Jim O'Donnell: Poles is deftly handling media in Indy, but not soothing the core
RYAN POLES IS WINNING the media “Battle of Indianapolis” this week with a polished NFL 3-pointer.
He's being poised, polite and — most notably — semantically elusive at the Scouting Combine.
All around him, burnt orange-and-blue nuggets are dropping. They reflect the impatience of Bears fans everywhere who continue to speculate on the short-term draft future of the team. Position Zero for all of that guessing remains quarterback.
Caleb Williams stoked the swirl by giving the hustling Pete Thamel of ESPN.com an exclusive interview. The high-maintenance Williams calmed some masses by saying he'd be “excited” to play for the Bears.
But before Thamel could post the period, Williams also added that he'd be “excited” to play somewhere else too.
TUESDAY NIGHT ON INSTAGRAM, a poster tagged “Mario Nunez” claimed to be Justin Fields’ manager. He put up a short video in which someone looking an awful lot like the Bears QB is happily jumping and clapping his hands. In the audio a voice says, “Ready to go home.”
Could that mean Fields has been pulled “out of the gray” by Poles and already been told he's being traded to his hometown Falcons?
Or could it mean that an impatient sort near the kitchen where Fields is seen celebrating finally had his Uber waiting?
FOR A 38-YEAR-OLD FELLOW who just completed his second full year as general manager of the Bears, Poles is flashing a remarkable degree of casual public sophistication while the team's 2024 Road to Utopia Tour plays out.
He received quite a finishing school in Kansas City seven years ago. That was when he was an understudy of Chiefs GM John Dorsey.
In April 2017, Dorsey was the wizard aborning who had the prescience to trade up with Buffalo and select Patrick Mahomes at No. 10.
Two months later, Dorsey was the unfortunate dismissable who was suddenly tomahawked by KC owner Clark Hunt, reportedly because of problems with his “management style” and “communication.”
DORSEY'S FINGERPRINTS REMAIN all over the massive success of Mahomes and the Chiefs. But his professional anchor was subsequently dropped with the Browns and now attempts to lift the Lions.
Poles witnessed and undoubtedly learned.
So his media “W” down in Indy should be no surprise. He is a bright, discreet, organization-first young executive.
But his polished trifecta is doing nothing to calm the frequently burnt-orange masses.
STREET-BEATIN':
Great theory by Cheryl Raye-Stout of WBEZ-FM (91.5) on why Caitlin Clark will return to Iowa for a fifth season: “Travel and the WNBA salary cap. WNBA teams seldom fly charter. Plus, she can make much more in NIL money playing for the Hawkeyes next year.” Top salary in the WNBA for the 2024 season is capped at $241K; it's projected that Clark could make close to $5M as a fifth-year collegian, especially if she makes a global splash in the Paris Olympics and Hy-Vee comes through big time. ...
The Chris Chelios celebration at the United Center on Sunday was correctly tabbed “an emotional oasis” for Blackhawks fans amid an admittedly dreary season. But lingering Q for team chieftains Danny Wirtz and Jaime Faulkner: Why was the event scheduled to coincide with the return of Patrick Kane to the UC as a Detroit Red Wing? That's double-decking that cheats the paying hard core. …
NBC's Peter King, to Dan Patrick on why he's retiring after a 44-year run as one of the nation's top pro football reporters: “I have no desire to stay up until 1:30 in the morning to do anything anymore.” King, 66, also projected that the Bears will trade that No. 1 because, “They have a 'B' quarterback who has the locker room and about 10 holes to fill.” ...
Indomitable Dave Yates and his band of sisters from Fremd (29-6) take on their toughest opponent yet when they face unbeaten Loyola (36-0) in a Class 4A semifinal Friday (3:45 p.m., “The U”). Deep note on the Vikings: Energizing Isabelle Zavilla is the grand-niece of the late Dick Freeman. He was one of the three Palatine firefighters killed in a dime-store blaze near the tracks 51 years ago this week. The others were Josh Wilson and Warren Ahlgrim. …
The Loyola Ramblers — remember them? — play their most important game since Porter Moser bolted to Oklahoma when they host No. 21 Dayton Friday (8 p.m., ESPN2). Drew Valentine and LU are battling for Atlantic 10 supremacy with the Flyers and Richmond. If he catches a few breaks in March, Valentine, 32, is certain to appear on the short list to succeed Juwan Howard at Michigan. …
And chin-first Bill Adee, after three of his PGA pickers at vsin.com selected Adam Svensson (40-1 at DraftKings) to win the Cognizant Classic at Palm Beach Gardens this weekend: “Our guys don't do chalk.”
Jim O'Donnell's Sports and Media column appears each week on Sunday and Thursday. Reach him at jimodonnelldh@yahoo.com. All communications may be considered for publication.