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Bears’ Justin Fields becomes 3rd NFL QB to rush for 1,000 yards

Justin Fields ran for one yard in the fourth quarter of the Bears’ game against the Eagles today, pushing him over 1,000 for the season and putting him in an exclusive club. The only other quarterbacks to hit that mark were the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson in 2019 and ’20 and the Falcons’ Michael Vick in 2006.

Fields had 95 yards on 15 carries in the game and exactly 1,000 yards for the season after that run.

Jackson won the MVP in 2019 and was the consensus best running quarterback in the league until Fields emerged this season, and Vick is arguably the most impressive runner of all time at the position.

“That would be crazy with Michael Vick,” said Fields, who grew up in the Atlanta area, when asked Thursday about the possibility of reaching 1,000 yards. “It would be awesome. And Lamar, everybody knows he’s a great quarterback, a dynamic play-maker. Having my name with those two guys would be great for sure.”

Fields also viewed Jackson as a trailblazer at the position, saying last season, “There’s not many guys who are like Lamar Jackson … All the backlash he got coming out of college, [people] saying he was a running back and stuff like that — He’s proving everybody wrong. He’s one of the best in the league. So just seeing that young, Black quarterbacks can get the job done and we don’t have to be old-fashioned, pro-style passers to get it done … shows that it’s a new wave coming, and the athletic guys can play quarterback also.”

Fields reached 1,000 yards in his 13th game, matching the number it took Jackson to hit that number in 2019. Jackson broke 1,000 in his 15th game in 2020, and Vick did it in his 15th game in 2006.

It’s the 33rd 1,000-yard rushing season in Bears’ history and first by a quarterback, breaking Bobby Douglass’ 1972 mark of 968 yards. Fields broke Douglass’ record in the Bears’ 14th game of the season, the same number they played in ’72.

If Fields reaches 1,200, it’ll be the Bears’ 18th-best rushing season regardless of position. They haven’t had a player reach that mark since Jordan Howard in 2016.

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Bears’ Justin Fields breaks Bobby Douglass’ franchise record for QB rushing

Bears quarterback Justin Fields set a new franchise record on his 39-yard run in the second quarter against the Eagles, eclipsing Bobby Douglass’ mark that stood for 50 years.

Fields had 71 yards on eight carries after that run, putting him at 976 yards rushing for the season.

Douglass set the record at a time when the NFL schedule was 14 games, compared to 17 now, but Fields broke it in the Bears’ 14th game (he has played 13).

Fields is the NFL’s leading rusher among quarterbacks and went into the Eagles game needing just 63 yards to match the 968 Douglass ran for in 1972. He entered the game averaging a league-best 7.1 yards per carry.

Douglass had two 100-yard games that season and averaged 69.1 per game. Fields went into the Eagles game averaging 75.4, which put him on pace for 1,206 yards — the exact number the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson ran for in his 2019 MVP season to set the all-time record by a quarterback.

If Fields hits 1,000 yards, he’ll be the third quarterback to do so, joining Jackson (2019 and ’20) and Michael Vick (2006).

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Justin Fields’ ridiculous run has Bears trailing Eagles 10-6 at halftime

Quarterback Justin Fields is getting little help from a banged-up Bears offense. Still, though, the Bears went into halftime trailing the Eagles, the best team in the NFL, by only four points.

Behind one of his most ridiculous runs of the season — a 39-yard scramble in which he ducked under a sure sack and sprinted up the left sideline on second-and-27 — Fields has the Bears are down 10-6 at halftime at Soldier Field.

Fields’ run set up the Bears’ only score. One play after the scramble — Fields had reached the end zone but officials ruled his left foot stepped out at the 9 — he handed off to David Montgomery for a nine-yard touchdown. Bears kicker Cairo Santos missed yet another extra point. Bizarrely, he’s missed five of them this season — and two in the last two games — while missing only two field goals all year.

Fields’ run made him the Bears’ single-season rushing leader for a quarterback, passing Bobby Douglass, who had 968 yards in 1972.

The Bears defense has at times baffled the league’s best passing offense, too. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts threw a first-quarter interception to rookie cornerback Kyler Gordon, who returned from concussion protocol, and a second-quarter pick to veteran safety DeAndre Houston-Carson.

