ended with foundation-cracking questions about the entire franchise. Nagy was so overmatched strategically that, just days later, he polled players during a team meeting about what they would do to fix the offense. The next Sunday, offensive coordinator Bill Lazor — and not Nagy — was the one calling plays.

Faith in the Bears’ head coach was shaken. Nagy’s end was just beginning. When chairman George McCaskey decided to fire Nagy and general manager Ryan Pace, he bet that the root of the Bears’ problem were the decision-makers, not Fields himself.

The second-year quarterback has all season to prove him right. A strong performance Saturday — Fields and the starters are expected to play until halftime — would be a small step in that direction. It would be a larger symbolic one, though, for Fields to return to the scene of the crime against football and play well.

Mercifully, Fields is in a different situation than he was last season. He’s in a new offense — an outside zone run scheme popularized by the Shanahans and Gary Kubiak, combined with a vertical passing game — and has a new position coach, coordinator and head coach.

Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy will put Fields in a better place to succeed than Nagy did the last time in Cleveland. It’d be impossible to do worse than an offensive game plan that frustrated Fields in his first-ever start. Nagy isolated an overmatched offensive line against Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney and rarely provided Fields with blocking help in the backfield.

Fields is learning the new scheme this preseason, with inconsistent results both on the practice field and in preseason games. He was held scoreless over 18 snaps — a little more than a quarter’s worth of work — in the preseason opener. In Game 2, he led a nine-play drive last week that stalled out at the Seahawks’ 17-yard line and resulted in a field goal.

Fields will get as many snaps Saturday as the previous two games combined. Succeed, and the Bears can ride a ripple of momentum in the 15 days leading up to the Sept. 11 opener against the 49ers. Fail, and Fields will have turned in disappointing performances in two of three preseason games.

Fields certainly remembers the last Cleveland trip, but few of his teammates do. General manager Ryan Poles has so overturned the Bears’ roster that only 21 players remain from the team’s 53-man roster that day. Eight play offense, and six figure to start Saturday: guard Cody Whitehair, center Sam Mustipher, tight end Cole Kmet, running back David Montgomery, receiver Darnell Mooney and Fields.Hopefully they can block.

“I just remember the loss,” said safety Eddie Jackson, who started last year’s game. “I mean …. we lost a lot last year. Right?

“That’s what I remember. That’s the ones you remember, the losses. You remember the wins, too, but more the losses.”

A better showing Saturday will make last year easier for Fields to forget.

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Cubs manager David Ross anticipates Willson Contreras will be back in the lineup and behind the plate Friday in Milwaukee. Contreras was out of the lineup Thursday, for the third straight day, with a left ankle injury.

Contreras rolled his ankle in the Field of Dreams game two weeks ago and successfully played through the soreness, even mashing four home runs since the injury. But it swelled up a couple days ago.

“It’s one thing when the ankle hurts, because the ankle, you can walk through it,” Contreras said. “But when the foot starts hurting, it’s even tough to walk and play. So, you have to take one step back and do all your recovery and all this stuff [to] get better and get on the field as soon as possible.”

Contreras couldn’t pinpoint anything that might have aggravated the injury this week. He suspects the inflammation stemmed from an accumulation of stress over the past couple weeks. But he woke up Thursday pain-free.

Welcome to Wrigley

Cade Horton and Jackson Ferris, the Cubs’ first- and second-round draft picks this year, held up blue pinstripe jerseys in front of a pair of Cubs lockers Thursday morning, a part of their tour of Wrigley Field.

Surrounded by family, they pulled the jerseys over their shirts and posed for pictures that captured a glimpse into their possible futures.

“It’s an experience like none other, just being out here” Ferris said. “It’s my first time in Chicago, my first time at Wrigley. And to be able to see everything that I’ve seen, it’s awesome.”

Said Horton: “I can feel the history. It feels super cool, the ivy’s super cool. It’s unreal.”

Ross greeted them in the clubhouse, and they met with president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer in person for the first time.

“Both seem mature for their age, and they’ve been excited to be in Arizona and getting a taste of pro ball,” Hoyer said. “It’s a little different taste because they’re not not competing. They’re throwing bullpens and [getting in] active rests, so to speak. But I think they’ve learned a lot being just out there, getting around the environment, the guys, roasting in 115 degree weather.”

Next step: instructional league.

O Canada

Canada’s COVID-19 vaccine requirements for entry into the country have already barred a smattering of players across MLB from playing in Toronto. The Cubs travel North to face the Blue Jays next week.

“We’re likely to be down by three or four players,” Hoyer said.

The Cubs are expected to announce this weekend which players will land on the restricted list for the three-game series.

Injury updates

Right-hander Adbert Alzolay (right shoulder strain) was scheduled to throw a bullpen in Triple-A Iowa on Thursday. Alzolay began a rehab assignment Monday in the Arizona Complex League, throwing three innings of one-run ball.

