One year. Ten million dollars. And all the Dalton Bears fans can stand. Can you feel the excitement?

One year. Ten million dollars. And all the Andy Dalton Bears fans can stand.

Can you feel the excitement?

In this week’s “Polling Place,” your home for Sun-Times sports polls on Twitter, we took respondents’ temperatures after the Bears signed Dalton to pilot their offense in 2021. Let’s just say general manager Ryan Pace’s move didn’t go over so well.

“I choose to boycott the Bears’ upcoming season,” @reesetheone1 commented. “There are other teams to watch. I’m content watching the Bulls constantly blow double-digit leads and lose games they should have won.”

But seriously, folks.

So whom would they rather have for one season: Dalton, veteran backup Nick Foles or the gone-for-good Mitch Trubisky?

“If these were my choices,” @LTWujek wrote, “I’d just punt it on every down.”

Rim shot, anyone?

“Just snap it into an open backfield and let it bounce around,” @DL2379 offered. “Probably as effective as having one of them catch it.”

Sheesh. It’s almost like Bears fans are tired of never having a franchise quarterback.

On to the polls:

Poll No. 1: If you had to choose one of these QBs to lead a team in 2021, whom would it be?

Upshot: Well, well, look who ran away with it. Perhaps the Bears should’ve hung on to Trubisky and built their future around him? Would it have been too soon for a statue of him outside Soldier Field? “If Mitch were the new guy coming in and Andy just left, the numbers would be reversed,” @wrote @rrt_nps. “This fanbase is a joke!” The grass is always greener on the other side of the Outer Drive.

Poll No. 2: If Dalton is the Bears’ starter in 2021, what will be their ceiling?

Upshot: Who are these people who answered A or B? What is it like on their planet? Does everyone eat sunshine and spit rainbows? Whoever they are, they have little in common with @JBIRD1268, who wrote, “I predict 2-14.” That’s cold-blooded. It also better be an overstatement. Besides, there are reports out that the NFL might go to a 17-game regular season this year. No 2-15 cracks!

Poll No. 3: The Bears reportedly offered three first-round picks, a third-rounder and two players to Seattle for QB Russell Wilson. Good thing or bad thing the Seahawks nixed it?

Upshot: Clearly, a majority of respondents disagree with the notion that the Bears would’ve been mortgaging their future to get their arms around one of the elite performers in the NFL. And really, what would we know around here about the dangers of overpaying for — or anything else related to having — a superstar at the most important position in sports?

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Forward thrilled to be back, will add needed depth to frontcourt

When forward Astou Ndour found out earlier this month that she would be back with the Sky — the team with whom she said she played “her best game” — she couldn’t have been more ecstatic.

“It was a privilege to come back to Chicago,” she said in a phone interview this week. “It’s where I feel comfortable on the court and off the court. So honestly, I’m happy to be back.”

Ndour signed a one-year deal with the Sky last week after the Wings waived her one year into her deal worth more than $570,000 following an underwhelming 2020.

Ndour didn’t live up to her contract and played in only 13 games, averaging a measly 3.5 points and 2.9 rebounds in 11.7 minutes.

But now she’s determined to return to 2019 form — or perhaps even better, she said.

“Why not? [I] can do a lot more,” Ndour said.

Not that the Sky necessarily expect her to put up the numbers she did as a starter in 2019.

Ndour joins a loaded frontcourt that includes Candace Parker, Azura Stevens, Stefanie Dolson and Ruthy Hebard. She primarily was brought back to add veteran depth and familiarity in an area that the Sky historically have needed it. Last season, the Sky were forced to play with a short roster due to mounting injuries, especially among their bigs.

“You have to be deep at the post spot,” coach James Wade said. “Look at how last year where we started off deep and [where] we ended up — we’re looking for post players and we had to trade for one. So I think we have to play it out, we have good pieces, we know that all five of our post players can play and they will play, but it’s going to be competitive.”

With Ndour already comfortable and familiar with the Sky’s system, the hope is for a smooth transition.

“It’s a really good gift for us, and I’ve been coaching Astou for a while now, I’m just happy to have her back,” Wade said.

Ndour feels the same way.

The week before 2020 WNBA free agency began, Ndour, then a restricted free agent, pledged her loyalty to the Sky — and more specifically, to Wade.

Ndour credits Wade as the reason why she made it to the WNBA after he played a major role in getting the San Antonio Stars to draft her 16th overall in the 2014 draft. Leading up to free agency, she discussed her desire to return to Chicago and compete for a championship after a heartbreaking second-round loss to the Aces.

