Scott Daly Takes Over! Patrick Scales OUT!

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Chicago Bears keep local long snapper over veteran Patrick Scales https://youtu.be/pojo7j4lD-s  The Chicago Bears are making a special teams shake-up, opting to keep local long snapper Scott Daly over veteran Patrick Scales. Scales has been a reliable presence for years, but the Bears are moving in a younger direction. In this video, we break down what this move means for the team, how Daly performed in previous stints, and whether this decision could impact the kicking game. Was this the right call? Let’s discuss!   ----------   #ChicagoBears #ScottDaly #PatrickScales #BearsSpecialTeams #BearsRoster #NFLNews #RyanPoles #BearsNation #NFLFreeAgency #WindyCityFootball #MonstersOfTheMidway #BearsUpdates   ----------   **Fair Use Disclaimer**    This video contains copyrighted material used under the fair use provisions of Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act. It is for purposes such as criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, and research. No copyright infringement is intended.

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00:00The Chicago Bears have made a strategic decision that might not turn heads for casual fans,

00:04but for those in the know, it's a crucial move for the team's future.

00:08The Bears have chosen to keep Scott Daly, the local long snapper, over veteran Patrick Scales,

00:14who had been a steady presence for the team for nearly a decade.

00:17While this might seem like a small decision on the surface, it carries significant weight for

00:21a team that is in the midst of rebuilding for a long-term, sustainable future.

00:25Understanding why the Bears made this choice will help us uncover a broader picture of

00:30how they're positioning themselves for success in the 2025 season and beyond.

00:36At first glance, long snapper may seem like one of the least glamorous positions on the

00:40football field. After all, long snappers don't get the same attention as star quarterbacks,

00:45wide receivers, or even running backs. However, as every NFL coach and special teams coordinator

00:51knows, long snapper is one of the most critical positions on the team. A perfectly executed snap

00:58is a crucial element in every punt, field goal, and extra point attempt. A bad snap can ruin an

01:05entire play, swing the momentum of a game, and potentially lose a team crucial points.

01:11So, when the Bears decided to move on from Patrick Scales, who had served as their long

01:16snapper for eight seasons, and hand the reins over to Scott Daly, it wasn't just a simple

01:21personnel change. It was a calculated move with an eye on the future of the team. Let's take a

01:28deeper dive into the rationale behind the decision and what it means for the Bears going into the 2025

01:34season. Scott Daly's journey to becoming the Bears' long snapper is one that resonates with

01:39many Chicago fans. Born and raised in Downers Grove, Illinois, Daly is a product of the local

01:44area, and his connection to the city runs deep. This makes his role on the Bears even more

01:49meaningful. Daly's path to the NFL wasn't a straightforward one. He started his college

01:54career at the University of Notre Dame, where he became a reliable figure for the team, snapping for

01:59punts, field goals, and extra points. While he didn't receive the same level of media attention

02:03as other players in his position, Daly's consistency at Notre Dame earned him recognition from NFL

02:09scouts. After college, Daly spent time with several NFL teams, including the Detroit Lions,

02:15before ultimately joining the Bears. His arrival in Chicago was timely. With veteran long snapper

02:21Patrick Scales sidelined for the 2024 season due to a back injury, Daly was called upon to fill the

02:26role, and he did so admirably. In fact, Daly's performance in Scales' absence was so strong

02:33that it left the Bears coaching staff with little doubt about his future. The 2024 season marked a

02:38breakout year for Daly as he not only filled in, but excelled. He stepped in without missing a beat

02:43and delivered flawless snaps all season. Whether it was for field goals, punts, or extra points,

02:49Daly proved himself as a reliable and trustworthy option for the Bears.

02:54Long snapping, while often overlooked, is one of the most important jobs on special teams.

02:58It's not just about getting the ball to the punter or holder, it's about precision and consistency.

03:04A bad snap can ruin an otherwise perfectly executed play, and in the high pressure moments

03:09of an NFL game, reliability is everything. Daly showed that he could handle those pressures,

03:15and he quickly earned the confidence of the Bears coaching staff. His performance in 2024 left no

03:21room for doubt. Daly was ready to take over as the Bears long snapper moving forward.

03:26Now let's turn our attention to Patrick Scales, who had been with the Bears for eight seasons and

03:31was a trusted veteran for the team. Scales wasn't just any long snapper, he had been a steady

03:36presence in the locker room, known for his leadership, reliability, and work ethic. He'd been with the

03:41Bears through thick and thin, playing through injuries and helping the team execute at the

03:45highest level on special teams. His departure marks the end of an era for the Bears special teams,

03:50and it's a decision that wasn't made lightly. However, age and injuries played a big role in

03:56the team's decision. Scales, now 37 years old, had a successful career, but his age and recent

04:02back surgery made it unclear whether he would be able to continue at the same level of performance.

