Off Topic » The team's highest-paid offensive lineman

LAKE FOREST Bennie Fowler III Jersey , Ill. (AP) — Armed with a record extension after a blockbuster trade, Khalil Mack is looking forward to a fresh start with the Chicago Bears.The two-time All-Pro said he is “glad I’m here” and “blessed” after a contract holdout with the Oakland Raiders ended with the star pass rusher getting dealt in a massive move on Saturday.“It’s been a whirlwind, but it’s been exciting,” Mack said Sunday. “It’s new and I’m looking forward to it. I really can’t wait. I’m itching. It’s been a long time since I played football.”He held out for the entire offseason and preseason trying to secure a long-term deal rather than play under the final year of his rookie contract that would have earned him $13.8 million.The Bears paid a big price, giving him a six-year, $141 million extension that guarantees $90 million. That made him the highest-paid defensive player in NFL history, a day after the Rams’ Aaron Donald agreed to a six-year, $135 million deal, with $87 million guaranteed.Chicago sent Oakland first-round selections in 2019 and 2020, a sixth-rounder next year and a third-rounder in 2020. The Bears got a second-round selection in 2020 — which Pace called “a critical piece for us” — and a conditional fifth-rounder that year.Mack acknowledged there is “absolutely” pressure that comes with a huge contract.“But just based on how hard I worked and how hard I play, I want to be able to go out and show why — and that’s just me,” he said. “I’ve always thought of myself as the best defensive player in the league and I want to play like the best defensive player in the league. I want to be the best at what I do, and that’s just me. That’s what comes with Mack. Good response?”What he brings could be a game changer for a franchise with four straight last-place finishes in the NFC North. That’s why general manager Ryan Pace decided to check with Oakland if Mack might be available.“This is a premier player at a premier position, and this doesn’t come around that often,” Pace said. “So when it does come around https://www.thebearsfanshop.com/Taylor-Gabriel-Jersey , I’m just proud that I work for an organization that’s willing to be aggressive in these times, and that Matt and I have the support to be aggressive, and that starts with ownership.”The 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Mack has played in every game since the Raiders drafted him fifth overall in 2014. He has 231 primary tackles, 40½ sacks and nine forced fumbles.Coach Matt Nagy wasn’t sure if Mack would play in the opener at Green Bay. But when he does suit up, a defense that ranked 10th overall last season figures to get a boost.The Bears have speed and athleticism on the edge with Mack and Leonard Floyd. They also believe they added a potential cornerstone player when they drafted inside linebacker Roquan Smith with the No. 8 overall pick.“Our goal from the start here has been to win the Super Bowl,” coach Matt Nagy said. “Now, there’s ways to get to that. … So does this help us? You know, you would think, yeah, obviously it helps you, but how are we going to get to that point? There’s so many variables that go into it.”He’s glad he no longer has to worry about game planning to face Mack. Nagy got his fill going against him in the AFC West as a member of Andy Reid’s staff in Kansas City.Mack’s arrival adds to the buzz that was already brewing around the Bears. They hired the offense-minded Nagy and brought in some playmaking targets for quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, including former Jacksonville Pro Bowl receiver Allen Robinson.The Bears believe they have the QB and pass rusher they need to lift a franchise with one playoff appearance since the 2006 Super Bowl season.“You could say a lot of different things, but until I go out there and play, I’m not a big talker Trey Burton Color Rush Jersey ,” Mack said. “I like to go out and use my actions to speak, and when I get out there and get on the field, you can probably sense what’s going to happen. But I want to win, you know what I mean? Everybody wants to win. This team wants to win, and championship’s definitely the goal.”NOTES: To make room for Mack, Chicago released C Hroniss Grasu on Sunday. … The Bears placed TE Adam Shaheen (sprained ankle, foot) on injured reserve, though they expect him to return this season. Pace said Shaheen does not need surgery. … Chicago signed DL Nick Williams. Even as the Minnesota Vikings had league-leading rushing totals the first three weeks of the season with Dalvin Cook, the team understood that, eventually, it would need quarterback Kirk Cousins to make plays through the air.When they were needed in Week 4 at Chicago, Cousins and the passing game couldn't deliver.Against Khalil Mack and the Bears' pass rush, Cousins was sacked six times and fumbled twice in the 16-6 loss. He was 27 of 36 for 233 yards passing but averaged just 6.47 yards per attempt while resorting to short throws to try and negate Chicago's pressure."I think there were some times where he might have got rid of it a little bit too soon," Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said Monday. "But when you're getting pounded a few times, sometimes you got to take the quick throw."Cousins overthrew Adam Thielen on one deep pass early that likely would have resulted in a touchdown.It was one of just four attempts longer than 10 yards Cody Parkey Jersey , according to NFL NextGen stats. Of his 36 pass attempts, 20 came behind or within five yards of the line of scrimmage. He completed five of his seven attempts behind the line of scrimmage."There's times you've just got to pull the trigger," Zimmer said. "You've just got believe that you're going to make the throw. There were some times that he got the ball out really good."The frustration was apparent with Thielen, who said after the game the team knew, at some point, it wouldn't be able to rely solely on the running game."That's not a shot at anyone," Thielen clarified on Monday. "That's not taking shots on coaches, players, nobody. That's just saying, that's just being real and saying that you can't just be a run team, you can't just be a pass team, and expect to have success in this league. You have to be able to do both well and that's what we're striving to be able to do."WHAT'S WORKINGChicago scored a touchdown on its opening possession, the second straight road game against an NFC North opponent in which Minnesota's defense has gotten off to a slow start. The Vikings, however, have been able to adjust in-game.In Week 2 https://www.thebearsfanshop.com/Khalil-Mack-Jersey , Green Bay had 165 total yards over the final 44:16 after scoring on its first three possessions. The Bears had 194 net yards the remainder of the game after driving 75 yards on their opening possession."We had to get up on the receivers a little bit tighter," Zimmer said. "We were giving them too many easy completions there."WHAT NEEDS HELPAn offensive line that had opened holes for the league-leading running game and allowed just two sacks the first three weeks faltered against the Bears. Cousins was sacked six times and the Vikings averaged 2.5 yards per rush. Sunday showed the reworked line is still a work in progress."Offensively, I didn't feel like we matched the intensity of their defense," Zimmer said.STOCK UPLinebacker Eric Kendricks doesn't get the recognition of some of his Pro Bowl teammates, but he's been in the middle of the action all season. He led the team with 12 tackles against Chicago and has been a steady performer against the run and pass.STOCK DOWNLeft tackle Riley Reiff had a tough time dealing with Mack, who beat Rieff on the first play of the second half for a strip-sack, leading to a Bears field goal. The team's highest-paid offensive lineman, Rieff can't be relied on to slow down a star pass rusher like Mack.INJUREDSafety Anthony Harris missed 15 defensive plays on Sunday, but the team hasn't specified an injury. All Zimmer would say Monday is that Harris has a bruise. Right guard Josh Kline missed Sunday's game with a concussion, and Dakota Dozier started in his place.The good news was linebacker Anthony Barr returned after missing a game with a groin injury and cornerback Mackensie Alexander was back after missing two games with an elbow injury.KEY NUMBER15: The number of times Cousins has fumbled in 20 career games with the Vikings. He's lost nine fumbles in that span.NEXT STEPSPerhaps the passing game can get on track next week as Minnesota travels to New York to face the Giants. New York has allowed 279.5 passing yards per game, the ninth-highest total in the league. The next week, the Vikings face the 32nd-ranked Eagles pass defense.