Wade didn’t want to part ways with Ndour, but the new collective-bargaining agreement complicated last offseason. Under the new deal, the league’s top veteran players’ maximum base salaries nearly doubled, while the salary cap increased by only 30%.

The Sky had seven free agents, including Courtney Vandersloot, Allie Quigley, Dolson and Kahleah Copper. And Ndour’s market value skyrocketed after she seamlessly stepped into the starting lineup for an injured Jantel Lavender.

Last February, Wade and Ndour met for dinner in a small town in Russia, where the two were based with their offseason teams. Wade explained that the Sky couldn’t match the max offers she received.

“They wanted me back and I knew the situation and their circumstance so we were talking about that and I understood,” Ndour said.

But all that is history. And Ndour is turning the page to the upcoming season.

“I like pushing myself to break records,” Ndour said. “If I want something right now, I want to do it again, that’s going to be motivation to push myself and help the team.”

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All the scores from the ranked teams.

1. Loyola (1-0)

Won 7-3 at No. 9 St. Rita

2. Mount Carmel (1-0)

Won 31-21 at Montini

3. Lincoln-Way East (1-0)

Won 42-14 vs. No. 12 Bolingbrook

4. Batavia (1-0)

Won 54-7 at St. Charles East

5. Brother Rice (1-0)

Won 28-7 at Providence

6. Glenbard West (1-0)

Won 56-0 at Addison Trail

7. Marist (1-0)

Won 34-13 at Notre Dame

8. Homewood-Flosssmoor (1-0)

Won 41-14 vs. Lockport

9. St. Rita (1-0)

Lost 7-3 vs. No. 1 Loyola

10. Naperville Central

Hosts Waubonsie Valley Saturday

11. Warren (1-0)

Won 48-6 at Zion-Benton

12. Bolingbrook (0-1)

Lost 42-14 at No. 3 Lincoln-Way East

13. Nazareth (0-0)

DNP

14. Maine South (1-0)

Won 49-6 vs. Niles West

15. Prairie Ridge (1-0)

Won 42-16 vs. McHenry at Huntley

16. Hinsdale Central (1-0)

Won 42-7 vs. Oak Park

17. Wheaton Warrenville South (1-0)

Won 42-7 vs. Lake Park

18. Joliet Catholic (1-0)

Won 49-0 at St. Laurence

19. Cary-Grove (0-0)

Plays Burlington Central at Huntley Saturday

20. Montini (0-1)

Lost 31-21 vs. No. 2 Mount Carmel

21. Oswego (1-0)

Won 24-0 at Plainfield South

22. Neuqua Valley

Hosts Naperville North Saturday

23. Phillips (0-0)

DNP

24. Fremd

At Hoffman Estates Saturday

25. Huntley (1-0)

Won 42-8 vs. Jacobs

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Chicago Bears News: Desmond Trufant replaces Kyle Fuller on defense by Jordan Campbell

I’ve held up on writing this for a few days because I needed time to reflect on this Illinois Fighting Illini basketball season. But they’ve just played their first NCAA tournament game in 2,917 days, so now is probably as good a time as any.

I wrote a couple of years ago about how Brad Underwood was building a foundation of sorts as his young, inexperienced, and overwhelmed team had shown tremendous growth from the beginning of the season. The Illinois Fighting Illini basketball program had long lost its ways. They were a decade removed from being seen as a respectable team in what had become the best conference in all of college basketball.

However, what I was not expecting at all was Underwood transforming the pond scum of the Big Ten into a bonified championship-contending team. It’s so bizarre because I continue to stare at the “1” next to “Illinois” on the NCAA bracket and it still hasn’t dawned on me that this team is five more wins away from immortality.

I have so many thoughts about this team and how successful this season has been. It obviously starts with Ayo Dosunmu and Kofi Cockburn rescinding their draft declarations last spring and getting ready at one big push for college basketball glory.

I feel like my heart stopped when Dosunmu announced his return last summer and Cockburn the following suit a day later. What both guys have done this year has been nothing short of remarkable. There really isn’t much I can say that the national sports media hasn’t already covered. Those two are special and provide such a unique combination that no team in the country can effectively counter when firing on all cylinders. There is a reason why guys like Jon Rothstein and Gary Parrish predict that Illinois will be the last team standing at the end of the tournament.

No matter what happens to them when they eventually go pro, the numbers 11 and 21 will be hung up in the State Farm Center rafters when it’s all said and done. Two All-American performers who helped Underwood return Illinois to respectability.

But the storylines with this team almost seem endless.

