NFL STRAIGHT PICK-EM WEEK TWO

LAST WEEK’S RECORD: (8-8)

We are hopeful we learned from being sent to the penalty box after week one’s horrible picking.

SEASON STATS

OVERALL RECORD:(8-8)

THURSDAY NIGHT RECORD: (1-0)

MONDAY NIGHT RECORD: (0-1)

WEEK TWO WE ARE A GO!!!!

THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

NEW YORK GIANTS AT WASHINGTON “THE TEAM WITH NO NAME”

Giants are still trying to find themselves. Running back Saquon Barkley trying to knock off the rust from last year’s injury. Washington has a new quarterback Taylor Heinicke as Ryan Fitzpatrick is out. Watch Heinickle take the starting quarterback job for good. Last season Heinicke impressed me with the plays he made behind center giving the Buccaneers a scare in the first round of the playoffs. Heinicke makes use of the Washington’s weapons and the defense rebounds in Washington victory.

OUR PICK: “THE TEAM”

THE SUNDAY SLATE

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT NEW YORK JETS

What do Jets’ quarterbacks and speed bumps have in common? They both get run down. Rookie Zack Wilon sacked six times and hit a total of ten times. You know Evil Bill Belichick will exploit the Jets offensive line and have his way in week two. Patriots rookie quarterback Mac Jones will gain confidence and make some nice throws to get his team’s record even at 1-1.

OUR PICK: THE NEUTERED EVIL EMPIRE

DENVER BRONCOS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

The Broncos defense is much better than what the Jaguars faced in week one versus the Texans. Trevor Lawrence was good, bad, and ugly in his debut. I think the Jaguars will clean up their mistakes from week one. Jacksonville is still a very young team and they will give the Broncos a solid game. Teddy Bridgewater with that balanced offense not making mistakes, and the Broncos able to play solid defense they will be 2-0 out of the gates of the 2021 season.

OUR PICK: BRONCOS

BUFFALO BILLS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS

Should Buffalo Bills fans worry about their opening day loss to the Steelers where they were up 10-0 at one point? Miami squeaked out a close one with the Patriots last weekend. Josh Allen will rebound and is due for a bigger game from him. The Bills defense played well last week, so look for that to continue. I felt the Steelers had some lucky catches on key plays last week. Dolphins will keep this one close until late in the game when Buffalo finally put the fish on ice for good on South Beach.

Is Pinto Ron grill equipped for a huge fish fry?

OUR PICK: BILLS

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Here’s where things get interesting with two teams winning last week facing off in week two. Both the 49ers and Eagles played bad teams. My first thought was picking the 49ers because they are fully healthy and ready to take that leap back to the post-season. Lions made that a game last week versus the 49ers. Meanwhile Eagles Head Coach Nick Sirianni has come up with a solid game plan for his young quarterback, Jalen Hurts. Which includes a running game with two running backs and easy quick passes to avoid the pass rush. Quick tempo to speed up the game. Eagles defense will make a few plays to keep Philadelphia undefeated.

OUR PICK: THE EAGLE HAS LANDED

LA RAMS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

The Colts seem like they always get off to a slow start in the standings. Colts with a very tough schedule to start; first the Seahawks and now the Rams. LA Rams man handled the Chicago Bears with ease last weekend. Both teams have new quarterbacks behind center this season. Matthew Stafford will adjust to his new surroundings quicker than Carson Wentz. This game will be a battle through all 4 quarters. I think Rams squeak one out on the road.

OUR PICK: RAMS

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS

These two teams have old time history with each other. Epic playoff battles in the AFC that are still talked about today. Steelers defense came to play last week as they contained Josh Allen and their high octane offense. Raiders had a thriller with the Ravens on Monday night at home forcing overtime and eventually winning their home opener. Steelers are always tough at home. It looks like Big Ben Roethlisberger’s arm is about to fall off completely however he will be able to do enough to that Raiders suspect defense. Last season, the Steeler defense was awesome early on as they were healthy then. Look for that unit to slow down the Raider offense from exploding late in the game and containing Vegas weapons of mass destruction.

OUR PICK: STEELERS

CINCINNATI BENGALS AT CHICAGO BEARS

Week one both these teams are the tale of two cities. Bengals winning in overtime over the Vikings, gives their fan base excitement. Meanwhile, the Bears fans are angry over the play of their team and that rookie quarterback Justin Fields is not on the field for the entire game. Which happens in these situations… the following week both teams do a 360. The Bears will play like World beaters while the Bengals will turn into the Bumbles once again. This game will belong to Andy Dalton. I will call this chapter, “The Rifleman Will Shoot Your Eye Out.”

OUR PICK: DA BEARS

HOUSTON TEXANS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS

Cleveland looks like an elite team from their play last Sunday in that loss to the Chiefs. Tyrod Taylor resurfaces in Houston while Deshaun Watson is looking for a new massage therapist that won’t tell all. Browns have a better defense with a two headed monster running game. It might be the best tandem in the entire league. Houston defense is suspect. Tyrod Taylor has problems throwing down-field if Texans get behind early. Taylor can dink and dunk all day. Browns will score points and Houston will have a major problem keeping up.

OUR PICK: BROWNS

SAINTS AT PANTHERS

Many Saints coaches are out with Covid.

Perhaps the staff went out and celebrated their Packers victory with some drinks and new beads, somewhere not in The Big Easy. Did Sean Payton fix Jameis Winston? Can Sam Darnold find a permanent home in Carolina? Both teams won their first game last Sunday. Saints are the better team in this match-up. New Orleans has more weapons it seems on offense, plus not missing a beat on defense after losing guys to free agency. Winston being controlled by Payton and not making mistakes, he has a big arm. Just hope he stays away from the crab legs.

OUR PICK: SAINTS

MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS

Give the Viking head coach Mike Zimmer a shovel because he’s digging a hole which he may not get out of once again. Vikings lost to the Bengals in Overtime and have a difficult match up with the Cardinals in week two. Cardinals fixed their defense this off-season, adding some nice pieces to that unit. Look for the Cardinals to put the Denver boot on Dalvin Cook. Kirk Cousins will make mistakes when the pressure mounts. Meanwhile, Kyler Murray will run up the score.

OUR PICK: CARDINALS

ATLANTA FALCONS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Atlanta looked like the worst team in the entire NFL last Sunday. Tom Brady is already in mid-season form and looking now to play until he’s 50. Hearing that just makes you ill. Falcons defense still has problems stopping teams. A lingering problem in Atlanta for several years now. Looks like the Julio Jones departure has taken the heart and soul out of that Falcon offense. This is going to be a bloody path as Tampa Bay pirate ship will run out of cannon ammo from all the scoring.

OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS

TENNESSEE TITANS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

This match-up has shoot-out written all over it. Seattle looked awesome last weekend versus the Colts. Titans struggled versus the Cardinals. I like Seattle at home, but then I don’t. Seattle seems to be playing better on the road than at home the last few seasons. I like a Titan rebound in week two as the ground game will be huge for Tennessee and keep drives going and longer while Russell Wilson watches from the sidelines. Derrick Henry was contained last week. So look for a big game against from him versus the average defense Seattle has.

OUR PICK: TITANS

DALLAS COWBOYS AT LA CHARGERS

Chargers offense were able to beat a very good Washington defense. Cowboys defense is better than last season’s garbage they trotted out there. Dak Prescott did not miss a beat being back from last season’s injury and almost pulled out victory against the world champs on Thursday Night Football. My gut tells me Justin Herbert will have a monster game versus the Cowboy defense. I think this game will be a shootout. It will be the first game at which Chargers have fans at the new stadium they share with the Rams. Do Charger fans even exist anymore? I feel the Cowboy fans will invade that stadium and it will feel like a home game for Dallas instead. In the end, the Cowboys will be last team standing victorious in this one.

OUR PICK: COWBOYS

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS

Chiefs won a well-fought game last week versus the Browns. Ravens watched the Raiders storm back and beat them in overtime in Vegas. Ravens last season started out of the gates slowly. Patrick Mahomes versus Lamar Jackson has always gone the Chiefs way. Ravens struggled against winning teams last season. Chiefs improved their protection in the off-season of their man Mahomes. Upgrading their line. Mahomes with more time will find the holes in the Ravens defense. Chiefs defense will just do enough to throw off Lamar Jackson’s timing and contain some of the big runs.

OUR PICK: CHIEFS

MONDAY NIGHT GAME

DETROIT LIONS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS

Packers played like cheese whiz last Sunday. Lions almost made one of the impressive comebacks that fell short at the end of regulation. Aaron Rodgers historically does not do well in the state of Florida. When everybody thinks Rodgers is ready for the retirement home and the Packers are going to be bad, then suddenly the script is flipped the following week.

I would love to see the Packers become the doormat of the entire NFL. It just doesn’t work that way because the Packers suddenly have the Lions and Bears even the Vikings that come to the dinner table gift wrapped. Lions will be the resurgence meal tha tthe Packers will gladly devour to give this Green Bay drama back to Superbowl talk on Rodgers’ revenge tour.

OUR PICK: PACKERS

The Chicago Bears have never fired a head coach during regular season play. After watching the first game of the 2021 season, the Bears should give Matt Nagy, Head Coach of the Bears, the ax. In my opinion, Matt Nagy should have been kicked to the curb last season with his entire coaching staff and thrown in the front office. The Bears should have cleaned house & gave the garbage truck driver a tip to take away the trash that they have running this team right now. The Bears defense on Sunday night was lifeless versus the Rams. Bears linebacker Alec Ogletree even said, “We didn’t play with enough energy.”

fThen Bears wide receiver Marquise Goodwin questioned Matt Nagy’s game plan. Matt Nagy’s game plan should be questioned with his team only making two passes the entire game longer than ten yards versus the Rams. The handling of Justin Fields has you scratching your head after game one. Bears and the fans of Chicago got a broken hollowed out branch half eaten by termites of the Andy Reid coaching tree. It’s time to lop that sucker off. It’s been the defense side of the ball that has helped Matt Nagy actually have a winning record in the NFL. The Bears defense Nagy inherited from the John Fox era made the jump to the top defensive team in the league in his very first season on the Bears sidelines. Credit defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, now Denver’s head coach. After Fangio left to take the job as head coach in Denver, the Bears defense has slowly digressed. Chuck Pagano the last two years could not get the pressure on the quarterback like that 2018 unit did the last year Fangio was in Chicago. Pagano retired from the game after last season. Matt Nagy’s list of replacements on the defensive side turns up nothing so Bears promote Coach Sean Desai. The players love Coach Desai. This was the move when Head Coach Lovie Smith replaced the defensive coordinator at the time, Ron Rivera, who was up and coming with his Buddy Bob Babich in 2007. Now the Bears have an aging defense and a defensive coordinator way over his head in his first year on the job. This unit can’t tackle. With no great defense in place, Matt Nagy is about to take the plunge on the big slide in the game of chutes and ladders.

The War and Peace playbook of Matt Nagy should be tossed in the garbage can. In the Rocky movies, the neighbors of Rocky Balboa would stand around a burning can with flames shooting out singing and drinking. Burn baby burn this play book could supply heat to the homeless all winter in downtown Chicago. This play book of Matt Nagy’s might work if he has all the pieces in place. We have heard similar words like that at Halas hall from another former coach with a mustache. Andy Dalton and Nick Foles last year complained Matt Nagy does not get the plays into the quarterbacks fast enough. The wording is too long perhaps. Matt Nagy says the playbook can take up to 4 years to learn. How many quarterbacks has Matt Nagy already had in 4 seasons in Chicago? Mitch Trubisky regressed in his second year when Matt Nagy turned to page two of this book.

The Josh Fields situation bothers me. The General Manager Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy could hide behind landing Fields in the draft and use that to stay working in Chicago longer. Using the excuse we are still developing our guy. I feel bad for Andy Dalton. Dalton should be a starter somewhere else in the NFL with a good offensive line and a strong running game. Dalton could be successful. Not in Chicago. The Bears line is weak. The running back David Montgomery for the Bears can run with the rock but Nagy’s play calling limits the young tail back’s talent. Dalton a statue back in the pocket with no running game in the game plan and a bad offensive line that is homicide. The question should Justin Fields play or sit has been an argument for weeks around Chicagoland. Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes waited before they got their chance and they are two of the best in the league along with Tom Brady. That’s 3 of the top tier in the league. What about Peyton Manning and Russell Wilson who played right away? It can go either way. In week one around the league many rookies were starting and making plays for their new team. Except the Bears, they put Justin Fields in for a handful of plays throughout the game. If the Bears brass got it right, they would have waited & signed Andy Dalton last season as he was cut loose by the Bengals. Instead typical Bears trading for Nick Foles means more draft capital wasted and more money down the drain. Now with Justin Fields, I see Matt Nagy stunting the growth of huge talent. Imagine two top picks in the last five years at the quarterback position wasted because Bears can’t develop them.

