The Chicago Bears added Mike Pennel to the defensive line on a one-year deal on Thursday afternoon. It was a move that got the Twittersphere all abuzz. The 30-year-old spent the last two seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. He won a ring with them in 2019 and appeared in 14 games, with one start, in 2020. Where it gets interesting is the implications it has on Eddie Goldman, the 6’3″, 318 lb nose tackle. He was a key cog in the Bears stifling run defense, helping them reach the playoffs in 2018.
Does Mike Pennel Signing Mean No Eddie Goldman for Chicago Bears in 2021?
Pennel Signs After Golman No-Shows
Goldman, who opted out of the 2020 season, didn’t report for mandatory minicamp. An ominous sign from a player who hasn’t seen NFL action since December 29, 2019. That is a mighty long time for any player to be away from the game.
That was worrisome enough as it is anyone’s guess as to what kind of shape he will be in. There’s a difference between being in shape and being in “football shape”. And according to Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy, Goldman’s absence is indeed unexcused. It seems we are just scratching the surface of what’s going on with Goldman and the Bears, who have been very measured in their words.
There hasn’t been anything said publicly by Goldman since he sat out. And, given the Bears proclivity for being secretive if not downright stingy with information, fans are left to their own devices. Turns out, there might be signs of something much more permanent than a run-of-the-mill contract dispute or a player who is trying to avoid a fitness test.
Aside from Pennel, Chicago has also drafted a plug-and-play nose tackle in Khyiris Tonga in the seventh round. They also signed Angelo Blackson (who played the position in college) in free agency.
I think Eddie Goldman is going to retire.
— Ross Read (@RossRead) June 17, 2021
Not So Fast
The cynic might point to the very fact that Goldman did sit out the entire season and that he may not be in tip-top shape as all the more reason to load up on bodies in the middle of the Bears defense. The position is notoriously grueling as the nose tackle has to eat up blockers to free the linebackers and also stuff the run.
Another thing to keep in mind is the last time we saw Goldman in 2019. He played just 44 percent of the snaps. As we know teams use more sub-packages than base defense in today’s NFL.
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There’s also the possibility that, should he choose to walk away from football, Goldman could be subject to action by the Bears to recoup some of the money left on his contract. He’s also technically just one year into his four-year extension. He signed in 2018, but the league allowed contract years to roll over for players that sat out for COVID reasons.
Simply releasing him would result in about $12.85 in dead cap, but we all know that isn’t going to happen. At least not at this point. So exactly how much the Bears could the Bears get if they were to go after the money?
The Bears get 30 million in cap space back over 3 years if Goldman retires and they claw back into the signing bonus money for the retired years.
That could be used to pay Nichols, to upgrade the OL or in other spots.
— Mr. Conrad (@DarrylConrad) June 18, 2021
Bears Defensive Line Addition Raises Questions
There’s a ray of hope, though. Goldman has apparently been in some form of contact with teammates as linebacker Danny Trevathan said Goldman was “going to be here this year, he’s been working his tail off, he looks totally different,” before adding, “He’s going to come ready to work.”
Chicago’s defense fell from ninth against the run to 15th without Goldman last year. though they did allow five fewer touchdowns in 2020. He will be missed (again) if he doesn’t play for the Bears again, either because he retires or if this does in fact turn out to be a contract issue. This might end up as the rare instance where that’s the best-case scenario.
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