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Thursday thoughts (or reasonable facsimiles thereof) while wondering what NFL team signing free agents doesn’t think it has improved with those acquisitions:
There’s always room for Stephy C around here. With or without a Bears jersey.
* The Bears signed safety Antrel Rolle to a three-year deal. They signed receiver Eddie Royal to a three-year deal. Royal had his best NFL season as a rookie in 2008, when he and Bears quarterback Jay Cutler played for the Denver Broncos.
* Speaking of Cutler, general manager Ryan Pace said: “Like I said before, we went through a process of thoroughly evaluating the roster, and we’re moving forward with Jay Cutler as our starting quarterback.” Because? Because the team needs to have a starting quarterback, and backup Jimmy Clausen is, well, a backup.
* Of reports the Bears tried to trade Cutler, Pace said: “We never did that.” Not sure that is totally accurate. Unless Pace means the Bears never did trade Cutler. Because? Because the team didn’t have an offer it deemed worthy or didn’t have any offers at all.
* Speaking of offers, Bulls guard Aaron Brooks should have some after the season if he can continue to play as he did Wednesday night in Philadelphia. He had a season-high 31 points, including a three-pointer to send the game into overtime, as the Bulls prevailed 104-95. Brroks had seven points in overtime. He played 37 minutes and had only one turnover. In case injured teammate Derrick Rose wants to make a mental note of the type of performance he is expected to emulate after his return from knee surgery.
* With center Joakim Noah sitting out the game, the Bulls had only two of their normal starters: Pau Gasol had 27 points and 16 rebounds in 43 minutes for his 44th double-double of the season; and Mike Dunleavy went 2-for-3 on three-points for six points in 39 minutes. Leading the Bulls in minutes played was Tony Snell (10 points) with 45. He also had a game-high and highly uncharacteristic seven turnovers.
* For those scoring at home (or elsewhere) and everyone else, the Cubs defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 for their first Cactus League victory. Anthony Rizzo went 1-for-3 for his first exhibition hit. Jon Lester threw three scoreless innings. In case anyone needed a reason to celebrate. What exactly? Anything they feel like.
* If it’s Thursday (which certainly seems probable because yesterday was Wednesday — provided that you are reading this on March 12, 2015, or a subsequent Thursday), then it is time to enjoy “Sports & Torts” co-hosted by David Spada and Elliott Harris at noon Central time on Talkzone.com. The highly acclaimed interview show (well, it is held in such esteem in the Spada and Harris households as well as reportedly elsewhere) has two 2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinees as this week’s guests. Featured are former Notre Dame, Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis and former Nebraska and Kansas City Chiefs offensive guard Will Shields. The podcast of the program will be available later in the day Thursday (and presumably forever, if not longer) at www.Talkzone.com.
Here is where to go for a daily dose of non-gratuitous video (thanks to the edified efforts of the editorial and video departments at ElliottHarris.com):