d,Marquise Goodwin a new Bears player signed in the off-season, saying the game plan last Sunday with all the short passes played into the defender Jalan Ramsey on the Rams instead of stretching the field. A weakness for the corner back. Goodwin is right. Is Matt Nagy going to get into the receiver’s face and scream at him for talking to the media on sensible topics that should be addressed behind closed doors? Another reason Matt Nagy should be shown the door is he does not hold any of his players accountable. All the stupid penalties his guys get, especially Akiem Hicks last season. It was just dumb mistake after dumb mistake last season. Not going to name names, but Dumb and Dumber are two of Nagy’s receivers. They were ejected last season in both Saints games with the same corner back involved. Matt Nagy is too busy with the offensive play book. He has lost any thought about the rest of the game that is going on. A Head Coach’s job is to make the tough decisions and hold everyone accountable for their errors. Instead Matt Nagy is scheming how to abandon the run and pass more. Nagy was supposed to be the quarterback guru when he was hired and Mitch Trubisky looked sharp in pre-season with the Bills as their game plan involved working to his strengths. Nagy quickly abandoned Trubisky’s strengths. Trubisky’s best games for the Bears were when Matt Nagy dumbed down the playbook and used what worked best for Mitch. His legs rolling out passing. Bears were lucky last season getting into the post-season. I don’t see the Bears getting back to post-season any time soon with too many weaknesses on that roster. This Bears team should be scrapped. Completely gutted top to bottom. The Bears need to find a new GM and head coach that can keep some of the young guys and find a way to build around Justin Fields. First throw the Matt Nagy branch into the shredder sooner than later and give the reins to Justin Fields and let him steer the ship the rest of the way. All’s Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy have brought to Chicago is the reincarnation of the famous Bulls Gar/Pax tandem. Nobody wants to remember Gar Forman, John Paxson, and what they did to the Chicago Bulls.

STRAIGHT PICK-EM

WEEK ONE NFL PREDICTIONS

LET’S ROCK WEEK ONE OF SOME VERY BAD PREDICTIONS !!!!!

THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

DALLAS COWBOYS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Any time Tom Brady gets an award, the great Tampa Tom will stroke his Buccaneer in front of the entire NFL nation. Dak Prescott returning after an injury last season will get his feet wet but not enough to give last year’s champions a loss.

OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS

THE SUNDAY SLATE

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS AT HOUSTON TEXANS

I’m not Lovie Smith-ing the Texans right now. The sexual predator DeShaun Watson will have plenty of lonely nights, not being behind center. Maybe he can be the master of his domain. Week one, I’m going rookie Trevor Lawrence. Besides, it seems the Jaguars’ only game they can win is opening week.

OUR PICK: JAG BAGS

LA CHARGERS AT WASHINGTON TEAM WITH NO NAME

I like Washington’s defense in this one especially with LA traveling from the west coast. Will Justin Herbert be a victim of the Sophomore jinx? Who ever Washington is rolling out at quarterback in this game, is already better than week one of last season. I have a feeling it will be the Beard. The Chargers will be in a hairy situation in week one.

OUR PICK: WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Colts are a slow starting team especially last year in week one with a new quarterback when they were upset by the Jaguars. I like the same plot this time. Seahawks are a better team winning on the road. Last few years, Russell Wilson has been very good as a Road Warrior.

OUR PICK: SEAHAWKS

NEW YORK JETS AT CAROLINA PANTHERS

The Sam Darnold revenge game!!!

OUR PICK: PANTHERS

MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT CINCINNATI BENGALS

Both teams last season played poorly on the defensive side of the ball. Can Joe Burrow rebound from his injury last season? Vikings have the better coaching staff in this one. I feel like the Viking defense will show up this season. Vikings will still lose the big prime-time games. Bengals are never on prime-time. They are lucky if they make the Spanish stations.

OUR PICK: SCREAMING VIKINGS

ARIZONA CARDINALS AT TENNESSEE TITANS

This match up to me has offensive shoot out written all over it. I think it will be close game. JJ Watt will find it hard once again to stop the train at the end of the game with Titans running back Derrick Henry running through a Cardinal defense. There will be some new faces but the same results.

OUR PICK: TITANS

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT DETROIT LIONS

If only the Lions could assemble the old Detroit Piston team, the bad boys for week one on their defense.

San Francisco is healthy and should dominate a Lion team that may be one of the worst teams in the league this season.

OUR PICK: 49ERS

PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT BUFFALO BILLS

Last year the Steelers were beating the bad teams and got off to a hot start. When Pittsburgh played the tougher teams, they could not win. Buffalo will do the same thing they did to Big Ben and that Shower Curtain defense. They’ll win convincingly in front of the Bills Mafia in a packed house. Bills will provide the one wrestling table crunching move to prevent the Steelers winning week one on the road.

OUR PICK: BILLS

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT ATLANTA FALCONS

Who’s knows who will win the battle of the birds. In the end, the black birds will prevail in hot Atlanta in a messy affair.

OUR PICK: FALCONS

CLEVELAND BROWNS AT KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Browns had a hard time beating winning teams most of last season. I think the Chiefs upgrade on their offensive line will be the difference in this one.

OUR PICK: CHIEFS

DENVER BRONCOS AT NEW YORK GIANTS

This one will be a defensive battle. I like Teddy Bridgewater not making the mistakes that will cost his team. Bridgewater and a strong running game by the Broncos will be the difference.

OUR PICK:BRONCOS

GREEN BAY PACKERS AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (IN JACKSONVILLE)

Aaron Rodgers’ farewell tour will start in Florida where he has done very poorly in his career. I think this will be a close one. Saints mistake late in this game will give the Packers the road win. Cough Cough… Jameis Winston !!!

OUR PICK: PACKERS

MIAMI DOLPHINS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Not getting on board the Patriots train. Rookie quarterback versus a pretty good Dolphin defense in my book will give Bill Belichick problems his first game of 2021.

OUR PICK: DOLPHINS

CHICAGO BEARS AT THE LA RAMS

Andy Dalton better have some life insurance because the Rams defense will use the Bears offensive line like a turnstile. Picture a mob going through the doors of Filene’s basement on the biggest sale of the year.

OUR PICK:RAMS

THE MONDAY NIGHT GAME

BALTIMORE RAVENS AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

This actually looks like a decent looking game for Monday Night. It should be close. At the end, Lamar Jackson legs out the winning score.

