Sports Banter

  (Image is owned by the Chicago Tribune, we do not own the rights) The main focus that GM Ryan Poles needs to have going into the 2025 NFL Draft and free agency is addressing the offensive line. If last season taught us anything, it’s that shiny objects i.e. Caleb Williams, DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Keenan Allen, & D’Andre Swift, are not enough to build sustainable success around. The big men in the trenches may not get the shine or glory, but they are what makes the wheel turn. In Caleb Williams rookie season, he was sacked 68 times which ties David Carr for the 3rd most ever in an NFL season. This is not a new concept to the Bears shortcomings as previous QB Justin Fields was sacked 55 times just 2 years ago in only 15 games played. In order for any offense to function efficiently, the quarterback needs time to operate. It's just that simple. With 3 selections in the top 41 of the upcoming NFL Draft, there should be no doubt which position group the Bears will be addressing. S...

  (photo is owned by Bleacher Report, we do not own the rights) This analysis based on the ESPN article (https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43627047/nfl-bears-ben-johnson-coach-contract-caleb-williams) Are things finally changing in Halas Hall? On January 21, 2025, former OC of the Detroit Lions and offensive guru Ben Johnson became the new head coach for the Chicago Bears. If you had taken a poll when the head coaching carousel began, odds are the general belief was that the Bears were #1 not going to pay top market money to get the most sought after coach and #2 mess it up. But after the dust has settled it is clear that GM Ryan Poles, President Kevin Warren, & Chairman George McCaskey, were all in alignment to doing whatever it took to get Johnson to Chicago. This act serves as an anomaly when compared to all of the head coaches hired since Lovie Smith was fired in 2012. It has been a cycle of dysfunction and none more obvious than the most recent HC Matt Eberflus. He was n...

  This story is based on the SI article: "Manny Machado Disappointed in Padres’ Quiet Offseason, Losing Roki Sasaki to Dodgers" (2/1/25)  https://www.si.com/mlb/padres/san-diego-padres-news/manny-machado-disappointed-in-padres-quiet-offseason-losing-roki-sasaki-to-dodgers-01jk1h8py0a6 In the 2024 NLDS, the Padres held a 2-1 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers and all signs pointed to another upset playoff victory en route to a World Series run. But 24 scoreless innings later, the Dodgers came all the way back finishing the series in LA in 5 games. Heartbreak city for the Padres and the city of San Diego. After a 93 win season and 1 win away from an NLCS appearance, the only logical next step was to retool and fix the marginal shortcomings that halted the Padres from finishing the job in '24. That couldn't be further from reality in the '25 offseason as the Padres have not upgraded at any position, are going through an internal struggle for ownership power, and saw t...