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Chicago Bears WR Byron Pringle is trying to make a positive impression after offseason reckless driving arrest

Byron Pringle knows he didn’t make the right type of headlines in his first couple of months as a Chicago Bears wide receiver.He was arrested in April in Florida for reckless driving and driving while his license was suspended after an officer suspected him of doing a donut on the road with a child and another passenger in the car.AdvertisementBut if Bears fans will allow him to reintroduce himself, here’s what he wants them to know.“I’m just a hardworking man,” he said. “I love the game. Things happen.”Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] 3 things we learned at Chicago Bears minicamp, including a ‘cold-weather’ offense and Trevis Gipson’s comfort ]Pringle didn’t expand much on the incident in his first comments to the media after Wednesday’s mandatory minicamp practice at Halas Hall, saying he had “no thoughts on it.” He pleaded not guilty to the charges, asked for a trial by jury and has a pretrial court date set for July 5, according to Pasco County records.He said he spoke with general manager Ryan Poles and coach Matt Eberflus before the news came out in the media and “everything’s squared away in house.”That echoed what Poles told the media just a few days after the arrest. Poles, who knew Pringle from their four years together in Kansas City, said the Bears were in “a good place” with Pringle and that the incident was “not a reflection of who he is at all.”Pringle tweeted after his media availability: “I’m just here to play football not answer (clown) questions.”So the focus since the arrest has been about how Pringle can make positive headlines with a Bears offense that needs some wide receivers to step up alongside Darnell Mooney.Eberflus has been pleased with what he has seen from Pringle during practices the last several weeks.“He does a really good job and is an explosive athlete, and he’s strong,” Eberflus said . “He’s got a strong set of hands to catch it in traffic and he does a really good job (with) yards after catch. He can break some tackles, you can feel his strength and you can see that on tape. We like where he is.”Pringle, who signed a one-year contract worth $4 million guaranteed this offseason, has a big opportunity to increase his production from a career-best 42 catches for 568 yards and five touchdowns in 2021. He was fifth in catches — and the third wide receiver — on the potent Chiefs offense run by quarterback Patrick Mahomes.AdvertisementNow, the 28-year-old former undrafted free agent from Kansas State is part of a collection of Bears receivers with a lot to prove after Poles made mostly modest offseason additions at the position.Wide receiver Byron Pringle warms up during Bears minicamp on April 19, 2022, at Halas Hall in Lake Forest. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)Mooney is the only Bears wide receiver on the roster with a better season production-wise than Pringle had in 2021. Tajae Sharpe had 41 catches for 522 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie in 2016. Poles also drafted rookie Velus Jones Jr. in the third round last month.So while running back David Montgomery and tight end Cole Kmet are likely to be involved in the passing game, too, there’s room for a newcomer to break out. Equanimeous St. Brown and Dante Pettis are among the other players looking for that shot.Pringle brushed off questions about individual goals and instead said he’s trying to execute at a high level, win and have fun, something Mahomes tried to make sure his teammates always were doing. And Pringle believes they can do that behind quarterback Justin Fields and new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy despite years of offensive struggles in Chicago.[ [Don’t miss] Chicago Bears QB Justin Fields understands the offense’s growing pains are inevitable: ‘We’re not ready’ ]“I always keep a smile on my face wherever I go, so I’m keeping that positive energy,” Pringle said. “Coming here, we ain’t worried about the past. We’re trying to go forward. We’re trying to go up. We’re not looking back at what happened in the past, and as a unit, we’re trying to be better, hold each other accountable.”Chiefs coach Andy Reid said at the NFL owners meeting a couple of months ago that Pringle would “play his heart out” and “still will continue to grow because he works so hard.”AdvertisementThat’s why Pringle thinks he can make better news in the months ahead.“I never try to stay at one level,” Pringle said. “I keep trying to keep going forward. … I don’t try to be the same player, the same dude. I try to learn something every day.”

Sports

Yoán Moncada has a career-high 5 hits as the Chicago White Sox rout the Detroit Tigers 13-0 for a series sweep