OUR PICK: RAVENS

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The Chicago Bears announced before the final preseason game versus the Tennessee Titans, that Andy Dalton will be their starting quarterback when the team takes the field in week one versus the Rams. Many fans are disgruntled as they had hopes of seeing Justin Fields behind center when the Bears faced the Rams in LA. The Bears coaching staff were in love with the red headed rifleman, Andy Dalton, before the 2020 season. Bears could not finagle a trade with the Bengals who drafted Joe Burrow out of LSU. Bengals ended up releasing Dalton who went on to sign a deal with the Cowboys to back up Dak Prescott. Bears could not pounce on Dalton because they have pulled the trigger on Nick Foles in a trade with the Jaguars. Bears coaching staff thought Nick Foles would be the answer. This is the grand scheme to move on from Mitch Trubisky. Foles did not look like his days in a Eagle uniform. Bears let Mitch Trubisky walk. Bears coaching staff finally got their second guy this off-season as they inked Andy Dalton to a one year deal. Then the football draft took place and suddenly the Bears found themselves with a chance to land Justin Fields, the former Buckeye. That moment, as if time paused, Andy Dalton became enemy number one to Chicago Bears fans. Are the Bears doing the right thing starting Dalton over Fields?

Does pre-season tell you the tale of the tape for both these quarterbacks? The eye test would tell you Justin Fields looked better overall in the pre-season games than Andy Dalton. Then you bring in the debate of which Quarterback played with the varsity class and which one played with the Frosh/Sophomore squad? Let’s not forget starters the Bears rested, that did not play in any of the pre-season games. Plus, let’s not forget the teams the Bears faced in pre-season who did play all their guys. In a bar stool debate, you can throw stats in any of these games out the window. What I saw in pre-season was Andy Dalton got lucky on a big gainer for a touchdown where the receiver stripped the ball from the defender in mid air. He ran for the long score while the corner back fell to the ground. I noticed Justin Fields hangs on to the ball way too long. I remember the play when the Buffalo Bill defender made chop suey out of Fields as his helmet came off in the collision. I did notice Fields has the escape ability when the pocket is closing up like the walls closing in on Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and the Princess, in the movie Star Wars. The next question I have which we do not know the answer to is… how did both quarterbacks do in practice? I would never buy anything the Bears brass is selling. The tells the General Manager Ryan Pace has in the press conferences let me know he would be the first to lose his shirt in a poker game.

What is the best way to start a young quarterback who you think is the face of your franchise for years to come? Should Justin Fields hold on to a clip board and learn the NFL on the sidelines from the veteran bridge quarterback that Andy Dalton has become? Bears tried this with Mitch Trubisky. Mike Glennon was that veteran in an experiment gone badly compared to the laboratory that produced the Covid virus. Trubisky would play decently in his first year behind center where he had no receivers. Everyone likes the road Patrick Mahomes took with the Kansas City Chiefs. Mahomes learned from Alex Smith who had a great year. Chiefs made the playoffs. Mahomes played in a meaningless game at the end of the season that year. Could Andy Dalton keep Fields on the bench and play well? Dalton signed with the Bears to be QB number 1. Dalton was probably told he was. Any veteran player, especially with the mentality of a quarterback, are going to play with a chip on his shoulder. Dalton will be looking for a contract beyond this season. Obviously with another team. Could Dalton drive the car how Ryan Fitzpatrick did in Miami last season & then hand the keys over like the Beard did to young quarterback Tua Tagovailoa? Miami would have made the playoffs if they went with Fitzmagic the entire season. Miami came close in the tough AFC with Tua Time mania on South Beach. Many people would say throw the young quarterback into the pit of snakes and let him get his bites and lumps in. How Peyton Manning and other greats have done it since the league formed. Getting the experience of on the job training. Some people compare the Bears quarterback saga to Russel Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks. Wilson’s first year he beat out the one-game-wonder, Matt Flynn, who got a big contract from Seattle that off-season. Seahawks’ two Superbowls and multiple playoff appearances later have Russell Wilson looking like a future Hall-of-Famer.

When it comes down to the way the Chicago Bears do things, it’s an automatic wrong way. I get the thought process behind putting Andy Dalton in versus that stud defense the Rams have. Many believe the Rams defense is the best in the league coming into the 2021 season. Plus, the Bears have a 39-year-old left tackle to protect Dalton’s blindside. Jason Peters has not played in any pre-season game. Peters has had a great career, but how much does he have left in the gas tank? Bears do everything on the fly. Nothing seems like an intelligent plan when it comes to the Bears. Like drafting Justin Fields, like someone left a bag of cash on your front steps. You take it, but then the Bears don’t know how to use it. I would have fired this current coaching staff last season. Bears got lucky and found their way into the playoffs from a broken Cardinal team and the expanded post-season last year. This probably did save Head Coach Matt Nagy’s job. I can see Matt Nagy not playing Justin Fields right away to stay employed. Use the excuse that it takes time to develop a young quarterback. Then GM Ryan Pace got another chance at selecting a quarterback. By drafting Justin Fields, does that take him off the hook for picking Mitch Trubisky over DeShaun Watson or Patrick Mahomes? The front office should have been eliminated as well last season. Pace’s draft history is horrible. The Bears GM still has never addressed the offensive line. You have a head coach who’s supposed to be the QB whisperer with a War and Peace style playbook and has failed to run a top-tier offense. Blame that on a bad line, bad play calls and not developing your quarterbacks. It has been the defense that Nagy inherited that has his coaching record with more wins than losses. Andy Dalton will get a raw deal and move on from Chicago next season. Dalton might be the best choice versus the Rams or will end up as the sacrificial lamb in week one. Fields could also find himself damaged goods if he played versus a defense like that in week one. In the long run I think it will take another head coach to get the best out of Justin Fields. Lets just hope Fields is not permanent damaged goods when the new staff comes in.

Mitch Trubisky was going to be the answer at the quarterback position, the position the Chicago Bears have had problems with since the 1940’s. The days of Sid Luckman. The Bears General Manager, Ryan Pace, put all his eggs in one basket & bet the house on Mitch Trubisky as the solution to this long term problem in Chicago. Ryan Pace was so sure about himself that he bypassed a sure thing in DeShaun Watson. Did Ryan Pace even do enough research on Patrick Mahomes, who might be the best quarterback in the league today? In 2017, Pace moved up one spot in the draft to grab Mitch Trubisky while giving up draft capital to the 49ers. Trubisky’s Bears career would end last season. Trubisky was always a stand up guy and you can say in his career, he’s been OK. Definitely not like Watson or Mahomes. Trubisky would sign with the Buffalo Bills this off-season and made his way back to his old kind of stomping grounds for a pre-season affair on Saturday afternoon in Chicago. Trubisky gets his revenge against his former team as Buffalo demolishes the Bears on the lakefront. The crowd mostly cheered for their former quarterbacks. Some boos were heard. Some will say it’s only a pre-season game. Is it really just a pre-season game if you are Mitch Trubisky?

