Drayage Brokersin Chicago, IL

It was seen as a no-brainer for the Chicago Bears to select Caleb Williams with the first pick of the 2024 NFL Draft - but just who is the man being pegged as the saviour of the team and the next big star of the sport?

In a word, he's different. Not only with his talent on the field but with his persona off it, and a larger-than-life personality is just what is needed to turn around this flagging franchise.

Bears fans hope to be looking back at this pick in years to come as the turning point for a team without a Super Bowl since the famous 1985 season, without a play-off win since 2010 and without much hope at all since then.

There have been false dawns and near misses but the Bears, the second-oldest team in the NFL with nine overall championships, have never had a star quarterback in modern times.

Now their dreams rest with a 22-year-old who in college football could do just about anything - and all eyes will be on him come the start of the season in September.

What type of quarterback is Williams?

Starting with Oklahoma, Williams transferred to the University of Southern California (USC) and easily won the Heisman Trophy as college football's best player in his first year at USC in 2022.

The team struggled more last year, but Williams still shone through as not only one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks but also one that just does not give the ball away.

Williams totalled 10,082 passing yards and 93 touchdowns in his three years at college - throwing just 14 interceptions - along with 960 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns on the ground.

Throw in the fact Williams can extend plays and throw just as well while scrambling as in the pocket - think Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers on the run - and he had NFL talent evaluators salivating at his skillset.

In crucial third and fourth down situations he took his game to an elite level, going 199 passes without an interception, while in the red zone he threw 46 touchdowns and gave the ball away just once.

"One of the most talented quarterbacks I've ever evaluated," said former NFL quarterback and now TV analyst Chris Simms., external "One of the greatest throwers in college football history."

What makes Williams so good?

Williams is one of the most marketable sports stars in the USA - without even playing in the NFL yet. Even in college he reportedly earned up to $10m (£8m), external in endorsement deals.

Always one to do it his way, he has his own style - such as his pink phone case and painted fingernails while watching the women's NCAA basketball tournament.

A video of Williams crying with his mother after USC lost to Washington last year also went viral - something he later used as part of his advocacy for mental health.

"I give my all on every single play, every chance that I get. I've been an advocate for mental health, show your emotions and express yourself," Williams said on social media in response.

And true to his word, Williams has his own foundation called Caleb Cares, external, which focuses on mental health, anti-bullying and youth empowerment.

He is the first real millionaire college star to enter the NFL, which some say means he will not have the same hunger - but he has shown how passionate he can be and seems certain to give everything he has to bring success to the Chicago Bears.

For sleeping giant read hibernating Bears. The 105-year-old team is one of just two original NFL sides still in existence but they have been starved of recent success.

The Bears have won nine NFL Championships - although just one of those was a Super Bowl - have won the second-highest number of games in NFL history and have the most players inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Only one of those was a genuine franchise quarterback - and the fact it was Sid Luckman 85 years ago shows why fans are desperate for Williams to fill that aching void.

The team drafted Mitchell Trubisky with the second overall pick in 2017 - famously passing on Mahomes - and Justin Fields with the 11th selection in 2021 but neither worked out.

They have gone all-in on Williams though, as the only quarterback they entertained in Chicago during the pre-draft process, and have supplied their new playmaker with receiving targets.

Rome Odunze was selected with the ninth overall draft pick this year and veteran Keenan Allen, a six-time Pro Bowler, arrived in free agency.

Along with a new stadium on the way, Chicago could finally have hope for the future - but a lot rides on the talented shoulders of their new quarterback.

NEW YORK -- Cubs right-hander Ben Brown saw his wish come true on Thursday afternoon. The Long Island native and No. 9 prospect in the organization pitched at Citi Field for the first time in a 7-6 loss to the Mets in 11 innings.

Brown, who entered the day having thrown four of his seven outings this season from the bullpen, found himself back in the rotation because of the back injury to Kyle Hendricks.

It was a game that saw the Cubs squander two leads, as their bullpen couldn’t keep New York from scoring the winning run. Chicago had a 6-5 lead going into the bottom of the 11th, and reliever Daniel Palencia ended up taking the loss.

Brett Baty was the automatic runner to open the frame, and Palencia hit leadoff hitter Harrison Bader in the left arm with a first-pitch sinker. Francisco Lindor followed and doubled down the left-field line to score both Baty and Bader to win the game.

