Chicago Bears Just Hedged Their Bets

Intro the Chicago Bears they just hedged their bets now that I've got your attention let's continue with the gambling reference you can say that the Bears signed a player that allows in the play of house money moving forward so the Chicago Bears just signed running back Demitri Felton it's a really nice move Demetric Felton but it's not just about the player stay with me here because it's yet another example of how this front office is on top of absolutely everything and in this case they exploited a lower profile loophole in the NFL rules so what this move does it not only provides another running back to compete but it also gives the Bears yet another player with returnability so you're looking at demetric Felton he averaged 23.5 yards on 26 kick returns in college in the NFL he made 39 punt returns for 6.9 yards average and 10 kick returns for an 18.3 yard average International Roster Exception and the new kick return rule it's always just it just makes players a potential factor in who makes the team and who the return guys are this this rule Just Hits different and the Bears could see Felton as a type of return man who could take advantage of the new kick alignment and I'm going to go to this story here on clocker Sports it kind of talks through this a little bit I always want to give credit so you guys check out this story so don't get it twisted this signing is significant because Reserve running backs Travis Holan Homer excuse me and ion wheeler they were banged up during practice on Saturday so this is an actual player that might really be needed but let's just get to the fun part he's on this Chicago Bears team with an absolutely free roster spot so in conjunction with Felton signing the Bears created a roster spot by using one of the simplest tricks in the NFL rule book it's not a very high-profile rule at all and it's taking advantage of something called the international player pathway program and it's actually kind of gaming the system a little bit you just got to love this so basically the Bears are getting a freebie an extra roster spot simply because new punter Tory Taylor is Australian yeah that's right so yet another benefit from this pick because Taylor he's just lighting it up in training camp so this international roster exception it allows the pair the Bears to get even more roster flexibility grab a player like Felton add him to the 90 player roster and not even have to cut anyone and here's the thing too this is significant I'm going to close down the story you guys check it out if you will so this is this is a really significant thing and bear with me here it the NFL is so competitive that it's not just big moves that dictate records and team chemistry it's the little things a little The Little Things Advantage here there's a slight of hand here it's little things like this that balance the scales and personally I just love the sneakiness to this it's not the first time the Bears have done this last year they grabbed Roy and beta during the summer and stash him on the practice squad as a 17th player PS is always working to find a tiny advantage and here's a continuation of that rule and I'm just going to read directly from the rule beginning in 2024 each of the 32 NFL clubs is eligible to fill a 17th roster spot on its practice squad reserved for an international player a participating a participating Club is permitted to elevate its International practice squad player to its active roster a minimum of three times throughout the season increasing the flexibility for clubs to leverage the additional player while creating more opportunity to play so each Club will also receive one training camp roster exemption for qualifying player clubs may choose to sign players identified through the NFL's IP program or can choose to independently Scout for international Talent so you guys know the rule the Bears are exploiting this loophole it not only gives Credence to the fact that polls is always working it also just gives us that little Edge and I really like this so enough about that it's a really cool rule um loophole let's just talk about Fon so he's a former sixr pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2021 eight rushes for 20 yards 20 receptions for 180 yard 89 yards two touchdowns in 24 games between 21 and 22 so it's not like huge stats from this guy but he also brings return experience to the table he's returned 39 points for 269 yards and 10 kickoffs for 183 yards last year he was weighed by the Browns at the end of August and then he was signed by the Bengals to the practice squad Feltons Stats and to be fair Felton regardless of the stats and we'll get into who he was as a college player that really tells more of the type of player that the Bears are getting he's just a player that can provide some punch and he's your typical undersized scatback or third down back right 59 185 pounds eight retes for 20 yards in his two seasons I've talked about this but he fits The Versatile tag that seems to be the Bears moniker and having that man having that moniker it's a really G great thing and talking about Felton when he came out of UCLA in 2021 there was actually plenty of discussion about whether he was actually a running back or a wide receiver I mean the Browns played him at the Hybrid type of position he lined up as both at times when he went to the Bengals he became only the running back but he had in college 1,11 yards rushing with seven touchdowns and 99 catches for 950 58 yards and eight touchdowns while at UCLA so that really we're getting a really versatile player here and also the move also gives the Bears yet another player with returnability and this might be what helps him to make the roster if it comes to that averaged 23 and a half yards on 26 kick returns in college that's a really good average in the NFL he made 39 punt returns for a 6.9 yd average 10 kick returns for an 18.3 yard average so across the board he is a pretty good return method weapon and the new kick return rule as you know just always a potential Factor this year in the signing of a player who returns I mean the Bears could see Felton as the type of return man who can take it the new kick alignment in the event of an injury he can pop in as a really versatile player slide in at receiver if needed and also he has the speed and the wiggle to actually be an effective running back in my opinion um I watched him play a little bit in Cleveland so we're kind of looking at the running back room right no chance of un seeding a starter you got DeAndre Swift khil Herbert Roshan Johnson those lead the Chicago running back room uh Homer and Wheeler figured to be prime candidates for a good amount of preseason action but if they're banged up if the if it's a more significant injury there's not really a big word on this a guy like Felton he could actually be a factor and the Bears play their first preseason game this Thursday against Houston Texans that's at the Pro Football Hall of Fame game uh I can't wait it's just a few days away it's G to be really interesting look at the statuses of Homer look at the status of Wheeler heading into the contest but I think if all Lays right it's not just a hedging of the bets this actually might be a gamble that pays off because I think felt is going to actually see the field and that's a really big thing especially if you're getting a player that's going to be a factor even in the preseason and it's a free roster spot I mean why not roll the dice I'm just going to continue with gambling references this whole time I don't know if that's a good look or not but um you guys growing this channel since last year it has been so much fun you guys have been so loyal and the discussion board is a lot of fun especially when people are negative it's actually kind of funny if you're creative but um you guys bear down it's been a great offseason going to be an even better uh preseason and regular season and there's so much to be thankful for so much optimism bear down I'll see you in the comments and we'll talk soon see you