When head coach Matt Nagy simplified his playbook in the very first year with Mitch Trubisky, the Bears did well, made the playoffs, and lost to the Eagles. Only to blame the kicker for that loss. Last season when Mitch Trubisky was inserted back into the starting role, Mitch Trubisky did well and helped the Bears get back to the playoffs. You ask if the NFL expanding the playoffs is the reason why or did Arizona have too many injuries which helped the Bears get in and have a date with New Orleans? A team who pretty much manhandled the Midway Monsters that day. When head coach Matt Nagy tailored the playbook around Trubisky’s strengths, he was pretty good. Last season, Trubisky was 6-3 as the starter for the Bears. Overall in Trubisky’s entire career with the Bears, he has a winning record of 29-21. Trubisky has 64 touchdown passes to 37 Interceptions in his career. Again, Trubisky was the first quarterback picked in that draft in 2017, & will always have DeShaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes lurking in the shadows as they are elite and Mitch is just an average arm.

Mitch Trubisky signed with the Buffalo Bills to be Josh Allen’s back up. Trubisky plays a similar style behind center as Josh Allen. What’s the best way to improve your own game is work with one of the best offensive minds in the game, Brian Daboll, and watch Josh Allen continue to make strides. Mitch Trubisky looked very comfortable in the Bills offense as he torched his former team on Sunday. Trubisky was 15-21 for 157 yards with 1 touchdown pass & no interceptions. Trubisky had a passing rating of 108.6 on Saturday. Let’s not forget about the 11 yard runs with his feet and the two point conversion he tossed to Jacob Hollister. At halftime, it was 28-0 Bills. The final was 41-15 Bills in a laugher.

Here’s what jumps out at me about the Bills and Bears game. Mitch Trubisky was protected very well and had time to throw the ball. Bills used a running game to go along with Trubisky in the game plan. Andy Dalton’s numbers look better than they actually were. Take away the 73 yard touchdown Dalton threw to Rodney Adams, which was kind of lucky how he had to pretty much catch the ball through the defender, as the Bills corner-back fell to the ground, he was off to the races. Dalton finished 11-17 for 146 yards with the touchdown pass and a interception. Dalton had an 86.9 QB Rating. Then Justin Fields, who looked pretty good in the first pre-season game, did not look good on Saturday. Same old Bears expecting good quarterback play with a sloppy offensive line. One play Fields was mugged back there as he lost his helmet.

Fields’ day ended with a sigh of relief from fans that he got up. Behind center, Fields went 9-19 for 80 yards, no touch down passes or interceptions, with a QB rating of 59.1 yikes.

Who knows if Mitch Trubisky will ever face the Bears in a regular season game. I know it’s only a preseason game, but the eye test shows me Mitch Trubisky looked better than he ever did in a Bears uniform. Meanwhile the Bears are trying to figure out their offensive line as both Andy Dalton and Justin Fields were pressured all day. Nick Foles probably thanked God more than once that he did not get into that game. Many want to put the blame game on the GM of the Bears’ Ryan Pace. Don’t get me wrong… he is the problem as well in not getting the offensive line help that this team needed years ago. How many different quarterbacks does Matt Nagy need to get one to take control of this offense he has laid out. If Justin Fields turns out to be a lemon, after Matt Nagy all this time was the problem. Remember Matt Nagy did not draft Mitch Trubisky; he was not there at the time. Many think Nagy all along hoped Trubisky would fail so they could have one of his own guys in there. Nick Foles was going to be that guy. Now Andy Dalton will be that guy even though he will have a very short leash because the team traded more draft capital to get Justin Fields. Fields could be the savior in the long run. Will it be Matt Nagy who develops Justin Field, or some other coach? My gut tells me this will be the same ole Bad News Bears. I don’t think Mitch Trubisky will ever lead a team to the Superbowl. I can see Mitch Trubisky getting better. This game also shows you the Bills coaching staff and brain trust in the front office, are on a higher level than the Bears. Head Coach Sean McDermott challenges a play where the Bears receiver caught the ball using the ground to control it. That play was overturned. Then Matt Nagy challenges a play thinking the Bills receiver was out of bounds. This when you can clearly see he dragged his feet on the field before going out of bounds. Nagy was wrong. Play stands. Right now Trubisky has the last laugh.

Last season, the Chicago Blackhawks were in the thick of things most of the year, tailed off, and missed another post-season. The Blackhawks goalie situation looked grim especially after the first couple weeks. The NHL realigned all the divisions so teams could play in their own stadium. The Blackhawks had to play the bad Detroit Red Wings multiple times. The team still had to play the Lightning multiple times who have won back-to-back championships. The Blackhawks were without their captain the entire season, Jonathan Toews. Cory Crawford retired. A young goalie named Kevin Lankinen took the net and showed the league he can play inside the pipes. What if the Blackhawks Corey Crawford played last season and stayed healthy? Would the team have made it to the playoffs? Lankinen was pretty good, but if Crawford had been at his best and healthy, Blackhawks would have gotten to the post-season. This off-season there is finally a move by Stan Bowman the General Manager that I can applaud. Blackhawks land veteran goalie Marc-Andre Fleury from the Vegas Golden Knights in a trade.

At first this move of landing the veteran Marc-Andre Fleury, looked very Blackhawk-like. The 36 year old Fleury, a three time Stanley Cup winner, liked living in Vegas and his family thought about just hanging up the skates for good. Then a few weeks later, the former Penguins goalie decided he wants to play in Chicago. The deal was simple; the Blackhawks gave the Golden Knights minor league forward Mikael Hakkaraainen, a center born in Finland and Chicago, who has a veteran net presence next season. If you recall, the Golden Knights had one of the best goalie tandems in the league last year with Robin Lehner, a former Blackhawk himself. It was the Blackhawks that traded Lehner in 2020 in a three team trade that involved the Golden Knights and the Maple Leafs. Blackhawks got the Golden Knights back-up goalie Malcolm Subban in that trade. We’ve seen enough out of him as he was horrible. The Golden Knights needed to clear some salary cap and one of the goalies had to go. Fleury makes sense having only one year left on his deal.

