The last two Sundays have been a lesson in what the Chicago Bears should have been in 2007. They should have been a team utilizing their myriad of offense weapons. They should have been a team exploting opponents with dominant special teams. They should have been a defense that makes up for its deficiencies with turnover after turnover in big spots. More than any of those things, they should have been a football team that played with intensity and with the passion sorely lacking for almost three months.
But now we'll wait. And we'll know the Bears have a shot to win every football game they play next season because the Bears have Devin Hester and the other teams don't. I can write it over and over again but I could never write it enough: Devin Hester is the most exciting football player to ever play for the Chicago Bears. And folks, it ain't close. Not Sayers. Not Payton. No one. No one comes close.
Build around him. Build for him. Clearly he's shown over this season that he's capable of being an integral part of the offensive system while not losing an ounce as a return man. I didn't support it at season's start but damn if I ain't convinced. The dude just broke HIS OWN record for return touchdowns in his second year. Read that sentence again. Two years. Two records. If he retired tomorrow, who's not voting him into the Hall of Fame?
This is the Devin Hester era of Chicago football. Everyone else is playing the lounge. And if Jerry and Lovie and RT are intelligent human beings, they'll spend the next nine months figuring out how to drain every drop of stink from the Skunk. As for Devin, I want to thank him. He made 2007 a memorable season. This was his year. Now this is his team.
#2 Midway Monster said . . .First-esque!
Amen Jeff. I wait with baited breath to see what LS/RT/Etc can pull off for next year. Hopefully I'll have a decent Cubs season to keep me satiated, but who knows.
Bear down!
December 31, 2007
#3 Al in WI said . . .Dare I say it... Devin Hester is to special teams as Walter Payton was to the back field.
Anyone disagree?
-- Midway --
December 31, 2007
#4 T said . . .Agreed with all that's said about Hester. I'm still left to wonder why though in 16 games this season he only went on the fly pattern about 4 or 5 times. Whatever the plans next year that total should be for a game or two.
Well, I'm ready for the long offseason of discontent to begin. There are some franchise altering decisions to be made with at least 4 players slated to be FA's that I want back badly. Rex, Lance, Bernard, and Brendon if you're scoring at home. And if you look at a lot of opinion writing today it doesn't look good for any of them right now.
We have several glaring holes that need to be addressed regardless of what happened down the stretch in these last two games.
It should be interesting......December 31, 2007
#5 Phil from SATX said . . .MM #2....Agree. That is a better comparison. The best is always subjective. That's why we argue thepoint. ....My vote - DH is the best special teamer and WP was the best RB. DH has a chance to be a great (best?) WR too.
December 31, 2007
#6 jeff said . . .Jeff switched on me, repost:
This may be a long one, fair warning.
First I've got to say, THANK YOU BEARS! Thank you for giving the effort that I've been waiting for in the last two games. I had an absolutely fantastic time watching that game yesterday, and that followed an equally great experience the week before. You allowed my to end the season with a big smile on my face, excited for the offseason, excited for 2008. That means a lot to me.
Now we have to figure out - what changed? And do the last 2 games change anything about our previously-held opinions of what to do now, now that we're in the off-season?
First off, Devin Hester, Devin Hester... My biggest offseason hope is that you become a rich man and the words "Chicago Bear For Life" will be part of your ultimate Wikipedia entty - because surely this becomes as important to this organization as, say, Brian Urlacher - Bear for Life - or even Walter Payton - Bear for Life. This is a guy who must never be allowed to wear another team's uniform, and the time to begin that process is this offseason.
Next, Kyle Orton - boy you present an interesting dilemma. The interesting thing is, in these last two games, you look more like an NFL quarterback than Rex Grossman does - and remember I've morphed back into a Rex supporter. The way you handle yourself in the pocket, the height that allows you to see a lot more than Rex can - and an overall coolness under pressure, this is ALL GOOD.
BUT - you still have major accuracy issues that we all remember from 2005. Two years on the bench hasn't seemed to change that much. Can you improve on accuracy? I don't know. And that question is the one on which the issue of you as a starter for the Bears hinges. But you showed enough to not be an offseason cut, since you are still under contract. Great job overall bringing us two wins at the end of the season.
