If the NFL changes its playoff format, it will only increase the pressure on the ChicagoBears.
In 2019 the Chicago Bears finished 8-8, which was good for the eighth-ranked team in the conference standings. Despite such a mediocre season, the team was still playing for a possible playoff berth until their Week 15 loss to the Green Bay Packers. According to a recent report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the NFL is considering expanding the number of playoff teams, which if true, will only increase the pressure on the Bears.
Currently, only the top-six teams make the playoffs in each conference. Even if the new rule would have been in place last year, the team still would have fallen short of the playoffs behind the Los Angeles Rams. However, the scrutiny on the team, as well as the disappointment for not making the playoffs, would have been more intense.
Sure, there is another way of looking at this. You could see the playoff expansion as increasing the chances the Bears will make the playoffs each year. However, for a franchise that has only made the playoffs once in the last nine years, increasing the chances of making the playoffs, only increases the pressure.
Since Ryan Pace took over as general manager in 2015, the team has appeared in and lost one playoff game. Of course, when he took over, the roster was admittedly in disarray. He took substantial steps to overhaul the roster and has had much success on the defensive side of the ball. The offensive overhaul, however, has not gone as well, primarily due to poor quarterback play.
That quarterback will now be entering his fourth season (third as a starter) in an absolute make or break season. By trading up to select Mitchell Trubisky in the 2017 NFL Draft over both Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson, Pace has invited additional scrutiny on his tenure.
If Trubisky finishes his rookie contract (excluding the fifth-year option) without a playoff win, and only one appearance, it can only be seen as a monumental failure. This would be especially true considering that the financial flexibility afforded to the team by having a QB on a rookie deal would be gone, and so difficult roster decisions would have to be made.
In other words, adding another playoff spot would only raise expectations even more. There are only 16 teams in the conference and the new rule would grant nearly half of them a playoff berth. If they can’t consistently be in the top half of the conference, then Pace isn’t the guy for the job.
The ChicagoBears might have to get creative to address the offensive line.
Entering the 2020 season, the Chicago Bears offensive line must improve their level of play from the 2019 campaign, and Greg Van Roten could go a long way in making that happen.
According to Football Outsiders, in 2019 the group ranked 29th in run blocking (28th in 2018). As for pass blocking, they ranked 20th in 2019 versus 7th in 2018, though that’s a bit deceiving, as their numbers were not nearly as bad as some might think.
Regardless, the Bears are expected to address the position this offseason. However, there isn’t a whole lot of flexibility to do so. Cody Whitehair, Bobby Massie, Charles Leno, James Daniels are all locks for next year, for different reasons. The one position that can be addressed is offensive guard — particularly right guard — the position previously held by Kyle Long and currently filled by Rashaad Coward.
Additionally, the reality is, if they want to make a change that will impact things in 2020, then they will have to go the route of free agency. Hoping to draft an offensive lineman who will make an immediate impact is not a guaranteed strategy.
So if they do address in free agency, they may have to get creative as they’ll have other needs to fill and limited salary cap space. That would seem to take them out of the Brandon Scherff sweepstakes who is in line to get a contract in the neighborhood of 4 years and just under $50 million according to Spotrac.
However, a quality player that can make an impact but at a fraction of the cost is Van Roten. The Carolina Panther has been a solid contributor for the team that has helped Christian McCaffrey run wild.
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Van Roten is only 29-years-old and earned a salary of only $805,000 last season. According to the Washington Post, he has only been called for one holding and two false start penalties in his career. He has also yielded only four sacks, all of which came in 2018.
If the Bears want to upgrade their interior offensive line and don’t want to break the bank to do so, then Greg Van Roten must be at the top of their list of candidates.
ChicagoBears (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
The Chicago Bears are coming off of an 8-8 season that was supposed to be something special. Is it realistic for them to come back in 2020, successfully?