Outfielder Michael Hermosillo (left quad strain), after four rehab games in Arizona, joined the I-Cubs on Thursday to continue his rehab assignment.

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Good afternoon. Here’s the latest news you need to know in Chicago. It’s about a 5-minute read that will brief you on today’s biggest stories.

This afternoon will be mostly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms and a high near 79. Similar weather will continue into tonight with a low near 66. Tomorrow will be mostly cloudy with a high near 75.

Top story

10-hour marathon of rarities highlights Music Box’s film noir festival

After a three-year “intermission,” Noir City: Chicago returns tomorrow through Sept. 1 at the Music Box Theatre with a lineup of killer B’s — a six-movie marathon of rarities — and an opening-night salute to neo-noir icon James Caan.

Turner Classic Movies host Eddie Muller and his partner in cinematic crime appreciation Alan K. Rode produce and program the traveling festival, which celebrates film noir, a movement born in the ’40s, with a fatalistic perspective and a visual style reflecting that pessimism. Muller, who helms the weekly TCM showcase “Noir Alley,” bills this edition as “Noir Alley Live.”

“I tried to pick films that haven’t been shown yet on TCM,” said Muller, who also founded the Bay Area-based Film Noir Foundation, which co-presents Noir City. “There are films that can be screened in theaters but can’t be shown on TV or cable networks like TCM because they are what’s called out of window — their broadcast rights are no longer available.”

For hard-core noir fans, this year’s main attraction has to be the 10-hour marathon Saturday of B-movie rarities, beginning with “Among the Living” (1941) at 1:30 p.m. and winding up at 10:15 p.m. with “The Argyle Secrets” (1948).

The James Caan tribute came together after the “Godfather” star died July 6 at age 82. Set and filmed in Chicago by director/co-writer Michael Mann in his feature-film debut, “Thief” (1981) gave Caan one of his best roles. “Most neo-noir fans know ‘Thief,’ but I was most psyched to screen ‘Flesh and Bone’ [1993],” Muller said. “It’s very much a noir, with a flashback story to a dark secret in a man’s life. It asks the perennial question: Are the sins of the father visited upon the son?”

The Music Box engagement marks the 12th installment of Noir City: Chicago, which had been shelved since 2019 due to the pandemic.

Laura Emerick has more on the film festival here.

More news you need

Lisa Van Allen, a key witness in R. Kelly’s 2008 child pornography trial, testified today that she and Kelly filmed multiple threesomes with an underage girl in the late 1990s. Van Allen was matter of fact as she relayed the dark details, our Andy Grimm and Jon Seidel report in their latest from Kelly’s trial.Sexual misconduct complaints have returned to pre-pandemic levels at Chicago Public Schools after a major dip during remote learning, officials said yesterday. The rise in misconduct reports was expected as students and staff returned to classrooms, CPS officials said.A woman escaped an attempted kidnapping in the West Loop after a bystander stepped in yesterday morning, Chicago police said. Our David Struett has more on how a passerby walking his dog was able to thwart the kidnapping attempt here.Under a new contract, unarmed security teams working with dogs will help patrol Chicago Transit Authority property in an effort to deter crime, the agency announced yesterday. CTA officials said they signed an 18-month contract with security service Action K-9 worth more than $30 million that will provide 100 unarmed guards and 50 canines per day for patrols.Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White and Chicago Public Health Commissioner Allison Arwady each announced today that they have tested positive for COVID-19. COVID cases and hospitalizations have risen this summer thanks to the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants, but numbers have started to level off over the past two weeks.

A bright one

Collaboration between businessmen and street artists makes West Side building shine

A rubber ducky atop a skull awash in suds. An aqua-colored owl. A woman with rabbit ears and no mouth. What appears to be the Disney character Pluto — or is it Goofy? — with a robot head in his mouth. And a purple frog holding a cheeseburger that has eyes and a mouth.

You probably wouldn’t guess that the brick building near Grand and Chicago avenues on which all of the above are painted is the headquarters of the aircraft parts company Setna iO. The building is awash with murals. Many of them beg for an explanation: What is that? Others give a nod to the aviation industry, with their cartoonish characters in aviator goggles zipping around in little planes.

The outdoor art resulted from a chance encounter during the civil unrest of 2020 between David Chaimovitz, the aircraft parts company’s chief executive officer, and the street artist who goes by Bird Milk.

“I was on Division Street, and there was a peaceful protest and tons of people were there, and I see these guys painting all the boarded-up windows,” Chaimovitz says. “They were making some lemonade out of lemons. So I went up to them and said, ‘This is super-cool. I have a business. I always wanted to have some murals.'”

Chaimovitz says he gave the artists pretty much free rein, telling them: “If you can incorporate aviation into it, that’s cool. If not, that’s also cool. Come and have some fun, and make the city more beautiful.”

Though the building is now pretty well covered with art, “We’re still kind of adding to it as time goes on and as I encounter more artists,” Chaimovitz says.

You can read the full story behind the murals here.

From the press box

Your daily question ?

