LAKE FOREST — The Chicago Bears introduced five of their free agent acquisitions on Friday afternoon.
Linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga, tight end Gerald Everett, wide receiver Dante Pettis and offensive linemen Coleman Shelton and Matt Pryor all were made available to the media at Halas Hall.
Here are some of the top takeaways from each press conference
Exciting Reunion
One of the first players that reached out to Everett when he joined the Chargers in 2022 was Keenan Allen. Now both the offensive playmakers are taking their talents to Chicago for the 2024 season. And of course, the two have been texting back and forth over the last few days since Allen was traded.
“I think they’re gonna get what they bargained for,” Everett said. “I think it’s gonna be a good situation this year. I think we’re gonna have a lot of production. We’re gonna have a lot of cohesion in our room. The sky’s the limit for us — especially with Shane calling the plays.”
Shane Waldron is another familiar face Everett will be familiar with in Chicago. Waldron coached the 6-foot-3, 250-pound tight end during his rookie season with the Rams and also for one season in Seattle.
One word in particular came up when describing Waldron as a play caller.
“Unpredictability,” Everett said. “He’s really just done great things with the pieces that he’s had. When we had Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods and those surrounding cast in LA, it was good to see what he did with that. In Seattle, you implement DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Russell Wilson, etc., etc., and it’s just standing back watching how he does things, I’m excited to see what he does here.”
Everett also compared Waldron to a machine with how “he processes information” and how he then relays the intel to his players.
“I couldn’t say enough about Shane,” Everett said. “Obviously coming to Chicago, he’s a big reason for that, as well.”
Scouting reports on the Chargers
Ogbongbemiga will be reuniting with his former Chargers teammates in Keenan Allen and Gerald Everett in Chicago.
The linebacker and special team contributor shared exactly what the Bears are getting with each player. Ogbongbemiga’s face said it all when he was asked about Allen.
“Dog. All day,” Ogbongbemiga said. “Got it every day. From Day 1 of training camp to Week 15 or wherever he stopped practicing. He gave it his all and I’m looking at myself like, ‘This dude still got it.’ He got a lot of years in the tank. That’s what people don’t understand. They might look at his age and question him but, nah, he’s got the juice. He’s going to bring some special moments to the city of Chicago.
They are going to love him. I’m excited. I couldn’t hold my smile in when I saw the news. I was just so like, I couldn’t believe I’d be joining up with him again. It’s just one of those dudes you play with and you’re excited you play with and you want to be glad and you want to say that I played with Keenan Allen. He’s that type of player. I can’t wait. I can’t wait to get another opportunity with him.”
Ogbongbemiga has spent the last three seasons on the Chargers and clearly the veteran wide receiver left a lasting impression. The same could be said about Everett.
“Dog. Man, I mean, juice,” Ogbongbemiga said. “He’s always going to get you some YAC. Gerald is one of a kind in his approach. But man, on game day you love like playing with Gerald, because even when you’re down, even when things aren’t going your way, you just give him the ball and Gerald’s going to get you some plays to get everybody fired up. There were so many moments that we may not have been in a good situation and we see Gerald get the ball, he breaks one tackle, breaks another, stands up, throws the ball and we’re’ back in it.
He’s just that type of player that you really want to go to war with. I’m excited to get joined up with those two dudes. Absolute dogs. You just love watching them and it’s exciting to be in Chicago with them.”
Talking scheme
One of the factors for Shelton joining the Bears was due to the outside zone scheme that offensive coordinator Shane Waldron will be utilizing in Chicago.
Shelton spent four seasons with the Rams, where Waldon was under Sean McVay before heading to Seattle to be the offensive coordinator. Waldron and Shelton overlapped in 2019 and 2020 in Los Angeles.
The 6-foot-4, 299-pound offensive lineman credited his ability to run and reach the second level as reasons why he fits the scheme.
“I’ve always liked how you can stretch a defense,” Shelton said. “It looks complex but it feels simple to the offense. There’s a bunch of different things that come off of certain formations and you can always just fall back on your rules. It feels complex but it’s simple at the same time.”
Shelton was asked about whether he would be a starter or would have to compete for the first-string center position, but he didn’t answer the question directly and said “it’s always a competition.”
What Shelton did provide a clear answer on, though, was how he could help a rookie quarterback if the Bears decide to draft one.
“Well it’s just, it’s working together,” Shelton said. “It’s being on the same page and trying to get comfortable together and learning the offense together. And just going in there open-minded and just going to work together. The more you work with somebody, the more comfortable you feel with them, so it’s just about consistency and coming in with a positive attitude every day.”
Pryor and Eberflus connection
Before Pryor signed with the Bears, he spent some time in Indianapolis — crossing paths with Matt Eberflus. Even though the two were on opposites sides of the ball, Pryor mentioned that the now Bears head coach was a reason he came to Chicago.
How Eberflus carried himself stood out to Pryor.
“Man Flus was different,” Pryor said. “You know he puts that work ethic into everybody, you know chasing the ball down the field in practice, and trying to build that chemistry across not just the defense but the whole team because at the end of the day me might play on different sides of the ball. But it takes the whole team to win and you know that’s what I love about the chemistry and what he’s trying to do with the Bears organization.”
Pryor was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the sixth round in 2018. Since being drafted out of TCU, the 6-foot-7, 332-pound offensive lineman has only played 1,911 offensive snaps. Just for reference, Shelton played 1,113 snaps just last season for the Rams.
Pryor hasn’t played a lot of football throughout his career, but he has showed versatility in the opportunities he has seen the field. According to Pro Football Focus, he has played every position on the offensive line except for center — and his most snaps have been at right guard (750).
The ability to line up in multiple spots is something Pryor takes satisfaction in.
“You know I take pride in being able to play across the line, you know I’ve done it through out my career,” Pryor said. “You know obviously everybody wants to be able to settle into one position but obviously the best ability is availability so um I’m not against it but you know whatever opportunity I get to get out there that’s what I’m going to do.”
Pettis returns
The Bears brought back a familiar face on Friday by signing receiver and return man Dante Pettis to a one-year contract.
Pettis was on the team last season, but he was injured in the preseason game against the Colts and sustained a small fracture in his T1 vertebrae that put him on injured reserve. The team then released with a settlement.
When Pettis began rehabbing, he said simple head movements were too much at first and then three weeks after the injury he began doing soft tissue work. After that, Pettis worked on range of motion and strength.
Around two months after the injury, Pettis said he was cleared to return around Week 7 or 8, but nobody came calling for Pettis’ services.
Now, Pettis returns to a Bears team that has Waldron as the play caller and that style of offense fits what Pettis was used to when he played for the 49ers.
“I love it,” Pettis said. “It’s some freedom for a route runner like me. You get to be creative. You just kind of got to know when to be at the spot and there’s obviously rules and everything you got to follow certain things. But for the most part they do a good job of letting creative people, you know, be creative.”
Pettis is also a big fan of his new teammate in Allen.
“Bald head? That’s my guy. We’ve been close. I know he was close with my cousin, and so I’ve known him for a while and obviously love his game. Model a lot of my stuff after him, and so I’m excited to actually play with him now.”