“There was a lot happening in the game and we just ended up short,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said.

Brown blamed himself for the loss. He had a no-hitter going after four innings, while the Cubs had a 4-0 lead as they entered the bottom of the fifth. However, Brown lost his fastball and curveball command after getting the first two outs of the inning. With two men on, Brandon Nimmo singled on an 0-2 curveball to left-center field, scoring Baty. Starling Marte followed and singled to center field, scoring Bader.

“I thought Ben’s stuff was excellent,” Counsell said. “Even in the last inning, he was throwing very hard. That [fifth] inning sped up on him a little bit … and he let some hitters off the hook. We got out of it kind of clean.”

After walking DJ Stewart to load the bases, Brown was taken out of the game in favor of Keegan Thompson.

“That was the game right there. I take accountability for that. First and second, 0-2 count [to Nimmo], you just have to make that pitch,” Brown said. “I just couldn’t finish it off and that’s where I have to learn and grow for sure. …

“I have to do a better job of locking in each pitch. That was the issue today. Pitch adjustments. Maybe I should have been a little faster, but ultimately there are going to be games where everything goes your way and games where it’s not going your way. You got to make pitches no matter what.”

Counsell thought the turning point of the game occurred in the sixth with Thompson still on the mound. Jeff McNeil led off and hit a slow roller to Thompson, who had a tough time handling the ball and flipped it too late to first baseman Michael Busch for an error. McNeil ended up scoring on a two-run double by Lindor.

“Keegan kind of fumbled [the ball], unfortunately, and that obviously led to a big inning,” Counsell said. “He was trying to make the play and he didn’t make the play.”

Despite the outcome, the opportunity to pitch at Citi Field for the first time represented a special moment for Brown. He remembered going to plenty of games at the stadium as a kid, and he said about 50 family and friends, including his parents, were there to watch him on Thursday.

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“There were a lot of familiar faces. I saw people that love me and want to be there for me,” Brown said. “After getting over today and the mistakes I made, I’ll be able to rest on the fact that it was really a cool experience to be here.”

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Bill Ladson has been a reporter for MLB.com since 2002. He covered the Nationals/Expos from 2002-2016. Follow him on Facebook.

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CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bears' proposal to fund a new lakefront stadium remains a "nonstarter," Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker's office said after top aides met with team officials on Wednesday.

The Bears unveiled a nearly $5 billion plan calling for public funding last week for an enclosed facility to be built next to their longtime home at Soldier Field. Though the governor did not rule out more discussions, the team clearly is facing an uphill battle.

"As the Governor has said, the current proposal is a non-starter for the state," press secretary Alex Gough said in a statement. "In order to subsidize a brand new stadium for a privately owned sports team, the Governor would need to see a demonstrable and tangible benefit to the taxpayers of Illinois. The Governor's office remains open to conversations with the Bears, lawmakers, and other stakeholders with the understanding that responsible fiscal stewardship of tax-payer dollars remains the foremost priority."

Pritzker's chief of staff Anne Caprara and deputy governor Andy Manar met with the Bears, who called it "a productive conversation."

"We share a commitment to protecting the taxpayers of Illinois and look forward to further discussions," the team added.

The Bears' plan calls for $3.2 billion for the new stadium plus an additional $1.5 billion in infrastructure. The team and the city said the project would add green and open space while improving access to the city's Museum Campus.

The proposal calls for $2.025 billion from the Bears, $300 million from an NFL loan and $900 million in bonds from the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority. The funding from the ISFA would involve extending bonds of the existing 2% hotel tax.

Mayor Brandon Johnson gave a full-throated endorsement last week, saying the project is in line with Daniel Burnham's "Plan of Chicago." He said there would be no tax hikes or new taxes for Chicago residents. But Pritzker and other state legislators are skeptical of the plan.

The Bears spent $197.2 million more than a year ago to purchase the site of the shuttered Arlington International Racecourse from Churchill Downs Inc. They envisioned building a stadium on the 326-acre tract of land some 30 miles northwest of Soldier Field, with restaurants, retail and more on the property -- all for about $5 billion, with some taxpayer help.

The Bears had said they would pay for the stadium in Arlington Heights, with taxpayer dollars covering infrastructure costs such as roads and sewers. Those plans stalled, with the team citing a property assessment it said was too high.

