



In a matter of hours, three-time Pro Bowler Josh Sitton went from being a Green Bay Packer to a Chicago Bear. But in reality, it was a string of events that took place over a long stretch of time that led to Sitton driving from Green Bay to Lake Forest to sign a contract.



Based on conversations with NFL sources, here is how the stars aligned for Sitton and the Bears to come together.



The roots of this signing started in 2008. That’s when the New Orleans Saints paired Carl Nicks with Jahri Evans, forming what would become the best guard combination in the National Football League.



When Nicks moved on after the 2011 season, the Saints replaced him with pricey free agent Ben Grubbs, a Pro Bowler from the Baltimore Ravens. The Saints went counter-trend, putting more resources and money into the guard position than the tackle position. They ended up with a Super Bowl champion and one of the most prolific passing and scoring offenses in...