There's a story that snuck its way into the Chicago newspapers today that should frighten the living shit out of every person who considers the Chicago Bears an integral piece of their existence. Brian Urlacher had "minor" neck surgery and some believe we should be worried. After all, the neck is essentially the storage capsule for the spinal cord and if someone is cutting into the capsule, it ain't minor.
Let's make something clear: Brian Urlacher IS the Chicago Bears organization and one needs to do nothing more than survery the Soldier Field stands on Sunday to understand that. Any doubts surrounding the unabashed superstar puts not only 2008 in question but the entire era to come. We can talk about free agency, Michael Turner, the scouting combine and any other God forsaken thing but without Urlacher on the football field come opening day...the rest is silence.
The only thing "minor" about today's news is the coverage but I can assure you that any surgerical setbacks and "minor" becomes "major" very quickly. This is the time to hold your breath. This is the time to wait and see. This is the time to pray, should that tickle your fancy. If you hope for these Chicago Bears just one-year removed from appearing in a Super Bowl to head back to the big game, #54 is the most essential piece to that puzzle. So I say...
Hail Mary, full of grace...
#2 Pissed Off said . . .Amen.
February 8, 2008
#3 BRIANsong said . . .....the Lord is with thee....
If they say its minor I have to believe that. I cant get worked up if no one in the media is even getting worked up and we all know how they like to blow things out of proportion. Maybe the surgery is to actually give him a neck.
February 8, 2008
#4 B.A. Baracus said . . .I can't help thinking of Jerry Azumah's minor neck surgery that ended his career.
February 8, 2008
#5 Shady said . . .It is difficult to speculate on his condition without knowing what surgery took place. Given the Bears track record of providing info, we may never know exactly what was done.
However, it sounds like he has some type of cervical disc issue, which may have been the source of his problems last year. First, any surgery on or near the spine is never "simple" or routine in relative terms. However, some cervical surgeries are less invasive or serious than others.
For instance, his surgery could have been on the less-serious side, like removing ostephytes (bone spurs) or could have been as serious as a disc fusion with insertion of steel cages(metal used to support and hold the spine permanently in place). I doubt the latter is the case because a spinal fusion is not a surgery that lends itself to future football playing. Only time will tell whether he can play again and at what level he can play.
February 8, 2008
#6 Jimbo said . . .Thank you Dr. Baracus.
Re last thread:
"With the 14th overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft, the Chicago bears select:
Dan Connor LB Penn State."But seriously, if we lose Ayanbadejo we'll be pretty thin at LB. I think Phil brought it up and it's a valid issue. His departure could be an enormous loss for the special teams unit.
And the Bears are NOT going to fanchise Berrian. He's not worth 7.8 MIL next year. He's not even a #1! And that list from the last thread? Imagine if the Bears had a Braylon Edwards, or a Calvin Johnson or a Larry Fitzgerald. The offense would make giant strides in the right direction. Sure a WR might not produce right away, but in the future, they could make all the difference. Look at Derek Anderson. Give him a Joe Thomas, Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow Jr. and you've made him an All Star QB. So give Rex (Or Kyle or Flacco) a RT (Faneca) and stud WR (Malcom Kelly) and Greg Olsen and then let's see what they can do. GIVE A QB SOME WEAPONS ALREADY!
But anyway, get better soon Brian. We need you.
Go Hoosiers!
February 8, 2008
#7 Rancid said . . .Shady, that's just it. Out of 20+ WR's picked in the 1st round in the last 5 years, less than 5 of them really stand out. If we could grab an Edwards, Calvin Johnson, or Fitzgerald, by all means, tee him up and draft away. The odds are slim though.
P.S. Those receivers were all Top 5 selections in their respective drafts.
February 9, 2008
#8 Megan said . . .Maybe they have found some way to replace all of 54s faulty parts with bionic stuff. I'm picturing a new terminator version and it's cool. Just so everyone knows, failed attempts at humor is one of my defense mechanisms so the truth is . . .
I'm scared squirrel shitless about this one.
February 9, 2008
#9 RandomName said . . .Rancid... Why do you encourage! LOL
I use humor as well, and sometimes de-Nile
He'll be impregnating cotten-candy vendors in no time!February 9, 2008
#10 bill white said . . .Yeah surgery and minor hardly go together. If it's so minor why need surgery at all?
Get well Brian.
February 9, 2008
#11 DTB said . . .I thought Brian had lower back problems, now this, maybe one is caused from the other. This could have an impact on how the front office is going to go about their business. There are so many moves that have to be made and this just makes their job even tougher [they have enough problems just doing what all Bears fans know what has to be done] Good luck Brian , I hope you recover quickly. 17hondo.com
February 9, 2008
#12 Rancid said . . .Absurdity...