DETROIT — Yoán Moncada raised his arms as he walked through the Chicago White Sox dugout.Teammates gathered around him and greeted him with high-fives and pats on the backs.AdvertisementMoncada had just circled the bases after hitting a three-run homer in the first inning Wednesday against the Detroit Tigers. It was his first home run since May 14 against the New York Yankees.“It feels good to have that kind of support,” Moncada said through an interpreter. “They celebrated that homer like it was my first career homer. It was good.”AdvertisementMoncada set the tone Wednesday in a 13-0 Sox victory in front of 20,726 at Comerica Park. The third baseman had a career-high five hits, drove in five and scored twice.White Sox third baseman Yoán Moncada (10) celebrates teammates after hitting a three-run home run in the first inning against the Tigers on Wednesday in Detroit. Moncada had five hits and five RBIs in the Sox’s 13-0 rout to complete a series sweep. (Duane Burleson / Getty Images)“A day like today is good for your mind, your confidence,” said Moncada, who’s average went from .141 to .181. “Sometimes when you’re in a bad stretch you can get a little down, but a day like today helps to reinforce that confidence and to feel good. It was definitely a good day to feel good.”Moncada went 5-for-6 with the homer in the first, a single in the fourth, a double in the sixth and RBI singles in the eighth and ninth.“He showed today the stroke of a .300 hitter,” manager Tony La Russa said. “The ball inside, he turned on it. He’s really got a beautiful stroke.”Shortstop Danny Mendick hit a solo homer in the fourth and catcher Seby Zavala had a two-run homer an inning later as the Sox completed a three-game sweep. They set season highs for runs and hits (22), and everyone in the starting lineup had at least one hit.“The boys came to work today,” La Russa said. “Very difficult for both sides (with weather conditions at 94 degrees for first pitch), but the boys came to work.”The Sox produced with two outs throughout the series. They had four two-out RBIs in Monday’s 9-5 win and three two-out RBIs in Tuesday’s 5-1 victory.White Sox manager Tony La Russa, left, celebrates with shortstop Danny Mendick after a 13-0 win against the Tigers on Wednesday at Comerica Park in Detroit. Mendick hit a home run in the win. (Duane Burleson / Getty Images)White Sox catcher Seby Zavala hits a two-run homerun against the Tigers during the fifth inning Wednesday at Comerica Park in Detroit. (Duane Burleson / Getty Images)That trend continued with six Wednesday, starting with Moncada’s three-run homer. He drove in another run with two outs in the ninth. Josh Harrison, who went 3-for-5, had a two-out RBI single as part of a two-run third inning. José Abreu, who went 4-for-5 with two RBIs and three runs, had a two-out RBI single during a two-run fourth.AdvertisementThe Sox led 11-0 after six innings. The Tigers used position players Harold Castro (seventh), Kody Clemens (eighth) and Tucker Barnhart (ninth) to pitch the final three innings.Wednesday also marked pitcher Vince Velasquez’s return from the injured list. The right-hander allowed one hit and struck out three in 2⅔ innings.Velasquez had been on the injured list since May 31 with a strained left groin. In Wednesday’s corresponding move, the Sox placed right-hander Kyle Crick on the 15-day IL — retroactive to Tuesday — with right elbow inflammation.“Just checking off all the boxes,” Velasquez said. “Seemed like a lot of stuff really didn’t leave from the last appearance (May 24 against) Boston. I tried to make sure that everything is as crisp as possible so when it is time to get whatever role I need to be in, just stay sharp and stay ready at all costs.“I’m thrilled with the results of today’s performance.”Davis Martin followed Velasquez’s start, allowing three hits and striking out three in 5⅓ innings.Advertisement“He’s a cool customer,” La Russa said of Martin, who earned the first win of his big-league career.Said Martin: “(Velasquez) started off really strong, he was dominant from the start. For me watching from the bullpen, taking away a lot of the stuff that he was doing so I could just jump right in and follow what he was doing because his plan was working, his stuff was working, so just trying to pick up from where he left off because he set the tone so high.“The fastball location helped set the tone for everything else. Fastball in there early and let the offspeed play down. Seby did a great job calling the game.”White Sox pitcher Davis Martin delivers during the third inning against the Tigers on Wednesday at Comerica Park in Detroit. Martin picked up his first major-league win in the 13-0 victory. (Duane Burleson / Getty Images)The Sox climbed back to one game under .500 at 30-31. They are off Thursday before beginning a weekend series against the Astros on Friday in Houston. It will be the first meeting between the teams since last year’s American League Division Series, which the Astros won in four games.“If we were playing any team that’s as good as Houston is this weekend, it would be huge for us because we’re within yelling distance of getting to where we’re a winning club, not a losing club,” La Russa said. “The fact that it’s Houston, they’re playing really well.”The Astros are in first in the AL West at 39-24.Advertisement“Whoever we’re playing is an opportunity for us to be a winning club,” La Russa said. “The fact that it’s one of the best clubs in both leagues, you understand the challenge that it’s going to be. So get ready.”