How could I not wax poetic when it comes to the two seniors in Trent Frazier and Da’Monte Williams? Two dudes who saw this program at its lowest when they were just exiting puberty. Frazier went from leading all Big Ten freshmen in scoring to making it his goal to be part of the Big Ten All-Defense team (mission accomplished). ‘Monte, son of Illini great Frank Williams, had a lofty reputation to live up to. The guy has turned into one of Underwood’s most reliable players and has shot nearly 55% from long range this season.

Last year was supposed to be their year to experience the postseason play that excites any college basketball player. It truly warms my heart to see those two get the opportunity to play on the big stage for the first time in their careers. Safe to say their patience has been rewarded. I could talk about these two forever, but that’s because they deserve it.

And it isn’t all about the elder statesmen…

One of the things I also look forward to is watching Andre Curbelo dazzle the nation with his seemingly bottomless bag of offensive tricks. Going into the season, I was woefully unprepared for ‘Belo to run away with Big Ten Sixth Player of the Year. He is undeniably one of the most fun players in the country to watch, and his fingerprints are all over this team’s success.

Adam “Ace” Miller was seen as the crown jewel of Underwood’s most recent recruiting class. The 2020 Illinois Mr. Basketball opened up his campaign with a record-breaking performance against North Carolina A&T but has since cooled off. However, when he scores double digits, the team is 10-1. So when he has a good day, so does the team.

I could’ve lumped him in with Trent and ‘Monte, but Giorgi Beshanisvilli has one of the most important jobs on this team as Kofi’s backup. A true fan favorite had also seen this rebuild from the ground up, Giorgi has literally never had a bad day in his life. It’s hard not to think about his infectious personality, but he’s grown each year in Champaign. He started every single game his freshman year, took a backseat to Cockburn last season, and embraced his role off the bench. This season has been especially tough for the Georgia native, given he hasn’t seen his family in well over a year.

But he’s had his Illini family with him the whole time, and the sacrifices they’ve made have lead to this moment.

I was genuinely concerned when this team was 9-5. I felt we had vastly overrated them and their preseason expectations. Clearly, they were a tournament team, but they weren’t a team that could go all the way.

But then something happened. I don’t know if all the switches managed to flip themselves or not but when Dosunmu suffered a concussion and a broken nose against Michigan State, this team could’ve curled up without their leader. Instead, they decided to blast Michigan in the most impressive win out of any team this season and fight their way with the “Masked Man” to the Big Ten title.

His three-game absence managed to make this team better in a week’s time. There is no other squad in the country that has more Quad 1 victories than Illinois. They are true contenders and they took care of the first test of the Big Dance. Such a long way from where they were two years ago, but here we are. Five more to go. Loyola-Chicago has a warm spot in our hearts thanks to their 2018 tournament run.

But they’re going up against a program that has finally completed its resurrection after years of being the conference doormat.

Next: Chicago Bears: Wait, *another* rebuild?

These guys are ready.

They’re ready to go all the way.

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Prairie State Pigskin

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Ready and able: Southern Illinois QBs have answered the call in spring season

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By Barry Bottino,
today at 4:01 am

As a former college and professional quarterback, Nick Hill knows it can be a lonely job.

“It’s the toughest position on the team,” the Southern Illinois head football coach said. “Only one person gets to play. If you’re a backup linebacker, a backup D-lineman, you’re going to get some reps. You’re going to go into Saturdays knowing you’re going to get a few reps. Even if you’re not starting, you’re going to get in.”

In Southern’s case, however, injuries have made the QB position a revolving door and shined a spotlight on how backups need to be prepared at a moment’s notice.

The fifth-ranked Salukis (4-1 overall, 3-1 Missouri Valley Football Conference) will need to be ready for another test Saturday when they host No. 6 South Dakota State (3-1) at noon in Carbondale. (ESPN+)

After senior Kare’ Lyles suffered broken ribs in the spring season opener against North Dakota, sophomore Nic Baker took over and led the team to three consecutive wins.

When Baker injured his left foot on a scramble out of the pocket in the first half against Northern Iowa last Saturday, junior Stone Labanowitz took over and connected on 11 of 15 passes in the victory.

“It starts with their approach,” Hill said of the QBs. “It’s up to them as individuals to buy into that.”

Despite not getting as many reps in practice as the starter, SIU’s backups have proven ready to go. Hill said consistency in the coaching staff is one of the reasons that the quarterbacks have performed well.

“It’s been nice that we’ve all been together now for two years – same quarterback coach, same coordinator, myself – knowing these guys,” he said. “It’s paid off and we’re going to continue to need them all.”

During his weekly press conference, Hill was unsure who would start. Baker is listed as the starter on the team’s weekly two-deep roster, but “he was in a lot of pain” after Saturday’s game, according to Hill.

