2024-25 NFL Thread

[Hards Alumni]

Comes out hot, taking shots at Green Bay.

Green Bay is everyone in the North's obsession despite finishing third this year.

lil bro behavior for sure.

[jesmu84]

After Detroit was eliminated Saturday night, Johnson took most of Sunday to dig out from the Lions' loss, then huddled with agent Rick Smith that night to finish debriefing on the Bears, Las Vegas Raiders and Jacksonville Jaguars. The two talked again Monday morning, and then Monday after Johnson directed Smith to make a deal with the Bears.

A few factors played into it.

First, in Poles, Johnson saw a guy who was exceptionally smart, and had made plenty of mistakes, as most folks do in a new job, over his first three years—and, as such, knew what not to do. The first part of Johnson's Chicago interview was one-on-one with Poles, and Poles was sincere with Johnson about his early missteps, and his desire to have a coach with strong convictions and go find the right players for that coach.

Second, there was the presence of Warren, the team president, which turned some candidates off. Johnson went in with an open mind on Warren, and spent a good portion of the interview with Warren and owner George McCaskey (two-on-one, so to speak). He saw Warren as having a global perspective on what's happening in the league and being able to apply that to being a resource for his football people. In McCaskey, he found a good listener who was, yes, willing to do what it takes to fix his prior mistakes.


And then, third, there was Johnson's own research. It helped Smith and Johnson having Jeff King, the Bears' senior director of player personnel, and the No. 3 guy in Poles's scouting department (behind Ian Cunningham and Poles himself), as a sounding board. King was repped by Smith as a player, and gave the agent and his client perspective for the amount of change in the building—and the big steps being made to modernize the operation.

[JWags85]

Green Bay is everyone in the North's obsession despite finishing third this year.

lil bro behavior for sure.

I mean, they were the dominant team in the division until the last 2 years, they are the biggest rival of his new organization, and taking shots at the team that dethroned them recently is bagging on his old boss and team.  It doesn't feel little brother-ish at all.  It just speaks to the competitive landscape, IMO

[The Sultan]

It doesn't feel little brother-ish at all. 

It's hilariously little brotherish. Mostly because every new Bear coach says something similar.

[The Sultan]

So after leading the search for its new head coach, and being turned down by Ben Johnson and Liam Coen, the Jags just NOW decide to fire Trent Baalke.

[MU82]

Always went for the bomb.

He aimed to introduce opponents to darkness - Muggsy's favorite playcaller ever!

[Pakuni]

It's hilariously little brotherish. Mostly because every new Bear coach says something similar.

It's fan service at its lamest.

[Hards Alumni]

I mean, they were the dominant team in the division until the last 2 years, they are the biggest rival of his new organization, and taking shots at the team that dethroned them recently is bagging on his old boss and team.  It doesn't feel little brother-ish at all.  It just speaks to the competitive landscape, IMO

No.  The Lions just won the division for the second year in a row and had home field advantage.  They're clearly the team to beat.  Ben Johnson should know this more than anyone.  Yet, he brings up the Packers? 

What wouldn't be lil bro behavior?  He's focused on the wrong team.

[Shaka Shart]

No.  The Lions just won the division for the second year in a row and had home field advantage.  They're clearly the team to beat.  Ben Johnson should know this more than anyone.  Yet, he brings up the Packers? 

What wouldn't be lil bro behavior?  He's focused on the wrong team.

It's fan service

[Dish]

No.  The Lions just won the division for the second year in a row and had home field advantage.  They're clearly the team to beat.  Ben Johnson should know this more than anyone.  Yet, he brings up the Packers? 

What wouldn't be lil bro behavior?  He's focused on the wrong team.

To be clear, he mentioned all three other NFC North coaches, never mentioned the Packers specifically.

It was the least meatball-ish approach a recent Bears HC hire has taken. But yes, the organization always feels the need to poke the Packers, for whatever silly reason they think it fires up the fanbase.

[Pakuni]

To be clear, he mentioned all three other NFC North coaches, never mentioned the Packers specifically.

It was the least meatball-ish approach a recent Bears HC hire has taken. But yes, the organization always feels the need to poke the Packers, for whatever silly reason they think it fires up the fanbase.

He said:
"Dan Campbell, Kevin O'Connell, talking about two guys that are up for coach the year awards as the season ends here. And to be quite frank with you, I kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year."

He pretty clearly singled out LaFleur for a shot.

The silly reason they think it fires up the fanbase is because it does, in fact, fire up the fanbase.

https://x.com/CubsFanBearsFan/status/1882128192464638312

https://x.com/elgin_bill/status/1882168372575789516

https://x.com/CalebFC18/status/1882123417530605569

https://x.com/LostHebrew_Dre/status/1882118704932221362

[Hards Alumni]

And that's why they'll always been the lil bro franchise.  Strive to be something instead trying to win a couple games a year against a rival.

Chicago needs a culture change

[Dish]

Yes, the silly reason it fires up the fanbase is because a large contingent are meatballs, yes.

I think saying "I kinda enjoy beating MLF twice a year" is better than "we're going to take the North and never give it back". Argue with it what you will.

[WhiteTrash]

If Packer fans get their wish, Johnson won't get a chance to beat MLF. 

[tower912]

If Packer fans get their wish, Johnson won't get a chance to be MLF. 

'Be' or 'beat'?

[WhiteTrash]

'Be' or 'beat'?

Yes, beat.

[HutchwasClutch]

If Packer fans get their wish, Johnson won't get a chance to beat MLF. 

We won't get our wish.

[MUBurrow]

So after leading the search for its new head coach, and being turned down by Ben Johnson and Liam Coen, the Jags just NOW decide to fire Trent Baalke.

For all the Bears handwringing, Jacksonville is showing that an ownership situation that is 180 degrees different on paper can cock things up just as badly. Khan seems like a good owner in the "provide resources, be hands off, don't embarrass the franchise" kind of ways that are most important, but his personnel judgment is really starting to leave something to be desired.

[Billy Hoyle]

It's hilariously little brotherish. Mostly because every new Bear coach says something similar.

Considering Johnson and the Lions have won 6 of the last 7 against the Packers, the standard of excellence for the NFC North and the team that Detroit had to dethrone, he's not saying anything untrue.

[The Sultan]

Considering Johnson and the Lions have won 6 of the last 7 against the Packers, the standard of excellence for the NFC North and the team that Detroit had to dethrone, he's not saying anything untrue.

The fact that he brought the Packers up is even more hilarious then.

[WhiteTrash]

The NFL, like Real Housewives and WWE, gets drama and fans talking about their product on fan boards and ESPN.

[Uncle Rico]

The NFL, like Real Housewives and WWE, gets drama and fans talking about their product on fan boards and ESPN.

The NFL definitely needs the attention

[WhiteTrash]

The NFL definitely needs the attention

Enough is never enough for the NFL.

[GB Warrior]

Nm

[barfolomew]

In McCaskey, he found a good listener who was, yes, willing to do what it takes to fix his prior mistakes.

And this time, he REALLY means it!