Post by Deleted on Aug 29, 2016 22:01:22 GMT -6
I though there was enough important info here to give it it's own thread. You'll find a shocker about midway through.
Decision on Pernell McPhee looms for Bears
Rich CampbellContact ReporterChicago Tribune
The countdown to the season opener is now flashing red numbers over the Bears and Pernell McPhee.
By 3 p.m. Saturday, the team must decide whether the rugged outside linebacker is fit enough to come off the physically unable to perform list. Keeping him on it would ensure he misses at least the first six games.
And the Bears have to make that call even though McPhee hasn't participated in practice since early January.
Tick ... tick ... tick.
"We have a lot of options," coach John Fox said Monday, "and we'll do what's best for us and him."
Short of magic healing dust raining in Lake Forest, though, the options seem akin to a rock and a hard place.
As expected, Fox isn't divulging much with the Texans looming on Sept. 11. But with each practice McPhee sits out, as he did Monday, it's increasingly likely the Bears will take the field in Houston without their highest-paid defensive player.
In the short time remaining before Saturday's deadline, the Bears are intensifying McPhee's rehabilitation to better evaluate his surgically repaired left knee and project when he might be effective again.
"I think he's closer than he was last week," Fox said. "We're just going to continue to stretch that out on what he can do, some of the change-of-direction things, which are part of football."
For now, though, there is little to no evidence McPhee can move well enough to make a positive contribution in Week 1. Then again, that isn't the main factor in deciding whether to keep him on the PUP list.
If the Bears believe McPhee can help them by, say, Week 3 or 4, they would be more inclined to include him on Saturday's 53-man roster. They could deactivate him for the first two or three games, then bring him back in a situational role. That would be preferable to losing him for six games, but only if he's healthy enough to contribute.
McPhee hasn't weighed in publicly. One of the Bears' most charismatic speakers has not been made available to reporters. But teammates at least sense his determination to join them on the field.
"It's been a grind since his first day out, busting his tail," outside linebacker Willie Young said.
Young said "it's a credit to him" because McPhee is trying to bounce back from what at one time would've been a career-ending injury.
Young's assessment only fueled curiosity about what exactly McPhee's knee surgery entailed. With details scarce, speculation reigns.
Meanwhile, Leonard Floyd returned to practice Monday. The rookie linebacker sat out the third exhibition game with a hamstring injury, the third ailment to sideline him during training camp, following an illness and a left shoulder problem.
When Floyd has been on the field, he has flashed the ability to stave off and shed blockers with his long arms. His speed as a pass rusher was well-established at Georgia, if not in the first two exhibition games.
Given the unlikelihood that McPhee will be at full strength any time soon, Floyd has upside as an outside linebacker opposite Young and Lamarr Houston. Perhaps the Bears will settle for their top rookie continuing his development as a three-down defender. It's a more promising Plan B than the Bears have at any other position.
When McPhee comes back — whenever that is — he'll have to prove he's beyond the type of situation he and the Bears endured during the second half of last season when knee soreness limited his effectiveness.
McPhee was the Bears' best defender and emotional leader through the first eight games, posting five sacks and an interception. But he had only one sack the rest of the way, sat out two games and was limited in others.
Those memories are fresh. The Bears don't want that guy. They want the old Pernell McPhee back.
Regardless of what happens before Saturday's deadline, they could have to wait for him longer than anyone would like.
rcampbell@chicagotribune.com
Decision on Pernell McPhee looms for Bears
Rich CampbellContact ReporterChicago Tribune
The countdown to the season opener is now flashing red numbers over the Bears and Pernell McPhee.
By 3 p.m. Saturday, the team must decide whether the rugged outside linebacker is fit enough to come off the physically unable to perform list. Keeping him on it would ensure he misses at least the first six games.
And the Bears have to make that call even though McPhee hasn't participated in practice since early January.
Tick ... tick ... tick.
"We have a lot of options," coach John Fox said Monday, "and we'll do what's best for us and him."
Short of magic healing dust raining in Lake Forest, though, the options seem akin to a rock and a hard place.
As expected, Fox isn't divulging much with the Texans looming on Sept. 11. But with each practice McPhee sits out, as he did Monday, it's increasingly likely the Bears will take the field in Houston without their highest-paid defensive player.
In the short time remaining before Saturday's deadline, the Bears are intensifying McPhee's rehabilitation to better evaluate his surgically repaired left knee and project when he might be effective again.
"I think he's closer than he was last week," Fox said. "We're just going to continue to stretch that out on what he can do, some of the change-of-direction things, which are part of football."
For now, though, there is little to no evidence McPhee can move well enough to make a positive contribution in Week 1. Then again, that isn't the main factor in deciding whether to keep him on the PUP list.
If the Bears believe McPhee can help them by, say, Week 3 or 4, they would be more inclined to include him on Saturday's 53-man roster. They could deactivate him for the first two or three games, then bring him back in a situational role. That would be preferable to losing him for six games, but only if he's healthy enough to contribute.
McPhee hasn't weighed in publicly. One of the Bears' most charismatic speakers has not been made available to reporters. But teammates at least sense his determination to join them on the field.
"It's been a grind since his first day out, busting his tail," outside linebacker Willie Young said.
Young said "it's a credit to him" because McPhee is trying to bounce back from what at one time would've been a career-ending injury.
Young's assessment only fueled curiosity about what exactly McPhee's knee surgery entailed. With details scarce, speculation reigns.
Meanwhile, Leonard Floyd returned to practice Monday. The rookie linebacker sat out the third exhibition game with a hamstring injury, the third ailment to sideline him during training camp, following an illness and a left shoulder problem.
When Floyd has been on the field, he has flashed the ability to stave off and shed blockers with his long arms. His speed as a pass rusher was well-established at Georgia, if not in the first two exhibition games.
Given the unlikelihood that McPhee will be at full strength any time soon, Floyd has upside as an outside linebacker opposite Young and Lamarr Houston. Perhaps the Bears will settle for their top rookie continuing his development as a three-down defender. It's a more promising Plan B than the Bears have at any other position.
When McPhee comes back — whenever that is — he'll have to prove he's beyond the type of situation he and the Bears endured during the second half of last season when knee soreness limited his effectiveness.
McPhee was the Bears' best defender and emotional leader through the first eight games, posting five sacks and an interception. But he had only one sack the rest of the way, sat out two games and was limited in others.
Those memories are fresh. The Bears don't want that guy. They want the old Pernell McPhee back.
Regardless of what happens before Saturday's deadline, they could have to wait for him longer than anyone would like.
rcampbell@chicagotribune.com
