Familiar face
Defensive end Nick Reed made a strong impression on Bears coaches last training camp, sufficient to earn the former Seattle seventh-rounder out of Oregon a surprise roster spot after final cuts. Reed, a an undersized (6-1, 248) edge rusher, played in seven games before being released in mid-November.
Reed went to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after Chicago and now has landed with the Minnesota Vikings on a one-year contract. If he sticks as a backup to Jared Allen and Brian Robison, hell possibly show up opposite Gabe Carimi, JMarcus Webb or Chris Williams, although not until late in the season: The Bears dont play the Vikings the first time until Nov. 25, then face them the second time two weeks later.
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Moving on
The Detroit Lions lost a longtime voice last year with the death of beat writer Tom Kowalski. Killer was just 51 and one of the good guys in this business and game.
Now another Detroit voice is leaving, although under far, far nicer circumstances. Detroit Free Press Michael Rosenberg is leaving to become a senior writer for Sports Illustrated and that puts a good spin on a beautiful Friday. Mike and I worked together at the Chicago Tribune and its genuinely great to see good things happen for good people.
Detroit is saying good-bye to a quality scrivener. How quality? Check out Michaels final Free Press column and thoughts.