The biggest single difference in these last two games, and especially in this game, I believe, has been the play of the offensive line. And correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't there a conspicuous absence of Fred Miller and Ruben Brown in this game? So yes, as we've been saying all season, our backups have to be better than what we saw with the starters - and they were. And it becomes so obvious how much better as a team we can be with even slight improvement in the line play - resulting in a hard working but ultimately skill-limited running back like the beloved AP being effective. So this gives us all major hope for next year, because we know that the line has management's attention, and it WILL become better next year. Without Fred Miller and the once-great but now injured and old Ruben Brown.
So now that brings me to the RT situation. What in tarnation has happened to RT in the last two games? He shed his dread pirate gear and now looks like - dare we say it? - a competent offensive coordinator. What changed? I don't know, but I have some ideas... First, see the previous paragraph - with better Oline play, the whole offense looks better, and so do his play calls. Second, for whatever reason, with nothing to play for, he starts playing Hester and Garrett Wolfe and even Mark Freaking Bradley, and using them in smart ways that they can succeed in - and it's all been working. We'll never know who's to blame for not using these weapons earlier in the season - was it bad evaluation by RT, was it Lovie forcing the decisions on RT, what? Bottom line, I still haven't changed my mind about RT needing to go, but maybe his performance in the last two games has saved me from a suicide attempt when I learn that he's staying - I may be able to live after all.
I feel even more optimism about the state of Babich and the D. Here too, either he or Lovie erred terribly during this season in their personnel decisions, and none worse than his Alex Brown/Mark Anderson decision. I thought that the biggest difference was going to be the return of Vasher, but he only played in one game, and the D was still resurgent. Babich seemed to be setting up the D differently, and we are seeing more batdowns at the line of scrimmage that looked like last year than in all of our previous games combined. I'm looking for someone more skilled than I to explain what the difference is in the defensive setup. But it has worked, and also we are seeing the emergence of Brandan McGowan as a bonafide safety, and Tru McBride as a competent corner. Does McGowan's play change the need at safety? Probably not, but he makes us feel a lot better about our depth at the position.
So, in a nutshell, here's the new task list for the offseason:
1) Re-sign Devin Hester - Bear for Life
2) OL OL OL - most important offsesason change.
3) Re-sign Lance. Love you Jamar, but we still need Lance.
4) Safety - but play of McGowan could allow for it not to be the first pick.
5) Fire RT - congratulations RT, you dropped to 5th on the list because of your play calls and personnnel deployment in the last two games, and maybe you saved a life (or two, including Rancid).
6) Re-sign Rex, keep Orton, dump Grease Spot, pick a QB in the draft (but not with the first pick please).
7) Re-sign Berrian but not if you have to break the bank (which means likely lose him), cut Moose
8) Free agent WR if Berrian leaves
9) Free agent RBThat's a long list, and a long post. Sorry.
Thanks Bears, and thanks da Bears Blog, for a very interesting season, and one filled with way more great memories than a 7-9 team should have. Paraphrasing the late non-great Dave Wannstedt, "This may be the best (and certainly most interesting) 7-9 team ever!"
December 31, 2007
#7 Phil from SATX said . . .i should have watched the lovie press conference before writing this thing but lovie very matter of factly says that he envisions devin hester as a number one wide receiver. very interesting.
December 31, 2007
#8 Al in WI said . . .PO'd, agree with you on the last thread, an offensive line will certainly make Rex better, and that and experience could make him great - I don't think that accuracy is something that can be learned at this stage of Orton's career. But he's good enough to stick around.
Another comment on DH - he has uncanny balance - did you see him getting jostled on that long catch while running at close to full speed - he straightened himself out with ease while others were falling around him.
On the other side, Beardown mentioned someone with very "canny" balance - Greg Olsen - he has a very high center of balance and comes down easily which will unfortunately always limit his YAC. But if no one is around him, has the speed to get yards until they do catch up with him. He's still another major weapon with indisputable hands who should have been used much more than he was this season.
