Yesterday I spent the day in my other universe: immersed myself in a Sam Shepard documentary called This So-Called Disaster, watched A Raisin in the Sun for the 100th time and worked on a new play. Didn’t think about the Chicago Bears. Didn’t want to think about the Chicago Bears.
Sometimes this gig is ta pain in the ass. Not the writing, mind you, but the enthusiasm. Chicago sportswriters can waste four days of newspaper space with god knows what because that’s their job. They can just write about why the Bears are bad and some jackoff commuter will wanna read it. That isn’t my job. This isn't my job. This is my passion and my first love but not my job. But something’s happened this season that hasn’t happened in a long time...
The Chicago Bears have become unlikable. Not the entire roster but certainly a significant piece to this disaster of a puzzle. The running back – first quarter Sunday aside – has the passion and energy of a manic-depressive. The coach validates a moronic fourth and one call by repeating we’re a running football team - which being that we’re the worst running football team on earth, should be enough to get him fired. The receivers drop balls. The defenders miss tackles. The offensive line forgets how to block. The punter has come up shorter than the kicker’s kickoffs – which elicit a chorus of cheers should they reach inside the ten. Everything bothers me about this team. Bad gameplans, poor execution, delusional post-game commentary...etc. Everything bothers me but Devin Hester.
In the meantime, I’m going to spend today working on a piece that will cheer me up and look forward to bringing it to you Wednesday.
#2 Z said . . .FIRST. . . its been a while
November 20, 2007
#3 Max said . . .When we don't have enough talent to compete it is much easier to accept losing. With Pro Bowlers in so many positions it just seems insulting that they can't get it together. Not one complete game in all three phases. Not even really close yet.
November 20, 2007
#4 Megan said . . .Jeff. . . your right. I am not saying the bears have become unlikeable, but it just makes me so frustrated and angry and depressed all the time. They give me hope one minute and then turn around and stomp on my heart.
Ill watch (or listen. . . im telling ya, if i could sync Joniak and Thayer with the TV, id be in heaven. I hate almost every single commentator on TV.) for the rest of my life. But damn, they should be so good, and yet they just arent.
November 20, 2007
#5 Phil from SATX said . . .Z, Max, Jeff. Each one of you touched on sentiments that I have been feeling all season..
1. Pro-Bowlers: it is an insult to them, but then again, they are not helping their situation
2. Frustration, anger and depression with this team at this time.
3. They should be good and they just aren't. There is SO much talent on that team.
Where's the drive? Motivation? enthusiasm? It's as if the air was let out of their collective balloons!
It really is a shame.
Could the Coaching staff be any more disillusioned? (notice the Delu... word was not used) Are they watching the same games that we are?
That's why I think frustration is the biggest emotion of them all. I like the Chicago Bears, I am not happy with them right now, but I like them.November 20, 2007
#6 Pissed Off said . . .That was a great post Jeff. You have your finger on the pulse of the collective zeitgeist. It's just damn frustrating to be a Chicago Bears fan right now. Watching that game on Sunday, I watched Matt Hasselbeck carve up the Bears on drive after drive, and I was disgusted. I watched Adam Archuleta pretend to deserve to wear a Chicago Bear jersey, and I was disgusted. I watched a bench player, Rod Wilson, make one of the worst tackling decisions 4 yards out of bounds that I have ever seen, and I was disgusted. I watched a formerly elite special teams squad miss tackles and allow long runbacks, and I was disgusted. I watched Fred Miller, and I was disgusted. I watched CB sitting on the bench after doing something phenomenal, and I was disgusted. I watched a 4th and 1 call that had no chance of success, and I was disgusted. I watched false start after false start, and I was disgusted.
Afterwards, I listened to quotes from our coaches, and I was disgusted.
Here's who doesn't disgust me right now:
Devin Hester
Rex Grossman
Moose Muhammed
Bernard Berrian (at least for 1 game)
Greg Olsen
Des Clark
Darwin Walker
Tommie Harris (only getting a pass for injury)
Starting 3 linebackers
Trumaine McBride (one of the only overachieving players on this roster right now)That's about it. Z is right, there hasn't been one game this year when all phases clicked. You know where the orchestration of all phases comes from? That's right, Lovie Smith.
