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Chicago Bears Rumors: 3 trade packages for Russell WilsonRyan Heckmanon May 16, 2020 at 11:00 am

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Chicago Bears, Russell Wilson

Chicago Bears (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

A recent report suggests that Russell Wilson will eventually be traded. What would it take for the Chicago Bears to land him?

In a time when sports fans are as hungry as ever, the football world gave us quite the report a couple of days ago. As a Chicago Bears fan, I was immediately drawn into the rumor.

We know this franchise has been starved of strong quarterback play for quite some time now. The best we have seen in a while is prime Jay Cutler, who still coughed up a handful of games due to poor decision-making. Now, fans are hoping they can at least see a halfway-decent season from either Mitchell Trubisky or Nick Foles.

Don’t hold your breath, folks.

Back to this bombshell report dropped on us a couple days ago. It involves the Seattle Seahawks and Super Bowl-winning, 6-time Pro Bowl quarterback Russell Wilson.

Apparently, Wilson could be available in a future trade scenario, per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio.

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At first, it sounds crazy. Actually, it sounds crazy no matter what. But, if that’s really where the Seahawks are at, I won’t question it. I’m not the GM.

If Wilson is indeed on the block in the future, though, how could Ryan Pace and the Bears not get involved? You’re talking about a franchise that has been a quarterback away from a championship on multiple occasions, even as recent as 2018, possibly.

Before we get into the thick of this thing, I want to state that I think it is highly unlikely the Seahawks deal Wilson. The idea sounds absurd as a Seahawks fan, but in this business, you can never rule anything out. In my opinion, though, I don’t see the advantage of trading a historically-elite quarterback.

Then again, like I said, we’ve been surprised by the NFL before. If the Bears were to ever involve themselves in the conversation (if there was one), let’s look at some deals they could float on over to Seattle.

Next: Trade No. 1

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Chicago Bears Rumors: 3 trade packages for Russell WilsonRyan Heckmanon May 16, 2020 at 11:00 am Read More »

Chicago Bears should pounce on Russell Wilson when availableVincent Pariseon May 16, 2020 at 12:00 pm

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 05: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks passes the ball during the NFC Wild Card game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on January 5, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 05: Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks passes the ball during the NFC Wild Card game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on January 5, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

The Chicago Bears have no quarterback of the future but if they can get Russell Wilson at any point they have to pounce on that.

The Chicago Bears have no history of great play under center. Jay Cutler is the best quarterback to ever play for the squad and he had many warts. The history of the defense has a long list of elite franchise level players that have been great but no true success is every going to be sustained without a franchise quarterback. They need to somehow get themselves a much better quarterback and fast.

You all know about the fact that general manager Ryan Pace selected Mitchell Trubisky with the second overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Yes, Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson were on the board which makes the fact that Trubisky is bad even worse. Well, it is over and done with and now they need to make it right. They can’t go back and change the pick but they can look ahead and address the issue.

There have been some rumors surrounding Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson. The rumor is that Seattle offered Wilson to the Cleveland Browns ahead of the 2018 NFL Draft in order to obtain the number one overall pick. The likely reason why is so they can keep some of their very good players at other positions and draft Baker Mayfield in order to have their starting quarterback on a rookie deal.

That would have been a terrible decision by Seattle and they should be so happy it didn’t happen. We still don’t know where Mayfield falls between being a lousy, good, or great player but he is no Russell Wilson and likely never will be. You can make a fair argument that right here in 2020, only Patrick Mahomes is better than Wilson. All-time, you would say that Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers are better/more successful but at this stage of the game, Wilson is a beast.

If the Seahawks ever wanted to trade him when his contract allows, the Bears should do it. Even if it isn’t until the end of the 2021 season, it would still be worth it. He will still be in his early 30s by that point which could mean he has 5-to-8 years left. The Bears have never had a quarterback like that playing for them.

Wilson is so good for a lot of reasons. He fits some of the most eye-popping throws into the tightest windows, scramble with the best of them, and is a great teammate. Obviously, we haven’t met him personally but all signs point to him being a genuine human being that is willing to do what he needs to win. The Bears would have to lose some players making a lot of money, but adding Wilson would automatically make them a contender. Even if you slightly weakened the defense but added Wilson, that is a very good football team.

