Chicago Bears address

[RDU Irish]

2024 NFL Draft first-round contract tracker: Commanders ink Jayden Daniels as team breaks before training camp

Lots of guaranteed money for those first rounders. Seems somewhat formulaic - I don't get what takes so damn long.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Oduzne is also unsigned. Also drafted by Bears.

Has not painted nails or hugged mom in public, however, so there's that.

It's strange, I've heard nothing but amazing things about Odunze. People seriously are talking about him and his character like he's a guaranteed future captain

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Remember, from the league's collective bargaining agreement, rookies are slotted to a contract number based on where they're selected in the NFL Draft. For Williams, his four-year deal is expected to be worth $39.4 million with a $25.5 million signing bonus. Odunze's four-year deal is an expected $22.7 million deal with a $13.3 million signing bonus.

There's very little rookies can negotiate with their first deals in the NFL. They can negotiate how much of their signing bonus they get up front, incentives, bonuses and guaranteed money.

Is it concerning the Bears haven't signed Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze?

Both Williams and Odunze won't be able to report to training camp without signing

www.nbcsportschicago.com

“There’s three categories for a potential dispute,” Florio said. “One, when do I get my signing bonus money? Do I get it all now or are you trying to defer it later this year into next year, whatever? Two, what does it take to void my ongoing guarantees? That was the Roquan Smith holdout (in 2018). What is it that I could do that potentially allows you to say, ‘We’re wiping out your guarantees and we’re cutting you because you’re one of the first-round picks that doesn’t work out.’ Because we know that roughly half of them don’t. And finally, if the full guarantees are in place and we cut you, can you double dip? Do you get offsets attached to whatever you would make if you go to another team. Those are the three. That’s it. There’s really nothing else that you can haggle about.”

With Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze unsigned, Mike Florio explains the 3 main elements of rookie contracts that can become complicated

Bears rookies are scheduled to report for training camp next Tuesday at Halas Hall, and two of their top first-year players still haven’t signed their contracts.

www.audacy.com

 

[RDU Irish]

Is it concerning the Bears haven't signed Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze?

Both Williams and Odunze won't be able to report to training camp without signing

www.nbcsportschicago.com

With Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze unsigned, Mike Florio explains the 3 main elements of rookie contracts that can become complicated

Bears rookies are scheduled to report for training camp next Tuesday at Halas Hall, and two of their top first-year players still haven’t signed their contracts.

www.audacy.com

I thought some of these guys were cutting out agents and just using attorneys since the terms were so cut and dry now.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

The Mom Hugger signed.

Caleb Williams is signed. Now, can he deliver for the Bears?

In the reality show of the NFL, "Hard Knocks" won't have to manufacture drama for Williams and coach Matt Eberflus.

www.nytimes.com

 

[RDU Irish]

The Mom Hugger signed.

Caleb Williams is signed. Now, can he deliver for the Bears?

In the reality show of the NFL, "Hard Knocks" won't have to manufacture drama for Williams and coach Matt Eberflus.

www.nytimes.com

No. 1 NFL Draft pick Caleb Williams agrees to four-year, $39.5 million deal with Bears, per reports

39.5M guaranteed over 4 years with 25.5M signing bonus and fifth year option

Odunze signed too - "Odunze, who was selected ninth in the 2024 Draft, agreed to a $22.7 million fully guaranteed rookie deal which includes a $13.3 million signing bonus, per reports."

 

[zelezo vlk]

The Mom Hugger signed.

Caleb Williams is signed. Now, can he deliver for the Bears?

In the reality show of the NFL, "Hard Knocks" won't have to manufacture drama for Williams and coach Matt Eberflus.

www.nytimes.com

What are we gonna bitch about now??

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

What are we gonna bitch about now??

another sub .500 season

I'm actually really curious to see how the NFC North shakes out. I think the Bears could be good, particularly as the season wears on and that offense gels. I think (and really hope) the Vikings are in for a rough season. Lions win the division again, and I could see the Packers and Bears vying for second place.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

What are we gonna bitch about now??

He was going to stay at USC and make a ton of NIL money. Didn't happen.

Wasn't going to sign with the Bears and or demand a trade. Nope.

Was going to demand partial ownership of the franchise. Nope.

His Football IQ, desire, character and choice of nail polish remover have all been questioned, among other things.

Feels like a lot of the narrative around this kid has turned out to be bullshit, for the most part, early in this stage of his career.

But whatever. Actual ball will actually be played soon.

 

[MKEagle]

Did anyone watch Episode 2 of Giants Hard Knocks?

I'm sure this was on purpose by HBO with the Bears Hard Knocks, but CW and Odunze were impressive during the combine interviews.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Did anyone watch Episode 2 of Giants Hard Knocks?

I'm sure this was on purpose by HBO with the Bears Hard Knocks, but CW and Odunze were impressive during the combine interviews.

Yes. Sam Hartman figured prominently in that episode as well. The Giants GM, whose grandmother is 90, lives in Indiana and loves Sam Hartman's hair.

Hartman's hair in slow mo running the forty was HBO gold.

 

[zelezo vlk]

another sub .500 season

I'm actually really curious to see how the NFC North shakes out. I think the Bears could be good, particularly as the season wears on and that offense gels. I think (and really hope) the Vikings are in for a rough season. Lions win the division again, and I could see the Packers and Bears vying for second place.

Nah I think the Pack take back the division.

 

[MKEagle]

CW being compared to Favre is a... conflicting feeling

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Nah I think the Pack take back the division.

I think Detroit did enough to sure up the back end of their defense, and we'll see if they did enough to support Hutchinson at EDGE, but if not they will address that at the deadline. They are stacked offensively, especially if Jameson Williams finally emerges.

