The tide has turned, however.
Now, Aaron Rodgers is on IR and Green Bay is dealing with a true QB crisis for the first time since I was still learning to walk. Brett Hundley has not lived up to the Brett Favre/Rodgers lineage, which has exposed further chinks in the armor, leading the Pack to suffer since that unfortunate collarbone injury. Meanwhile, back in the Windy City, things have not been rosy either - they still lack any semblance of a receiving corps - but, they have been trending upward since allowing their blue-chip prospect, Mitch Trubisky, to call the shots. As such, the Soldier Field residents are being favored by the odds-makers by six points - apparently, the 4-4 Packers are now so two thousand and late.
Anyway, this all seemed like a good time to show off a few new additions I recently made to my Bears All-Time Roster Collection. After all, the Bears are actually nearing relevance again!
Of course, with his being something of a hot commodity lately, I still have not been able to track down a card of the 2017 second overall draft pick; in his stead, I did manage to grab the other two quarterbacks on the current Bears roster.
Mike Glennon looks good on this 2017 Certified single by Panini; however, his brief run as the starter in Chicago... it could have gone better. Instead of seizing his first starting opportunity, he'll likely always be remembered in the Second City for being the guy BEFORE the guy, should Mitch capitalize on his early promise. Well, that and his inordinately long neck. Meanwhile, "Butt-Fumble" Mark Sanchez hasn't taken a snap in a Bears uniform; that said, as the third-string option, by all accounts, he's proven to be an effective and impact mentor on "Trubinsky."
Sticking under center, during the same card shop trip (Baseball Dreams and Memories, Crestwood, IL) that netted me the two cards which lead off this post, I was also able to upgrade a pair of former back-ups with the proper threads.
The Brain Hoyer upgrade is kinda half-assed - the 2017 Donruss single obviously shows him in the familiar blue and orange, but lists him as a member of his current team, the 49'ers. It's as close as I'm going to get, though.
Meanwhile, I was thoroughly surprised that Jimmy Clausen ever received a proper Bears card, as Jay's backup from 2014-15 amounted to just two starts, six games total, and back-ups rarely get love from the card companies. I suppose his status as a former big name from Notre Dame kept him appearing in checklists; anyway, that's my best guess for how he ended up in Topps Field Access set from 2015. Not that I'm complaining!
Speaking of upgrades, another such swap that I was able to facilitate involved Superbowl Bear, Adewale Ogunleye. The big name defensive end played in Chicago from 2004-09 and, like I mentioned, took part in Superbowl XLI with the team; thus, he's not lacking in Bears cardboard options. I was mildly surprised that I hadn't rectified this injustice earlier, but it's better late than never!
Jon Bostic was an entirely new addition to the BATRC. The linebacker still had his entire career in front of him when this 2013 Topps card was printed up, featuring him in the midst of his combine audition. Since that time, Bostic has gone on to have a respectable career in the NFL, with 187 career tackles - after two seasons in Chicago, Jon has suited up for the Patriots, the Lions, and is currently a starter for the Indianapolis Colts.
And it all started here, in the image on his Topps rookie card.
Bringing it back to the present, here's a pair of current Bears - one a veteran presence on youthful team and the other a key building block in that ongoing rebuild.
Jerrell Freeman was brought in for 2016 by GM Ryan Pace and crew to help solidify the defensive line. That said, on the whole, his stint in Chicago has largely been a huge distraction, as he's twice been suspended by the league for performance enhancing drug usage. Accordingly, he hasn't played a single down in 2017 (serving a 10-game suspension) and his career is in jeopardy due to a head injury and memory loss.
Meanwhile, here's hoping that Adam Shaheen's career is heading in the opposite direction. The tight-end was selected in the second round, out of Ashland, in this year's draft. He's had limited exposure so far during the season; however, with the gruesome, devastating injury suffered by Zach Miller in Week 8, he figures to be lining up for more action throughout the rest of the schedule.
Both of these cards represent my first acquisitions from the 2017 edition of Panini's Donruss, which appears to be the companies de-facto "flagship" pigskin product.
Mandatory that we go check in on my guy @ZMiller86!! Good to see my guy in great spirits with all the adversity that has came his way!! Continuous prayers for my boy!!! 🙏🏾 pic.twitter.com/GDUAmTsklH— Benny Cunningham (@BennyCunningham) November 9, 2017
Get well soon, Zach!
With that, we've covered all the additions I was able to make to my Bears All-Time Roster Collection during my latest visit to my local LCS (again, Baseball Dreams & Memories in Crestwood, IL).
Anyway, it's about time that I wrap up this post, as I'm actually interested in sitting down, watching, and actually paying attention to today's tilt with the Packers. It's funny how much more intriguing the game is when your team actually appears to have the upper hand, for once. Hopefully, Trubisky and the Bears will be able to even up the all-time series this afternoon (94-93-6 in Green Bay's favor) and drive another nail into the coffin which currently holds the Pack's 2017 season.
May the odds be ever in their favor.
Even as a Packers fan... I felt a little bad about that overturned call. Looks like we'll be watching the Vikings take the NFC North... although if that Packers can't bounce back, I'll be silently cheering for the Lions.
ReplyDeleteI just want Kevin White to actually play for the Bears at some point so I can root for them.
ReplyDeleteI watched Glennon throughout his college career. I have always been surprised that he made the NFL. The last three NC State QBs are all playing in the NFL, plus Philip Rivers. He doesn't hold a candle to any of them.
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