Bears will end offseason program early
The Chicago Bears are ending their offseason program early.
Coach Matt Nagy said nine weeks are enough and he wants his players to focus on training without having to worry about video conferences four days a week. The team will hold its final virtual meeting on Thursday – a week and a half ahead of schedule.
“We’ve done so much, we feel like we’re in a really good place right now,” Nagy said Tuesday on a conference call.
With Halas Hall off limits because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the team has been conducting two-hour video meetings Monday through Thursday. Veterans will be off after Thursday until training camp, though rookies will still be required to meet.
Training camp is expected to open in late July; the Bears first preseason game is Aug. 15 against Cleveland.
The NFL allowed coaches to return to facilities last week, pending local law. But Nagy isn’t sure when he and his coaches will be back there.
“We wouldn’t do this if we didn’t positioned for a big payday with his third contract. The market at his position is soaring, with Houston’s Laremy Tunsil (three years, $66 million) and Indianapolis’ Anthony Castonzo (two years, $33 million) signing the two richest contracts at the position this spring. Bakhtiari, a first-team All-Pro in 2018 and two-time Pro Bowler, could further set the market within the year.
He won’t be cheap for the Packers to re-sign, that much is clear. Entering his age-29 season, Bakhtiari has established himself as one of the top left tackles in the NFL.
When asked Tuesday whether any ongoing negotiations had encouraged him about his future with the team, Bakhtiari didn’t tip his hand.
“Even if I were to be talking,” he said, “I wouldn’t disclose that information.”
Four years ago, Bakhtiari signed an extension on the eve of the 2016 season. think that we didn’t have what we needed in offensively, defensively and special teams,” Nagy said. “But I meet every morning with the coordinators and we all feel we’re in a really good place right
He left open the possibility of signing an extension even after the 2020 season begins this time, saying he wouldn’t rule anything out. An extension this summer could be more team friendly than if a deal is reached on the brink of Bakhtiari hitting the open market, something the Packers surely know.
Bakhtiari is no less aware. While his 2016 extension made him a top-five left tackle at the time, it has proved to be a team-friendly deal as Bakhtiari blossomed into one of the league’s top players. Bakhtiari is the 12th-highest-paid player at his position.
Castonzo, the league’s second-highest-paid left tackle, will make $16.5 million annually despite never being selected to the Pro Bowl or All-Pro lists.
“At the end of the day,” Bakhtiari said, “I look to how I did in ’16. I get paid to play. I’m the left tackle, and I’m under contract for another season, and that’s what I’m focused on. Whatever the organization decides they want to do moving forward with me, we can have that conversation when it’s there. But, yeah, as of right now, I’m just focusing on now. … Let’s let them go work out. Lets let them train. And when we come back for training camp, we’re going to be be ready to rock and roll.”
The Bears missed the playoffs at 8-8
making sure I play good football whenever it comes up, because the times right now have definitely been different. So I think a lot of guys right now are changing their preparation and process so that’s been taking the center stage.
“I’m not really thinking about what goes into the next step because I need to make sure I take this right step that’s happening right now.”
Where Bakhtiari’s market value ultimately lies might depend on what he does this fall. After his career year in 2018, Bakhtiari regressed slightly as he acclimated to a new system. He had 12 penalties, his most since 2015 and more than double his five in 2018. His careerhigh five false starts were especially indicative of a player adjusting to a new playbook.
“The false starts are ... I mean, that’s just unacceptable,” Bakhtiari said. “That just really comes down to thinking more about the concepts. Also just being new to a bunch of new things that are going on, so I’m taking my thought process away from the cadence. I think I last season after going 12-4 and winning the NFC North in 2018.
Gurley passes physical: Running back Todd Gurley passed his physical, clearing the final hurdle for his return to Georgia with the Atlanta Falcons.
Gurley’s $6 million, one-year deal with Atlanta was made official on April 6. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the NFL didn’t allow players to report to their new teams immediately for physicals.
Gurley’s physical was notable because he has a history of knee problems, including an injury while a standout for the Georgia Bulldogs.
A persistent left knee injury limited his effectiveness late in 2018 with the Los Angeles Rams. He played in 15 games last season.
Hall of Fame to reopen: The Pro Football Hall of Fame will reopen Wednesday after nearly a three-month closure caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The hall closed on March 16, but permission has been granted by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine for museums, science centers and zoos to open.
kind of situated that and ironed that out.”
Bakhtiar’s last false start in 2019 came in Week 13 at the New York Giants. He had no penalties in the season’s final four games. By then, he was back to his normally dominant self.
If he stays there in 2020, Bakhtiari could dominate the market by next spring.
“Staying up on my football IQ,” Bakhtiari said, “with making sure I’m attending all the classes with my strength and conditioning side, that’s always been easier, I think, for me. I enjoy, I love, and I accept a new grind in the offseason. So it’s not really hard for me to wake up six days a week and kind of get after it. I trust my training program. That’s why I’ve been with (ProActive) for eight years, and I don’t want to change that. They know when to push me, when to take off, the recovery side.
“When this whole thing comes together … if they don’t want to put any leashes on us, I’m expecting to go, and go fully.”