I'm calling you out, Lovie. You're responsible for this mess, your responsible for this becoming an unlikeable team.
Fix it, Lovie, or get gone.
November 20, 2007
#7 Phil from SATX said . . .#44 on the last post was not me, though I dont give a shit if Urlacher has 25 illegitimate kids, I care about what he does on the field. I'm not his best friend.
I find it hard to deal with the rest of the day when the Bears lose. Maybe its better they are playing so many late games then I dont have to stay awake so long afterward to think about the shit I saw. Maybe thats partially to blame for why we suck, so many late games, this is a noon start (CDT) team, n0t a 3pm start team but thats another conversation in itself. Urlacher was quoted last year saying he (and I assume the rest of the team) would rather play noon games and dislikes the later games. I get it, now I'm just digging for reasons we suck.
I would agree that the Bears have become unlikeable. Aside from a select few of course. I am still pissed that Lovie pulled Rex early in the year but way more pissed that he didnt go back to Rex sooner. I realize that maybe Rex learned something sitting but I also think we would have won at least one more game at this point, (either of the Lion games or the Vikes game). That would put us at a minimum of 5-5 and the tone on here would not be like it is right now.
November 20, 2007
#8 Pissed Off said . . .Before I thought that the coaching staff did the right thing in timing of QB changes (both changes, although the second was "forced" by injuries). Now I realize I can't give any credit to them for making good decisions about changing QBs, when these same coaches are the very reason they had to change horses in the first place. Ron Turner's play calling, in my opinion, would doom any QB back there given the status of our offensive line. Nothing but 3rd and longs, ALL DAY LONG. Who can succeed with this?
So, PO'd, there's really no point in thinking about whether Rex should or shouldn't have been pulled in Game 4. He likely would not have succeeded because of factors beyond his control (the coaching staff).
I think the only thing we can hope for is all players make it out of 2007 without season ending injuries. Nothing good can happen with Turner at the reins.
And Lovie, you're killing me man, just read some more quotes about how you can't fault the decision not to run CB more because you thought the offense was pretty good. That is a MILLION KINDS OF LAMEASS SHIT right there, and whether you mean it or not, you are making yourself look like a horse's ass and losing credibility by the second. Do us all a favor and SHUT THE HELL UP.
November 20, 2007
#9 Jimbo said . . .He is better than Griese.
November 20, 2007
#10 Bill said . . ."The Chicago Bears have become unlikable."
This is the Bears team I grew up with in the 90's. This is the Bears team I know.
Hell, we should all welcome back our Chicago Bears and ask them where they've been.
November 20, 2007
#11 23=rsandberg=mjordan=dhester said . . .Great column Jeff. You said what I've been feeling for a while, and in fact my son asid it to me during the game Sunday - after Wilson's ht out of bounds. It's hard to like this team. I'm going to say it until people get sick of it, but Lovie is not a leader. He is gradually losing control of the team.
I don't know anything about Rod Wilson (or whatever his name is) but he'd have to be a superstar in the making to still be on a team that I coached. I woudl have cut him this week to show that there IS a limit to what is tolerated.
I heard the dumber quotes for Lovie also - about how he thought the offense was pretty good. He's making excused for Turner - it was beyond dumb to bench a guy who finally woke up. Turner put him back to sleep by palying Peterson. Am I the only one who saw that?
Look - that's a BIG knock on Benson, but we weren't going to find a better RB in the middle of the game, so he shoudl have continued to ride him unless there was a football reason to bench him. Not go with the rotation because they decided to give Peterson more time.
It's so dumb I can't find the wrods to state the obvious. You're TOO LATE in trying to motivate Benson by sitting him down. That shoudl have been done EARLY in the season. But it's even DUMBER to bench him (and that's essentially what it was) after showing so much enthusiasm (and having the team react the same way.)
That's one of many reasons the team is unlikeable right now. Bad decisiosn that the common fan, sportwriter, announcer etc can easily see.