That balance issue with DH is what could allow him to become a great long ball catcher - he is in so much more control while running at full speed than whoever is around him...
Garrett Wolfe as a dump-off option... Who would've thunk it... oh wait - WE would have, and DID, ALL SEASON LONG! If you're not going to learn lessons from what you see in preseason, why even do it?
Jeff, am I reading in your post that you're okay with RT returning?
December 31, 2007
#9 Phil from SATX said . . .I caught that too Jeff. But I interpret that as an indication they are ready to let Berrian go.
December 31, 2007
#10 Midway Monster said . . .I say with or without Berrian, we could go into next season with Hester, Bradley (who despite dropping the long ball has shown that he did not deserve his "#5 receiver" benching this year) and signing a possession type guy in free agency - Bradley and Hester give you PLENTY of speed, we have the sure-handed TEs in Des and GO, now just need a sure-handed big body, like Moose was supposed to be.
Researchers, who's out there in FA who fits that description?
December 31, 2007
#11 Bill said . . .Phil: I'll agree/disagree with your post #5 once I finish reading it.
-- Midway --
December 31, 2007
#12 Papa Bear said . . .Just one simple comment - it's tough to be a fan of a team (players and coaches) that only do well once they are eliminated from the playoff picture.
Meaningless - it's ALL meaningless. Turner will be back becasue he can call a game when it doesn't matter. That's Lovie for you. That's our Bears. Meaningless.
December 31, 2007
#13 jeff said . . .The O-line will make or break any qb we bring in; as we've all stated, priority 1 in the off-season to fix it. I still believe we have varying levels of mediocrity as our qb options, but I will say this, Orton outplayed two All-Pro qbs the past 2 weeks. Accuracy issues aside, KO made some nice throws yesterady (zip to Bradley, bomb to Hester, zip to Olsen, bomb to Bradley that was dropped) and he should have 2 more TDs on his stat sheet (Olsen catch and Moose last week). But most importantly, he made good decisions and didn't make mistakes to cost us the game. Nobody here can say that about either Rex or Griese. Critics here can say what they want, KO made enough throws to put 2 W's on the board.
Anyone that says 2 years riding the pine is enough prep should know that practicing is NOT the same as playing in the game. KO has gotten better over the last 3 games. He's earned himself a legit shot to be a #1 on THIS team.
Rex and KO have both had enough time to develop, it's time for us to stop going off potential and who has better tools...it's time to play. Bring Rex and KO back next training camp, 10 paces and draw, may the best man win.
Me thinks RT was play-calling for his job the last 2 weeks. O-line as well. As far as I'm concerned, let Olin take Fred Miller out to the gun range this off-season...see what happens from there.
December 31, 2007
#14 Brian From WI said . . .agree, al. berrian is going to be the "it" free agent option at wideout now that crayton has signed. i think the bears will feel the market out. as for the comment that the bears played well ONLY after being eliminated...i understand. but they were playing two teams that desperately wanted the football games. the packers loss to the bears kept them from home field. the bears played solid football games and perhaps the lack of turning the ball over at the quarterback position hada lot to do with that.
December 31, 2007
#15 Papa Bear said . . .Great Game yesterday Bears - Oh Yeah - You're still not going to The Playoffs.
GO PACK ! !
PS - I love it when Bears fans are already talking about next season in December.
December 31, 2007
#16 mikebdot said . . .Do y'all realize that if we want to make Skunk a full-time WR, we'll have to send him over the middle...I'm not ready for that. Send Moose over the middle, not Skunk. Bring Skunk for more plays during the game but he should have only two routes to run...fly pattern or deep post.
December 31, 2007
#17 jeff said . . .Papa Bear: Hopefully Olin and Miller would kill each other. Kreutz has been the third best lineman all year. Our run blocking is awful and it starts with him. He is in the backfield on about half of the running plays and on half of those, he ends up on his ass or blocking nobody in particular. That is just plain unacceptable. Garza, Miller, and McKie all have been absolutely terrible at blocking this season. Olsen and Clark haven't been very good either.
