The NFL’s new league year kicked off at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, allowing Chicago Bears To announce the No. 1 pick deal, acquire receiver DJ Moore and sign the free agency of Tremaine EdmondsAnd TJ EdwardsNate Davis DeMarcus Walker and Travis Homer. The Bears still have a lot of work to do to continue fortifying a roster that, as of Wednesday night, has 32 vacancies and an astonishing number of outstanding holes. So where will General Manager Raya Boulos turn his attention next?
The Poles will meet with reporters Thursday in Hallas Hall to recap the flurry of activity from last week while keeping an eye on what comes next. However, even on a day when the Bears’ only notable addition was the late signing of quarterback PJ Walker, Wednesday was still a day full of important developments. Here’s a snapshot of the highlights and what they mean for the bears in the future.
Galen Carter stumbled through his pro-of-the-day workout in Georgia.
The Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus were part of the Bears squad that attended this on-campus event. And while the Bulldogs have dozens of prospects to be drafted next month, Carter remains the center of attention as he continues to try to pull himself together during a turbulent month.
Carter was arrested March 1 and released on $4,000 bond in Athens County, Georgia, on misdemeanor racing and reckless driving charges in connection with a fatal crash that claimed the lives of Bulldogs teammate Devin Willock and recruiter Chandler Lecroy in January.
Carter’s involvement in that incident and his cooperation with authorities thereafter remains under intense scrutiny both in the legal system and from NFL teams considering making him a first-round pick in seven weeks. You can bet the Poles have an entire team that digs deeper into the matter and evaluates Carter’s character to help inform the Bears’ decision on whether the All-American would be a good fit for the organization.
Questions about Carter’s maturity and level of investment in football were already circulating before his connection to that fatal January incident became public knowledge at the gathering.
Carter did not participate in any athletic testing or field exercises at the complex. Then, Wednesday weighed 9 pounds heavier than during his combined measurements, according to Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy.
Carter did not participate in Wednesday’s pro athletic tryouts, and then failed to complete field drills due to a cramp.
It was another amazing development of one of the most intriguing prospects on this intro course.
Carter, at his best, is a disruptive force on the inside of the defensive line, blessed with an elite combination of strength and speed. But he will also have to prove to at least one team that he can be trusted across many different levels to make a great investment of money and crafting capital.
How will the bears handle all this? It’s hard to say now.
When his college season ended in January with Carter helping Georgia win the national title, he was considered a top 5 draft pick and a serious candidate to be drafted #1. Now there are questions about whether he can slip away from the race. Top 10- With the Bears owning a No. 9 pick, their continued homework will be crucial in boosting his final rating before the first night of the draft on April 28.
Aaron Rodgers The scorched earth went on Green Bay Packers reception desk
During what was essentially a reflective 56-minute theatrical soliloquy on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Rodgers confirmed what everyone in the NFL had long suspected. His time playing quarterback for the players is over.
Next stop: Florham Park, NJ, for a new job with New York Jets.
No, the trade is not completed. There is no word yet on the timeline or terms of the deal. But Rodgers left no doubt that he’s out the door on his feet and is ready to move on from Green Bay.
If you missed Rodgers’ extended version of the breakup, we’ll give you a quick recap.
The four-time MVP told McAfee he was 90% leaning toward retirement when he entered a four-night, dark retreat in Oregon earlier this month to seek deeper reflection on his life and football career. Rodgers said he was under the impression that he had as much time as he wanted to make a decision and that the Packers wanted him to retire as a member of their organization. but …
“When I came out of the dark, something changed,” Rodgers said Wednesday.
When Rodgers came off the back burner and was blown away with scripts, he said he realized the Packers were working through trade possibilities. Rodgers asserted that it changed his life plans, led to a meeting with key Jets captains and affirmed his desire to continue playing.
Rodgers spent nearly 10 minutes detailing how he felt offended or betrayed by certain figures in the Packers power structure. But then, while expressing sincere “love and gratitude” to the city of Green Bay and the Packers fans, he also emphasized that he had no hard feelings. He said, “I’m not sitting here as a victim.” “No malice, no bitterness towards packets.”
got all this?
In short, everyone who knows Rodgers is well aware that he’s preparing to go into a grudge fit for the foreseeable future and hopes to turn his feelings into motivational fuel as he pushes to properly punctuate his Hall of Fame career.
“I still have that fire,” Rodgers said.
The Jets will have to quickly create an environment where Rodgers feels welcome, valued and surrounded by teammates and coaches he trusts. In the words of Jerry Seinfeld, “Good luck with alllll that!”
As for the Bears and their fans, Wednesday was a historic day worth celebrating. After 15 struggling seasons — Rodgers went 25-5 in contention and swept the season series nine times, including each of the final four — the Bears can breathe a sigh of relief.
The law of mediocrity could not allow the Packers to start a freshman Jordan love To become a Hall of Fame-level star for the next decade and a half, can she?
As energetic as it has been for the Bears over the past month, Rodgers news may mark Wednesday as the top three development of the 2023 season for residents at 1920 Football Drive in Lake Forest. The landscape of NFC North is changing. Rodgers leaves.
The Bears announced a meet and greet at Halas Hall Thursday with several of their new players.
Moore and Edmunds are the frontrunners among the current group of Bears newcomers. It will be interesting to hear their thoughts on joining the organization when they speak on Thursday.
Edwards — a Lake Villa native and Lakes High School graduate — will also share his excitement about joining the team he was born to be.
But the Poles will also answer questions in the morning. And there are plenty of questions to ask the busy GM.
the most we can talk about:
What is his overall showing of the return he got for the #1 pick in last week’s big deal with Carolina Panthers?
Have the Bears engaged in negotiations with outstanding offensive tackle Orlando Brown, and what’s next in their efforts to remedy the situation?
What made Edmonds a top-tier free agent/agent, and what is the Bears’ view of him inside the Eberflus defense?
After confirming in January that his first priority in the season was to strengthen the roster with line makers in standout positions like pass rusher, cornerback, and offensive lineman, how will the Bears use the next few waves of free agency plus the draft to make the necessary improvements to that group position?
With Davis reaching inside the offensive line, what does that mean Cody Whitehairand Tevin Jenkins Lucas Patrick?
At important offset times, even slow days seem busy.