November 20, 2007
#12 Phil from SATX said . . .U know around this time there are 2-3 teams that get really hot going into the post-season...xample: pittsburgh 2005-06 champs,started as a wild-card team in the mighty afc.......that folks was my only upside & hope I had left 4 this team,because they have one of the better rosters in the nfl,so it is very realistic...I sure was thinking we could start@seattle,but we all know how that turned out.
November 20, 2007
#13 AfroCelt said . . .These coaches have failed miserably at timing. They may be doing the right things, but they do them at the wrong times, and typically too late. There are so many examples - RT seems to respond for the calls to use Hester on offense, but then can't figure out a way not to telegraph his use of Hester; he sits Benson at the single worst time of the season; he dooms Rex at the beginning of the season by refusing to go long ball, hoping that this will make the offense "safer;" he remembers the forgotten wide receivers but forgets about his tight ends at the same time; he has a great dink and dunk game plan against one team, then abandons it the next game. He doesn't use play action nearly enough, and doesn't use it nearly as effectively as other teams do against us.
With defense it's been more personnel issues - an ill-fated decision to move D. Manning to cornerback, starting Mark Anderson who can't stop the run, possibly playing Tommie H when he's too injured to help, strange use of a very expensive free agent in Ricky Manning (who may actually be not very good).
With Lovie it's been stubborness revealing vanity but without substance behind his decisions. This guy is always making excuses, supporting his own and his guys' bad decisions, and getting mad at people for asking. He does not appear to take responsibility for what's going on here, and I think the reason is he really doesn't think he's at fault. I don't mind him supporting Rex Grossman, but saying that his offense was effective, when it could only muster 13 points after a quick 10 early in the game? And where's the responsibility for the horrible D? His arrogance is not appropriate for the coaching job he's done this year. It makes me think he doesn't understand what he's doing wrong, which in turn makes me not trust his abilities as a head coach. If you don't know what you're doing wrong, how can you change anything?
November 20, 2007
#14 Pissed Off said . . .Just because the pot needs more stirring...
gimme the odds for Grossman to receive a Bears contract this off season.
November 20, 2007
#15 23=rsandberg=mjordan=dhester said . . .As I said yesterday, or whenever it was, we should go to running the same type of offense the Seahawks currently run. Lets just pass, all the time, shotgun-it a bunch too. Just run the ball 10 times per game total and pass 40. Rex has the arm for it and we supposedly have so much skill at WR/TE. Lets get Moose, Bradley and Hester in there with one RB or add Davis/Bradley to the mix and take away the one RB or TE. Then throw Olsen in the mix, set him up at TE or split out, whatever. Our running game sucks, cuz the O-line sucks and if we spread 4 or 5 out most of the time they wont be blitzing and we'll hit 5-10 yard passes frequently with the occassional bomb or 20+ yard pass. Lets just go with what works. This will also allow Hester to be in on offense more than 50% of the plays and then we can actually USE him cuz teams wont soley focus on him. This will free him up for reverses or slants or bombs or whatever cuz right now when he comes in they know we're going to use him. Damn, I need to be hired as the offensive coordinator, I cant do worse and at least this team will be fun to watch.
November 20, 2007
#16 Phil from SATX said . . .I miss mike brown!!!!god I pray he comes back next year,I know he is always getting hurt,but if u notice the difference of the whole defense when his in.....I say we take our chances & appreciate every single game he is in
November 20, 2007
#17 Bill said . . .Afro, I think he's going to get one. And I think the real reason is the negative one that's been floating around here - like it or not, this Bears team looks like it's no longer a Super Bowl contender, so it looks like we'll have some time to bring a project like Rex along. And as the season goes on, if Rex continues to play well, everyone's going to come to the concensus that he wasn't the root of our problems. So I think there will be a lot of good will restored to Rex by the end of the year (despite a lost season), and that will be the window which allows Angelo to try to salvage something out of the last few years instead of starting all over from scratch.