Phil: Ruben Brown has been on IR for the past 8 games, so his lack of presence on Sunday was nothing different. Fred Miller played at least a little bit, if not the whole game. I know I remember seeing him block holes in the defense. We've always been a decent pass blocking unit, but our run blocking just plain sucks. Regardless of who started. I'm also not sure where you get the notion that AP is more effective than Benson.
Stat of year in condemnation of Ron Turner: Devin Hester - 6 rushes, -9 yards. Jason McKie - 6 rushes, 17 yards.
December 31, 2007
#18 craig said . . .i dont think it necessarily means sending him over the middle...not in the keyshawn johnson sense. how often does berrian catch balls over the middle, outside the occasional slant?
December 31, 2007
#19 Polygonhell said . . .picking 14th in April
December 31, 2007
#20 Papa Bear said . . .I had this horrible feeling of impending doom for a few seconds at the end of the game when the Saints picked up the 2 point conversion after driving down the field against our prevent defense.
I think Ron Turner called a good game.
Devin Hester is just Devin Hester.
The D gave up a lot of yards, but forced turnovers and were in the passing lanes all day.
Orton still had accuracy problems, but certainly did enough to at least compete for the starting job next year.At this point I think Briggs, Berrian, and probably Rex won't be back next year, I hope that Halas Hall can open the coffers for Ayanbedayo (sp?) I don't think they can afford to loose leaders in the locker room.
From what Lovie said at the press conference Ron Turner will likely be back.
We'll start to see a clearer picture of what's going to happen in March when free agency really starts. ButI think it'll be an offseason heavilly focussed on offensive needs.
December 31, 2007
#21 Ryan in Illinois said . . .Whenever I remember going over the middle I remember BB dropping a bunch of balls (Detroit away game by the goal line). BB's more sidelines, outs, and quick slants.
You gots to keep it simple for Skunk, can't confuse the boy with all sorts of crazy instructions.mikebdot, totally agree with you. Our RBs can barely make it back to the line of scrimmage. Olsen held a nice block on a slant run in the 1st half yesterday for a first down. If we're looking for improvement, there was only 1 false start yesterday...
December 31, 2007
#22 Holy Cow said . . .I think Brian in WI is a big fat doo-doo head because I don't like his team and I like the Monsturds of the Midway! Yeeeeaaaaaaaaah!. I am from Illinois and I love the Bears and I thinks the Bears are going to wind the Super Bowl 49 this year! I love Grossman and Griese and Orton and I love Jope Montana! Yeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaah!
GO BARES!!!!!!!
December 31, 2007
#23 jeff said . . .Are you retarded?
December 31, 2007
#24 Near NorthSider Brandon said . . .billick just fired in baltimore.
December 31, 2007
#25 the ghost of Charles Martin said . . .Who do we play next week??? Thats right. This hype is enough to make us forget the real issues. I am a long time loyal Bear fan but unlike Lovie, I like to call things what they are... If you need a reference here please note Lovie's decision to keep starting Rex despite his perpetual inneptitude. The fact of the matter is that the Bears still suck! A couple of fluke weeks against un-motivated and under-manned teams doesnt mean things are getting better. Kyle Orton is still a bum and we have no running back. Oh yeah.. Unlike other haters here I have division pride and an appreciation for great players. I will be cheering for the Pack and Brett Favre! You can find me at Kasey's in the South Loop for further discussion!
December 31, 2007
#26 Pissed Off said . . .Dear Bears fans,
I ended Jim McMahon's career.Love,
CMDecember 31, 2007
#27 THE GHOST THAT HAUNTS the Ghost of Charles Martin said . . .Brandon, you are a complete tool. Everything you've just said is straight out of the "I'm part retard and this is how I show it" handbook. I'm not sure which part is worse, the fact that you can cheer on the pack or the fact that you actually think you even resemble a knowledgable fan wth your incoherent ramblings. WOW, thats all I can say. Can anyone second that.
