Mike Freeman of CBSSportsline.com writes a column entitled Camp tour: The Bears dynasty begins now. Mike Freeman knows how to get my attention. To read the entirety of the article, click here. Freeman gives ten reasons why the Bears are poised to be the new Patriots for years to come.
10. A weak NFC: It's the junior varsity, really. The NFL equivalent of the NBA's Eastern Conference. Chicago demonstrated that last season by reaching the Super Bowl with a mediocre offense. The best defense in the conference belongs to the Bears and it's not even close. Chicago's defense will likely remain king of the NFC for some time and that will help them dominate the conference.
9. Brian Urlacher: Several years ago there were more than a few players in the NFL who strongly believed that Urlacher was intensely overrated. They don't feel that way any longer. If he stays healthy, Urlacher will be one of the top three middle linebackers in football for the next three to five years.
8. Jerry Angelo, general manager: Totally screwed up Smith's contract situation last year by making Smith wait unnecessarily, but Angelo is very Patriot-like in his approach to building the team. The Bears mostly build through the draft, make smart free-agent choices and respect the salary cap.
7. A horrible division: The NFC North might be the worst in football. The key to building a dynasty is dominating your division, and the North will be a stinky mess for years to come. Just look at it. Green Bay will soon be without Brett Favre, Matt Millen in Detroit is a cautionary tale with the Lions cloaked in failure, and Minnesota is still some years away from challenging Chicago. It's easy pickings for the Bears.
6. Stability: The Bears seem to be on the verge of a long stable period, vital for establishing a dynasty. "What I like about this franchise is that, for the most part, we're a unified franchise now," said Smith. "I'm not sure you could have said that about us a few years ago."
5. Speed: San Diego, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, Jacksonville (on defense), Baltimore (on defense) and the Bears are among the teams in football with the greatest team speed, according to two NFL scouts. These scouts rank the Bears as perhaps No. 1.
4. Devin Hester: Hester could end up being one of the most devastating weapons in football in the past 10 years.
3. Depth: The Patriots and Bears are the two deepest teams in football, according to the two scouts. The Bears, for instance, were able to let a nice talent go (Thomas Jones) yet replace him from the bowels of their own roster with the equally talented Cedric Benson. The secondary is probably the deepest in football. There are many other examples. "This is the deepest team we've had by far," said Smith.
2. Lovie Smith: Understated coaches almost always do not get the respect they deserve. Chest-pounders and one-line generators always get more praise even when unwarranted. Smith is the most underrated coach in football and what he did last year -- handling a messy quarterback situation and not going nuclear over the shabby treatment at the hands of his front office all while going to a Super Bowl -- easily earns him that title.
One more thing. Smith has quietly assembled a fairly impressive coaching staff.
1. Rex Grossman: Oh boy, I can hear the chuckles. Grossman? Are you kidding me? He's a total turd. No, his season last year will not go down in league history. He will not be confused with Johnny Unitas. Yet Grossman's camp performance so far has shown why Smith has stuck by him. Grossman thus far is more poised and accurate and less sloppy in his decision making. I think we will see Grossman emerge as a solid thrower this year.
If Grossman can simply be consistent, the Bears will win 10 to 11 games a year. If he can be good, they'll dominate the NFC for years to come
(Grossman, it should be noted, is also his reason why the Bears WON'T be dynasty)
#2 Nicole is miserable in this blue city said . . .To quote Jeffs post from the last thread and make it my own regarding this current post:
i'd like to make it very clear that (Freemans) article in no way effects any of my thoughts. i could give two shits about (why he thinks we wont be a dynasty becuase of Rex and also why he thinks Rex will emerge as a solid thrower). and his comment of "(Rex is the reason the Bears wont be a dynasty)" belongs in the pantheon of idiocy.
#8TTAT
August 23, 2007
#3 jeff said . . .Saved the best for last, huh?
August 23, 2007
#4 Pissed off said . . .when everyone sees my 2007 predictions, all will be well in the world.
August 23, 2007
#5 jeff said . . .And why is that Jeff?
i'd like to make it very clear that Jeff's predictions in no way effect any of my thoughts. i could give two shits about Jeff's predictions or anyone elses. and his comment of "all will be well in the world" or generally any of his opinons about Rex belongs in the pantheon of idiocy.
Man am I going to beat this one into the ground!
Hey Jeff are we getting set up for the Sunday column or what?
#8TTAT
August 23, 2007
#6 Rancid said . . .dude! the quote you keep quoting wasn't mine...i didn't know what the hell you were talking about on the first one. i really don't like deleting impersonators so i'm hoping it won't happen again. the three of you will be getting set up next week and we'll organize a schedule for the season.
August 23, 2007
#7 mikebdot said . . .We need another game or something before everyone in here starts really hating each other. You guys are all Bears fans and I'll have a drink with any of you right now based on that alone, regradless of the Rex thing. It's getting a little too strong in here. Even though I disagree with his overall point, Jimbo had it right. We're Bears fans first.
