PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Bears had been the discuss of final yr’s NFL annual assembly. They had been about to draft quarterback Caleb Williams, seem on HBO’s “Onerous Knocks” and be featured within the Corridor of Fame Recreation, a perform of getting two former gamers voted into the game’s internal sanctum.
This yr’s assembly doesn’t have fairly the identical Bears-centric buzz, however there’s a lot for the franchise to debate, focus on and determine upon in the course of the three-day gathering of the league’s homeowners, coaches, normal managers and workers at The Breakers.
Right here’s what to observe for:
Within the Heights?
Bears president/CEO Kevin Warren has been on the job for nearly two years. He was employed with one main aim in thoughts — to capitalize on his expertise in constructing U.S. Financial institution Stadium in Minneapolis to steer the Bears towards their new dwelling. It’s been 11 months because the Bears made their public pitch to construct on the Museum Campus, a push that did not generate the key momentum for which the franchise hoped.
Every day that passes makes Arlington Heights appear extra probably. The Bears personal 326 acres on the previous Arlington Worldwide Racecourse web site. They declare they’d pay for the stadium themselves whereas utilizing public funding for mixed-use buildings and infrastructure on the location.
Warren will reply media questions concerning the stadium Wednesday for the primary time in two-and-a-half months. In January, he claimed the Bears “made an enormous quantity of momentum” downtown however admitted “optionality does exist.” His tone Wednesday could be completely different.
Chairman George McCaskey and commissioner Roger Goodell will even weigh in on the Bears’ stadium scenario.
Feeling a draft
With the NFL draft lower than a month away, the Bears will return to Halas Corridor and start setting their draft board. For the primary time, normal supervisor Ryan Poles and coach Ben Johnson will work collectively to attempt to choose gamers that finest match their new playbook and — they hope — tradition.
Each males will communicate at size about their draft philosophy this week. Chief among the many questions surrounding what the Bears do subsequent is whether or not they determine to proceed stacking each the offensive and defensive traces with their prime three picks — No.s 10, 39 and 41.
There’s a case to be made for the Bears to draft a working again or tight finish with the tenth choose, however the staff can’t afford to spend one other season struggling to hurry the passer, cease the run or shield Williams.
The Caleb plan
When the Bears report for offseason work subsequent month, Johnson will work with Williams for the primary time since he was employed. The brand new coach has had time to fine-tune the plan that he pitched to Poles and Bears brass in January. How he explains the plan publicly, beginning this week, will go a great distance towards setting private and non-private expectations for a greater sophomore season from the No. 1 general choose.
There’s no denying Williams’ struggles final season, although the franchise did little to dissuade the general public from having excessive expectations for the USC star a yr in the past.
George speaks
McCaskey will communicate publicly this week for the primary time since his mother Virginia died Feb. 6 at age 102. He’s certain to share the affect her life, and demise, had on the franchise — and might need readability on how the staff plans to memorialize her reminiscence going ahead.
The Bears are coming into uncharted territory: Virginia McCaskey was alive for all however 36 video games the staff performed within the historical past of the franchise.
No extra Tush Push?
Among the many rule modifications up for approval by homeowners this week is a proposal, set forth by the Packers, to ban the “Tush Push.” A quarterback sneak that includes a working again shoving the ball-carrier ahead, the “Tush Push” was popularized by the Eagles. Final yr, the Payments had been the one different staff to run the play constantly.
The Packers’ proposal would particularly ban teammates from pushing a teammate who acquired a snap from below middle. House owners must determine whether or not they’re snug altering the principles in a method that impacts solely two groups.
At the least 24 homeowners should vote to approve the proposals.
Different prompt modifications embody making the final yr’s kickoff change everlasting, albeit with small modifications and letting on the spot replay assist to rule on facemask, horse-collar, tripping, roughing the kicker and blow-to-the-head penalties.
The Lions have prompt taking away automated first downs from defensive holding and unlawful contact flags. The Eagles proposed making common season extra time guidelines the identical because the postseason.