Packers are young and ascending but I just think Detroit's roster is built a little better top to bottom.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Bears have a GB like 2023 campaign, where things look a little rough in September/October but start to click down the stretch.

 

[zelezo vlk]

I think Detroit did enough to sure up the back end of their defense, and we'll see if they did enough to support Hutchinson at EDGE, but if not they will address that at the deadline. They are stacked offensively, especially if Jameson Williams finally emerges.

Packers are young and ascending but I just think Detroit's roster is built a little better top to bottom.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Bears have a GB like 2023 campaign, where things look a little rough in September/October but start to click down the stretch.

I agree with you on the last part, the Bears O could be frisky down the stretch especially if Caleb can adjust to adjustments mid year.

For Detroit, I think everything went pretty much right for them all of last year. They don’t have a number 2 and Jameson Williams doesn’t really look promising in advanced stats. They did nothing to help Hutch on the D line. So for their two biggest flaws going into the offseason, they decided to not just run it back but let their second best receiver go. Josh Reynolds wasn’t elite but dude caught many 3rd down passes to extend drives last year.

If Kirk didn’t get hurt the Vikings win that division. If GB played like they did down the stretch they run away with it. I think it’s far more likely that the Pack pick up mostly where they left off and improve their D than for Detroit to get that many breaks again.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Lions and Packers were likely two of the best teams in football at the end of the season last year, which makes both losing to the Niners that much more motivating for both.

The Lions should be legit NFC Champion contenders going into this season. Packers take second, Bears third, Vikings fourth.

Packers make playoffs, Bears do not, but the Bears should take very good steps in the right direction.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

The Motherhugger looks pretty sharp. I don't know if I can handle the hope.

 

[GoldenTate(r)Tots]

The Motherhugger looks pretty sharp. I don't know if I can handle the hope.

I haven't recovered from last night's Hard Knocks delay

 

[zelezo vlk]

The Motherhugger looks pretty sharp. I don't know if I can handle the hope.

This is by far the most excited I've been for a season and none of the Bears fans I know can wait for Week 1 vs the Titans

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

 

[zelezo vlk]

Caleb says his biggest influence was Rodgers and it really shows in his extension of plays. The box scores haven't been thrilling but the tape has shown so much better.

Here's how different things are for the Bears: in 2021 after the joint preseason Bears/Dolphins practices, the Dolphins beat guys said that Tua hasn't looked amazing but they are so much happier they have Tua and his faults rather than Fields. Flash forward to a few days back and post-practice the Bengals beat guys are saying it's impossible not to be impressed with Caleb.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Lions and Packers were likely two of the best teams in football at the end of the season last year, which makes both losing to the Niners that much more motivating for both.

The Lions should be legit NFC Champion contenders going into this season. Packers take second, Bears third, Vikings fourth.

Packers make playoffs, Bears do not, but the Bears should take very good steps in the right direction.

This is kind of why I'm not getting super excited. I'll enjoy watching the Bears more this year than in years passed, no doubt. But knowing how much better the Lions are right now, plus the Packers seemingly always being one step ahead of the Bears, it's just hard to not live in the reality that is Bears missing the playoffs again.

 

[IHateMarkMay]

I'm not nearly as high on the packers as the media is. Yeah, they went 7-3 their last 10 regular season games last year. However, I think only three of those teams had winning records at the time of playing them (Detroit and KC, both wins and a PIT loss).

I think they downgraded at RB when choosing Jacobs over Jones, their WRs will be telling, as nobody can say they are without a doubt WR1. Their defense has some stars, but if Detroit and Chicago can stay healthy, their WRs outshine GBs secondary.

Also, this could be because I hate Green Bay.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

I'm not nearly as high on the packers as the media is. Yeah, they went 7-3 their last 10 regular season games last year. However, I think only three of those teams had winning records at the time of playing them (Detroit and KC, both wins and a PIT loss).

I think they downgraded at RB when choosing Jacobs over Jones, their WRs will be telling, as nobody can say they are without a doubt WR1. Their defense has some stars, but if Detroit and Chicago can stay healthy, their WRs outshine GBs secondary.

Also, this could be because I hate Green Bay.

I'll drink to that!

 

[rtrn2glory]

I hate Caleb Williams simply off of how he was at USC. But I have to admit he's looked good. I'm starting to sip the Kool aid.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I am not tagging them for the playoffs, but the two preseason games are giving me a lot of hope that they're going to be vastly improved and competitive to the point that maybe they can surprise people. It all looks and feels very different to this point. That's encouraging. Some very bold moves bringing in Keenan Allen, locking up DJ Moore, plus they have Carolina's 2025 second round pick from the Bryce Young trade.

 

[MKEagle]

I hate Caleb Williams simply off of how he was at USC. But I have to admit he's looked good. I'm starting to sip the Kool aid.

Let the Kool Aid flow through you!

 

[Crazy Balki]

I really think this team is set up to surprise teams this year.

It's not just Caleb Williams and the passing game, but I really like what Eberflus has been doing with the defense. They've looked really good in the preseason.

I really like the Poles-Warren leadership. Feels like for the first time that the Bears have competent leadership from top to bottom. The McCaskey's just decided to hire football guys, get out of the way and let them run the football team.

 

[Irish#1]

I really think this team is set up to surprise teams this year.

It's not just Caleb Williams and the passing game, but I really like what Eberflus has been doing with the defense. They've looked really good in the preseason.

I really like the Poles-Warren leadership. Feels like for the first time that the Bears have competent leadership from top to bottom. The McCaskey's just decided to hire football guys, get out of the way and let them run the football team.

Hated for the Colts to lose him. The D hasn't been the same since he left.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I do think their defense has the potential to be elite. All of the Fields/Caleb/offense hype has sort of drowned out everything else.