In other words, if Angelo can get away with it, I think he would do it, and come the last quarter of this season, he will be able to get away with it. If anything, seeing Griese's flawed arm was enough for many of us to miss the Rex cannon.
There were two very important changes to Rex's game since his 5 1/2 game hiatus. 1) He doesn't look panicked under heavy rush; and 2) he is willing to run for yards. Those are two huge advances for him. If he can keep it up, I think he will have rehabilitated himself such that Chicago fans will support extending him a contract (with the caveat of wanting to draft another as the future project - no coming back with these 3 again).
I for one would love to try the combination of Rex with a difference coordinator - any different coordinator - and see what happens.
November 20, 2007
#18 Bill said . . .Following the theme - I think there is a better than 50% chance Rex is given an offer here. And I will add to that there is at least a 50% chance that he gets an offer somewhere else too.
Here's a possibility to consider. Angelo is more commtted to his draft choices than he is to Lovie's choices of coordinators. So a compromise of sorts is reached. Lovie is "allowed" to let Babich get another year experience; Tuner goes - hopefully replaced with someone who knows how to develop QBs (and has no head coaching aspirations immediately); Rex stays with Griese and a QB is drafted in round 2 or 3; Orton is likely the odd man out for no fault of his own.
(I don't want to hear anything bad about Orton; he played well for Purdue; had good games with the Bears until a horrible 5 INT game pulled in his ability to take risks; all this while he was a true rookie. If he had the chances that Grossman had, he might have developed into something as good as Griese if not better.)
November 20, 2007
#19 Phil from SATX said . . .OK - before I get jumped on, I'm suffering from selective memory. A look back shows the 5 INTs came in game 3, and in the prior games he was only 29-49 for 291 yds, 1 TD and 1 INT. Not real good. He was serviceable at best, but again, just a rookie. The thing he has that Grossman will never have is height (6'4") and I think he's relatively strong. Anyway - he'll be a backup somewhere else next year I suspect.
November 20, 2007
#20 Shady McBears Fan said . . .I'd take that deal, Bill, and by psyched about it. As long as everyone's clear on the draft/free agent needs:
1. Offensive line, offensive line, offensive line
2. Stud safety to pair with Manning
3. Resign BriggsTo me, coupled with a new coordinator, those 3 things are all we'd need to have MAJOR improvement next year. New coordinator will make our wide receivers better, mostly by figuring out how to use our tight ends. We DON'T have to have a new RB next year if we succeed in majorly upgrading the line (and have a new coordinator who understands how to help the running process). We can get by with our returning D linemen, linebackers (assuming Briggs is resigned), corners, and D. Manning at safety. It can all be good, AS LONG AS TURNER GOES and everyone understands the importance of the list above.
Who's feelin it?
November 20, 2007
#21 jdawg said . . .This is not a post. This is the avenue Jerry Angelo must take to improve this Bears Team.
2008 Free Agents:
http://footballsfuture.com/freeagents.html
2008 Draft Rankings:
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/top64.php?draftyear=2008
Chances Rex Grossman is in a Bears uniform next year: 25%
November 20, 2007
#22 AfroCelt said . . .I'm feeling it, sort of.
I agree that if Rex plays well, or even OK, they'll probably offer him a two-year deal.
His bad games came against pretty good D's. Griese's bad games came against Detroit (twice).
Anyhoo, at this point that's neither here nor there. It is what it is.
But yes, I think bringing in a stud left tackle and guard could make a world of difference.
November 20, 2007
#23 Shady said . . .According to that nfldraft scout, Jake Long is the number one ranked OLman coming out of college? Wasn't there a fantastic one due out this year from Nebraska or somewhere else?
sorry...don't follow NCAA at all.
November 20, 2007
#24 AfroCelt said . . .Top OT's:
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/players.php?genpos=OT&draftyear=2008&sortorder=tsxpos&order=ASC
Top OG's:
Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre... Kidding
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/players.php?genpos=OG&draftyear=2008&sortorder=tsxpos&order=ASC
November 20, 2007
#25 Bill said . . .I don't know if I trust that website completely...