04:07Long snappers, despite not being involved in the same physical demands as positions like

04:11running back or linebacker, still need to maintain high levels of physical conditioning

04:16to perform consistently. A bad snap could cost a team precious points, and at 37, Scales was

04:22coming off a season-ending back injury, which only increased the uncertainty surrounding his ability

04:27to stay healthy and effective. While 37 isn't necessarily considered old for long snappers,

04:34there's a reality to the fact that most long snappers begin to decline in their late 30s.

04:39Some of the league's top long snappers, like J.J. Jansen of the Carolina Panthers, 39 years old,

04:44and Morgan Cox of the Tennessee Titans, 38 years old, have managed to extend their careers into

04:50their late 30s and beyond. But for Scales, the combination of age, injuries, and the emergence

04:56of Daly as a reliable option made the decision an easier one for the Bears. The coaching staff

05:02could no longer justify keeping Scales when there was a younger, healthier, and equally reliable

05:07alternative in Daly. The Bears didn't want to take any chances with an aging veteran who was coming

05:12off surgery. They needed stability, and that's exactly what Daly provided. By moving on from

05:19Scales, the Bears made the difficult decision to prioritize the future of the team over the past.

05:25It was a business decision, and sometimes in the NFL, those decisions are cold but necessary.

05:32Scott Daly's rise to the starting role as the Bears' long snapper is more than just a feel-good

05:37story. It's a calculated move by a team looking to secure stability at a crucial position for the

05:43long term. Daly is only 26 years old, and long snappers can often play into their late 30s.

05:48This means the Bears have potentially secured their long snapper for the next decade,

05:53giving them one less position to worry about as they continue to build the rest of the roster.

05:58For this, by choosing Daly over Scales, the Bears are positioning themselves for the future.

06:03Daly has already demonstrated his reliability, and given his age, there's every reason to believe he

06:08can continue to perform at a high level for years to come. For a team like the Bears who are in the

06:14middle of a rebuild, having a dependable long snapper locked in for the next decade is a luxury.

06:20It's one less position to worry about as they focus on improving the roster around him.

06:25It's easy for fans to focus on the glamorous positions, the quarterbacks, the wide receivers,

06:30the running backs, but in the NFL, special teams play an absolutely vital role in the success of a

06:36team. A perfectly executed field goal or punt can swing the momentum of a game, and a failure in

06:42the special teams unit can often be the deciding factor in tight contests. Long snapping may not get

06:48the same recognition as other positions, but a bad snap can lead to a blocked punt or a missed field

06:53goal costing the team points in crucial moments. The Bears special teams have the potential to be

06:59a strong point for the team in 2025, and Daly's consistency at long snapper is a key piece of that

07:05puzzle. With Daly in place, the Bears don't have to worry about the snap. They can focus on other

07:10areas like kickers and punters while knowing that the most basic aspect of special teams,

07:16the snap, is in good hands. A reliable long snapper is the foundation on which successful

07:22special teams are built. The decision to move on from Patrick Scales and secure Scott Daly as the

07:28long snapper for the future signals a shift for the Bears. It represents a new era for the team,

07:34one that is focused on building a strong foundation and ensuring that every position,

07:39no matter how small it may seem, is solidified for the future. While long snapper may not be a

07:45headline-grabbing position, it's a position that can have a major impact on the game,

07:49and with Daly in place, the Bears are making sure that every area of the team is covered.

07:55This move also signals a new level of confidence in the Bears' ability to develop homegrown talent.

08:00Daly, a local product, is a symbol of the team's commitment to building a roster

08:04that is not only talented but deeply connected to the Chicago community.

08:09Fans can take pride in knowing that a player who grew up in the area is now a key part of the team's

08:14future. At the end of the day, the Bears' decision to keep Scott Daly over Patrick Scales is part of

08:21the larger strategy to rebuild the team into a contender for the future. It's a decision that

08:26looks ahead to 2025 and beyond. With Daly at long snapper, the Bears are solidifying one more

08:33position on their roster, giving them more flexibility to focus on the other areas that

08:38need improvement. As the team looks to make a push for the playoffs, they can rest assured that their

08:42special teams unit is in good hands, and in a league where every point matters, that's a significant

08:48advantage. So while this move may not have generated headlines, it's a smart strategic

08:54decision that shows the Bears are making the right moves to set themselves up for long-term success.

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