🐻Why It’s Different in Chicago This Time
Shawn, NFL, Bears Lyndsey Gruber Shawn, NFL, Bears Lyndsey Gruber

🐻Why It’s Different in Chicago This Time

For over 100 years, the Bears have mostly been reactive, not proactive, lacked QB vision and offensive innovation, chased old-school toughness instead of modern football smarts.

This guy in the building is a lot different than anyone that’s ever even stepped foot in Lake Forest in over 100 years.

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Bears vs Dolphins
Brandon, Bears, NFL Lyndsey Gruber Brandon, Bears, NFL Lyndsey Gruber

Bears vs Dolphins

As “Who’s Line” host, Drew Carey used to say, “where the rules are made up and the points don’t matter”.  A story without an ending. Literally. The Bears hosted the Miami Dolphins on Sunday afternoon for their first preseason contest of 2025 and under new Head Coach Ben Johnson.  In an aggressive all or nothing finale orchestrated by both Ben Johnson and Dolphins head coach, Mike McDaniel, neither team managed to score, both opting not to attempt a field goal on their their final few possessions. Resulting in a tie, 24-24. After watching Jacksonville Jaguars kicker, Cam Little split the upright on a 70 yard field goal attempt on Saturday night, Ben Johnson elected not to attempt a 56 yard field gaol to take the lead with less than 2 minutes left in the game. I must admit, the overly persistent “go for it” approach, prompted a lazy and manipulated memory based comparison to Johnson’s former mentor, and Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell. It is just and only the preseason, however, the Bears had a few opportunities late in the game to test their young undrafted free agent kicker Jonathan Kim. “NO OVERTIME?” You ask? There is of course another reason that the game resulted in a tie. Nobody cares. Nobody cares enough to see the rest of the story written. Not even the players….especially not the players. Admit it or not, an NFL preseason game, is the only game, in which the parts matter more than the sum. The performance of the individual, provides a lot more implication, than the result of the entire unit. Especially considering the Dolphins decided to play both of their starting units on offense and defense on the first drive of the game, where Ben and company did not.

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Takeaways from the Bears' Preseason Opener: Standouts, Struggles, and Signs of Promise.
Shawn, Bears, NFL Lyndsey Gruber Shawn, Bears, NFL Lyndsey Gruber

Takeaways from the Bears' Preseason Opener: Standouts, Struggles, and Signs of Promise.

The first preseason game rarely offers a full picture of what a team will become in Week 1. It's a time for players to get their legs under them, shake off the rust, and start playing competitive football again—albeit in a very "vanilla" version of the playbook. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to learn, especially from young players trying to earn a spot on the 53-man roster.

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Wheels Up in 2025
Shawn, NFL, Bears Lyndsey Gruber Shawn, NFL, Bears Lyndsey Gruber

Wheels Up in 2025

After earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2023 during his first year with the Bears, Montez Sweat looks primed to elevate his game even further in 2025. Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen brings a unique and aggressive approach to the front seven, often using a singular 9-technique EDGE to create pressure. That’s a perfect fit for Sweat’s combination of speed and power, allowing him to take wide angles and attack off the edge with more freedom.

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Commanding Attention: Luke McCaffrey’s Year 2 Leap Incoming
Shawn, NFL, WR, Fantasy Files Lyndsey Gruber Shawn, NFL, WR, Fantasy Files Lyndsey Gruber

Commanding Attention: Luke McCaffrey’s Year 2 Leap Incoming

Now entering Year 2 with the Washington Commanders, the 6’2", 198-pound McCaffrey is an intriguing deep sleeper in all fantasy formats. Despite the learning curve, he’s shown flashes that hint at a much bigger leap in Year 2. There’s competition on the depth chart, sure — the Commanders drafted Jaylin Lane in the 4th round, and Michael Gallup is in the mix — but Noah Brown could be out for the year, and let’s be honest: this isn’t an overwhelmingly crowded WR room.


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Arian Smith –     Deep Sleeper of the Year
Shawn, Fantasy Files, Sleepers, NFL, WR Lyndsey Gruber Shawn, Fantasy Files, Sleepers, NFL, WR Lyndsey Gruber

Arian Smith – Deep Sleeper of the Year

Looking for a deep sleeper with league-winning upside? Keep your eyes on Arian Smith. The 4th-round rookie out of Georgia quietly turned heads all offseason and might be the fastest player in his draft class. He’s already quietly drawing comps to Jameson Williamsin NFL circles. Clocking rumored 4.2 speed, Smith brings Olympic-level explosiveness to the field

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Shawn’s Top 10 Rookie RBs
NFL, Bears, Shawn Lyndsey Gruber NFL, Bears, Shawn Lyndsey Gruber

Shawn’s Top 10 Rookie RBs

That’s not just elite, it’s historic. For perspective, that means even if defenders got to him instantly, he still turned runs into chunk plays almost every time. And the fact that the entire Raiders rushing unit couldn’t even match that total with 380 attempts? Brutal for Vegas, but a huge endorsement for Jeanty.

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