10 issues we heard on the NFL house owners conferences

ORLANDO, Fla. — Chicago Bears leaders mixed for hours of interviews with reporters over the past three days on the NFL house owners conferences on the JW Marriott Orlando.

The Bears had loads of subjects to debate — the No. 1 draft choose and the chance they will select USC quarterback Caleb Williams, the current trade to send quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers and an replace on their plans for a potential Chicago lakefront stadium.

Over media classes with Chairman George McCaskey, President Kevin Warren, basic supervisor Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus, listed below are 10 different issues we heard about one of many busiest Bears offseasons in current reminiscence.

1. New Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron displayed his educating abilities in his introduction to Caleb Williams.

Bears coach Matt Eberflus employed Waldron in January to steer a retooled offensive teaching employees.

Waldron’s expertise as a play caller and a coach who has labored with a number of quarterbacks over his NFL profession with the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams was a significant “separator” for Eberflus. Poles mentioned Waldron’s background working with coaches resembling Pete Carroll, Sean McVay and Invoice Belichick was enticing as a result of it meant he was uncovered to many alternative methods of doing issues and has “a ton of information.”

Eberflus additionally mentioned Waldron stood out due to “his skill to speak and his skill to make issues clear and concise in his presentation.”

The Bears seen that communication skill as Waldron taught the offense to the Bears employees — and through his preliminary conferences with Williams and different prospects because the Bears examined their soccer data and recall. Poles referred to as his educating skill “particular,” and Eberflus agreed.

“You may really feel him transferring and assembly all people the place they had been to actually train and to actually make it stick and have them memorize and perceive the offense,” Eberflus mentioned. “Whether or not it was educating it to me or whoever was within the room, it was a very easy method to talk.”

2. The Bears hope new additions on offense can assist their anticipated rookie quarterback.

Poles mentioned acquiring six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Keenan Allen earlier this month was a “actually cool alternative for the place we’re headed.” And the place the Bears are headed is towards a rookie quarterback, likely Williams.

“I assumed it was an absolute excellent match,” Poles mentioned. “I don’t suppose there’s a greater receiver within the league that may be higher for a younger quarterback by way of understanding the NFL, timing, house, studying defenses.”

Eberflus mentioned Allen — mixed with different offensive playmakers like DJ Moore, Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett — will give a rookie numerous choices.

Likewise, Eberflus mentioned he believes it’s necessary for a rookie quarterback to have an skilled middle, and he believes Ryan Bates “matches that invoice.” The Bears acquired Bates, a five-year NFL veteran, from the Buffalo Payments for a 2024 fifth-round choose in early March.

“To have the ability to name and make changes to the protections, to assist and help that approach, we thought it was crucial to get that piece,” Eberflus mentioned. “(Bates) has been a professional a very long time and he has moved alongside the road inside there at guard and middle, so it’s good to have the place flexibility as effectively. That’s a crucial piece, for positive.”

The Bears additionally signed middle Coleman Shelton to create what Poles hopes is depth and flexibility.

“It’s one thing that’s actually bothered me for a very long time, simply by way of the dearth of flexibility (on the offensive line) we’ve had prior to now,” Poles mentioned. “It stresses you out from week to week. I really feel like we’ve extra versatility now, and competitors.”

3. The Bears aren’t opening their minds to the thought of being a featured group on HBO’s “Exhausting Knocks.”

Chairman George McCaskey has been constant together with his resistance to HBO’s behind-the-curtain collection over time and yearly makes use of the NFL’s spring conferences to supply a well mannered “no” to the thought of the Bears being chronicled on the present.

However with group president Kevin Warren now calling lots of the photographs, there was some curiosity as as to whether the Bears would possibly heat to the thought of showcasing a few of what goes on inside Halas Corridor at a time when the group itself is in the midst of some pretty compelling storylines.

When Warren was requested Tuesday whether or not there was curiosity in doing “Exhausting Knocks,” he chuckled. “That’s all the time fascinating,” he mentioned. “I’ve pursuits in ensuring that the NFL stays sturdy and vibrant.”

That wasn’t a sure. Nevertheless it definitely wasn’t a no. So that you’re saying there’s an opportunity?

Later that very same afternoon, McCaskey went in for the rejection. He provided a agency “no” when requested if his stance on the matter had modified.

“We’re informed there may be some curiosity in different groups being on this system,” McCaskey mentioned. “And we welcome that curiosity.”

4. Bears President Kevin Warren believes the group did proper by Justin Fields.

Poles mentioned final month on the NFL scouting mix that it was his goal to “do right by” Fields if the Bears had been to commerce their three-year beginning quarterback. A couple of weeks later, Poles despatched Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the place he’ll start as a backup to Russell Wilson however will have the ability to compete for taking part in time.

Warren, who was the Huge Ten Commissioner whereas Fields was at Ohio State, publicly referred to as himself a Fields supporter, and he mentioned Tuesday he was glad that the Bears despatched him into a superb state of affairs.

