Full Disclosure:  I love Blues music.  As we get ready for a new Bears season around here, let me introduce you to what you’ll see from me after every game. 1 Bearbon for the best thing I saw during the week, preferably smooth with a nice finish.  1 Scotch that burns the back of the throat but doesn’t stop you from loving it.  We’ll then raise a beer to a player, play, incident, or whatever else I feel deserved it.  Lastly, I’ll leave you with a song from the Jukebox (did I mention I’m old?).  I’m also looking for your songs on our socials and will feature some of your suggestions during the season. 

Let’s get started.  Our Bearbon this week is an obvious one: Justin Fields and DJ Moore.  Every comment and video coming out of camp shows us a connection that can only make every Bears fan excited.  It looks like Justin has a number one that is earning his trust and can make plays no one on the roster from last year could make. 

Up until a couple of days ago, the scotch burning my throat was the lack of pass rush.  Now the burning is relatively mild with O line depth.  The two young tackles will struggle at times and having depth or solid veteran presence around could help them.  Cuts around the league may set up a few options here.

I debated for whom or what I should raise a beer.  Claypool playing well and with intensity (see the scuffle with Ejax) could have been it.  The pickup of Ngakoue was definitely a contender.  But in the end, I settled on Ryan Poles finally going out and getting the much-needed pass rusher.  I have contended that Poles’ process matters more at this point than his results.  With this signing, he has attempted to plug every hole from last season.  I know they won’t all work out and a Super Bowl is not in the cards but the process of self-scouting, saving resources for 2024 and a little luck should see Chicago contend for at minimum the division next year.  At the very least, Poles looks to have assembled a team we’ll want to watch every week this year.

The jukebox this week introduces you to the song this column is named after. I’m also looking for songs that represent your win total prediction for the year.  Put me down for 8 but hit us up on any of our socials with your own prediction.