The Eagles’ lone touchdown came on a 22-yard Hurts run with 43 seconds to play in the half. He took a shotgun snap and sprinted up the middle, untouched, while safety Jaquan Brisker blitzed a different gap. Both the touchdown and the Eagles’ field goal earlier in the quarter were set up by long catches by receiver De’Vonta Smith. He has three catches for 104 yards.

Fields is playing without four of his top six wide receivers. Darnell Mooney is out for the season with an ankle injury, Chase Claypool was ruled out Friday with a knee problem and N’Keal Harry was scratched Sunday because of a bad back. Equanimeous St. Brown was concussed after catching a third-down pass in the first quarter and is out for the game. The Bears also lost starting right guard Teven Jenkins to a neck injury; he was put on a backboard and carted off the field early in the first quarter.

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Fantasy baseball: Will Dansby Swanson still be a fantasy star on the Cubs?on December 18, 2022 at 2:20 am

Dansby Swanson produced career-bests in batting average (.277), RBI (96), stolen bases (18) and runs scored (99) in 2022 and played in all 162 games AP Photo/Matt Slocum

New Chicago Cubs SS Dansby Swanson was a fantasy star during the 2022 season, even though he did not get the same money or commitment as the other top free agent shortstops did this offseason. He earned a lucrative seven-year deal after finishing the 2022 season as the No. 2 shortstop on the Player Rater — behind new Phillies SS Trea Turner — and sixth in points formats. He picked the right time for his best season, producing career-bests in batting average (.277), RBI (96), stolen bases (18) and runs scored (99) as well as playing in all 162 games.

While Swanson was more valuable in fantasy than both Carlos Correa (Giants) and Xander Bogaerts (Padres), he does not offer quite the same career pedigree and perceived statistical upside. In seven big league seasons with the Braves, Swanson was an above-average hitter by OPS+ in only one full season (2022) and only missed three games over the past three seasons. Well, ask a Correa investor if durability matters in fantasy. It sure does.

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Some may presume Swanson is in for major regression going from a contending team to the Cubs but let’s not be so hasty. He figures to hit in one of the top lineup spots, and while the offense around him may pale in comparison to what he boasted in 2022, he still has 52 home runs and 27 stolen bases over the past two seasons while occasionally hitting near the bottom of the lineup. He’s a safe, reliable hitter with the potential to keep hitting for power and perhaps even steal more bases.

If you’re worried about runs scored, you shouldn’t. The Cubs struggled to score runs last season but things appear to be much improved moving forward, with Swanson and Nico Hoerner likely at the top of the lineup, followed by a potential outfield of Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki and newcomer Cody Bellinger, plus Patrick Wisdom and perhaps rookie 1B Matt Mervis. Why can’t Swanson continue to improve and perhaps score 100 runs if he stays healthy? He should be a top-50 fantasy pick in roto leagues, and top-75 in points formats.,

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Don’t worry about the Braves, who likely turn to 2B Vaughn Grissom to handle shortstop duties. Despite playing only 22 games at the Double-A level and none at Triple-A, Grissom was a rookie revelation until mid-September, when he lost his grip on a starting role. Statistically, he may be even better than Swanson soon. Grissom hit .315 in more than 1,000 minor-league plate appearances and displayed modest power and excellent speed. Atlanta will be just fine.

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Sources: Cubs, SS Swanson reach $177M dealon December 18, 2022 at 4:58 pm

The Chicago Cubs are finalizing a 7-year, $177 million deal with free agent shortstop Dansby Swanson, sources told ESPN on Saturday.

The deal includes a full no-trade clause, a source told ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel.

Swanson, 28, immediately becomes one of the key faces for the Cubs’ rebuilding effort as he arrives in Chicago as a reigning Gold Glove winner with a World Series ring to his credit.

He hit .277 with a .776 OPS for the Atlanta Braves last season while playing 162 games. He played in 160 games in 2021, helping the Braves to a World Series championship. He’s a career .255 hitter with 102 home runs over seven seasons. Fifty-two of those homers came over the past two years.

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Swanson’s career OBP, however, is just .321 as he walked only 49 times while striking out a career-high 182 times in 2022.

He’ll take over shortstop for the Cubs while Nico Hoerner moves back to second base, where he was a Gold Glove finalist in 2020. The team also signed former Gold Glove winner Cody Bellinger to play center field, giving them a solid defender at that key position as well.