August 23, 2007
#8 JB said . . .Rancid: That is classic. "You're all bears fans and I'll have a drink with any of you right now based on that alone, regardless of the Rex thing". Beautifully put.
I've been saying that we are going to be a dynasty for awhile now. I honestly think that if Rex has fixed his mechanics we're going to have a chance to go 19-0 this season. I'm not even joking.
August 23, 2007
#9 Stay Calm Everyone - Hewdown's here. said . . .Mike.. we agree once again...ah harmony is back in the world. Seriously, I've been using all 10 of those points for the past 6 months talking football to pretty much anyone who will listen...nice to see it put into print.
August 23, 2007
#10 Pissed off said . . .Vicht-Out, Hew-Dog!
August 23, 2007
#11 Rancid said . . .Jeff chill out man, all I'm doing is taking your post #53 from the last thread and changing words around to make it my own, and much funnier I might add. Seriously though what are you talking about impersonators? I dont get it?
#8TTAT
August 23, 2007
#12 Hewdown said . . .Ok, I changed my mind, even if "Hewdown" is a Bear's fan, I'm still not drinking with him. I don't understand anything he says.
August 23, 2007
#13 Phil from SATX said . . .We're all fans of somethin', Ranc'. You'd drink with me. I'm pretty sweet.
August 23, 2007
#14 Al in WI said . . .PO'd, dude lighten up, my last post about the no-no was a joke, didn't you get it?
Still feeling my epiphany, and Jeff's latest thread buoys it further.
Just a little more, that's all we need. Rex'll be fine, even after he has suck games.
#8 JALM
August 23, 2007
#15 Midway Monster said . . .I'm an optimist about the Bears most of the time. I too think the Bears are positioned for a solid run atop the division, and should be in the NFC conversation for years to come.
However, I think this is a crucial opportunity season for this team as we've basically known it since 2005. At the end of this year, we're going to be losing Lance Briggs for sure, and likely either Wale or Alex Brown. Not to mention the major face lift the O-line is looking at with Ruben Brown likely retireing as well as Fred Miller. If you add up the number of Bears who may be in their last season with the team and it shows you how important this season is to the Bears.August 23, 2007
#16 jeff said . . .Yeah Buddy! So long as the 10-to-11 games include beating Green Bay *twice* I'll be a happy camper :)
--Midway--
PS -- Pissed Off, stop getting everyone.. well.. pissed off. we need harmony on this site (hey, isn't that Megan's job on this site?! Where is Megan anyhow!)
August 23, 2007
#17 Jimbo said . . .#53 wasn't me. it was someone masquerading as me. do i ever talk like that?
August 23, 2007
#18 Scott said . . .Al's point is dead on. We've got to assume the window is closing. That's not to be negative, but how many teams can stay at a championship level for more than two or three years? I know the Patriots are doing it, and the Colts appear to have sustaining power as well. Jerry Angelo appears to be setting us up for that, but why not go for all the marbles this year? Whatever is takes. Maybe it's Rex, maybe's it's Griese. But do we have time to wait for a young QB with tons of upside to develop? The rest of the team is already there. Start whoever can help us WIN, not get to, but WIN a Super Bowl. That's all I'm saying. We're all fans. We all have opinions. And based on the hundreds of posts that hit this blog a day, we're all foaming at the mouth to get this season underway. I mean, the Cubbies are cool and all, but come on. September's upon us, and it's time for some pigskin.
Like that kid in Friday Night Lights said, "I love all y'all. I love all y'all."
Bear Down Chicago Bears.
August 24, 2007
#19 Al in WI said . . .Al and Jimbo-
I'm right there with you in wanting to win right now. I'd love to have the guys sized for their XL rings this year but I don't agree that the window is closing or will soon close. Angelo keeps making moves that strengthen and deepen the roster and position us to be stronger year after year. Think about it. Two years ago we were weak at QB depth and he added a savvy vet to stabilize things to go along with a rook who started 13 (right, 13?) games and was a winner. This past year he traded away a proven vet (Jones) then added a potentially more dynamic RB (Wolfe) in the draft. Granted, Wolfe has lots of proving to do before I can put him on the same level as TJ but the potential is defintely there. My point being that it appears to me that we have a GM who has an eye on retooling every year so I don't think the window is closing. I want to win now and if that eventually means benching Rex (which I don't think it does) then let's do it. But, let's be clear that this is a franchise poised to be competitive for the next 5-6, if not more, years. For that, I, and probably all of us on this blog are completely psyched.
August 24, 2007
Scott,
I think winning now means sticking with Rex. I've in no way advocated benching him, as seen in my several posts on the topic the past week and pretty much since I joined the site.
I've always said I believe Rex is the only qb on the roster who can take us to the bowl this year.
And you're right about JA, but as Walter used to say, tomarrow is promised to no one.
We can't count on the division staying bad, or our guys staying healthy. And I think next year will likely be a transition year simply do to the players we're looking to lose.
My point is, I think this is the best year to win it all, and we have to take advantage of it.August 24, 2007
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