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3237727
February 9, 2008
#13 Shady said . . .Absurd is right. Take a poll. Tell every GM in the league they can have either Hester or Cribbs as their return man. I'm guessing even the Browns take Hester. The article is just proof that there's nothing for journalists to write about right now. Most people agree there's no discussion as to whether he is the best in the history of the game and this prick wants to discuss whether he's even the best currently in the league. Why he's nuttier than . . .
February 10, 2008
#14 Z said . . .Oh I love it:
http://sports.aol.com/nfl/story/_a/surprises-in-store-in-drafts-first-round/20080208180809990001
At 14 the Bears select Malcolm Kelly... Or Jeff Otah.
February 10, 2008
#15 RandomName said . . .Urlacher please be OK!
Otah, Phillips another O-linemen, trade the pick, just get us some help BT.
And the #23 comparison is an absolute joke. If Cribbs mom was a GM, she would be crazy not take DH is she could. Don't get me wrong 5 TD's in 3 years is sick. But seriously does that writer even watch these NFL games or can he at least read a box score. Hester probably could score on a pack of Cheetahs. Seriously, has anyone brought the Cheetah commercial idea with #23 up to any ad or Bears execs yet?
February 10, 2008
#16 Rancid said . . ."Battle of the return kings: Hester vs. Cribbs"
Th article should've been titled:
"Slaughter of the pauper: Hester, now who's Cribbs?"
Cribbs is very good but Come ON! look at the stats, just cause you're willing to run into someone doesnt make you better.
nuff said
February 10, 2008
#17 Al in WI said . . .The writer's argument for why Cribbs is better than Hester is that he is about field position more than just looking for the TD every time. Here's a link to a stat that shows average starting field position for each team. Starting field position is the the LOS/DR line. Cleveland's is pretty close to ours but I'm pretty sure the reason ours is in bold is that it was the best in the league. When you factor in squibs and 40 yard line penalties it's clear that Hester causes both more TDs AND better field position for his team. Damn, why am I even bothering with this stupid article. ABSURD! Anyway, here's the link:
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/drivestats.php
February 10, 2008
#18 John said . . .Pretty good article from David Haugh in the trib. It sounds like Brian's injury is not as serious as first thought and this procedure could help what was ailing him early in the season.
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/cs-080208-bears-urlacher-surgery,1,5416740.storyFebruary 10, 2008
#19 Shady said . . .Maybe he just had a mole removed? haha, lets hope.
Sports Floor MatsFebruary 11, 2008
#20 RandomName said . . .Let's hope you never visit us again John, go push your mats on somebody else.
Floormats? You're a floormat salesman? Really? Wow.
February 11, 2008
#21 mikebdot said . . .GO NFC! Superbowl and Probowl.
February 11, 2008
#22 mikebdot said . . .Not that I don't mean seeing Ayanbadejo playing LB, but why the hell was he playing LB at the Pro Bowl? Seriously, he was in there probably half the time. That seems pretty goofy to me.
Also, why was the AFC not kicking to Hester? It's a meaningless game to show the talent in the NFL. What a stupid fucking thing to do, onside kicking the ball. Ass clowns.
February 11, 2008
#23 Phil from SATX said . . .mean = mind. Man, coffee hasn't kicked in yet...
February 11, 2008
Loving the posts today, every one of them. (well maybe not floormats). PO'd, very funny comment about no-neck.
That article about Hester vs. Whohe? was very clearly trying to find SOMETHING to write about. A much better slant for that article would have been more like,
"We all know that the future HoF'er Devin Hester has already solidified his position as the greatest returner ever, but you might be interested to know there are some other pretty good returners out there too..."
I can't believe that 61% of people on the poll say they want QB with the first pick. It seems painfully clear that the "obviously more intelligent" fans who make up our blogosphere disagree with this. While the concept of Malcolm Kelly may be exciting, the only way it works is if BT feels they can get first year, first game 2008 starters at oline and safety with later picks or FA. Which just reminds me again that we don't know what the hell will happen because it all depends on FA. But first round receiver picks do seem to be risky, don't they? Who posted that list of WR busts?
And although it's no real reason for optimism, I'll still be optimistic and say maybe Urlacher WILL be better for this surgery. I'm certainly not worried about that article, because I believe when they say minor surgery, it means minor surgery. Saying "any surgery on the neck is not minor" is just stupidity - like the disclaimers that you have to sign when you're getting a colonoscopy or a wart removed. Yeah, yeah, I know, I could die, don't worry, my family will be suing you anyway if I do because you're obviously incompetent if you killed me when you were cutting off my wart.
Much ado about nothing, I say, I'll put more on upside than downside.
I agree 100% Mikeb - although I didn't see it, if they were kicking away from Hester they should be fined by Roger Goodell - the great puppetmaster David Stern would have never let a marketing opportunity like that go unviewed, he would have had had the damn shit planned out beforehand. A total crime and a waste in a meaningless fake game.
February 11, 2008
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