December 31, 2007
#28 Near NorthSider Brandon said . . .Packer Punks!!! You wreak of limburger....ALL OF YOU!!!
December 31, 2007
#29 jeff said . . .Pissed Off!
You are the kind of Cooter that keeps this rediculous wheel spinning. What are your counter-p0ints??? Next time you address me make sure you have something to say. Who let chics in this forum?December 31, 2007
#30 I'm not a retard, I'm just a Bears fan said . . .near northsider...youre either a packers fan or just about to pick a fight. two teams, neither undermanned in anyway, one playing for home field and one playing to stay in the playoff race...? did you see the saints sideline? i think they wanted it pretty badly. nobody's arguing the bears are in the playoffs. but for people to blindly dismiss the last two wins is just as moronic as to celebrate them as some sort of second-coming. the last two wins are simply this: good signs that this team can still play at a high level. are they great? no. did they piss away this season? yes. will they play better next year? yes. why do i believe that? because i write a website called dabearsblog...
December 31, 2007
#31 Rancid said . . .I found the "I'm part retard and this is how I show it" handbook. Paste the following into your browser:
http://www.jr.com/JRProductPage.process?Product_Id=4044269&JRSource=googlebase.datafeed.1145759_1
December 31, 2007
#32 Near NorthSider Brandon said . . .I was hoping to enjoy the last two weeks just a bit longer, but who am I kidding. We're Bears fans. Let the angst-fest begin.
1. I still hate RT. I still think he was a major part of screwing this season and throwing it down the shitter. I still want him fired. However, I realize that he looked ok the last two games. All I am asking is that if he is going to be retained, that I know for sure now. This will give me time to deal with it before next season. Also I want a vow, I mean a blood oath you can kill me and my children's children type vow that Hester, Olsen, and Wolfe will find their way PROMINENTLY into the gameplan in ways that can not be predicted before the snap by an 8 year old.
2. I like Briggs, but if I have to choose between him and bringing in pricey FA Oline help, I choose the Oline. I am not saying that I don't appreciate Briggs or his ability, I am just getting the vibe that we have limited resources and if I have to pick what "gives us the best chance to win" , it's a couple linemen.
3. I want Berrian back, but we can't overpay him. We just can't. Hopefully he is ready to be a part of something in Chicago, but if he is committed to accepting the most lucrative contract that he can, I hope we don't pay it.
4. I'd like for us to get Rex back. I think that KO can be the backup. If we lose Rex, we need a FA who can start. I know there isn't much out there so it really should be Rex. BG goes bye-bye, and we draft a QB in the 3-5 round somewhere.
5. Couldn't agree more concerning Hester. This man is our future. Pour money down his throat and don't stop until he has grey hair. Sign him to a 15 year contract, one for each TD he's score in the past two years. If at the end of his career he is not remembered as a Chicago Bear and only a Bear, then we are fools.
December 31, 2007
#33 Tone Capone from Jersey said . . .Undermanned = Reggie Bush, Dueuce Mcallister, or a running game.
Unmotivated = G.B.P.
December 31, 2007
#34 Autographed football card for sale! said . . .Pissed Off I agree...but then I disagree
BRANDON IS A FULLBLOWN RETARD!!!
Your not a "loyal fan" of the Bears talking crap like that. I think Brandy is really a Packer fan with Brett Farve stickers on his Howdy Doody lunch box. You don't know the meaning of loyalty!!!Division pride.....GET OUTTA HERE!!!!
The Bears don't deserve "fans" like you.
Your mentality is what sucks!!!!23 YEAR BEARS FAN RIGHT HERE!!
BEARS 4 LIFE!!!!December 31, 2007
#35 Near NorthSider Brandon said . . .I have an autographed, mint condition Jim McMahon rookie card for sale. It's autographed by the late Charles Martin.
December 31, 2007
#36 Papa Bear said . . .Lunchbox, stickers, 23yrs., blah, blah, blah.
What are the counter-points?
December 31, 2007
#37 Realist said . . .Brandon, the counterpoints are that you can't have a "fluke" game two times in a row. That by default means it's no longer a fluke. Your "undermanned" Saints run game put up 150 yds yesterday, better than Reggie Bush has been doing all year.