If you could become an alderperson for a day, what’s the first thing you’d do for your ward?

Send us an email at [email protected] and we might feature your answer in the next Afternoon Edition.

Yesterday, we asked you: How do you feel about President Biden’s new student debt cancellation plan?

Here’s what some of you said…

“I paid off my loans in full and I don’t mind a bit. Everyone benefits from a healthy middle class. Except for the 1%.” –Annaliese Spalink

“Instead how about helping us on social security and fixed incomes? We are barely holding on.” –Christine Lotz

“Will change my entire life for the better.” –Justin Blake Walters

“Cancelling student debt is irresponsible and it teaches irresponsibility!” –Claudia Moon Zikuda

“It’s a good step. We should have free college education like in Europe but it will at least help people who are burdened with college debt. Nothing wrong with government helping working class people.” — Dave Gerard

“I paid mine myself. How about $10K toward my mortgage?” — Kevin Roecker

“Long overdue. The days when a student can ‘work their way through’ as I did in the late 60s and early 70s are no longer possible. We should be encouraging all forms of advanced training, including trade schools.” –Judi Breuggeman

Thanks for reading the Chicago Afternoon Edition. Got a story you think we missed? Email us here.

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Brian Urlacher is still bitter about how things ended in Chicago and it seems he doesn’t like the city that embraced him for his entire career.

Brian Urlacher held a 50-minute podcast conversation with Jay Cutler recently and the two could have been more idiotic in their takes.  Most notably Urlacher came with two gems from his home in Arizona where he takes a swipe at Chicago in February and the Bears’ plans to put a dome on their new stadium.

“Don’t put a dome on that thing,” former Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher said on Jay Cutler’s podcast. “Don’t put a dome on a new stadium. They can’t do that.”

Brian Urlacher is beyond silly with this statement, ideally, the Bears put up a domed stadium that also has a retractable roof to go with it.  Much like his hometown Arizona Cardinals who also have a retractable dome stadium and a retractable field the Bears could build a stadium that does both.  The weather in Chicago in mid-November is still suitable for outdoor stadium play.

Brian Urlacher then further shows his ignorance by claiming the city of Chicago can’t host a Super Bowl in February because it’s too cold.

“Who the f–k wants to be in Chicago in February? Nobody,” Urlacher said. “Chicago ain’t getting no Super Bowl. It’s too f–king cold.”

Meanwhile, the McCormick Place plaza is ideally suited to host numerous NFL events during Super Bowl week.   Chicago’s top-notch restaurant scene is also perfect for all of the exclusive parties that happen during the week.  It’s as if Brian Urlacher never ventured into Chicago beyond going to his in-season home and to Halas Hall and back to the stadium for games.

Chicago is one of the best cities to host a Super Bowl.  There’s no rule that states the events involved with the Super Bowl beyond the game have to occur outside.

As soon as the new retractable roof stadium is built plus the supporting infrastructure that will be built on the Arlington Heights property also likely capable of supporting the big one, the Bears should host a Super Bowl.

There’s little doubt that if the city of Chicago is given the chance to host a Super Bowl, it will be one of the best-hosted Super Bowls in the history of the league.

With so many former Bears players who have embraced the city of Chicago and have remained here in Chicago, Urlacher looks like a bitter pompous ass.  The city of Chicago is one of the best in the world and the evidence is here with the true Bears players who have remained here for years.  From Walter Payton and his kids to Olin Kreutz Alex Brown, and Gary Fencik among many others, the best  Bears have remained in the city of broad shoulders.

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Jack Sanborn is the type of Bears player that fans absolutely fall in love with every year.  Now ProFootballFocus has graded him as one of the best rookies through two weeks of the preseason.

Jack Sanborn is becoming a hometown favorite of the Chicago Bears through two preseason games.  Sanborn had an explosive debut in week 1 of the preseason collecting a pick and a fumble recovery.  While week 2 wasn’t as flashy, it was another excellent game for him as he racked up five tackles against the Seahawks.

More notably is how Jack Sanborn’s tackles are  providing more value than just a number on the stat sheet as ProFootballFocus explains:  

This is the same guy we saw at Wisconsin last season. Sanborn just sees the game at a high level and plays faster than any stopwatch measurements will tell you. He’s allowed only one first down on eight targets and had an interception himself. Maybe most encouragingly, Sanborn hasn’t missed a tackle on 10 attempts this preseason after displaying some issues in that facet at Wisconsin.

That’s 10 tackles in two games and only one first down allowed, which means Jack Sanborn is making the tackle and getting the ball-carrier on the ground.  These are all the same things he did at Wisconsin and it’s a carry-over for so many undrafted free agents who go on to make the 53-man roster.

Jacks Sanborn has undoubtedly played his way onto the 53-man roster as a backup linebacker and as a core special teams player.  Sanborn was already at an advantage because he played on all the special teams units in college.

He’ll stick to the roster for years to come if he keeps up with this level of consistent play on the field.

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