As weather heats up and more families head outdoors for summertime activities, a visit to the local theme park is often seen as the ideal place to have fun and create memories.

In an industry highlighted by high-budget parks in destination cities with thrilling rides and immersive theming to recognizable brands such as Disney, not every theme park lives up to those expectations.

And according to USA Today, they don't have to.

While the Midwest wasn't incredibly well-represented in this year's top 10, the region claimed both the 10th spot and the top spot, bookending a ranking of the greatest places to catch some thrills in a unique setting this summer.

Leading off the list in 10th place is perhaps the most famous amusement park in the country for roller coaster enthusiasts in the historic Cedar Point, located in Sandusky, Ohio.

Originally opening in 1870 and currently serving as the country's second-oldest operating amusement park, Cedar Point boasts 16 roller coasters on a peninsula in Lake Erie affectionately known as "America's Roller Coast."

Though the Midwest is home to other high-budget parks such as Six Flags Great America and Kings Island, one of the region's hidden gems was honored as the country's best theme park.

Nestled away in the tourist destination of Branson, Missouri is Silver Dollar City, a theme park taking full advantage of a picturesque forested setting that adheres to an 1880s mining theme.

In addition to an immersive theme that goes beyond the likes of Looney Toons and Peanuts, Silver Dollar City offers seven roller coasters, headlined by Time Traveler, the world's fastest, tallest and steepest spinning coaster that sends riders on a 90-degree spinning drop directly out of the station.

Rounding out the top three of the list was Knoebels in Elysburg, Pennsylvania and SeaWorld Orlando, respectively.

An independent theme park known for its free entry, picnic spaces and family-friendly thrills, the vintage wooden roller coaster Phoenix stands out as a favorite among locals and roller coaster enthusiasts alike.

SeaWorld Orlando, the chain's flagship park, is known for it's theme of marine life along with a selection of seven roller coasters, including four from lauded manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard, locally known for having produced crowd favorites Raging Bull, Batman the Ride and X-Flight at Six Flags Great America, among others.

Below is a look at how USA Today's full top 10 shook out:

The full list can be found here.

As weather heats up and more families head outdoors for summertime activities, a visit to the local theme park is often seen as the ideal place to have fun and create memories.

In an industry highlighted by high-budget parks in destination cities with thrilling rides and immersive theming to recognizable brands such as Disney, not every theme park lives up to those expectations.

And according to USA Today, they don't have to.

While the Midwest wasn't incredibly well-represented in this year's top 10, the region claimed both the 10th spot and the top spot, bookending a ranking of the greatest places to catch some thrills in a unique setting this summer.

Leading off the list in 10th place is perhaps the most famous amusement park in the country for roller coaster enthusiasts in the historic Cedar Point, located in Sandusky, Ohio.

Originally opening in 1870 and currently serving as the country's second-oldest operating amusement park, Cedar Point boasts 16 roller coasters on a peninsula in Lake Erie affectionately known as "America's Roller Coast."

Though the Midwest is home to other high-budget parks such as Six Flags Great America and Kings Island, one of the region's hidden gems was honored as the country's best theme park.

Nestled away in the tourist destination of Branson, Missouri is Silver Dollar City, a theme park taking full advantage of a picturesque forested setting that adheres to an 1880s mining theme.

In addition to an immersive theme that goes beyond the likes of Looney Toons and Peanuts, Silver Dollar City offers seven roller coasters, headlined by Time Traveler, the world's fastest, tallest and steepest spinning coaster that sends riders on a 90-degree spinning drop directly out of the station.

Rounding out the top three of the list was Knoebels in Elysburg, Pennsylvania and SeaWorld Orlando, respectively.

An independent theme park known for its free entry, picnic spaces and family-friendly thrills, the vintage wooden roller coaster Phoenix stands out as a favorite among locals and roller coaster enthusiasts alike.

SeaWorld Orlando, the chain's flagship park, is known for it's theme of marine life along with a selection of seven roller coasters, including four from lauded manufacturer Bolliger & Mabillard, locally known for having produced crowd favorites Raging Bull, Batman the Ride and X-Flight at Six Flags Great America, among others.

Below is a look at how USA Today's full top 10 shook out:

The full list can be found here.