Lance Briggs wants a contract extension and out of the shadow of Brian Urlacher. Alex Brown wants to be traded from the defensive end rotation Lovie Smith rode to a Super Bowl appearance last season.
Then there's Desmond Clark. Clark was a mid-season injury away from being a sure-thing Pro Bowler. As a receiving threat, he was steady and reliable. As a blocker, he was a revelation and I've contested nobody blocked better from the position in the NFL last year. Now the Bears have gone out and spent a first-round pick on someone that plays his position. Does Clark want out?
I think we’re going to complement each other well because we’ve got special skills that complement each other. So I don’t really look at us as adversaries. I look at it as two components of this offense that are going to help this offense become more potent...He’s got better straight-ahead speed than I have. That’s something the tight end position could use. That’s what he’s going to complement this whole offense with. I’ve got my abilities to work the middle and run-block and the play-action stuff.
I'm now going to climb atop my unicorn and ride to the end of the nearest rainbow: The Des Dispenser just put the TE in team. Des' comments won't get the press because they're not juicy. They aren't meant to stir the pot. He's proven again how valuable a commodity he is both on and off the field. The absence of Thomas Jones means the absence of vocal leadership. It seems more and more like the answer might be #88.
#2 JB said . . .Regarding Alex Brown, he has been very reasonable about asking for a trade. He didn't go to the press with it or anything like that. He tried to keep it as quite as possible, and he, so far, isn't making any comments about it.
I have no problem with that.
I'm also concerned what is going to happen with our run blocking with Clark not playing as much. He had so many KEY blocks last year.
May 21, 2007
#3 mikebdot said . . .Jeff, great post, I like your points. Although no one was happier about the Olsen pick, I'm not worried about Des' PT...he will be big part of the offense next year...we will use both of these guys which will make us even more dangerous.
May 21, 2007
#4 Pissed off said . . .I too read that article and thought "wow, finally, a player that gets it". In all fairness though, the difference between him and Briggs/Brown is that he cannot get/ask for $10/year on another team. Not that Brown could actually get it, but I'm sure he'll try. Des realizes he's a role player and now he'll have a new role. His play last year was absolutely amazing. I agree with your comment about him making the pro-bowl had he been 100% the whole year.
Has anyone ever seen the hook and ladder run with two tight ends? Have no idea why that thought popped into my head, but that would be a way to tie up a game...
May 21, 2007
#5 Hewman said . . .Dez is a good guy, he used to sharing time and not always being the focal point of the TE position for a team. Hell he's rode the pine at several times in his career so its no surprise that he's taking this well. He gets it!
May 21, 2007
#6 Pissed off said . . .The Hew-man was two points away from knockin' down the bull in the Semis. Got fined a few times for throwin' down some audible F-bombs and smashed some sticks.
He's back. The French is gonna be a bloodbath. Fuck Nad and Fed.
Vicht!
May 21, 2007
#7 Midway Monster said . . .WTF?!?!
May 21, 2007
#8 jeff said . . .Mr. Disgruntled (aka Lance Briggs) is skipping Bears minicamp. Time for a trade...
--Midway--
May 21, 2007
#9 Lazarz said . . .Word is that Lance Briggs may be there this summer. Peter King dropped a hint in his column this morning that he expects Briggs to start opening day. I'd like to see it. Don't give him away for nothing.
May 21, 2007
#10 Midway Monster said . . .i would love to see what we could get for alex brown.....
May 22, 2007
#11 AfroCelt said . . .'...Word is that Lance Briggs may be there this summer... '
May? may? F&*^ Him- get his ass to camp or get the F^*( out.
--Midway--
May 22, 2007
#12 Pissed off said . . .so whats happening to Vick? Anything?
May 22, 2007
#13 AfroCelt said . . .This is "Da Bears Blog" not "Da Falcons Blog" but anyway there hasnt been much word on Vick. John Clayton said on ESPN that it may take quite a while before a punishment, if any, is handed to Vick. I saw on Sportscenter how Portis stood up for Vick, it's almost as if they are pro-dog fighting. Now I hate Portis, these are innocent fucking dogs that poeple train to kill. These people are whats wrong with the world.....if it comes out that Vick had anything to do with this I will forever hate him as well. I could give a shit less if he goes to jail for ten years and his career is ended because of animal cruelty.
I am a hard ass on most things and most shit doesnt get to me but innocent dogs, fuck man c'mon. These people should have done to them the pain and damage they cause the dogs.
May 22, 2007
#14 Midway Monster said . . .I'm waiting for more news on the bears before I launch into comment.
As for Vick, I think they should throw the book at him. It's both a felony and a PR NIGHTMARE for both the team and league.
There was a woman on one of the afternoon ESPN shows arguing that dog fighting is symbolic of what the players go through, but they don't realize that they're in the sport by choice and with hefty compensation.
Sorry...the whole hing just pisses me off.
PS: Anyone want to do a revised "Micheal Vick Experience" ad? :)
May 22, 2007
#15 Midway Monster said . . .Portis is such a bone head chiming in and saying that 'dog fighting is a *prevalent* part of life'. I am sure Gibbs will be all over his case. What an idiot.
So... how many days till the kick off against the Bolts?
--Midway--
May 22, 2007
#16 Max said . . .So the owners are trying to decide where future Super Bowls will be played huh? They are considering locations like Indy, Texas, and Arizona. I say play it ChiTown and lets see who has a 'real' football team!
--Midway--
(PS - I hate to 'post and run' but I am off to play in a golf tournament in Louisiana. Wish me luck - I think I improved my short game!)
May 22, 2007
#17 Midway Monster said . . .Man, I am gone for 3 days to the Big Island of Hawaii and I come back to Des being a team leader, Hester showing good signs in camp and a very confusing post by Hewman.