Going into 2019, the Chicago Bears were a playoff team. They were preparing to play the Eagles during the NFC Wildcard Round. Everything was looking up for Bears. They looked smart for signing Matt Nagy to be their new head coach. At last, Mitch Trubisky was playing well.
Finally, the Bears were back in the playoffs. It took them eight years to get back to this exact moment.
Even though the Bears lost against the Eagles, due to a poor kicker, they were projected to be a top team during the upcoming season. The Bears were talked about as a favorite to win the Super Bowl. Experts said the worst record they would have is 11-5. What happened to that Bears’ team?
Little things changed. Jordan Howard was no longer on the team. They also lost a few role players, which included Adrian Amos. The last big change was their defensive coordinator. Vic Fangio took a job with the Broncos to be their new head coach.
Chicago still had a big problem with their tight ends, they just refused to even look at it. There should have been a sign when Trey Burton didn’t play in the playoffs that he wasn’t their guy. They still needed to add to an injured offensive line. Both of those issues weren’t addressed in the offseason.
The ChicagoBlackhawks are probably sellers now. If they wanted to move Brandon Saqad for a max haul, these three packages would be worth it.
The Chicago Blackhawks are in seller mode at this point, at least they should be. Their recent bad stretch of play has seemingly removed their name from the Western Conference playoff bubble. It has been a very up and down season, but this recent down has made it apparent that they should be sellers at the trade deadline. It is awful that this team wasted another very good season from their star players but it is what it is.
One player who might have to suffer because of it is Brandon Saad. He has been a really good player on a somewhat team-friendly deal since coming back, but he knows that he was re-acquired in one of the worst trades in Chicago Blackhawks history. Everyone knows that Artemi Panarin is one of the best players in the NHL but somehow Stan Bowman saw that as a fair trade. That doesn’t take away the fact that Saad is an impact player and would be great for a contending team.
There have been some other trades and trade rumors around the league that would be similar to a deal that would happen involving Saad. The best example happened over the last week. The New Jersey Devils traded Blake Coleman to the Tampa Bay Lightning for Nolan Foote and a conditional first-round pick. That is a fantastic haul for a player like Coleman. The trade is similar to Saad because of the fact that it is more than just a rental. He will be there for the next season as well.
Trading Saad would be a similar situation. He has around the same goal-scoring production as Coleman and he also has one year left on his contract. His contract is way more than Coleman’s but it is still considered more of a team-friendly deal by most people. Some of these teams might need to make another move or ask Chicago to retain salary in order to make it work. These are the three trades that would make the most sense for both sides:
With more and more upscale restaurants sprouting up around Chicago it doesn’t seem like cheap eats get much attention anymore even though if you go to the right spot, you can get some of the best food in Chicago. Take a look at some of the cheapest restaurants in Chicago serving up amazing food when you’re strapped for cash.
Photo Credit: Ghareeb Nawaz Facebook
Ghareeb Nawaz | 2023 West Devon Avenue
Indian food can get pretty pricy, but not at Ghareeb Nawaz. You can get a full meal here for under $7 and the menu includes all the traditional dishes like biryani, kebab, and curry.
Photo Credit: Yelp
Red Hot Ranch | 2072 North Western Avenue
The perfect late-night joint to come to after a night out when you need something to soak up that last drink you had. You can’t go wrong here with the Red Hot Ranch Burger with their special sauce.
Photo Credit: Serious Eats
Johnnie’s Beef | 7500 West North Avenue
We can’t create a cheap eats list in Chicago and not mention an Italian beef spot and Johnnie’s Beef is by far the most popular. Get yours with sweet peppers or hot peppers at one of the cheapest restaurants in Chicago.
In business for more than 50 years and Uncle Remus is still serving some of the best quality fried chicken. What makes their chicken even better is the sweet and tangy sauce that gets slathered on top.
Photo Credit: Yelp
Chi Cafe | 2160 South Archer Avenue
Located in the heart of Chinatown, this late-night Chinese spot offers all your favorites like egg rolls, fried rice, and lo mein.
