Latest news with #Bears'
USA Today
an hour ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Bears' Kevin Byard sounds off on NFL players playing in Olympics
Bears' Kevin Byard sounds off on NFL players playing in Olympics For the first time in history, NFL players will be allowed to compete in the 2028 Olympic Games for flag football. While much of the conversation will be revolved around the potential risks vs. rewards in the decision to the let NFL players compete in the Olympics, there's been a widespread response around the league, and veterans on the Chicago Bears are also weighing in on the decision. Safety Kevin Byard recently stared his thoughts about the ruling. While he understands the allure of playing for his country in the Olympics, he's not necessarily looking to participate. "I think for any athlete to be able to have the opportunity to go and get a gold medal for our country, I think that's an enormous opportunity and it's a blessing," Byard said. "Would I want to play? Probably not, if you asked me probably five some years ago, I probably would be one of the guys in the front of the line. I did hear something about it, I think it'll be during training camp. I don't want to speak too soon, but I just don't know how that would work." Byard believes Bears quarterback Caleb Williams would be a good fit for flag football, but with teams preparing in training camp, he doesn't see how the timing would make sense for anyone who is involved. "I think we got a lot of guys on our team that probably can do it," Byard said. "I'm not sure he's going to want to do it, but I think Caleb would be an excellent flag football team quarterback. Especially with the broken plays and being able to scramble around, do those type of things. I think it is a blessing for sure." It's going to be interesting to see how the NFL and their top players come together to decide on how they'll play in the 2028 Olympics. While it would be beneficial for the worldwide reach of the league and sport, it also comes with risk of top players being banged up before the regular season. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
USA Today
2 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Bears' Caleb Williams addresses report regarding hope to play for Vikings
Bears' Caleb Williams addresses report regarding hope to play for Vikings One of the more interesting nuggets of the offseason related to Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and a book that was published. Within the book, it was reported that Williams had such a good meeting with the Vikings during the draft process that both he and his dad wanted to him to be a Viking. They ultimately decided against it and didn't want to make it an ugly display publicly to make that happen and as we fast forward, both parties are seemingly happy with where things stand in their quarterback rooms. That doesn't mean people are forgetting, though. When Caleb Williams reported to Bears OTAs this past week, he spoke to the media about the report that came from the book. Williams kept things professional but did add, 'I had a good visit at the other place, Minnesota with Kevin O'Connell, good staff and all of that obviously.' Williams now has an offensive genius in new Bears head coach Ben Johnson, with whom he hopes to have a fruitful relationship. Johnson was able to turn the Lions into one of the best offenses in the NFL with Jared Goff directing their unit. With Williams, the sky is the limit, and it could quickly become a problem for the Vikings.
Chicago Tribune
2 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Alex Toth puts ‘discouraging times,' including demotion, behind him. Then he helps put Lake Zurich in front.
