LAKE FOREST Devin Bush Jersey , Ill. (AP) — eyes during the final drive of the Chicago Bears‘ season.The then-defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles had just grabbed a 16-15 lead in the final minute of the wild-card game at Soldier Field. Chicago’s season ended with Cody Parkey’s field-goal attempt ricocheting off the upright and crossbar.But what stood out to Ragone — the Bears’ quarterbacks coach — was what he saw from Trubisky on that final drive. The poise he displayed and decisions he made helped put Chicago in position to pull out the victory.Trubisky comes into his third year in the NFL and second in coach Matt Nagy’s system facing higher expectations after Chicago won the NFC North at 12-4.The Bears believe their offense is poised to make a jump. That largely hinges on a prized quarterback coming off a solid season taking another step or two.And to Ragone that drive against Philadelphia, when he completed two passes to help put Chicago in position to score, could be a starting point.“The best part about that drive in my opinion, being with him and seeing through everything in two years, was the look in his eyes when Coach Nagy was calling plays as he walked off the sideline into the huddle,” Ragone said.“You just had that feeling that he was going to find a way to get us down there. Not saying I have not had that feeling before, but then you put everything together — the situation, the game, what this game meant, the crowd, everything else, who you’re playing against, the defending Super Bowl champions, a lot of variables thrown in there.“And it seemed like he just had a calmness about him. I looked at the backup quarterbacks at the time and I’m like, ‘Man, we’ve got a great feeling here. The kid’s gonna go do something.'”The Bears envisioned big things from Trubisky when they traded up a spot with San Francisco to draft him with the No. 2 overall pick in 2017.The expectations on him and the offense are higher this year after the defense led Chicago to the division title.Trubisky took a big step last season, making the Pro Bowl as an alternate. He passed for 3,223 yards, about 1,000 more than his rookie season. His rating jumped from 77.5 to 95.4, and he went from throwing as many touchdowns as interceptions (seven) to finishing with 24 and 12.Even so Diontae Johnson Jersey , there was room to grow. Trubisky was inconsistent, and the offense was middle-of-the-road statistically. The Bears ranked 21st overall, 21st in passing, 11th in rushing and ninth in scoring.The question is how big a jump they can make in their second year under Nagy, particularly now that Trubisky has a season in the system. The Bears are seeing a difference in offseason workouts.Trubisky is more comfortable and assertive.“I’m able to help the new guys, the younger guys and even the guys that are coming back in this offense — how exactly we want it, how exactly Coach Nagy wants it,” Trubisky said.“Ultimately I’m the guy out there. … I’m able to talk to guys in a way where I can teach it to them, they understand it and it just helps everyone get on the same play. When I know something I can explain it and make sure everyone’s going toward the same goal and executing the same play.”Trubisky said the execution is sharper than it was a year ago. And the Bears are able to run plays they had to shelve.Receiver Allen Robinson also notices a more aggressive mindset now that they’re more familiar with the system.“(Trubisky) really wants to dissect the defense,” Robinson said. “That’s the biggest thing. We want to make plays. (It’s not about) just completions or running plays just to be running them. We’re going to try to attack the defense and really beat the defense each and every play.”NOTES: Coach Matt Nagy said TE Trey Burton had sports hernia surgery about two months ago. The Bears hope to have him ready for the start of training camp. Burton missed the playoff loss to Philadelphia with a groin injury. EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Joe Namath was surrounded by a few dozen of his former New York Jets teammates and was again — as always — the center of attention.Broadway Joe held court at MetLife Stadium on Sunday as part of the team’s 50th anniversary celebration of the franchise’s only squad to win the Super Bowl. And, the former Jets quarterback thinks the fans won’t have to wait another 50 years to see another title.Not even close.“I’m as optimistic as I could possibly be,” Namath said a few hours before the Jets’ game against the Indianapolis Colts. “Really, I think all of us are pulling for the Jets to win a championship, mainly for the fans, as well as the players and all. Over the years, players come and go, ownership changes, coaches change, but the fans have been there since ’63, and all of us would love to see the fans get another championship.”The Jets have been searching for a franchise-type quarterback since the glory days of Namath. Several players have had their moments over the years Justin Layne Jersey , but the team hopes it has its guy — finally — in rookie Sam Darnold.Namath has met Darnold and spoken to him a few times, and thinks the youngster has lots of promise. But, he warns, it’s not just about the quarterback.“I like what I saw of him in college and what the coaches have had to say about him and his teammates, yeah, I like him,” Namath said. “But you know it takes up front, outside, two sides of the ball. It’s a team game. Sam will be good. You just need all the pieces to fit, though. You’ve got to have a complete team.”When a reporter suggested that it takes time to build that for most teams, Namath laughed.“You know, 50 years is enough time,” Namath said. “Fifty-one, 52, they should be getting it done in the next few years.”The Jets are 2-3 and looking to win consecutive games for the first time in more than a year. They’re still building for the future, and Namath declined to give his full thoughts on this year’s squad.“If I really said what I thought, I would be misinterpreted, so I’m not going there,” he said. “I’m pulling for them. Let’s just leave it at that, you know? They’re going to keep improving and don’t say a team can’t beat another team. On any given day, the Jets can beat anybody. We’ve got to see what happens today.”Darnold and the Jets defeated the Colts 42-34 Benny Snell Jr. Jersey , with Jason Myers setting a franchise record by kicking seven field goals.Namath was also asked about the other quarterback in town, Eli Manning, who is struggling through a tough season as the Giants are off to a 1-5 start. There have been suggestions that the 37-year-old Manning could be nearing the end of his career. Namath, who spent his final NFL season with the Los Angeles Rams in 1977, knows what it’s like having to deal with the difficult decision of having to call it quits.“It depends on the guy, depends on the dude, you know?” Namath said. “Eli, if he’s coming to that time and they talk about it, I bet you he handles that better than 99 percent of the dudes that come to the end.”Namath, who famously delivered on his Super Bowl guarantee and beat the then-Baltimore Colts in 1969, was thrilled to be spending time with so many of his former teammates such as Don Maynard, Emerson Boozer, Earl Christy and John Schmitt who helped lead one of the biggest moments in pro football history.The team was honored during a halftime ceremony at midfield, and a green and white banner that reads “Super Bowl III Champions” was unveiled near one of the top sections of the stadium.“It’s a joy,” Namath said of being with some of his former teammates. “It’s sincerely a joy. It’s like you’ve not been apart. Guys you haven’t seen for years, it’s like normal. It’s, like, comfortable.’
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