Props to Dez. Still wondering what Alex Brown is thinking. And I dont wanna see Briggs start the first game unless he starts showing up to practice. . . starting tomorrow.
And me, I am a Mets fan for some strange reason. Always have been. I cheer though for da Sox and Cubbies (when the cubs arent playin the Mets)
May 22, 2007
#18 mikebdot said . . ....(okay waiting for a airplane)...
Max you're a Mets fan- ::Geeze:: bud, that's sad. Is your grilfriend a Yankee fan (if I recall she was a Colts supporter and when I found out I suggested ending the damn relationship).
Oh, by the way, this is still a Bear Blog...
--Midway--
(playin' Through!)
May 22, 2007
#19 Pissed off said . . .I was bored and looking at your archives. Check out this post:
http://www.dabearsblog.com/2005/08/the_28th_of_august_2005.php
Change "Kyle Orton" to "Rex Grossman" and 2007 is looking damned good. Shit, we even have players with "experience" in the playoffs now. When was the last time a Bears team could say that?
May 22, 2007
#20 Max said . . .Wow what a post! Too bad its pretty inaccurate thus far. Orton was a game manager at best when he started 15 games, I cant believe Jeff "saw something" in him. Thomas Jones would be the guy saving his ass in the backfield too, not Ced. Now this year it may be that way only subbing Rex for Kyle. I dont think Kyle will even be on the team opening day, thats fine with me, he was a poor quarterback at best and he will be a journeyman if he's lucky, he can take his beard and leave.
That post was done before I was turned on to this site so I dont have much to stand on in dissing the validity of the post but its fun to look back and see how wrong we were. Feel free to go back and find one of my old posts and rip it apart.
May 22, 2007
#21 jeff said . . .Midway, shes not a Colts fan. Just didnt get into football till she met me
May 23, 2007
#22 Pissed off said . . .hey mike, stay away from the archives! you can surf those damn things and find hopes and dreams that haven't been EVEN close...i will say there's an exuding confidence from this group right now that's evident even from the minicamp...these guys think they're going back to the superbowl
May 23, 2007
#23 jeff said . . .Thats what scares me a bit. These guys are playing with a bit of a chip on their shoulder, maybe over confident that they are the best team in the NFC. They better come out hungry, not expecting a super bowl berth to be handed to them. They have the talent to do it but it wont be easy.
May 23, 2007
#24 mikebdot said . . .getting excited PO'd...i'm sensing you are. season suddenly got close, didn't it?
May 23, 2007
#25 mikebdot said . . .Jeff,
On a long enough time line, surely ONE of your hopes and dreams will be correct. You said 2007 was our shot, and I think you will be correct there. Although, you may have meant last season.
Rex is looking good. He still answers questions about as well as Hester...or Scottie Pippen...but that's ok.
I think they ARE the best team in the NFC. Especially with their added talent (both via the draft as well as via people coming back from injuries). We went to the Super Bowl without 2 Pro Bowlers on defense.
Tommie looks scary as hell. Mike Brown will not get injured again. If he does I will be sad as it will be the end of his career for sure.
May 23, 2007
#26 Megan said . . .This link is for PO'd:
http://www.everyvideogame.com/gamelist.php?sys=all&let=&order=rating
Or whoever wants to play video games from way back when.
May 23, 2007
#27 Pissed off said . . .DONAVAN MCNABB??
May 23, 2007
#28 Pissed off said . . .NO NO NO NO NO!
May 24, 2007
#29 Jokey said . . .Absolutely not, NO, I said NO!
I dont think the Bears have any interest anyway, as they shouldnt.
May 24, 2007
#30 jeff said . . .If McNabb for Briggs is for real, we'd be idiots for not making that trade. Do I think McNabb should be our starter? Hell yes!
If before the Superbowl someone had asked me if I'd rather see McNabb taking (and holding onto) snaps, I would have said yes. And I didn't see anything in that game that would have changed my mind.
May 24, 2007
#31 Al in WI said . . .the mcnabb rumored was started by a columnist in philly. i have avoided it on the site all week because it makes me dry heave in my mouth
May 24, 2007
#32 Pissed off said . . .No!! Agreed with Jeff and Po'd. We need to learn to avoid washed up losers at qb for now on. We've tried that many times.
And by the way speaking of Super Bowls, I remember McNaby being to tuckered out to lead his team in the 4th qt and dry heaving in the huddle.May 24, 2007
#33 Al in WI said . . .Jeff, I know you havent always been pro -Rex and we havent seen eye to eye on every issue but that #30 post I will forever remember and anytime I think you say something stupid in the future I will remember this post, take a deep breath and say "its OK, he gets it". Fantastic take!
AMEN to Al in #31.
May 24, 2007
#34 beardown1982 said . . .Taking this further; Rex is loved and respected by his teammates. Just this spring they voted him the Ed Block Courage Award winner for the way he overcame two serious injuries and the ridiculous beating he took from the media and fans. He has the full support of the locker room, and worked to build on that be even visiting Tank in Jail.
McNabb has polarized the philly locker room with his own conduct during the TO debacle which many players actually blamed him for. He has alienated coaches and teammates with his comments, and those of his family. And his reaction to the success the Eagles had under Garcia.
Besides all that, he has become increasingly injury prone the last couple years, and has always been overrated.
No Way.
May 24, 2007
This offseason has been crazier than I ever could have imagined. It will be so refreshing once the summer is over and training camp starts...oh wait, then we will have to hear about Lance Briggs every day. Ahh!!!
May 25, 2007
Here at DaBearsBlog, you are free to kill us or the Bears as you so wish. You are not free, however, to be an asshole. So if you spew racism or ill-meaning foul language (cursing about football is just fine) or anything of that ilk, your comments ain't gonna last long, jerk.