Roller coaster season is just beginning, but Lake Zurich's Alex Toth has already experienced an up-and-down ride this spring. The sophomore third baseman knew he had to stay the course after starting the season 0-for-30 and being demoted to the junior varsity team. 'It wasn't the best feeling,' Toth said. 'There were for sure some discouraging times, but I really never told myself that I wasn't good. I always kept it positive and tried to battle my way through. 'Now look where we're at. I'm out here doing my job, and it feels good.' Since Toth was brought back to the varsity team this month, his job has revolved mostly around playing good defense and supplying a little offense at the bottom of the order. But he provided more than a little during the eighth-seeded Bears' 9-4 win against ninth-seeded Warren in the Class 4A Fremd Regional semifinals in Palatine on Thursday. Batting ninth, Toth drove in three runs, including two on a single up the middle to spark a game-changing six-run fourth inning for Lake Zurich (24-11), which will play top-seeded Fremd (27-4-1) in the regional championship game at 11 a.m. Saturday. His clutch hit wiped away the Blue Devils' 2-0 lead and gave his teammates a jolt of momentum. 'That was a huge at-bat,' Lake Zurich senior outfielder Cash Kaczmarek said. 'It got us right back in the game. It's not normal for a sophomore to come up this big in a playoff game.' Toth doubled his RBI total for the season with that hit off Warren junior starter Braylan McCarthy. 'I wanted to focus on the game not being too big — just do my job, get on base,' he said. 'I was thinking just to have a good at-bat and get to the next batter — provide what I can for the seniors. 'Rounding first after that hit, I was almost a little relieved, but it felt great.' Toth tacked on another run in the fifth with a sacrifice fly to center field off Warren sophomore reliever Mason Palmer, driving in senior shortstop Dylan Fogelsong, who led off the inning with a single. 'I had faced him (Palmer) before in a conference game, so I knew what he had, and I again just had to do a job,' Toth said. Kaczmarek, a Wisconsin-Oshkosh commit who went 3-for-4 with a double, a triple and three RBIs against the Blue Devils (20-15), understands what Toth has gone through this season. 'It's definitely been a mental battle for him, and I've been there and done that,' Kaczmarek said. 'It's tough being younger on varsity seeing great pitching. But every day, his at-bats get better, and it showed here.' The Bears' six-run inning was all that senior right-hander Josh Marzec needed. He allowed one earned run on three hits and struck out seven in 6 1/3 innings to improve to 7-2 as Lake Zurich won for the 11th time in 13 games. Toth's contributions haven't been overlooked. 'He's gotten mentally tougher and matured over the year,' Lake Zurich coach Mike Manno said. 'Anybody who starts 0-for-30, that can really weigh on you. He's just gone with the process of working hard. I always say the kids that work hard, good things happen for them. I think that's where he's at at this point. He didn't look like a sophomore today.' Toth, who gives some of the credit to his travel coach, Anthony Drago, has often been a middle-of-the-order hitter in the past. He has noticed pitchers are approaching him differently at the bottom of the order. 'You're not going to see much off-speed there, so it's being ready for the fastball,' Toth said. 'I've honestly liked hitting in the nine spot. It's motivation for me, too, because they'll say I'm an easy out. I'm making sure I'm a tough out.'
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
QB Caleb Williams addresses book saying he wanted to avoid Chicago Bears
QB Caleb Williams addresses book saying he wanted to avoid Chicago Bears Show Caption Hide Caption Bears' Caleb Williams responds to controversial pre-draft report Bears' quarterback Caleb Williams spoke out on Wednesday about a controversial pre-draft report. Fox - 32 Chicago The Chicago Bears are back in action this week for offseason training activities (OTAs). It's the first year under new coach Ben Johnson and year two for the franchise with quarterback Caleb Williams. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft made headlines weeks ago for an excerpt from ESPN writer Seth Wickersham's upcoming book, "American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback." That excerpt included information that Williams' family looked into potential ways he could circumvent the draft and avoid playing for the Bears. Williams addressed these claims in a press conference during the first day of OTAs. "For this to come out, it's been a distraction," Williams said. "All that went down, all that was said, yeah, I had a good visit at the other place, Minnesota. Kevin O'Connell, good staff and all that... but something that keeps getting lost, something that keeps... not being addressed the way it needs to be is the fact that I went on that visit first. Then after I came (to Chicago) ... I went back home, talked to my dad, and all of the things that were supposed to be these big things that everybody's been talking about recently, one, never happened in the sense of, they were all thoughts, they were all ideas." Browns QB carousel: Joe Flacco praises Shedeur Sanders, says being mentor 'not the main