PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Bears were the talk of last year’s NFL annual meeting. They were about to draft quarterback Caleb Williams, appear on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” and be featured in the Hall of Fame Game, a function of having two former players voted into the sport’s inner sanctum.
This year’s meeting doesn’t have quite the same Bears-centric buzz, but there’s plenty for the franchise to debate, discuss and decide upon during the three-day gathering of the league’s owners, coaches, general managers and staff at The Breakers.
Here’s what to watch for:
In the Heights?
Bears president/CEO Kevin Warren has been on the job for almost two years. He was hired with one major goal in mind — to capitalize on his experience in building U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis to steer the Bears toward their new home. It’s been 11 months since the Bears made their public pitch to build on the Museum Campus, a push that failed to generate the major momentum for which the franchise was hoping.
Each day that passes makes Arlington Heights seem more likely. The Bears own 326 acres on the former Arlington International Racecourse site. They claim they would pay for the stadium themselves while using public funding for mixed-use buildings and infrastructure on the site.
Warren will answer media questions about the stadium Wednesday for the first time in two-and-a-half months. In January, he claimed the Bears “made a massive amount of momentum” downtown but admitted “optionality does exist.” His tone Wednesday might be different.
Chairman George McCaskey and commissioner Roger Goodell will also weigh in on the Bears’ stadium situation.
Feeling a draft
With the NFL draft less than a month away, the Bears will return to Halas Hall and begin setting their draft board. For the first time, general manager Ryan Poles and coach Ben Johnson will work together to try to select players that best fit their new playbook and — they hope — culture.
Both men will speak at length about their draft philosophy this week. Chief among the questions surrounding what the Bears do next is whether they decide to continue stacking both the offensive and defensive lines with their top three picks — No.s 10, 39 and 41.
There’s a case to be made for the Bears to draft a running back or tight end with the 10th pick, but the team can’t afford to spend another season struggling to rush the passer, stop the run or protect Williams.
The Caleb plan
When the Bears report for offseason work next month, Johnson will work with Williams for the first time since he was hired. The new coach has had time to fine-tune the plan that he pitched to Poles and Bears brass in January. How he explains the plan publicly, starting this week, will go a long way toward setting public and private expectations for a better sophomore season from the No. 1 overall pick.
There’s no denying Williams’ struggles last season, though the franchise did little to dissuade the public from having high expectations for the USC star a year ago.
George speaks
McCaskey will speak publicly this week for the first time since his mom Virginia died Feb. 6 at age 102. He’s sure to share the impact her life, and death, had on the franchise — and might have clarity on how the team plans to memorialize her memory going forward.
The Bears are entering uncharted territory: Virginia McCaskey was alive for all but 36 games the team played in the history of the franchise.
No more Tush Push?
Among the rule changes up for approval by owners this week is a proposal, set forth by the Packers, to ban the “Tush Push.” A quarterback sneak that features a running back shoving the ball-carrier forward, the “Tush Push” was popularized by the Eagles. Last year, the Bills were the only other team to run the play consistently.
The Packers’ proposal would specifically ban teammates from pushing a teammate who received a snap from under center. Owners will have to decide whether they’re comfortable changing the rules in a way that affects only two teams.
At least 24 owners must vote to approve the proposals.
Other suggested changes include making the last year’s kickoff change permanent, albeit with small changes and letting instant replay help to rule on facemask, horse-collar, tripping, roughing the kicker and blow-to-the-head penalties.
The Lions have suggested taking away automatic first downs from defensive holding and illegal contact flags. The Eagles proposed making regular season overtime rules the same as the postseason.