Articles filed under Football
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This season is Bears receiver Rome Odunze’s chance to step out of the shadowsJul 11, 2025 11:51 am - Rome Odunze showed glimpses of his potential and his connection with Bears quarterback Caleb Williams throughout his rookie season. He finished third on the team with 734 receiving yards on 54 receptions and 101 targets and caught 3 touchdowns. Odunze started 12 games and played in all of the Bears’ 17 matchups, averaging 13.6 yards a reception.
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The new college sports agency is rejecting some athlete NIL deals with donor-backed collectivesJul 10, 2025 9:42 pm - A new college sports agency has rejected certain NIL deals involving donor-backed collectives. These collectives, formed to funnel money to athletes or schools, fail to meet NCAA rules requiring deals to serve a valid business purpose. A letter sent to Division I athletic directors explained that deals solely raising funds for athletes, like selling merchandise or hosting events, do not qualify.
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Swift getting a second chance in second season with the BearsJul 10, 2025 5:00 pm - Bears general manager Ryan Poles chose D’Andre Swift to be the Bears’ running back as the team entered a new stage in its rebuild in 2024. Poles let running back David Montgomery walk and sign with the Detroit Lions the previous offseason and signed Swift to a three-year, $24.5 million contract.
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Bears’ season could turn on whether new defensive lineman Odeyingbo lives up to potentialJul 09, 2025 10:32 am - Are the Bears worse off without the player? Does the player have untapped potential or past greatness to live up to? Is his story going to be one fans follow closely this season?T he best player on the team isn’t always the most important, but he certainly can be.
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BYU coach Kalani Sitake avoids comment on QB Jake Retzlaff's status amid transfer rumorsJul 08, 2025 8:28 pm - FRISCO, Texas — BYU coach Kalani Sitake declined to address the status of Jake Retzlaff on Tuesday amid reports that the quarterback is transferring after being accused o...
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College sports has a soft salary cap now. How does it work?Jul 04, 2025 3:02 pm - Some of the long-standing differences and caveats still apply. College athletes are not considered employees. Therefore, unlike athletes in the NFL, the NBA, the WNBA, the NHL and MLB, their pay and working conditions were not established through a collective bargaining process. But at least one major change will be familiar to any fan of those professional leagues. College sports has a (soft) salary cap now. Let’s unpack.
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Zaccheaus adds another reliable target for Bears QB WilliamsJul 04, 2025 12:28 pm - The Bears made a lot of the headlines this offseason. It started when general manager Ryan Poles hired Ben Johnson to be his new head coach and continued in the following...
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There’s opportunity for speedy defensive lineman Austin Booker in new-look Bears defenseJul 03, 2025 12:08 pm - Austin Booker wasn’t expected to make an instant impact when Ryan Poles drafted him. Many experts viewed Booker as a developmental piece. His length and speed were enticing, but Booker would benefit from a full offseason with a chance to build himself into an NFL defensive pass rusher.
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NCAA’s House settlement era begins, shaking up college athletics as some schools opt outJul 02, 2025 7:44 pm - The NCAA's House settlement era has launched, with athletic programs across the country free to start paying millions to their athletes in the biggest change in the history of college athletics. It's the death of the NCAA's longstanding amateur model, certain to cause headaches and disputes among powerhouse and small-time programs alike. Scattered among them, however, is a handful of schools that have decided to wait it out at least a year and see how things develop, including legal risks and Title IX concerns. Call them the opt-outs. The deadline for schools to opt out was Monday.
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Can Johnson carve out a role for himself with new Bears coaching staff?Jul 02, 2025 12:01 pm - The Bears made a lot of the headlines in the NFL this offseason. It started when general manager Ryan Poles hired Ben Johnson to be his new head coach and continued in th...