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/profile.php?pyid=9824
James Ryan...was redshirted in 2003 at the University of Illinois...not on this year's roster at all. I played all through high school with him...hopefully it wasn't because of that knee.
The website has him as the number 108 prospect at guard though...
November 20, 2007
#26 Shady said . . .Best Angelo move, in my opinion: his playing out the Briggs saga. Briggs wanted to be "the man" somehwere. Looks like he will be - in Chicago. Urlacher's best days are behind him, but I'd still take a weeker Urlacher and a current Briggs than any other combination the Bears are likely to get next year.
I believe Rex gets a reasonable extension offer with the likelihood of starting for a team with lower expectations (hence less pressure - and we saw how well he responded with the playoffs essentially being out of the picture thanks to the supposed better QB - Griese.) We will surely beef up the line with a draft choice and a FA. And Briggs will sign with the Bears.
November 20, 2007
#27 Pissed Off said . . .In case you were wondering where Darren McFadden (or my boy James Hardy) is listed on the website, he's under the 2009 draft class:
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/top64.php?draftyear=2009
November 20, 2007
#28 Christina said . . .Bill there is a 100% chance Rex gets an offer elsewhere, there are plenty of teams that would take a chance on him, as a backup or starter. I'm not sure about him getting re-signed here, I just dont know, I of course would like that unless he shits the bed the rest of the year. But if he continues to look competent with the horrible team around him, coupled with what we've seen he can do and with that arm...he'll be offered something to stay.
I would love to have a new O-coordinator here, my #1 wish list offensive coordinator would probably be Mike Martz or some guy like him. I want a potent passing game with Rex. I want this team to move up and down the field, the hell with this smashmouth, run first shit, look at the Pats, Colts, old Rams offenses that win Super Bowls (soon to be for the Pats). Running is overrated, you dont have to do it if it doesnt work, the object is to move the ball up and down and score, see post #14.
Something to consider about Orton, I can give him a little bit of a pass even though he was horrible his rookie year starting. He did some good things that year but that team won with D game in and game out. Now considering he's had a couple years to develop, what does it say about him that the coaches still dont trust him to even give him a shot at this point. He either looks worse or the same as he did as a rookie or the coaches are just too high on Rex/BG. Thers a reason he's deactivated every week.
Food for thought: The Sunday matchup will be a matchup of two of the strongest arm QBs in the NFL. Cutler is probably the hardest thrower in the NFL, check that, he IS the hardest thrower, with all due respect to Favre, Cutler can throw way harder. Rex is up there too, just not in Cutlers league. For those of you who havent watched him yet, look out. On the bright side, I'm pretty sure he's thrown a pick in every game but one that he's started in his career, that means we should have at least one turnover this week.
November 20, 2007
#29 CAK said . . .Have you guys seen Team Tiles at The Home Depot? They are carpet squares have the Bears logo on it and look really cool! I saw them at the store in Chicago over the weekend!
November 20, 2007
#30 Phil from SATX said . . .I think the coaches will stick with Grossman next year 100%. What good is it changing QB's? Sure we might get someone better plays well, then he has one bad game and here in Chicago he's done. We need some stablity at QB, even if he's not preforming. He just gave us a solid game and we need everything else fixed first. We have won games with a crappy QB. We haven't won games with a ancient O-Line, no running game, and a wounded D. Special teams have been fine, but we are spoiled in that regard. Let's get healthy on D and and if Benson gives us a game like his recent 1st Quater, things start to look up. (Why was Benson benched after he starts doing well? Kinda a mixed message....) Bear Down.
November 20, 2007
#31 startO said . . .Nice commercial message Christine! Way to get out of the marketing box Home Depot! Now go leave us alone!
I'd like to know what this defense needs to do to get INTs. Are they playing differently under Babich's scheme or what? Having Vasher gone is no doubt some of what's to blame, so is a different safety combination, but still... Barely an INT this season! With Hasselbeck chucking the ball around like he did, you'd think we'd of had a shot at some, but I don't remember even any close ones. What's up with these guys? We're also not knocking down nearly as many balls at the line of scrimmage as we did last year. Why? Pretty much the same guys, right?