The Cubs have been under pressure to improve a 74-win team but hadn’t signed a big name free agent in several seasons. The $177 million deal is the largest given out by the Cubs since outfielder Jason Heyward agreed to an eight-year, $184 million contract in 2016.

Swanson was the last of the four star free agent shortstops to sign. The position earned over $1 billion in free agency this winter just from Carlos Correa ($350 million), Trea Turner ($300 million), Xander Bogaerts ($280 million) and Swanson ($177 million) alone.

The move shores up the Cubs defense but doesn’t fix all their offensive issues. The team needs left-handed power, as well as a new catcher after not re-signing Willson Contreras. Prospect Matt Mervis is expected to get a chance at first base next season while the Cubs are still likely to trade for or sign a veteran first baseman — and another catcher. Yan Gomes is a veteran holdover from last season but isn’t an everyday player.

The Cubs are also still looking into the free agent pitching market but can check off a big offseason box: bringing a star caliber player to the team.

Swanson will join wife Mallory Pugh in Chicago as she plays for the Chicago Red Stars, the women’s professional soccer team.

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Sources: Cubs, Smyly closing in on agreementon December 18, 2022 at 5:05 pm

The Chicago Cubs are closing in on an agreement with left-handed pitcher Drew Smyly, sources familiar with the deal told ESPN on Sunday.

Smyly, 33, made 22 starts last season for Chicago, pitching well in the second half after dealing with an oblique strain in late May. For the season, he was 7-8 with a 3.47 ERA, which included a 0.90 ERA over five stellar starts in August.

The nine-year veteran will rejoin a rotation that includes Marcus Stroman, newcomer Jameson Taillon and youngster Justin Steele. The Cubs also have Keegan Thompson and Adrian Sampson available to start along with holdover Kyle Hendricks, who is recovering from a shoulder ailment.

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Smyly, a second-round pick of the Detroit Tigers in 2010, has played for seven teams in his career, including five since 2019. The Cubs had him in the organization in 2018 when he was recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he never pitched for them in the big leagues until last season.

The move is the latest in a series of deals by the Cubs, which include Taillon, shortstop Dansby Swanson and center fielder Cody Bellinger. The Cubs finished third in the National League Central last season at 74-88.

Smyly is 53-47 in his career with a 4.10 ERA in 239 games (156 starts).

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Sources: Cubs, Smyly closing in on agreementon December 18, 2022 at 5:05 pm Read More »

MLB free agency grades: Cubs finally make their headlining move with Dansby Swanson signingon December 18, 2022 at 7:32 am

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Whether it’s a nine-figure free agent deal that changes the course of your team’s future or a blockbuster trade that has the whole league buzzing, we’ll weigh in with what the deal means for all involved for 2023 and beyond.

Follow along as our experts evaluate and grade each move, with the most recent grades at the top. This piece will continue to be updated, so turn back for the freshest analysis of the hot stove season.

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MLB free agency grades: Cubs finally make their headlining move with Dansby Swanson signingon December 18, 2022 at 7:32 am Read More »

High school basketball: Michael O’Brien’s Super 25 rankings for Dec. 18, 2022

It was a calm week overall and that led to just a mild shakeup near the end of the Super 25.

Bolingbrook, which lost to Bradley-Bourbonnais and a team from Indiana, drops out. Marian Catholic leaves as well after losing to St. Patrick and Benet.

Those are two teams that will almost certainly return at some point this season. The Raiders have been missing some guys, although it appears that Aries Hull is now playing.

St. Patrick and Downers Grove North are the two new additions.

The Shamrocks were an easy call after knocking off Marian Catholic and Marist this week. St. Patrick’s losses this season are to Glenbrook North and Nazareth.

Downers Grove North lost its first game of the season to Lake Park and hasn’t lost since.