Photo Credit: La Chaparrita
La Chaparrita | 2500 South Whipple Street
This taqueria may not look like much from the outside but you can bet you’ll have one of the best tacos in Chicago at La Chaparrita, and the best part, each taco is only $2.25-$3.
Photo Credit: Lem’s Bar-B-Q
Lem’s Bar-B-Q | 311 East 75th Street
For decades, Lem’s has been serving some of the best barbecue in the city. Known for their rib tips and hot links, there’s only one place to get cheap, delicious barbecue in Chicago.
Photo Credit: The Budlong
The Budlong | Multiple Locations
Bringing Nashville hot chicken to Chicago, The Budlong is the place to go for southern-inspired food. Stretch your dollar here by getting the hot chicken plate, served with Texas toast and pickles.
Photo Credit: Gayle V’s Best Ever Grilled Cheese
Gayle V’s Best Ever Grilled Cheese | 108 North State Street, Level B1
Turning a staple into a gourmet meal, Gayle V’s is located in the pedway and makes delicious grilled cheese sandwiches like The Duke made with swiss cheese, ham, blueberry mustard, and peach slices.
Photo Credit: Yelp
Mister J’s Dawg ‘N Burger | 822 North State Street
A classic spot for late-night, cheap eats is Mister J’s. They have everything you could want in a burger joint and at prices between $5 and $10 you’ll definitely leave feeling satisfied.
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Sure, concerts are cool, but have you ever walked into a bar where live musicians casually cover your favorite song and you didn’t even have to pay for it? That’s the shit in Chicago, where bars with live music run rampant. Catch a free show, or just a small cover charge, almost any night of the week at these bars with live music near you.
Photo Credit: Kingston Mines
Kingston Mines | 2548 N Halsted St
Chicago’s quintessential blues bar since 1968, Kingston Mines has rotating musicians that you can enjoy for free. When they do charge cover, it includes access to all shows for the night, so don’t shy away from a meager $10.
Photo Credit: Alan Turovitz
Hungry Brain | 2319 W Belmont Ave
Jazz music pours from the tiny stage at Hungry Brain, a bar that’s totally hit or miss on how busy it will be. You could come on a Saturday night and find a few stragglers, or happen upon a Sunday where every guest in the bar is dancing to George Benson.
Photo Credit: The Whistler
The Whistler | 2421 N Milwaukee Ave
Nightly performances are always expected at The Whistler, including live music, but occasionally, you might find yourself there in the middle of a DJ set on ’90s night. Either way, this one of the best bars with free live music if you’re in the mood for dancing.
Photo Credit: Bub City
Bub City | 435 N Clark St
One of the only places in Chicago that really embraces live country music (gotta head to Nashville for more of that), Bub City offers reservations for their live music performances, starting around 9 pm every night. No cover needed.
Photo Credit: The Empty Bottle Facebook
Empty Bottle | 1035 N Western Ave
Empty Bottle almost never charges for their live shows, but if they do, it’s rarely ever more than $5. They have live performances nearly every single night, ranging from music to comedy to karaoke.
Photo Credit: California Clipper
California Clipper | 1002 N California Ave
Everything awash in a crimson glow, California Clipper first appears divey, but is actually quite classy as far as cocktails, ambiance, and live shows go. Live performances range from singer-songwriter shows to jazz bands to cabaret.
Photo Credit: Joe’s On Weed St
Joe’s On Weed St | 940 W Weed St
Hosting Chicago-born bands, as well as rising stars, Joe’s on Weed is a staple in this city, so if you haven’t been, well, get to it. Tickets are required here, but they range from $10 – 20, and you can grab a drink before the show.
Adoptable April is very sweet and tiny. She’s about 2 years old. Here she is settling into her newest foster home.
She can be reserved, but her new fosterers report that already they hear her playing with one of the jingly balls and find her batting at the rug tassels (wake up and find the rug moved).
She is not a cuddler (probably just not used to it) but coming around to being touched and petted.
