One thing we’ve learned about Colin Cowherd over the years is he’s always ready to deliver controversial takes. Such is the life of a sports equivalent to a shock jock. That said, he hasn’t been in business for as long as he has without some interesting points as well. Most of the time, he is ready to snipe the Chicago Bears at every opportunity, considering how poorly they’ve performed for many years. This time was different. He sees something happening involving them and how the NFL assembled their 2024 schedule. All of it centers around the arrival of Caleb Williams.
Cowherd explained on his The Herd radio show that he sees a deliberate attempt by the league to make the #1 overall pick’s entry as smooth as possible. That is the only way to explain the unusual early run of projected bad teams on the schedule with no divisional opponents until late November. Why would the NFL do something like this? The NFC lacks a presence of star quarterbacks. Quarterbacks drive ratings. There is no question a young quarterback ascending in Chicago would be absolute money for the league.
It isn’t hard to connect the dots from there.
Outside of the Texans and Rams, which were playoff teams last season, the Bears will face a slew of mediocre-to-bad opponents all the way through week ten. A 7-2 start isn’t out of the question if this team plays up to its capability. That would be a terrific way to build the confidence of your young quarterback. It happened with Houston last year. They faced an easy schedule, C.J. Stroud got hot, and that carried all the way into the playoffs. It comes down to whether they can navigate a backloaded schedule filled with tough division rivals.
Cowherd may have stretched the idea of conspiracy, but one has to remember reality. The NFL is a business. They will do anything and everything in their power to drive up ratings. A great way to do that is more star quarterbacks in big markets. Right now, Chicago and New York both don’t have one. Caleb Williams has a chance to change that. It wouldn’t be surprising if they paved the road ahead somewhat to give him the best possible chance to get going.
