Maybe Ryan Pace has the biggest balls of them all when it comes to GMs in the NFL. Maybe he is the type of person that will put all his assets on one number in Vegas and let it ride. This weekend the Chicago Bears made a bold move as they traded for Khalil Mack, a hold out and one of the best defensive players in the league. Most people think Ryan Pace got fleeced by the 49ers just to move up one spot to get their quarterback, Mitch Trubisky. Extra picks the Bears needed were now being used by the 49ers, however the Bears think they have their franchise quarterback. This weekend it took two number one picks to get Mack away from the Raiders. You’re not out of the woods yet as they still have to back up a few brinks trucks to Mack’s bank and pay the man a huge amount of money. The reason why he is holding out.

The Chicago Bears always had a face on their defense. They were known around the league as Monsters of the Midway. Guys Like Dick Butkus harrassed quarterbacks and may have bitten some line-men’s arms and threw dirt in their eyes. Then the eyes of Mike Singletary. Something out of a Superman comic book with the eyes blazing as he comes straight at the running back to crush him to the turf. Then just recently, HALL OF FAMER Brian Urlacher. He used his speed to tackle you on the opposite side of the field and chase you down for dear life until your body made an imprint in the ground and ended up like one of those Police sketches. In the movie The Program, the defensive player Alvin Mack is asked what his job is.

His answer is simple “KILL THE QUARTERBACK.”

Getting Khalil Mack finally solves that problem the Bears have had maybe going back to the Richard Dent days. Mack has already accumulated 40.5 sacks in the league. Finally  somebody that can kill the quarterback.

Without Mack, the Bears were pretty talented last year under Vic Fangio, the defensive coordinator. The Bears got rid of Fox and company and only held on to Vic as his defense was top ten in the league last year. Last year’s  MVP of the defensive was Akiem Hicks who can collapse the middle of the pocket on the defensive line. Finally Vic turned Kyle Fuller into a shut down cornerback as he was heading to be cut after last year, if his play did not improve. Then you have veteran Danny Trevathan, a former big piece of that stellar Broncos defense a few years back. He is a hard hitting linebacker that can pop anybody that enters his zone. With all these names and the flashes of Leonard Floyd who now with the arrival of Mack has some pressure taken off him. Then the number one draft pick from Georgia, Roquan Smith. His speed and his tools he could develop faster with Mack in the line up and play his game and not have to try to do everything. This defense now has to be in the top 5 without asking any questions. In the toughest division in football being the Central, quarterbacks like Rodgers, Cousins, and Stafford are not able now to circle the Bears on the schedule as two wins automatically.

The Bears are going down a similar path of the Philadelphia Eagles and the LA Rams with the young controllable quarterback. Then spending their money on their top defensive players. Eagles have beaten Brady and the Evil Empire Patriots and are looking to repeat. Meanwhile the Rams went from worst to first and were in the playoffs and look to get further this upcoming season. The Bears surrounded Trubisky with weapons this off season so he can get better after throwing to the worst cast of receivers in the history of the game last season. The new weapons will help Mitch Trubisky develop, but a shut down defense will help a young quarterback more.  Mitch Trubisky now can make mistakes and not feel like he is the only person to rectify the mistake. The defense led by Mack can overcome an interception and Mitch Trubisky will feel like he’s still in the game because of having a shut down defense.

Ryan Pace’s future will depend on these two moves. Last season drafting Mitch Trubisky and this trade for Khalil Mack. They’ve given up a lot to get these two guys. If these gambles do not pay out, heads will roll at Halas Hall.  Can Mack be the savior? With the big contract coming will he be able to live up to that kind of pressure and scrutiny? We have seen flashes of Mitch Trubisky however he has not shown us anything to say he is the Bears quarterback for the next ten years. What about a sophomore jinx?  That is the job of GM, sometimes you have to roll the dice on something that can totally blow up in your face. The Bulls dynasty took a chance on Denis Rodman and that extra baggage led to three more titles. Then the White sox in 2005 signed AJ Pierzynski who had a checkered past but was a big part of snapping an 88 year drought on the south side of town. Mack comes in without any dirty laundry. Just a player that bleeds football. A very rich player that bleeds football today.

Like the AC DC song, WHOSE GOT BIG BALLS, Ryan Pace might have the biggest balls of them all. The Bears have been playing it safe or making stupid moves over the last few decades. The Cutler contract and the extending the contract making him the highest paid quarterback in the land still makes my head hurt. I don’t know if Mitch Trubisky will be better than Houston’s quarterback Watson. Or Mahomes in Kansas City, but Pace knew he needed a quarterback and got one of the top ones in last year’s draft. Chicago has not seen a legit quarterback since Jim McMahon. If Trubisky plays well and with the new coaching staff I like this Mack deal. It could be the one move to get the Bears back in the playoffs. In 2020 perhaps the Bears will be the Superbowl champions, something that we have not forgotten since the ’85 Bears, who are still well known and loved in these parts.