Marc-Andre Fleury is the reigning Vezina trophy winner which means he was the top goalie last season in the entire NHL. In 36 regular season games last year for the Golden Knights Fleury went 26-10 in the net. Fleury had a save percentage of 928 for the year only allowing 1.98 goals a game. Plus, Fleury had six shut-outs. Fleury won all three of his cups in a Pittsburgh uniform. Fleury has also helped the Golden Knights make it to their first cup and he helped the team get deep into the playoffs this past season. Fleury ranks third in all-time wins in regular season with 492. Fleury is a for sure Hall of Famer when he hangs up the skates for good.

I like this move a lot by the Blackhawks. I know its a seven million dollar hit on the cap. It’s only a one year hit as Marc-Andre Fleury will become a free agent if the move does not work out. I think this move can benefit your young goalie Kevin Lankinen who should get some games in as the back up. Lankinen can learn from a future Hall-of-Famer. The Blackhawks would have a solid 1-2 punch in the net which they lacked last season. Plus they would have a guy who has been there and done that in the playoffs with Fleury helping the team get back to the post-season. In the NHL it takes a hot goalie and an all-star like Patrick Kane to lead your team past the first round and beyond. I like Jonathan Toews returning. The Blackhawks did well without him as they hung in there most of the season. With a healthy Toews, the Blackhawks will be better. The Blackhawks added Center Tyler Johnson from the Lightning who adds post-season experience which will improve this team. I don’t agree with the money they will be paying or what they gave up to land the defenseman Seth Jones from Columbus. Seth Jones will be a upgrade over an aging Duncan Keith who was dealt to the Oilers. The biggest reason this may work out for the Blackhawks is because Fleury has an axe to grind with the Golden Knights for trading him. Plus, Vegas found his replacement in 2020 with Robin Lehner. In 2021, Fleury showed Vegas he was still the guy. Fleury still has that passion, and he may want another contract after this year. Might not be with the Blackhawks, but we may go down that road when the time comes. Right now Stan Bowman can breathe a sigh of relief that he’s not being dragged out of the United Center by fans with pitchforks and torches.

Will San Jose Sharks left-winger Evander Kane be lumped on the same list as Pete Rose and the 1919 Black Sox scandal? Kane last year filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy as he lost 1.5 Million dollars due to gambling. Kane’s contract with the Sharks is a 7 year deal worth 49 Million. In which Kane still has 4 years remaining on his contract. Some will wonder how in the world does somebody lose this amount of money gambling. Kane obviously has a problem. What happened to the rest of the money he has made over his 12 year career in the NHL to have him file for Chapter 7 in the first place? How does a person rack up a debt of 26.8 Million? Kane is under investigation by the NHL for some comments his wife made. “How they can let a player gamble on his own games?” The sickness Kane has is like a boxer taking a dive in round two to pay off the bad element in the sporting world. Evander Kane’s teammates on the Sharks don’t want him back on the team for disrespecting the rules of the locker room. The team rules. Kane denies all allegations made by his wife.

Evander Kane made his NHL debut with the Atlanta Thrashers in the 2009-10 season. Kane showed that he had a knack for getting the puck in the net as he scored 14 goals his rookie season with 12 assists for 26 points. Kane’s numbers in his second year with the Thrashers went up as he became a now permanent player in the NHL. The Thrashers would leave Atlanta and head to Canada. Then the second incarnation of the Winnipeg Jets as Kane would thrive on the Canadian ice and score 30 goals that year with 27 assists for 57 points. Kane’s numbers dropped the next two seasons in Winnipeg. Kane moved on and played in Buffalo where he found his old form and started to put up solid numbers once again. San Jose Sharks came calling for his talents and made a trade with Buffalo to get him. It’s been four years in San Jose and Evander Kane has done well and earned himself a seven year contract.. Last season, Kane scored 22 goals while dishing out 27 assists which is good for 49 points. Due to Covid, it was a shortened season as Kane played in 56 games. Kane had two game winning goals. On those nights, did he win money with the bookies? Kane’s career numbers are very solid with 264 goals, 242 assists for 506 points. Kane has 37 career game-winning goals.

Who do you believe in a situation like this that could bring dark clouds to the NHL. Evander Kane, who sounds like a compulsive gambling addict? Could this be the wife’s way of getting redemption who is about to be the X for all the things her husband did to the family. I remember when Chicago Bulls’ Dennis Rodman had to get away and went to Vegas as the Bulls were playing the Jazz in Utah. Rodman resurfaced and played well in that series despite gambling in Sin City that weekend. Evander Kane in 2019 when the Sharks played the Golden Knights in Vegas did the same thing Rodman did. For Kane, he racked up a 500,000 debt from one of the casinos in Sin Town. Later on that casino sued Kane for the money. Anna went on a rant about Evander and his episodes on social media. How Evander ditched the family to go to Europe. While over the pond their house was being taken away from the bank. Sounds like Evander Kane likes to live the high life blowing his money on expensive dinners like surf and turf and nothing but the best. Kane likes the fancy hotels and throwing money away partying. Anna went on to say she had to hock her wedding ring. Then there is always a kid involved in these sloppy dramas. Evander Kane won’t buy formula for his own kid. Now Evander Kane has come out, defended himself, and denied all these allegations that the wife spewed out on social media.

Who do you believe? We know that Evander Kane has a problem with gambling which is public information with the filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and being sued by the casino. Kane has probably bet on sports. I’m sure he’s not playing just the slot machines or high stake poker games. I’m sure the NHL will do a intense investigation on Evander Kane throwing games for money, a very serious crime for the sport of Hockey. The league has to think about the purity of the game. If the league finds something that would end Kane’s hockey career which has been pretty good to this point. Whenever there is an airing of dirty laundry, I find half the stuff is over blown & the other half has some truth to it is my opinion. Even if Anna is seeking revenge due to the marriage falling down the tubes, there still is a kid involved. Which they should both be thrown under the bus. The thing that sticks out the most to me is Evander Kane’s teammates. The relationship in the Sharks locker room has soured. How Evander Kane has been late for games and practices. Are the Sharks brass giving Kane a slap on the wrist for disrespecting team rules? Are the Sharks trying to trade Kane? Who would want him with this entire mess reeking out of the man’s pores with the gambling problem and the X wife on a tirade?

Evander Kane is going to be like Pig Pen from the Charlie Brown cartoon with his life drama following him around like dust clouds. Every player & every teammate will eye ball Evander Kane thinking the same thing. What’s he doing today for his side hustle? Kane’s life now is under the microscope. If you’re the San Jose Sharks, you have to get out of this contract with Kane. Cut ties with him. Has to be some loop hole in the contract to make those 4 years void. If Kane’s drama spills on to the ice, this upcoming season will not go well for the team in teal. Plus Kane takes a chunk of the salary cap. If the Sharks can get that off the books, then you can find a few options of replacements for Evander Kane. This is another story of a person with so much talent to play a game and get paid so much, only to see a vice take over your entire life. To see your story come crashing down to the ground is shameful. Especially with a kid involved.