November 20, 2007
#32 JB said . . .Look at what Jeff Fischer does in Ten. with so little. That team has NO talent. Need proof? Jusin Gage. Enough said. He has done more with 1/3 the talent the Bears have.
I believe morale is the key to this. TJ was a leader, hard worker and hard nosed. A vet. He got dumped for the enigmatic, high-paid Ricky clone. That killed team unity and chemistry. Throw in the hugely demoralizing event of losing a SB, and you've got a hangover season. I wish we had a fast forward button to April...
"with the fifth pick in the 2008 draft...
the Chicago Bears and Head Coach Jeff Fischer select...
Darren McFadden, Running Back, Arkansas"
(cut away to Cedric Benson hanging his head in shame. Cut away to Jeff Fischer smiling)
November 20, 2007
#33 jdawg said . . .I guess I'm more on the lines of, "With the 10th selection of the 2008 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears select, Andre Woodson Jr, Quarterback, University of Kentucky"...and then Ashley Judd is seen at Bears games cheering on her favorite Wildcat...and the more hot women cutaways at games the better...at least it's fun during Budweiser fan cams at Cubs games.
November 20, 2007
#34 Phil from SATX said . . .I live in Louisville and schwing for Ashley!
Woodson may be a bit of a project, or at least a starter two or three years down the road.
He has got a strange, strange delivery. Its hard to describe but I'm sure you can find it on youtube. It is one of the laziest looking (emphasis on looking) deliveries, but the kid has an arm. He's also big and pretty mobile. But check out his throwing motion.
Oh, and he does not get rattled.
November 20, 2007
#35 Pissed Off said . . .I just think it's cart before the horse to go spend your #1 pick on either a running back or a QB when you don't have the tools to help him (a good line and a good offensive coordinator).
Therefore, for me it's "with the 11th pick in the draft the Bears take Ryan Clady, OT from Boise State." If ever there was a year to use your first pick for an offensive lineman, this is the year.
Or I'd also take "Bears trade their first round pick to the Dallas Cowboys for the right to sign Jason Garrett as offensive coordinator. Lovie Smith had no comment because he was hiding in a corner with a bag over his head. The deal was apparently only consummated when the Cowboys agreed to "make Ron Turner disappear," whatever that means."
November 20, 2007
#36 JB said . . .Yeah good idea guys, lets draft another high pick at a skill position on offense, he should pan out well like they have for past um-teen years. WTF is wrong with you? This team drafts defense well, usually, thats about it. I would be in favor of drafting an o-lineman in the first and second round.
November 20, 2007
#37 AfroCelt said . . .yes PO'd...if we draft an offensive player in the first round he will automatically fail because of past history...shut up...you're being ridiculous...you draft based on need, so yes the offensive lineman makes sense as well, but we need a quarterback to lead this team...if you want to stick with Rex that's one thing, if you want to hand it over to Kyle Orton, thats another, if you want to sign or trade for someone else (Derek Anderson or McNabb), thats yet a third option, however, you have to look at the draft for a potential future quarterback. if the first pick isn't on offense next year (which is sad we're already debating this), it will be a shame...we're solid on D with guys coming back from from injuries next year regardless of if we can resign briggs or not...brown probably won't come back, but you can usually find a safety in the 2nd or 3rd like manning. i don't want to argue about the draft yet guys...i love the draft, i think i post more than almost anyone in the offseason because i get jazzed up about it, but i'm not ready yet...don't make me go there again PO'd.
November 20, 2007
#38 jdawg said . . .#36 - JB - "Solid on D"
oh no no no. The Bears I've seen on the field are definitely not "solid on D". While there are many injuries, we need to fill a few spots...primarily FS. I love Mike Brown to death, but the injuries are becoming just too much to take. and AA may be a good stopgap, but I don't see him being the needed dominant player at the position.
Draft Order for me:
1. o-line
2. o-line
3. defensive secondary
4. running back?I'm becoming more and more conviced that the key improvement needed is the offensive line. It will make all the average players (QB, RB) 5x better.
