Let's start with a reminder, kids. Ten days. That's it. Ten days till the first preseason game on the 11th of August. I need a cold shower to calm down. But let's see what we're looking at right now:
Thomas Jones has yet to hit the practice field and I think this is the place we've been headed for quite awhile. Thomas was brought here two off-seasons ago to be Terry Shea's Priest Holmes and in that miserable season was one of the Bears' only positives. Change of schemes sometimes require change of players and Ronny Turner and Lovie didn't think TJ was going to be a 25 carry a game horse. They turned out to be wrong but have, in their incorrectness, left the Chicago Bears with the deepest backfield in the NFC.
TJ is not going to be the starting tailback against Green Bay but he certainly is going to see the field. Let's all be honest here...TJ is not Walter Payton. He's not Gale Sayers. He's not even Neal Anderson, is he? He was a diamond in a very rough rough. He's a very solid performer and it'd be nice to have him happily on the football field this season but, at 2.5 million this year, it would be utterly foolish not to keep him around. He's cheap and effective. Meanwhile we hope CB will pay on his promise and SHINE.
WITHOUT QUESTION the story of camp to this point is becoming Danieal Manning. The Suntimes and Trib both have columns hinting that he's a sure thing to take over the starting safety job from Chris Harris. If that happens and he's as good as we're hearing, look at the secondary depth this team has:
Cornerback: Vasher, Tillman, Manning Jr, Wesley
Safety: Brown, Manning (in coverage), Harris (against run), Johnson
If the pass rush is there, this is going to be the best defense in football. Easily.
HOW MUCH DO YOU PLAY Rex on the 11th and throughout the preseason? Can you be thinking injury? Can you risk the chance? Does Griese allow for more security? I don't have answers to these questions yet but I think the battle for the second receiver slot truly complicates the matter. Both Berrian and Bradley deserve a couple good tosses in the first quarters of these games to truly earn the gig. Ah, we shall see.
#2 Max said . . .I don't think they have a choice... Rex needs to play and develop a rhythm with the receivers before the season starts. Especially considering that we have questions at the second slot. It's a given that Rex will go in the 1st, but I hope he goes a bit futher considering he's a 4th year rookie.
August 2, 2006
#3 Shawn said . . .Receivers coach Darryl Drake said the second receiver spot is Berrains position to lose right now.
August 2, 2006
#4 jeff said . . .Lets Trade TJ for Ashley Lelie and try to do something with the passing offense since Jones is going to be watching Benson take most of the carries this season from the sidelines...
August 3, 2006
#5 jeff said . . .We should just cut Jones, then. Cuz Lelie sucks. Now if we could get a 3rd rounder back, it's a consideration.
August 3, 2006
Clayton today:
Those who are criticizing Smith's decision to take Thomas Jones's starting job away from him for not showing up in the offseason program haven't watched Cedric Benson run. Benson looks great.
There is no doubt that the Bears will use both backs, but Benson is the lead back for now. He worked hard enough in the offseason to earn the job. The Bears would be crazy to trade Jones unless they get great value. This league almost demands having two good backs. Benson and Jones have potential for a 1,400-yard
August 3, 2006
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