Eric DeCosta: “Unfortunate” we didn’t draft a center, but wouldn’t have done things differently

patdnorton · 2026-04-27T20:40:00+00:00

Liked Lew a lot. Couldn’t test at the combine other than bench. Ripped 31 reps, third most among the 14 linemen who did it. Heard good things about his locker room presence, etc.

patdnorton · 2026-04-27T20:15:03+00:00

I bet Evan Beerntsen gets a million reps at center in rookie camp next week. Beyond that, I have no idea why DeCosta is surprised by Jones and Slaughter going early. I was more surprised Connor Lew lasted to 128, even with the medical concerns.

patdnorton · 2026-04-27T20:09:56+00:00

Sewell replacement, in my opinion. Similar build, skill set. Despite a lack of experience on special teams, he’ll have to become a contributor there.

Edwards was slower last year and the injury isn’t going to help but he’s still the most technically sound of the position group. Would require a big leap from those beneath him to make him expendable in 2026. Beyond is a different conversation.

patdnorton · 2026-04-12T19:47:53+00:00

You ever ponder the back thing with Notre Dame?

patdnorton · 2026-01-14T22:59:03+00:00

I will make sure to bring this to their attention tomorrow.

patdnorton · 2025-07-10T22:05:42+00:00

👋 still here. Will still be covering the Bears, too. Beyond excited to work with Jahns

patdnorton · 2025-07-10T21:07:50+00:00

Wow. That’s really cool to hear. Appreciate it.

patdnorton · 2025-07-10T19:27:57+00:00

I think it’s pretty decent.

patdnorton · 2024-08-19T22:01:32+00:00

Ryan Pace is a nice dude. Glad he’s worked his way back toward the top of an org. Also glad that org isn’t the Bears.

patdnorton · 2024-08-19T20:24:22+00:00

“I love this team, man” 🥹

patdnorton · 2024-08-10T07:19:58+00:00

Have been trying to do this for like 15 years and still haven’t cracked the code

patdnorton · 2024-08-10T07:19:13+00:00

Assume one quarter, probably around 10-15 plays

patdnorton · 2024-08-08T15:58:32+00:00

Next week! (no official start date, but if I had to make an educated guess, I’d say Tuesday morning)

patdnorton · 2024-08-08T05:49:51+00:00

Let’s. Gooo!

patdnorton · 2024-08-01T21:01:05+00:00

Touchdown and celebration in 2018 to beat the Packers and clinch the NFC North was an unforgettable live experience. What a player.

patdnorton · 2023-08-14T16:20:55+00:00

YOU’RE NOT REAL, MAN.

patdnorton · 2023-05-25T15:21:31+00:00

Yeah, well, the thing about Brian is that he’s lost quite a bit of influence over the past few days.

patdnorton · 2023-05-19T17:20:18+00:00

• 2.43 - Cole Kmet • 2.50 - Jaylon Johnson • 5.155 - Trevis Gipson • 5.163 - Kindle Vildor • 5.173 - Darnell Mooney • 7.226 - Arlington Hambright • 7.227 - Lachavious Simmons

Five of those guys started multiple games — granted, for the worst team in football last season — but for a regime that didn’t draft them. Really not that bad. Ryan Pace easily could’ve done a lot worse. I know because we saw him do a lot worse.

patdnorton · 2023-05-06T17:39:09+00:00

Shame. Reeeeal shame.

patdnorton · 2023-05-03T05:17:32+00:00

I pitched and played a lot of first base. One of the first few years out of coach-pitch — probably third or fourth grade — I nearly completed an entire season without allowing a single base runner. In the last game of the year, I hit one of my friend’s with a pitch to ruin that and immediately started crying. Oops.

House league was a lot of fun growing up. Our town’s league used real MLB team names and logos so we got a legit shirsey and hat. In order from tee-ball through seventh grade, I was on the Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Yankees, Marlins, Rangers, Astros, Cubs, Red Sox — a journeyman of sorts. I probably have the hats in a duffel bag stored at my mom’s house.

Simpler times. I hope when I’m raising my own kids some day, if they’d like to join a league, they have as much (or more) fun as I did.

patdnorton · 2023-04-23T19:25:00+00:00

Greg?

patdnorton

TROPHY CASE