focus' Stefon Diggs boat: Mike Vrabel says New England Patriots 'aware of' viral video The excerpt from Wickersham's book included quotes from Williams' father, Carl, saying that "Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die," "the rookie cap is just unconstitutional" and the current NFL collective bargaining agreement is the "worst piece of s--- I've ever read. It's the worst in sports history." It detailed that the the Williams family looked into possibly having him sign with a United Football League team for a year before coming to the NFL as a free agent in 2025. Wickersham's excerpt stated that after his visit in Chicago, Williams told his father he could be a part of the franchise changing. "It was a deliberate and determined answer that I had," Williams said at OTAs. "I wanted to come here and be the guy and be a part and be a reason of why the Chicago Bears turned this thing around." Chicago started Williams' rookie season 4-2 before losing 10 straight games after their bye week. The franchise made an unprecedented move of firing a coach mid-season with Matt Eberflus let go after a loss to the Detroit Lions. 'Are you kidding me?': Terry Bradshaw slams Steelers, Aaron Rodgers for quarterback situation Williams said he loves being in Chicago and still has one main goal in mind. "The main objective of being here is to turn (things) around," he said. "That's what we're here to do. That's what they brought me here to do, that's what they brought all these guys here to do. Joe (Thuney), DJ (Moore), all these different guys. And that's why they brought Ben (Johnson) here. "It's a challenge and we look at those challenges and we don't laugh, we look at them really seriously and we go attack them to the best of our ability."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Walters and Fittler return on cards as Meninga set to be 'removed' as Kangaroos coach
Kevin Walters, Cameron Smith and Brad Fittler are reportedly the front-runners to become the next Kangaroos coach if the Australian Rugby League commission insists Mal Meninga steps down to take the Perth Bears job. Meninga is believed to have won the race to become the Bears' inaugural coach, and will be unveiled in coming weeks. But it will likely mean he'll have to step down as coach of Australia with immediate effect, because NRL officials are keen for him to start work on building the Bears' roster straight away. Leading journalist Michael Chammas reported this week that Meninga will be 'removed' as Kangaroos coach and won't be able to lead the Aussie team in the Ashes series against England later this year. It would be a hammer blow for Meninga considering the hype around the revamped Ashes series, which he featured in as a player. "The NRL does not want Meninga to coach Australia at the end-of-season Ashes series in England, instead wanting him to focus on building the Bears' roster for their 2027 debut," Chammas wrote. The Bears are allowed to start negotiating with and signing players from November 1 this year. If Meninga is still Kangaroos coach, he'll be in England on that date watching Australia play the second Test. The third and final Test of the series will take place a week later, sparking concerns over whether Meninga will be able to give both roles his full attention. Chammas reported that "three names currently in the mix" to become the new coach are Walters, Smith and Fittler. Walters and Fittler were previously State of Origin combatants, going head-to-head as coach of Queensland and NSW respectively. Walters, who was sacked by the Broncos last year, was interviewed about the Perth Bears job earlier this month. Fittler was NSW coach for six years, winning three series and losing three before stepping down in 2024. He returned to coaching with the Prime Minister's XIII team late last year for their game against PNG. 'I wouldn't consider it unless I was formally asked,' Fittler told the Sydney Morning Herald about coaching the Kangaroos. 'I don't know if Mal has the job or that he can't do both.' As for Smith, the Melbourne Storm and Queensland Maroons legend has no head-coaching experience. However he previously served as an assistant to Billy Slater with the Queensland team. Meninga's pending appointment as the Bears' coach means he's beaten fellow candidates Walters, Sam Burgess and Brad Arthur for the job. Arthur was believed to be the initial front-runner, and NRL officials considered using Meninga and Burgess in a tandem role. But Burgess reportedly withdrew from the running, paving the way for Meninga to get the job solo. There's suggestions Meninga will need a top-notch assistant coach with plenty of experience with NRL teams considering he last coached week-in-week out at club level in 2001. RELATED: Blow for Billy Slater with Queensland player banned from Origin Did NSW get away with illegal play on match-sealing try in Game 1? Discussing the situation on Thursday, the 64-year-old said there hadn't been any decisions made on whether he'd have to relinquish the Kangaroos job immediately. 'It's speculation,' he told the . 'I haven't had any conversations about this (quitting Australia), and to be honest I don't want to make any comments. It will be addressed if and only if the decision (to coach Perth) becomes a reality. The reality for me is that I'm the current Aussie coach.'