November 20, 2007
#39 Windy City Packer Fan said . . .Afro -- you're singing my song.
Although I would go FA for the O-line.
as a side thought: would anyone trade Garrett Wolfe for Randy Moss? Oops, we could have gotten him for a 4th rounder. Does that mean Okwo for Moss?
November 20, 2007
#40 Al in WI said . . .Very few players come out of college ready for the NFL in recent years. While some may have the talent to become impact players, it depends on who is preparing them.
As long as RT and Harry Hiestand and his traveling road show are running the offense and o-line, things aren't likely to change. Even if you bring in a stable of free agents, for them to have immediate success, they need to learn the system...again, a teaching thing.
Look at the staff. Are they able to teach, motivate, game plan and adjust effectively?
Yeah, I have a little bitterness towards coaching, having been one at one time with dreams of working at a high level program. The NFL is the quintissential 'old boys network.' Pick any team and look at the previous history of the coaching staff. Almost every one has been with a number of teams throughout his career. Some of them follow what a coach I know calls the 'turd theory.' Even though they are a piece of sh*t as a coach, when you flush them away, they float to the top again (see the Turner brothers).
Hey, as a football fan, it pains me to see poor coaching, and none of you deserve the guys occupying the offices in Lake Forest.
Have a great Thanksgiving.
Saw a 30 pack of Pabst Light at Binny's tonight, thought they got rid of that with Red, White and Blue years ago.
November 21, 2007
#41 Beep, beep, beep said . . .Excellent discussion today.
First I disagree with the bears being unlikeable. The Wanny Bears, or even the Jauron bears were unlikeable. This crew has a lot of players who would make a "Chicago Bears Hall of Fame," if we had one.
Second I think there is a 60% chance Grossman is back with the team. As Phil put it very well, he has shown major improvent on his poise, pocket presence, and slightly better mobility. He looks to have turned a corner. The key for him will be to continue it the rest of the year. The other issue will be weather he wants to come back. Let's face it, he's put up with a lot of shit here the last two years, I don't know if I'd want to do that again. But I think Jerry will want him back.
Thirdly, the Bears are going to beat Denver on Sunday.November 21, 2007
#42 Beep, beep, beep said . . .That's the sound of the truck backing up. The way to fix this thing is to do a major purge at the end of the season. Get WAY under the salary cap and work from there. Draft day???
Day one -- offensive tackle, quarterback prospect (groan), guard
Day two -- linebacker, another linebacker, running back, safety
Free agency -- guard, wide receiver, running back
Coaching staff -- fire Ron Turner (but it will never happen and we all know it)
November 21, 2007
#43 Beep, beep, beep said . . .That's the sound of the truck backing up. The way to fix this thing is to do a major purge at the end of the season. Get WAY under the salary cap and work from there. Draft day???
Day one -- offensive tackle, quarterback prospect (groan), guard
Day two -- linebacker, another linebacker, running back, safety
Free agency -- guard, wide receiver, running back
Coaching staff -- fire Ron Turner (but it will never happen and we all know it)
November 21, 2007
#44 Pissed Off said . . .That's the sound of the truck backing up. The way to fix this thing is to do a major purge at the end of the season. Get WAY under the salary cap and work from there. Draft day???
Day one -- offensive tackle, quarterback prospect (groan), guard
Day two -- linebacker, another linebacker, running back, safety
Free agency -- guard, wide receiver, running back
Coaching staff -- fire Ron Turner (but it will never happen and we all know it)
November 21, 2007
JB, maybe you should shut up, I dont always want to hear your shit, its my opinion and I'm entitled to have it. Deal with it. I dont think this team drafts offense well and the draft isnt the only way to aquire players. I'm just saying we should consider drafting offense in 2nd rounds on unless its O-line in the first round. I agree with Afro in #37 but I would also add that you can never have enough talent on D. O-line is the most glaring need but we need more defensive players too. Injuries seem to riddle this team on D and we need more quality depth, paired with the fact we draft D well, I think we should continue to build up the defense, every draft. Defense wins championships.
November 21, 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.