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Sports

Chicago Bears acquire N’Keal Harry, a former 1st-round pick by the New England Patriots, to join crowded receiver room

A new face is joining the crowd as the Chicago Bears completely rebuild at wide receiver, where they have Darnell Mooney and a cast of newcomers.The Bears are acquiring N’Keal Harry, a former first-round draft pick by the New England Patriots, in a trade for their 2024 seventh-round pick. NFL Media first reported the deal.AdvertisementHarry was a bust in New England as the 32nd  pick in the 2019 draft — selected ahead of A.J. Brown, Deebo Samuel, DK Metcalf, Diontae Johnson and Terry McLaurin — but the Bears are buying low and getting a player who should be motivated entering the final year of his rookie contract. Harry reportedly requested a trade before last season, but that didn’t materialize. Now he has a new home where the depth chart is wide open two weeks before training camp.AdvertisementThe Arizona State product totaled only 57 catches for 598 yards and four touchdowns over 33 games in his first three seasons. He had 12 catches for 184 yards and no scores in 12 games last season.Harry was very productive for the Sun Devils in three seasons, especially in 2017 and 2018, when he combined for 2,230 yards and 17 touchdowns. The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder was able to use his size and strength to overpower defenders in college but hasn’t been a physical presence in the NFL.The Bears have competition for playing time in Byron Pringle, signed to a one-year, $4.125 million contract, and third-round pick Velus Jones. Equanimeous St. Brown, Dante Pettis, Tajae Sharpe and 2021 sixth-round pick Dazz Newsome also are part of a crowded room.It’s a minimal investment for the Bears. Maybe a fresh start will prove to be what Harry needs.

News

Summer in the city: youth edition

Ah, summer vacation: the time of year when Chicago’s youth are free from the confines of school—but aren’t allowed to be in Millennium Park after six…

Sports

LeBron James wouldn’t blame Brittney Griner for not wanting to live in the U.S.

LeBron James seems to wonder if fellow basketball star Brittney Griner will want to live in the U.S. again if she’s released from the Russian prison she currently calls home.In a promotional clip for his YouTube talkshow “The Shop,” James appears to believe that Griner, who was arrested in Russia in mid-February, would not want to return to the nation that has been unable to bring her home amid difficult relations with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.Advertisement“How can she feel like America has her back?” James said. “I would be feeling like, ‘Do I even want to go back to America?’ ”LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers attends a game between the Lakers and the Phoenix Suns during the 2022 NBA Summer League at the Thomas & Mack Center on July 08, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images,)The 31-year-old WNBA star was apprehended for allegedly possessing hashish oil at an airport near Moscow. She reportedly pleaded guilty last week and faces sentencing Thursday.AdvertisementHer incarceration has coincided with Russia’s war with Ukraine, which has had the support of the U.S. and its allies. Putin ordered Russian troops into its neighboring nation on Feb. 24.[embedded content]Griner’s wife of three years, Cherelle Griner, has spoken with the White House about bringing her spouse home. Representatives of the WNBA, as well as community leaders and activists, have urged U.S. officials to bring the Houston, Texas, native home. She plays for the Phoenix Mercury.Like James, Griner stands 6-foot-9 and has won two Olympic gold medals.He posted a promo for his upcoming episode of “The Shop” on Twitter with a caption reading, “This one’s a global affair.”James has nearly 52 million followers on Twitter.Griner’s WNBA coach Vanessa Nygaard speculated last week that her star may be getting less support because she’s a gay woman.“If it was LeBron, he’d be home, right?” she asked USA Today.According to a letter Griner reportedly sent to President Biden, coming back to the U.S. is a priority.Advertisement“I sit here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey, or any accomplishments,” she wrote. “I’m terrified I might be here forever.”