Related Story: The Chicago Bears messed up the Deshaun Watson situation

The bottom line is that if Chicago ever saw that Seattle was shopping him, they should do what they need to do. There is not a single player on the Chicago Bears roster right now that helps them win football games more than he would. We don’t even know who will be starting week one between Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles so adding a guy like Wilson in their place down the road is a no brainer.

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Chicago Bears should pounce on Russell Wilson when availableVincent Pariseon May 16, 2020 at 12:00 pm Read More »

How long can I live like this? I’m not talking about the pandemic.Marianne Gosson May 16, 2020 at 1:41 pm

Retired in Chicago

How long can I live like this? I’m not talking about the pandemic.

©2020 CTMG – A Chicago Tribune website –
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How long can I live like this? I’m not talking about the pandemic.Marianne Gosson May 16, 2020 at 1:41 pm Read More »

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Tashi Dorji and Tyler Damon’s marvelous improvised concert at the May Chapel rings out againBill Meyeron May 15, 2020 at 5:11 pm

Has it really been just two months since the Illinois shelter-in-place order went into effect? Sometimes live music seems like a fading memory. But when the original experience is especially vivid, it’s not hard for a record like To Catch a Bird in a Net of Wind to bring it all back. The album captures a duo set that electric guitarist Tashi Dorji and percussionist Tyler Damon played at the May Chapel in Rosehill Cemetery, which was part of Elastic Arts’ 2018 Exposure Series. It opens with the sound of Damon striking hand chimes as he walks down between packed pews, sending metallic tones up to the chapel’s vaulted ceiling. As their metallic reverberations bounce back to meet Damon’s advance, Dorji builds from humming feedback to a constellation of shimmering, electric tones. After Damon takes his seat at the drum kit, the duo enact an improvised sonic contest in which they exchange slashing attacks and tumbling retreats, encircled by a halo of overtones. The album feels a bit like a martial-arts flick where each climax tops the one before, but the champions never fall. v

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Tashi Dorji and Tyler Damon’s marvelous improvised concert at the May Chapel rings out againBill Meyeron May 15, 2020 at 5:11 pm Read More »

Chicago drill icon Lil Durk leans into his melancholy on Just Cause Y’all Waited 2Leor Galilon May 15, 2020 at 5:14 pm

Chicago rapper Lil Durk dropped his debut mixtape nearly nine years ago, and he’s since matured into one of drill’s most consistent, influential, and successful artists. His four previous major-label full-lengths have all peaked in the top 50 of the Billboard 200, including August’s Love Songs 4 the Streets 2, which debuted at number four. His flair for melody and his no-bullshit hooks have helped give rise to a new wave of drill artists, including everyone’s new favorite Chicago rap sensation, Taurus Bartlett–better known as Polo G. On Durk’s fifth studio album, Just Cause Y’all Waited 2 (Alamo/Geffen), Bartlett adds lithe vocals to “3 Headed Goat,” augmenting the brawny texture of Durk’s vocals and the subtle vulnerability in his inflection. Just Cause Y’all Waited 2 leans on melancholy instrumentals: regal piano notes inform the sound world of “All Love,” and a dusky, lonesome saxophone sets the tone for “Viral Moment.” Durk understands how to look back without getting sentimental, and he remains guarded while combing through his regrets on “Turn Myself In.” He originally released the track in May 2019, just before he surrendered himself to the Atlanta Police Department–it had issued a warrant for his arrest in connection with a February 2019 shooting, and his attempted murder case remains pending. Lil Durk delivers a powerful performance on “Turn Myself In,” and when his Auto-Tuned voice hits the occasional high note, he offers glimpses of the depth and complexity in his story that stray hard-news headlines can’t convey. v

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Chicago drill icon Lil Durk leans into his melancholy on Just Cause Y’all Waited 2Leor Galilon May 15, 2020 at 5:14 pm Read More »

Okkultokrati alchemize grimy punk and metal into a dark triumph on La Ilden LyseJamie Ludwigon May 15, 2020 at 5:29 pm