Lyles was in uniform against Northern Iowa and could have played if needed.

“He was cleared on Thursday, but he just hadn’t practiced much,” Hill said. “He could’ve, in a worst-case scenario, got out there and played.”

Then there’s Labanowitz, who was the opening-day starter for SIU in 2019 before an injury derailed his season and Lyles took over. Labanowitz is one year removed from back surgery.

Big honor for Big Z

Senior guard ZeVeyon Furcron was named the MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week for his performance against Northern Iowa.

The Joliet Catholic High School graduate graded out at 92% for the game and had five knockdowns against the Panthers. Furcron helped SIU rush for 192 yards in the contest and pile up 414 yards of total offense.

This is the first career MVFC O-line weekly honor for Furcron.

The Salukis face a test on the ground this week. SIU is averaging 182.8 yards on the ground, which ranks third in the conference. SDSU has the league’s fourth-best run defense, allowing 122 yards a game.

About South Dakota State

Junior running back Pierre Strong has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons. This spring, he is second in the MVFC with 89.5 yards a game and has a 5.2 yards per carry average. “Strong is a top back in the country,” Hill said. “He’s a big back, makes guys miss. He’s really patient.” … SDSU’s quarterback job has been taken over by true freshman Mark Gronowski of Naperville. He ranks second in total offense (248.2 yards a game) in the conference. … The Jackrabbits have the longest active streak in FCS with 10 consecutive trips to the playoffs. … Dating back to October 2012, SDSU has been ranked in the top 25 in national media polls for 110 consecutive weeks. … The Jackrabbits have scored on their first offensive drive of the game in all four of its contests this spring.

News and notes

Hill said this week that defensive tackle Jujuan Blankenship will miss the remainder of the season because of injury. The transfer from FBS Tulsa played in three games this season, collecting eight tackles and two tackles for loss. … The Salukis will get some reinforcements in the secondary, according to Hill, as junior safety Aaron Maddox returns from injury. Maddox will join a stingy defensive backfield. The Salukis’ secondary has allowed an MVFC-low 135.6 passing yards per game this spring. … Linebackers Bryson Strong (30) and Bryce Notree (27) lead the team in tackles.

Where to find the game

SIU will kick off at noon against South Dakota State on ESPN+ online. The radio broadcast is available at CILFM.com.

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The first robbery was March 9 in the 800 block of West Argyle Avenue.

Chicago police are warning residents in Lincoln Square and Uptown of a recent string of March mail robberies.

Police are searching for a group of five people, including three males and a female, who allegedly took mail from inside several mailboxes in buildings on the North Side, Chicago police said.

The robberies happened in the overnight hours on:

• March 9 in the 800 block of West Argyle Avenue;
• March 10 in the 2400 block of West Foster Avenue;
• March 16 in the 4900 block of North Marine Drive; and
• March 19 in the 4900 block of North Western Avenue.

The female was described as wearing black and white tennis shoes with strawberry blonde hair in a ponytail, police said.

One male was bald and wearing a leather jacket, police said. Another was wearing a white baseball cap.

The third male was wearing a gray baseball cap, police said. The fifth person had a tattoo on their left hand and was wearing a panda hat.

Anyone with information is asked to call Area Three detectives at 312-744-8263.

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Join Draft Dr. Phil and Shayne “The Smartest Man” as they recap the Dalton signing and what the hell might be going through Ryan Pace’s brain at this very moment. The guys are then joined by NFL Draft Prospect – Michigan State DT Naquan Jones to talk about his journey, and ESPN Producer Mike Antoniou.

The post Keepin It 100 – Andy Dalton Has Arrived with Special Guests Naquan Jones and Mike Antoniou first appeared on CHI CITY SPORTS l Chicago Sports Blog – News – Forum – Fans – Rumors.Read More

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Chicago Bears and Desmond Trufant have come to an agreement on a one-year contract. The Trufant announcement comes a day after it was announced that the Bears and former All-Pro Cornerback Kyle Fuller were parting ways after seven seasons.

The post Breaking: Bears Sign Cornerback Desmond Trufant first appeared on CHI CITY SPORTS l Chicago Sports Blog – News – Forum – Fans – Rumors.Read More

After a pathetic home loss to the Spurs See Red Fred and Doug Thonus climb aboard the tattered remains of the vehicle and attempt to travel home without a roof.

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The Chicago Bears have made an offer to wide receiver Kenny Golladay according to a report from Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.

The post Report: Chicago Bears have made an offer to WR Kenny Golladay first appeared on CHI CITY SPORTS l Chicago Sports Blog – News – Forum – Fans – Rumors.Read More