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Looks like the General Manager, Stan Bowman of the Blackhawks, took some tactics out of the same book as other GM’S working the Chicago Sports landscape in his latest trade. These tactics I would not recommend. Blackhawks land defense-man Seth Jones from the Columbus Blue Jackets for a hefty price. Bowman sent the Blue Jackets young defense-man Adam Bogvist. Bowman took a page out of the Chicago Bears playbook and unloaded draft picks like confetti at a parade down Michigan avenue. Bowman way over-paid for Seth Jones throwing away two first round picks with a second round draft pick. Bowman also landed Seth Jones’ brother Caleb in a trade that sent Duncan Keith to the Edmonton Oilers. Sounds like GM White Sox Rick Hahn’s method of madness. Signing Manny Machado’s inner circle to land the slugger and bring him to Chicago which did not happen. However Bowman got his guy and now the Blackhawks have the Jones brothers. The icing on the cake is Stan, who aint the Man in Chicago anymore, had given Seth Jones an 8 year extension on his contract which will be worth a few of those Brinks trucks.

How long did it take the Blackhawks to get out of their salary cap issue.? Brent Seabrook and Andrew Shaw had to walk away from the game due to injuries. Cory Crawford retired. Duncan Keith may have been squeezed out of the organization as he wanted to be closer to home. Sure sounds close to the old school excuse my dog ate my homework, when it comes to sports. Patrick Kane is still a super star and deserves to be paid what he gets. Jonathan Toews missed the entire season last year from an undisclosed illness and will still get paid. Seth Jones has not played one game wearing the Indian head sweater and the Blackhawks pay him like some kind of ransom.

Blackhawks giving up on the kids too fast. Adam Bogvist, a young defense-men from Sweden, is only 20 years old and has two seasons under his belt in the NHL. Last season, Bogvist had 2 goals and 14 assists in 35 games for the Blackhawks which is good for 16 points. His first season Bogvist played in 41 games and 4 goals and 9 assists which is good for 13 points. It takes time to learn the the speed of the NHL as Bogvist is from Europe. Bogvist was learning, making adjustments, and getting better. My prediction is you just watch & Bogvist will be anchoring one of those defense positions for years to come in Columbus. For years, Blackhawks had to wave goodbye to many young players like Artemi Panarin because of salary cap issues & not being able to pay them. During those Stanley Cups the Blackhawks won, tough decisions were made over and over. Since that last cup, the Blackhawks have hit skid row. The Blackhawks finally with some money to spend and they are putting all their eggs in one basket with Seth Jones. Look at teams like the Kings and the Sharks paying big money for a defense-men. Sharks paying Erik Karlsson a king’s ransom and they did not make the playoffs. Same goes for the Kings with Drew Doughty.

Seth Jones I know is only 27 years old. You can say that Jones had not hit his prime yet. Jones has 8 years already logged in the NHL. Jones at one time was one of the best defense-men in the NHL. Can you still say that now? That was three seasons ago when Seth Jones had one of his monster years. It was the 2018-19 season where Jones had 46 points and tallied nine goals with 37 assists. The year before, Jones was even better with 57 total points which he had 16 goals and 41 assists. Since 2018-19, Jones’ numbers have been on a steady decline. I know for defense-men in hockey, it is not just about goals and assists when it comes to being that guard dog by the net. If Jones is going to be my highest paid player in a few years, I want goals. I want him dishing out assists. I want my my cake and ice cream. I do not like the long term deal of 8 years either. These contracts never get finished and always come back to haunt the team. Plus, what about the young players on the rise that need some extra scratch in their bank accounts? Kirby Dach and Dominic Kubalik are due for extensions. Alex DeBrincat will be due for a contract extension after this upcoming season is played out. I see the Seth Jones move as “Hey, we are back in the post season.” I do not see this signing with the big money as the Blackhawks have created another dynasty and will win three more Stanley Cups. Those Dach’s, you need a Kubalic, a great goalie, DeBrincat, and other young players with some good role players to win at least one cup. If the Blackhawks have to trade these guys and not get what they should get back in draft capital or a quality player, this franchise will not land on their feet. The Seth Jones deal will be the one signing they got torpedoed by. Stan Bowman, be aware your nine lives are running out. It seems like you also used all your life lines as well.

Another top draft pick of the Chicago Bears bites the dust. No more Miller time in Chicago as the keg ran dry after the first season. Wide Receiver Anthony Miller was drafted by the Bears in 2018 in the second round out of Memphis University. Miller lasted three seasons in Chicago and the Bears finally found a taker for his services. The Houston Texans. The Texans will get Miller and the Bears’ 2022 7th round pick. Meanwhile, the Bears will get rid of a guy they don’t want and get something like a 2022 5th round draft pick. This is the second year in a row the Bears traded away a guy they drafted in the second round. Last season, it was tight end Adam Shaheen who was traded to the Dolphins. Shaheen earned a 2 year contract extension with the Dolphins for his play last year. I applaud General Ryan Pace for landing Justin Fields in the draft months ago. I applaud him for getting something for Anthony Miller. We can not forget this, another high pick from Ryan Pace that did not work out.

‘Anthony Miller’s rookie year in Chicago was awesome. Miller had 7 touchdown catches that first season in a Bears uniform. Miller caught 33 balls that first season for 423 yards but had the knack of finding the end zone. Last season, Miller caught 49 balls for 485 yards; not much after the catch. Miller hauled in two touchdown catches. Miller had 7 touchdown catches his very first season and only 4 in the last two seasons. Career-wise, Miller has played in 47 games for the Bears catching 134 balls while gaining 1,564 yards with the 11 touchdowns. What bothered the Bears fans and the coaches was Miller had some easy catches that turned into big drops. Plus Miller’s attitude was all wrong and the effort was not always there on any given Sunday. Everyone remembers Miller was ejected in that wild card loss to the Saints in the first round of the playoffs for throwing a punch at New Orleans safety CJ Garner-Johnson. The same guy that took a punch by Miller’s teammate another receiver, Javon Wims, in the regular season match up between the Saints and Bears. The Bears coaching staff warned their guys all week not to fall for CJ Gardner-Johnson tricks. Miller got suckered into it, lost his cool, and like a baby you tell not to do something, he or she will still stick their finger in the electric socket anyways.