Sports

3 things we learned at Chicago Bears minicamp, including a ‘cold-weather’ offense and Trevis Gipson’s comfort

The offense rebounded with a better showing during the second of three mandatory veteran minicamp practices Wednesday, with quarterback Justin Fields making some sharp throws and avoiding turnovers that plagued him the day before.Here are three things learned at Halas Hall.AdvertisementTight end Ryan Griffin works out during Bears minicamp on April 19, 2022, at Halas Hall in Lake Forest. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)The 10-year-veteran, who signed a one-year, $2.25 million contract in April, seemed to describe the kind of offensive system that would rely on good tight ends.“You can see in our roster makeup we’re a younger team,” Griffin, 32, said. “A lot of hungry guys. Hardworking guys. And I think our vision is a hardworking, tough-nosed, cold-weather football team, and I pride myself on being a part of some of those teams. I’m happy to be here and try to get this thing right.”AdvertisementHow is the offense going to come into shape?“Seems like we’re going to be physical, we’re going to run, we’re going to be well-conditioned and we’re going to pound,” he said. “And we’re going to run sideline to sideline and hopefully we can get some balls over the top. In the meantime, we’ve got to score. You’ve got to put points on the board to win in this league. We’ve got the guys in this room to do it, we’ve just got to get the execution right, and that’s what this part of the year is all about. This is why we’re here. We’re working.”[ [Don’t miss] Chicago Bears QB Justin Fields understands the offense’s growing pains are inevitable: ‘We’re not ready’ ]Griffin and James O’Shaughnessy, the eight-year veteran from Naperville North and Illinois State, are the only veteran tight ends on the roster behind Cole Kmet. Perhaps it signals that offensive coordinator Luke Getsy will lean more on 12 personnel (one running back, two wide receivers, two tight ends) this season. Getsy comes from Green Bay, and the Packers were No. 2 in the league using 12 personnel last season (29% of the time) behind only the Miami Dolphins.It can be a good idea for teams that don’t have depth at wide receiver and it can help the running game. But not every team that uses the outside-zone running scheme uses a lot of 12 personnel. The San Francisco 49ers, for example, were in 12 personnel only 10% of the time last season.Trevis Gipson stretches during Bears OTAs on May 24, 2022, at Halas Hall in Lake Forest. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)The defensive end had a bit of a slow adjustment as a rookie in 2020 when he went from being a defensive end at Tulsa to playing as an outside linebacker. He adapted well in 2021, finishing with seven sacks, but is happy with the change in scheme in which he doesn’t have to be as concerned with responsibilities in coverage.“They’re just turning us loose,” Gipson said. “Honestly, letting us play ball, play fast, play smart, with a tremendous amount of effort. So that’s something that’s going to pay off for the whole defense, the whole team, and I think we’re going to have great results.“I think overall, especially in this defense … it’s going to be tremendous. I get to come out of a three-point, (accelerate) off the ball faster and just little things like that get lost in different positions.”[ [Don’t miss] 4 things we learned at Chicago Bears minicamp, including Robert Quinn’s absence and Dakota Dozier’s injury ]Gipson said he has been impressed with rookie Dominique Robinson, a situational pass rusher drafted from Miami-Ohio.Advertisement“Sort of reminds me of me, honestly,” Gipson said. “Fifth-round pick, chip on his shoulder, dominating practice every day and still looking to get better anywhere he can.“He’s really athletic. Dude is lean, can move, very versatile. He can rush the passer with speed and rush the passer with power, and I think that makes him a great player. I would say he’s better than me, honestly. He has a lot more pass-rush attributes than I did coming in. He has more experience on the edge than I did. We take the same approach to the learning game, but overall, he’s a great student, great athlete, and I think he’s going to help us a lot.”Bears offensive lineman Braxton Jones stretches at rookie minicamp at on May 6 at Halas Hall in Lake Forest. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)Left guard Cody Whitehair had an excused absence and veteran Lucas Patrick was pretty much limited to individual drills, so the Bears moved some parts around. At one point Braxton Jones was at left tackle with Zach Thomas at left guard and Doug Kramer at center. Sam Mustipher lined up at right guard and Larry Borom was at right tackle. Veteran Dakota Dozier was not spotted after leaving Tuesday’s practice on a cart with what appeared to be an injury to his left leg.At first glance, coach Matt Eberflus said he thought Thomas held up well and didn’t make any mental mistakes.[ [Don’t miss] Column: Chicago Bears offensive line still has big questions — and moving parts — as shown by Teven Jenkins and Braxton Jones ]What’s going to be telling about the line is how the first and second teams are deployed at the start of training camp next month. The coaching staff might plan to have legitimate competitions at one or two positions, but the depth chart has to start somewhere. Decisions on who will be where could be made soon even if the reveal has to wait until late July.“We’ll have a big meeting (Thursday) with (GM) Ryan (Poles) and his staff, with all of the coaches, just to reassess the whole roster before the players and the coaches go on break,” Eberflus said.AdvertisementTeven Jenkins, the 2021 second-round pick, hasn’t been an option at guard, with Eberflus saying they’ve wanted him to focus on right tackle.ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 11 Meet the Chicago Bears’ 2022 NFL draft class. (Jae C. Hong/AP)ExpandAutoplayImage 1 of 24New Bears coach Matt Eberflus and new general manager Ryan Poles pose with a helmet after being introduced on Jan. 31, 2022, at Halas Hall. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)