She’s definitely building confidence, and she has been a pleasure to have around so far!
April has tested positive for FelV so cannot live with other cats (unless they also have FelV or have been vaccinated against it.) She can live safely with dogs, however.
Hyde Park Cats is a local, all volunteer group dedicated to helping stray and homeless cats in and around Chicago’s Hyde Park. We received our 501(c)(3) status in 2014 and have had over 1,200 adoptions since our founding in 2008. See all our adoptable kitties on our webpage: http://hydeparkcats.org/adopt/
All of our cats are in loving foster homes, which means the cat you adopt will be familiar with the sounds, smells and movements of life in a home and accustomed to living with humans. He or she has been interacting on a daily basis with people who know this particular cat intimately, and the foster mom or dad can tell you all about the cat’s individual personality, habits, preferences. You can’t judge a cat by its cover! And while we can’t predict the future or know everything about a cat, we can help you choose the cat who is right for you. We have an adoption application and an adoption fee, $95 for the adoption of one cat or $190 for a pair. This fee goes towards covering their vet costs. All cats adopted out by us are neutered/spayed, micro-chipped, tested for FIV/FeLV, and treated with Revolution.
Big Daddy George and Florence Pullman (1 year old) are a bonded pair.
Big Daddy purrs so loudly and is just a gentle giant. Very sweet. He likes to be cuddled as well (not sure about belly rubs) and is a happy as a clam sitting by your side relaxing while getting pet.
Big Daddy G has tested positive for FiV but can still live a long, healthy and happy life and live safely with other cats who are spayed or neutered.and Florence Pullman.
Initially shy, once Florence settles in she is a sweetheart. She loves exploring and comes when called.
Florence also loves to be rubbed under her chin and belly and is a little bit of a drooler.
Hyde Park Cats is a local, all volunteer group dedicated to helping stray and homeless cats in and around Chicago’s Hyde Park. We received our 501(c)(3) status in 2014 and have had over 1,200 adoptions since our founding in 2008. See all our adoptable kitties on our webpage: http://hydeparkcats.org/adopt/
All of our cats are in loving foster homes, which means the cat you adopt will be familiar with the sounds, smells and movements of life in a home and accustomed to living with humans. He or she has been interacting on a daily basis with people who know this particular cat intimately, and the foster mom or dad can tell you all about the cat’s individual personality, habits, preferences. You can’t judge a cat by its cover! And while we can’t predict the future or know everything about a cat, we can help you choose the cat who is right for you. We have an adoption application and an adoption fee, $95 for the adoption of one cat or $190 for a pair. This fee goes towards covering their vet costs. All cats adopted out by us are neutered/spayed, micro-chipped, tested for FIV/FeLV, and treated with Revolution.
3-year-old Apollo is affectionate, likes lounging around (who doesn’t?), and is playful with lasers, strings, etc.
He’s a bit hand-shy, but loves head nuzzles and being around people, even visitors in the house. He does not get along well with dogs and needs a home where he can be appropriately worshiped.
Hyde Park Cats is a local, all volunteer group dedicated to helping stray and homeless cats in and around Chicago’s Hyde Park. We received our 501(c)(3) status in 2014 and have had over 1,200 adoptions since our founding in 2008. See all our adoptable kitties on our webpage: http://hydeparkcats.org/adopt/
All of our cats are in loving foster homes, which means the cat you adopt will be familiar with the sounds, smells and movements of life in a home and accustomed to living with humans. He or she has been interacting on a daily basis with people who know this particular cat intimately, and the foster mom or dad can tell you all about the cat’s individual personality, habits, preferences. You can’t judge a cat by its cover! And while we can’t predict the future or know everything about a cat, we can help you choose the cat who is right for you. We have an adoption application and an adoption fee, $95 for the adoption of one cat or $190 for a pair. This fee goes towards covering their vet costs. All cats adopted out by us are neutered/spayed, micro-chipped, tested for FIV/FeLV, and treated with Revolution.