The Bears have added some wide receivers to the roster in the off season. Bears added veterans Marquise Goodwin and Damiere Byrd. Bears drafted Dazz Newsome in which they are high on his talents. Last year’s rookie, Darnell Mooney, was very impressive in his first season with 61 grabs for 631 yards with 4 touchdowns. Let’s hope Mooney does not go down the same path as Anthony Miller. Then the Bears franchise tagged Allen Robinson so they may not work out a long term deal with him, but at least he will play one more season in Chicago. Then the Bears will give Riley Ridley one more chance. If only we can get his brother instead, out of a Falcons uniform and into a Bears. Bears still have Javon Wims who I would have sent him packing long ago. The Bears have plenty of options to easily replace a receiver that is not consistent and on a downward spiral since the 2018 season concluded.

Anthony Miller can talk with the Texans Defensive Coordinator, Lovie Smith, about which pizza place they like better in their Chicago days. Miller joins a decent receivers’ room with a few veterans, Brandin Cooks and Randall Cobb. The Texans drafted Wide Receiver Nico Collins in the second round months ago. Houston stars like Will Fuller and DeAndre Hopkins are gone. Will DeShaun Watson even play this season for the Texans? Watson has had problems with the massage therapists. The ones that will not go the entire ten yards for the first down. Plus, Watson still wants out of Houston. If anyone who can thrive with a bad quarterback behind center, especially if Tyrod Taylor gets the nod, Anthony Miller might be the guy. Adding the shit to the shit show in Houston may not be the perfect Texan recipe for winning football games.

I had enough of Anthony Miller in a Bears uniform. Miller was a guy that needed to go. New scenery will help him. Miller will have a chip on his shoulder, after being traded. Miller is also playing for another contract as well. You watch… Miller will find a way to have a pretty good year. All these Bears draft picks find new homes and do well. Bears have so many problems developing them. Look at Leonard Floyd. Rams have Floyd playing well and extended his contract. Is it Ryan Pace? Does the Bears GM get the right guy, but the coaching staff can’t develop them. We will see the next time Mitch Trubisky gets game action in the NFL, how he looks. I still say the Bears should have cleaned house and fired everyone in the office and the coaching staff. This is a typical day in the off-season as a Bears’ fan. The good news is they finally cut ties with a player that has struggled. The bad news is it’s another high draft pick heading out the door. Bears fans are always used to the double edged sword, getting screwed on something that may be good. What Next? Aaron Rodgers is returning to Green Bay?

Duncan Keith may go down as one of the best defensemen in Chicago Blackhawks history. Keith played 16 seasons wearing the Indian head sweater as the Blackhawks were the only team he has ever played for. Sixteen years on the ice, defending the net and his goalie, where he helped a broken franchise at the time to build a new identity. Three Stanley Cups!!! In 2010 at the rally, after winning the first cup of that dynasty, he asked the crowd “Does anybody know a good dentist?” Most great defensemen in the NHL will do anything to help their team win a game. Even throw their bodies in the line of fire from a puck cruising at 90 MPH. Sure hockey players have pads, but the puck can land in areas where the pads may not be there. Duncan Keith was like a secret service agent protecting the president who was the goalie in the game of Blades of Steel. It was not the puck that made Duncan Keith spit out seven teeth like they were sunflower seeds in a baseball dugout. It was the high stick of San Jose Sharks Patrick Marleau’s stick that got Keith right in the jaw in the 2010 post season. Duncan Keith would come back after that in the same game after the team stopped the bleeding. The words, “Does anybody know a good dentist” as Keith spoke at the parade are etched in the mind of all Blackhawk fans that season. Duncan Keith will be moving on to another chapter of his hockey career as he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers ending ties with the only team he ever played for in his entire career.

Duncan Keith only tallied up 15 total points last season with 4 goals and 11 assists. Duncan Keith, at the age of 37, was reborn last season as he changed up his workout and diet to find his former self. The last few seasons prior to last season, Duncan Keith was clinging to that no trade clause he had and to many the writing was on the wall he was washed up. With the no trade clause the Blackhawks were paying him big money and had salary cap issues as a whole with the entire roster. Keith reborn had some teams interested in his services. It was Keith who wanted to be traded closer to home to be around his son. The Edmonton Oilers will be the new home for Duncan Keith as they made a deal to land the veteran. Blackhawks get a young 24 year old defensemen in Caleb Jones who has some NHL experience under his belt with a future 3rd round draft pick. The Oilers get Duncan Keith of course and forward Tim Soderlund.

It will be sad to see Duncan Keith wear another hockey jersey. How long as fans do we have to watch this old dynasty crumble brick by brick? Last off season we saw goalie Corey Crawford hang up the skates. We saw Andrew Shaw walk away from the game due to concussions. Brent Seabrook finally called it quits after dealing with lingering injuries year after year. The Captain, Jonathan Toews, had some health issues forcing him to miss the entire season last year. The Blackhawks traded away Brandon Sadd again. Patrick Kane is the last man standing and is the only one to build another team around. The General Manager Stan “who’s not the man” Bowman has work to do to reload the Blackhawks and get the Indian head back to the post season. Bowman now can’t use that salary cap as his excuse as Duncan Keith 5.5 Million every year will come off the books.

In sports, it is hard for many players to play their game with one team their entire career. Sometimes watching these former players who are aging on your team is even more difficult like a Duncan Keith. Even though last season I applauded how Duncan Keith played but overall it is time to move on from one of the core members of that three cup dynasty team. It’s the contact, not the player in this case. If Duncan Keith was playing for the league minimum or something a tad over, I’d be like let him ride out his career. He has some gasoline still left in the tank and is a leader on the ice. When you win multiple cups, sometimes you pay dearly for many years after which the Blackhawks rewarding so many no trade clauses to that core. Duncan Keith’s next chapter means he needs to be closer to his family which I get. As a Blackhawk fan, we’ve seen him in 1,192 regular season games not counting the extended post season. Keith with that wicked slap shot from half ice as he scored 105 tallies dishing out 520 assists to many teammates in his 16 year career for 625 points. To me, all the shots he took off his body to help his team. Plus defending his goalie like he was the President. Duncan Keith is a total stand up type of guy and one my favorite players of all-time wearing the Indian Head sweater. Hope the Blackhawks use this now available space for something good. Stan Bowman should feel the mob presence behind his back with pitch forks and torches. For Edmonton, adding a veteran defense-men to go along with one of the premiere super stars in the league Connor McDavid may be a small step for this team to get further in the post season. In Chicago Duncan Keith and his entire family for generations should be able to drink free in the city of Chicago. We will miss him as well as I hope he did indeed find a good dentist during his time playing for one the original hockey franchises.