Did you eat paint chips growing up? Play under power lines? Skip the South Loop, crawl across the border and hang out with the other pitiful "Bear fans" you loser.
December 31, 2007
#38 Near NorthSider Brandon said . . .I love you pappa bear, you're so cute with the child-like optimism you have for your lovable losers, the Bears. Let's suppose for a minute that the last two games weren't flukes. What makes you think you'll have as good of a team next year? Your defense is weak- they let everyone run over them (i.e. 150 yards by the lowly Saints). Your D only shows up when they play the Pack. Apparently that's good enough for your mediocre coach who strives only to beat the team to the north. Briggs is as good as gone- you can't afford him. Same with Berrian- not that he's good enough to keep anyway. No matter which QB you keep- be it Rex, Griese, or Orton- will suck because none of which are leaders. Benson didn't pan out and probably won't be kept around- Peterson isn't the kind of back that can carry the ball 300+ times in a season. The only shining spot here is Devin Hester- he's a tremendous talent, but he can't do everything on his own. And you can probably expect less production from Hester as free agency slowly chips away at your special teams unit. In short, bad QB+bad D= crap. Oh yeah, forgot about Hester in the equation: bad QB+bad D+Hester= less smelly, more desireable, likeable crap (with a cherry and sprinkles on top). Bears still suck! Go Pack!
December 31, 2007
#39 Papa Bear said . . .C'mon Man!
"something surprising or unexpected that happens by accident" as defined by Encarta. I guess that means a fluke can happen consecutively.Jeff, great web site. I give up for today, I am overwhelmed with the many appologists. Still think I am right. Going looking to look for some chics now.
December 31, 2007
#40 Al in WI said . . .Realist, there's too much parity in this league to give up on next year. I can't remember how GB finished last year, maybe you can remind me?
Brandon, by the same extension of logic, the other 5 Bears wins this year were "flukes". PO'd right, you're retarded.
January 1, 2008
#41 Al in WI said . . .2008 Schedule:
The Bears' home games are Detroit, Green Bay, Minnesota, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Jacksonville and Tennessee.Road Games: Green Bay, Detroit, Minnesota, Atlanta, Carolina, St. Louis, Houston and Indianapolis.
January 1, 2008
#42 Autographed Score cards for sale! said . . .I would continue to remind packer fans that if they want to look at a fluke win go check out your own games with Philly, Denver, SD, Washington, and @ Minnesota. All of which featured fluke td's, blown plays by the opponent that granted a win, or more than favorable calls by the black and white.
By the way, the Bears have won 5 out of the last 6 games between the two teams. Including last week when we denied you home field and assured you a trip to Dallas to work on that 0-9 record of Brettys. Good luck with that!January 1, 2008
#43 Willie from Chicago said . . .I have two 07 autographed, mint condition, Packer vs Bears Score cards signed in Bret Favre's blood.
-- Midway --
January 1, 2008
#44 Beardown1982 said . . .Al, you forgot the chiefs game lol.
What we should realy focus on is the O-line of course but also on giving Rex or whoever is our QB next year some weapons. I know we have Hester (the ultimate weapon) and BB but we need maybe 1 more guy. We should also get maybe a good saftey in the draft (Kenny Philips) just in case Mike Brown gets hurt again.
Changing the Offensive coordinater is pretty much a given.
Phil, the reason RT called some ballsy plays is because he herd us talking about him on this blog lol. But we should consider maybe Mike Martz at the OC position.
All of the Packer fans that blog here are stupid but im not saying there not loyal fans just dumb ones. GET OUT OF HERE.
I think we have the 10th pick in the draft so we may either trade up or down, but i dont think we will keep the 10.
Next year we play:
HOME AWAY
Saints Falcons
Bucs Panthers
Jags Texans
Titans Colts
Eagles St. Louis
Cheese Cheese
Vikes Vikes
Lions LionsNow, out of those teams I think we can win 11 because were going 4-2 in the division and were going to loose to the Colts, Jags, and Carolina. I think we can also win the division.
