Bears
Bears’ CEO Ted Phillips believes the organization will be able to “turn it around” in 2020 and is still confident in HC Matt Nagy and their front office.
“I think we should be able to turn it around next year,” Phillips said, via Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. “I mean, we were 12-4 just a year ago. We had the coach of the year, the executive of the year. They haven’t lost their abilities, and we haven’t lost the talent level. We’ve just got to be able to maximize it better this coming season.”
Phillips added that Nagy and Bears GM Ryan Pace have inquired on areas they could improve.
“Matt says he wants to know what he can do to make us better; Ryan [Pace] wants to know what he can do to make us better. And the same applies to me. I want to know what I can do to make us better. Is it staffing? Is it resources? Is it facilities? Do I need to ask more questions? Do I need to ask fewer questions? It’s a balancing act. You want to be involved, but you don’t want to interfere. We’ll just have to see how it plays out.”
The Bears did make one impressive step forward this year considering the way their 2018 season ended in the infamous “Double Doink” playoff game — stabilizing the kicker position with Eddy Pineiro. Pineiro battled back from a midseason slump and finished 2019 23-28 on field-goal attempts and 27-29 on extra points.
“The goal the whole time was to hit on a young kicker that we can grow,” Pace said via Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune. “And we feel like we’ve done that with Eddy. He finished the season strong. . . . We feel like he’s going to continue to get better.”
While kicker may be fine for now, Pace has work to do in other areas to help the Bears rebound in 2020. Bears chair George McCaskey acknowledged he and his mother Virginia McCaskey were “disappointed” with the results this season but added that they still had trust in Pace and Nagy to lead the team next season even if some fans had lost patience with the duo.
“Bears fans should be relieved that I don’t get involved in the football decisions,” McCaskey said via the Chicago Sun-Times’s Patrick Finley. “That’s all Ryan and Matt. And we’re confident in them making the right decisions for the Bears going forward.”
Packers
- Per the Athletic’s Matt Schneidman, Packers HC Matt LaFleur said while S Raven Greene could play next week after being designated to return from injured reserve, the team wanted to evaluate him in practice this week first.
- LaFleur noted that he’s not down on Packers WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling despite his current slump in production and has a lot of confidence in him, adding he’s off just a tack on a number of catches. (Tom Silverstein)
Vikings
Vikings RB Dalvin Cook (shoulder) said he feels “refreshed” after missing the last two games and is “ready to go” for Sunday’s NFC Wildcard game.
“I feel refreshed,” said Cook, via Around the NFL. “I’m going to be ready to go. I’m going to be at full strength. Looking forward to a good football game.”
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I love how when a team doesnt execute well its the play calling and coaches fault. Does the coach suit up? Does the coach fumble? Does the coach over throw receivers or fail to see a wide open reciever? Does the coach offer and sign contracts to players?
Then there is the player(s) are not executing because of poor coaching. There is a reason why the term “sucks” exists. There is a reason why the saying, “He couldnt hit the broad side of a barn” was created. There is a reason why the saying, “A wet paper bag holds up better than the offensive line” exists.