Super 25 for Dec. 18, 2022With record and last week’s ranking

1. Simeon (8-0) 1Two wins in Arkansas

2. Kenwood (8-1) 2Beat good Michigan team

3. Joliet West (9-2) 3Champs in Madison

4. St. Rita (6-3) 4Beat St. Laurence

5. Young (8-4) 5Faces Simeon Friday

6. Brother Rice (11-1) 6Handled Romeoville

7. Benet (10-0) 7In Arizona this week

8. Hillcrest (11-1) 8Had a three-win week

9. St. Ignatius (9-1) 9At Lane on Tuesday

10. New Trier (11-1) 10Plays Evanston Thursday

11. Mount Carmel (10-1) 11Faces Hyde Park, Loyola this week

12. Curie (8-3) 12Took down Oswego East

13. Rolling Meadows (10-1) 13Beat Buffalo Grove

14. Glenbrook North (10-0) 14Hosts Prospect Tuesday

15. Bloom (6-2) 16At Proviso East Thursday

16. Lyons (7-0) 20Won against York

17. Lincoln-Way East (9-1) 18Freshman BJ Powell a factor

18. Hyde Park (10-1) 21Unbeaten vs. local teams

19. Oswego East (10-2) 19Mekhi Lowery is fun to watch

20. Proviso East (7-1) 22Beat Perspectives-Leadership

21. Lemont (10-0) 23Has the week off

22. St. Patrick (8-2) NRBeat Marist, Marian, Loyola

23. Evanston (8-2) 24Survived Loyola

24. Marist (10-1) 25Deep and unselfish

25. Downers Grove North (9-1) NRNine consecutive wins

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Bears RG Teven Jenkins exits Eagles game on stretcher with neck injury

Minutes into the Bears’ game against the Eagles, there was a tense scene on the field as right guard Teven Jenkins went down with a neck injury. It was unclear immediately how he got hurt, but Jenkins was put on a stretcher and carted to the locker room.

Jenkins appeared to get hit in the shoulder while blocking on David Montgomery’s run four plays into the game. When he went down, he was lying face down and kicking his feet in reaction to the pain.

The Bears sent in Michael Schofield for Jenkins.

Jenkins has arguably been their best offensive lineman since making the move from tackle to right guard shortly before the season open.

The Bears drafted him in the second round at No. 39 overall to be a left tackle, but a back injury derailed his rookie season and he played just six games. Jenkins had a history of back trouble at Oklahoma State.

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Chicago Cubs News: Drew Smyly is getting a contract for 2023Vincent Pariseon December 18, 2022 at 6:21 pm

The Chicago Cubs made a big-time splash on Saturday afternoon. They hit on one of the big four free agent shortstops. They probably would have rathered Trea Turner, Carlos Correa, or Xander Bogaerts but they ended up with Dansby Swanson.

Their lineup still has a long way to go but they are trying to build something good and you do that by bringing in good players. Although he isn’t who they wanted, he is still a good player nonetheless. It is a good deal for both sides.

This move followed up the signings of Brad Boxberger, Cody Bellinger, and Jameson Taillon which makes it a pretty nice off-season on the north side. Before the Swanson signing, it was looking like a failed off-season based on the hype.

On Sunday, they showed that they weren’t done making moves either as they are going to sign Drew Smyly to a one-year deal. It was a good year for him in 2022 when he got healthy and now he will be with them once again.

Had a nice run last year with the Cubs once healthy. Sources: Cubs, Smyly closing in on agreement https://t.co/s0SlZW1Dqe

— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) December 18, 2022

The Chicago Cubs will be better with Drew Smyly on the mound in 2023.

He missed the beginning part of last season with an injury but he started to really pitch well when he started to get healthy. The 2023 edition of the Cubs will certainly be happy if he can get back to that form.

Smyly will join the likes of Marcus Stroman, Justin Steele, Jameson Taillon, Keegan Thompson, and Kyle Hendricks as the options on the mound. It is a good group of players that can help them win games by getting them off to a good start with good pitching.

It is certainly going to be an upgraded staff in 2023 as opposed to 2022. The Cubs are committed to winning now which is going to be refreshing for fans to hear. They probably won’t be good right away but it shouldn’t be long.

As mentioned before, the Cubs have started to turn their offseason around within the last 24 hours. They had all of this hype surrounding their potential spending habits and didn’t fully deliver until now.

We also don’t know what other plans they might have as the off-season winds down once the holidays are over. It should be interesting but the signing of Smyly is nice for sure.

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Chicago Cubs News: Drew Smyly is getting a contract for 2023Vincent Pariseon December 18, 2022 at 6:21 pm Read More »