So heres to an easy 2008 schedule, heres to Devin Hester, heres to winning our last two games and sweeping the packers.
So Happy New Year everyone and lets hope our 2008 will be a succesfull one.
BEAR DOWN 2008January 1, 2008
#45 Rick said . . .Here come the Packer fans apparently...not surprising though, I'm sure there are annoying Bears fans on other sites as well...comes with the territory. Yes Packer fans, we beat you twice...deal with it. You are in the playoffs this year and we aren't, that is what we have to deal with. Just remember though, had you beat us both times you'd have the Cowboys coming into Lambeau...now you don't. Best of luck in Dallas.
Should be an interesting offseason...14th pick...free agency. We won't get everything we want and or need...but I hope we find a way to get some help on the oline more than anything. Happy New Year to everyone, even annoying Packer fans on this site...
January 1, 2008
#46 Bears Fan said . . .It's rickdiculus - bitches.
Word.
January 1, 2008
#47 Polygonhell said . . .From chicagobears.com
Ayanbadejo can see himself returning
Due to become an unrestricted free agent in March, special-teams standout Brendon Ayanbadejo faces an uncertain future but can envision himself re-signing with the Bears. "I wouldn't be surprised at all because I think I make an impact here," he said. "I have a firm foot on the ground not only in the community but as a part of this team. I am what the Chicago Bears embody as a player on and off the field."
Can we afford him??
January 2, 2008
#48 Polygonhell said . . .In absolute mony terms he would't be that expensive, probably
I suspect it depends on how much they value his leadership in the locker room as much as how much they value his play on the field.
January 2, 2008
#49 Polygonhell said . . .I guess I managed to delete my guess at a figure in the last post should read
January 2, 2008
#50 Duff Diggler said . . .Third time is a charm...
less than two milionJanuary 2, 2008
#51 Al in WI said . . .2008 espn mock draft has us taking Kenny Phillips (S) from Miami (14th overall)....any thoughts?
January 2, 2008
#52 Bill said . . .I'd love an impact safety early but that would be dependent on getting O-line help in FA.
Safety is the 2nd biggest need area on the team.
But to me these mock drafts are worthless until we know what happened with our own FA's and what we were able to score from other teams...January 2, 2008
#53 jeff said . . .Lovie is more annoying than Wanny. Even Haugh put him down today. Loive basically said he wants all the coaches and players back. Somehow managed to say that the defense is better than last year's despite being only 55 yards away from stting an alltime franchise record for most yards allowed.
His loyalty to Babich and Tuner is every bit as bad as Jauron to Shoop.
This franchise will continue to fail until they get a head coach who is a LEADER. Lovie is in no way at all a leader - he is an arrogant fool.
(So he's OK with Archeletta at safety? He said he wants all the players to return. And he's OK with Benson or Peterson as starting running back? This guy is NOT a good coach.)
January 2, 2008
#54 Windy City Packer Fan said . . .bill and everyone else...super bowl...last year...division titles the last two years...they haven't "continued" to fail at all. continuing to fail was the 90s.
January 2, 2008
#55 Pissed Off said . . .Happy new year all.
Bill, I can understand your frustration, and Jeff you do have a point. Lovie has put together a couple of good seasons. Bill, I think you are looking for the type of 10 year run in which you are competing for a title every year, with a down year being a respectable 9-7, or 10-6 without making the playoffs. I'm not sure that can happen too much any more. In the days of salary caps, teams have to be smart with which players they pay, and which ones they let walk. The teams that have been winning are ones that have a core group of very talented guys, then every couple of years switch supporting cast members (Patriots, Colts).
Beardown, you are right, there are annoying Bears fans posting on Packers blogs. What bothers me is the bloggers that engage in personal attacks and spread general hatred towards fans of other teams. I don't like it when Packer fans post taunts, insults, etc. There is a difference between some 'friendly banter' and down right rudeness. I will be the first to apologize for inappropriate posts.