“No totally different than constructing relationships with individuals from a stadium standpoint, when you do proper by individuals, in the long run, these issues come again to you in ways in which you actually hadn’t deliberate,” Warren mentioned. “I’m glad that we had been in a position to do proper by him. That was one other crucial information level to point out you who Ryan Poles is. That he’s going to construct this with integrity and sophistication and when he says he cares about individuals and gamers, it’s nice.”

Chairman George McCaskey thanked Fields for his time with the Bears “each on and off the sphere and all he did for Bears followers.”

“He made some spectacular performs that individuals are nonetheless speaking about,” McCaskey mentioned. “He understood what it meant to be the beginning quarterback of the Chicago Bears. He gave his time and his power. I noticed numerous instances after observe the place he was speaking to youngsters, spending time with youngsters. I keep in mind one time within the Payton Middle, he walked over to a child sporting a No. 1 jersey and he mentioned, ‘Hey, I like your jersey.’ And you could possibly see the child gentle up. He did an awesome job for us. Gave the whole lot he needed to the Bears, to town. And we’re very grateful. We have to guarantee that whoever it’s and no matter place it’s (that we choose No. 1) that we’ve the fitting buildings in place and the fitting individuals in place to present them the most effective likelihood to succeed.”

5. With the Bears chosen to play within the Corridor of Fame sport, Matt Eberflus will probably be making revisions to his group’s schedule.

The Bears will face the Houston Texans within the NFL’s preseason curtain-lifter Aug. 1 in Canton, Ohio, a sport that opens the door for its contributors to report back to coaching camp sooner than different groups. Meaning the Bears will return to Halas Corridor the week of July 15 to start camp with a rookie reporting date tentatively set for July 17 and the primary camp observe scheduled for July 20.

That additionally means the Bears will now be scheduled to play 4 preseason video games in August — and three on the street — within the lead-up to Week 1.

Eberflus famous Tuesday that he’ll revise his offseason program schedule to permit veterans ample break day over the summer season, indicating he would maintain the group’s obligatory mini-camp June 4-6, sandwiched between the Bears’ second and third weeks of organized group actions, that are voluntary.

The ultimate stack of OTAs, Eberflus mentioned, would then happen June 10-12.

Eberflus expressed pleasure for the extra time tacked on to the beginning of coaching camp.

“It’s a good time for us to have the ability to get some conditioning in and clearly (some) soccer in there and use that point as a performance-based factor so we will actually see the place guys are main into coaching camp,” Eberflus mentioned.

6. Search for the Bears to discover one other session of crossover practices this preseason.

In 2023, the Bears traveled to Westfield, Ind., for two days of joint on-field work with the Indianapolis Colts, classes Eberflus and Poles valued for the quantity of managed aggressive reps they had been in a position to get for his or her group. These two practices had been seen by Bears coaches as a helpful substitute for preseason sport motion.

The Bears are pushing to get in related work this August and can really feel out the opportunity of internet hosting this summer season’s crossover practices at Halas Corridor. Regulate the Atlanta Falcons as a possible accomplice, which might additionally place the 2 groups to play towards one another within the preseason.

7. Bears security Jaquan Brisker is organizing a gathering of the secondary in California as they welcome veteran security Kevin Byard.

Eberflus mentioned Brisker and Byard are getting a jumpstart on their new relationship.

The Bears signed Byard, an eight-year veteran and two-time All-Professional, to a two-year, $15 million deal in free company to switch security Eddie Jackson.

Poles mentioned they count on Byard, who has 28 profession interceptions, to convey communication and management and mentioned he nonetheless has pace and ball abilities as he approaches 31 years outdated. Eberflus mentioned the addition is necessary to fill the void left by the Bears slicing Jackson.

“Good,” Eberflus mentioned. “Skilled. Superb communicator. And ball hawk. To me, these issues are what you’re searching for. He’s bought nice vary. He’s nonetheless bought actually good pace.”

8. Matt Eberflus’ current type makeover continues to be a enjoyable subject of dialog.

The Bears coach emerged this offseason with a brand new coiffure plus a well-manicured beard and has leaned into his new look whereas giving credit score the place credit score is due. His spouse, Kelly, he mentioned, was “the main affect” behind the glow-up with daughters Grace and Giada offering an help.

“I simply do what they inform me,” Eberflus mentioned Tuesday.

Lawrence Funk, the Bears group barber, has additionally had his hand within the coach’s new look.

Kelly Eberflus’ continued suggestion for her husband to develop a beard landed regardless of preliminary resistance. “I’ve all the time mentioned no,” Eberflus mentioned. “She mentioned, ‘Hey, let’s simply strive it this offseason.’ And I mentioned OK. After per week, I mentioned, ‘It actually itches. I’m shaving it.’ She goes, ‘Please don’t.’ I stored it after which it didn’t itch anymore, so I used to be OK with it.”

9. Eberflus isn’t anticipating a significant problem in teaching gamers by means of a brand new league rule that can penalize the hip-drop sort out.

On Monday, teams voted to approve a playing rule proposal that can penalize any defender 15 yards for a sort out during which he wraps up a ball service with each fingers or two arms and “unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or decrease physique, touchdown on and trapping the runner’s leg at or under the knee.”

The measure was proposed by the competitors committee and the well being and security advisory committee as an purpose to scale back critical accidents which have occurred from that tackling technique.