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Okkultokrati alchemize grimy punk and metal into a dark triumph on La Ilden LyseJamie Ludwigon May 15, 2020 at 5:29 pm Read More »

Saint Louis rapper-singer Smino re-creates the fun of classic hip-hop mixtapes on She Already Decided “Mixtape”Leor Galilon May 15, 2020 at 6:38 pm

When rapper-singer Smino self-released She Already Decided on April 20, he added “Mixtape” in scare quotes to the title on Soundcloud. In doing so, the Saint Louis native provided a sly history lesson for young listeners who’ve only ever referred to full-lengths as “projects.” A decade ago, hip-hop mixtapes provided a way for rappers to skirt record-deal obligations, providing them an unregulated outlet where they could remake the hot tracks of the moment and flex their creative muscles. These releases weren’t strictly legal, but major-label executives largely looked the other way–not least because mixtapes allowed their artists to stoke their popularity between studio albums and remain relevant to a fickle public. This was before hip-hop mixtape sites helped transform the format, turning what used to be grab bags of unmastered recordings and raw freestyles into studio-quality music. Streaming further blurred the distinctions between mixtapes and “formal” releases–these days, collections of Drake Z sides are afforded the same importance as soul-baring albums that took years to put together. She Already Decided hits like a classic mixtape: Smino puts his stamp on contemporary hits, transforming Roddy Ricch’s “The Box” into “Jamie Boxx (Freestyle),” and raps over instrumentals that make no bones about the beloved songs they’re sampling (“Fronto Isley,” for instance, is built on a snippet of the 1975 Isley Brothers hit “For the Love of You”). He approaches each track with understated cool and his unmistakable smoothness, infusing joy into every well-rounded syllable and slip-sliding verse. Smino knows that a great mixtape has to be fun, and She Already Decided gives us a way to make our own cheer while we’re stuck indoors. v

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Saint Louis rapper-singer Smino re-creates the fun of classic hip-hop mixtapes on She Already Decided “Mixtape”Leor Galilon May 15, 2020 at 6:38 pm Read More »

The Soft Pink Truth traffics in revelations on Shall We Go On Sinning So That Grace May Increase?Salem Collo-Julinon May 15, 2020 at 6:41 pm

The Soft Pink Truth’s new album, Shall We Go On Sinning So That Grace May Increase? (Thrill Jockey), is a soundtrack for contemplation, discovery, and the seeking of truth. The solo project of Baltimore musician Drew Daniel, best known for his work in experimental duo Matmos, the Soft Pink Truth started in response to a challenge. After Matmos released 2001’s A Chance to Cut Is a Chance to Cure, which featured glitchy electronic sounds built from samples of medical procedures, British house producer and musician Matthew Herbert dared Daniel to apply his inventive style to house music. In response, Daniel created 2003’s bumping dance album Do You Party? (which Herbert put out on his own Soundslike label). On previous releases, the Soft Pink Truth’s signature has been marrying heady concepts with experimental, sometimes outre compositions under an EDM umbrella; 2014’s Why Do the Heathen Rage? is an especially wonderful collection of black-metal covers that uplifts the source material rather than skewering it. But Sinning takes a different approach. Daniel works with a diverse group of guest artists–including his Matmos partner, M.C. Schmidt (also his partner in life), and saxophonists John Berndt and Andrew Bernstein, who’s in Horse Lords–to create an organic, warm, and often jazzy sound. Daniel began working on the album shortly after the 2016 election, and he titled it using Paul the Apostle’s words in Romans 6:1 to express the rage and disconnect he felt during that time. But though Sinning is informed by anger, it embraces collaboration and mutual aid, using prominent vocal harmonies, tape delay, and other tools to suggest how we can create a world of our own in the face of adversity. Opening track “Shall” features guest singers Colin Self, Angel Deradoorian, and Jana Hunter, and Daniel samples their choirlike vocals to weave them into the rest of the record. The whole thing is a joyful, loud, and sometimes danceable protest against those who may call us sinners. v

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The Soft Pink Truth traffics in revelations on Shall We Go On Sinning So That Grace May Increase?Salem Collo-Julinon May 15, 2020 at 6:41 pm Read More »