Yes, the Bears beat the Packers twice this year, and I am happy that you can feel good about it. But in 2001, the same situation occurred (other way around), with the Bears going to the post season, and the Pack going home. The post season is more fun. It's a little bit like that crosstown rival game in high school, where you say 'we can go 1-8 as long as we beat (insert team name here).' Well, that is a bunch of garbage. a losing season is a losing season, and it is not much fun (see the 2005 season).
Now is the time when the talk about the organizational moves starts, which in some ways is more fun that the regular season.
I look forward to draft talk this winter.
A respectful Bear Down.
January 2, 2008
#56 WCPF said . . .Willie I'm liking your posts more and more every time I read them, where have you been? Mike Brown will inevitably get hurt but I would not mind if we let Berrian walk. I especially second your Martz opinion. I would love that guy calling plays for us...LOVE IT! He's the kinda guy you hate until he's on your staff. And your probably right that Turner let the dogs loose on the last few weeks since he thought he was on the chopping block.
I will also say that I did watch some of the Michigan Bowl game yesterday and Jake Long is the real deal. He's allowed like one sack all year? And then I just watched him, not the play, just him and he just destroys every defensive end that comes at him, its rediculous....he will be a stud NFL Tackle.
WCPF, I have no problem with you here but my question is why? I think I'm questioning your fanhood? Do none of the Packer blogs have any interesting dialogue cuz all the drunken 'sconies are well....drunk. Or is it that you blog so much you have time to blog on like ten of their sites and still come here to chat? I will never have a continued dialogue on a Packer blog like you do here. Sure come "Packer/Bear week" I may chat it up a while (even though I have never been to a packer blog, just hypothetical) on a packer blog but not just randomly throughout the year. Do you want to be a bears fan? We'll take you, your knowledgable and respectful and football smart unlike most of your cheese counterparts.
January 2, 2008
#57 Pissed Off said . . .PO'd, nope, don't want to be a Bears fan. Since I live down here, there is not print in the daily paper, nor talk on local radio about the Pack. Since I am bombarded with information, it is interesting to watch the workings of the organization and the fans from my perspective.
I did the same thing when I lived in the Twin Cities some 20 years ago. I would do the same no matter which NFL city I lived in. My guess is that if you lived in the state to the north, you might find yourself doing the same.
January 2, 2008
#58 Rancid said . . .I live in North Dakota, this is primarily Vikings country. I listen to KFAN radio, which is Twin Cities sports radio and so I am more than bombarded with purple crap. I know more about the purple than most Vikings fans around here. But I will never ever try to go to a Vikes blog or chat it up with Vikes rubes. I hate the Vikings. I hate the Packers. There is a thing called "rube chat" on kfan.com and I have never had the desire to go there and talk purple. I am a Twins fan so I dont mind them talking Twins but I hate the purple.
January 2, 2008
I will try to give my input on the opposing fans living outside their teams area.
Living in upstate NY I have a little interest in the NY football teams. I don't frequent any sports blogs other than this one. I think that a key difference there may be that 2 of the 3 NY teams are AFC, and obviously the Giants are in a different NFC division. Maybe it would be different were one in the division with da Bears.
I would say I probably have a higher knowledge than the average Bears fans about the Gmen, Jets, and Bills just because I hear it all the time, but I have no curiousity or special interest in those organizations. But generally, who cares? It can prove useful at times, such as when jeff brought up Chad Pennington. Having seen him play a lot and heard a lot of chatter from friends about him I had more than the media stereotype concerning knowledge.
I have a general historic dislike for the Packers. I do not have an inkling of division pride (the concept of rooting for the NFC North). It just doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Do they make NFC North t-shirts?
So in short I must admit that while I don't mind him posting and admire his football knowledge and general personality, WCPF and his interest in our Bears and overall approach to being a fan is kind of a mystery to me. I'm fine with that though, there are all different kinds of fans and many fans approach the game differently. I have a buddy who doesn't follow a particular team at all, but he watches football religiously with NFL ticket and the whole deal. He tells me he is a "fan of the game". Now I really don't understand that.
January 2, 2008
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.