The Bears have made final cuts to get down to the mandatory roster limit of 53. No major surprises here but the Bears did decide to hang onto Caleb Hanie. It was reported the guy was living at a hotel with this wife. At least now he can get an apartment or something...geez.
Some of these were previously reported late last week but here is the full list of guys looking for work:
FB Lousaka Polite, WR Brandon Rideau, DE Dan Bazuin, LB Michael Okwo, G Tyler Reed, G Anthony Oakley, WR Mike Hass, TE Fontel Mines, S Leonard Peters, RB P.J. Pope, LS Thomas Gafford, P Zac Atterberry, DE Ervin Baldwin, T Cody Balogh, CB Trey Brown, DE Joe Clermond, DE Nick Osborn, LB Joey LaRocque, G Ryan Poles, TE Marcus Stone, and G Chester Adams.
The Bears will go into the season with 7 offensive lineman that are healthy. That is the one area that scares me a bit but we'll see if anyone gets plucked from another teams list of cuts. The season is upon us ladies and gents.
-Pissed Off
#2 enderwiggin said . . .Welcome back Jeff. how was J Shore? I got my fingers cut for the Bears.
August 31, 2008
#3 pankster said . . .Welcome back Jeff. how was J Shore? I got my fingers crossed for the Bears.
August 31, 2008
#4 Al In WI said . . .watching bears again nfl network if this is vanilla as lovie and babitch put it what the hell are we going to do when peyton and company add the syrup???
August 31, 2008
#5 BearsTransplant said . . .Just got a chance to watch the Bears final preseason game and here are my thoughts:
1. Offensive Line is a major concern. St Clair is a real problem as he starting LT. Two bad penalties and he was beat badly on the Orton int. Also there weren't a lot of holes there for the running game either until the backups got in.
2. Orton was back to being Orton again. After showing some promise against 49ers, he reverted to the same old Orton. Lots of dink passes, some nice solid throws across the middle especially to Olsen, but a real adventure downfield or along the sideline. I've always felt he had the arm strengh but just lacked the accuracy to make those throws. I've changed my mindon that. He doesn't have the gun so he has to wind up more to throw down the field and loses accuracy when he does so. The interception was horrific, and he later missed an easy third down pass.
3. Rex Grossman looked great, and comfortable. He was under a rush and made good decisions, and threw accurate passes. He's over the benching now, and is in the right mind set to come in. I also agree with Kosar's take on the broadcast when he noted that Rex was pulled after one series because Smith didn't want him to put on a show and re-fire the QB controversy.
4. Hanie is showing improvement but I'm still not sold. I like his mobility, and he looks to have a decent arm. But it's preseason and I've seen other qb's look good in this situation and then stink in the regular season. I am interested to see how he developes as the season wears.
5. The defense needs to get more agressive and make something happen. They's struggled all preseason and mostly against bad quarterbacks. If this doesn't improve this season will be a disaster. Right now however I think they will be much better in the regular season.August 31, 2008
#6 biff_tannen said . . .Trai Essex, Willie Anderson, LeCharles Bentley, Max Starks. Hello? Jerry? Mr. Angelo? Hellooooo? Anyone? Left tackle? Left guard? Our QBs will be slaughtered as sacrifice at Lambeau to the recently-severed head of Brett Favre.... Hello? Anyone? Remember blocking? It's important. Hello? $3.50 says Angelo does nothing. NOTHING this season to improve the O-line. Seriously. $3.50.
August 31, 2008
#7 biff_tannen said . . .Hanie looks like he's got a lot of promise. As this season unfolds, if we're anything less than playoff bound, it'd be a mistake not to put him in for a few games to see how he handles regular-season play. No sense in wasting a high pick on a quarterback next season if this guy turns out to be the Romo of this draft. I'll take an undrafted gamer over a first-day pretender any day of the week. Could be nothing, but I can't wait to see how this plays out.
August 31, 2008
#8 Pissed Off said . . .Hanie looks like he's got a lot of promise. As this season unfolds, if we're anything less than playoff bound, it'd be a mistake not to put him in for a few games to see how he handles regular-season play. No sense in wasting a high pick on a quarterback next season if this guy turns out to be the Romo of this draft. I'll take an undrafted gamer over a first-day pretender any day of the week. Could be nothing, but I can't wait to see how this plays out.
August 31, 2008
#9 Duff Diggler said . . .Uh enderwiggin, it was me who wrote the post, as you can see by the name.
Al, here here on the Rex point you made. I didnt watch that broadcast where Kosar mentioned that, just the web feed which was CBTV only but I agree, it sure felt like that, kinda during the Seattle game when Rex got pulled after just a bit of momentum got going....you know Lovie wouldnt want to have to change his mind or look like an idiot for selecting Orton to start after it was decided in June already, that said, Rex is ready to play, its just a matter of when.
Bearstransplant, good reference on the names available, I certainly like a couple of those name more than the ones we have...sad.
September 1, 2008
#10 Prefontaine said . . .I think the NFL should adjust the practice squad rules. We should have some kind of protected "minor league" talent. I liked Rideau and Peters this preseason, and I have a feeling that one, if not both, of them will be claimed off of waivers. Especially since the NFL is so injury prone. It'd be a shame to see them go, and need them later....
September 1, 2008
#11 Knight of Ownage said . . .The final Sunday has passed and I can finally start focusing on those damn ponies and Satan Manning.
Fire it up boys. Time for the defense we've been hiding to come out of hibernation, and Orton to prove me wrong.
Hanie for President.
September 1, 2008
#12 enderwiggin said . . .We should cut Anthony Adams and bring in Chris Simms. We're stacked at DT (Harris, Dvoracek, Harrison, Toeaina, Idonije). If we need help down the road, there's still one stop open on the practice squad. Find some rookie DT w/ some upside to finish the ps. We'd be better w/ 4 qb's. We've started at least 3 every year this decade except '01, '05, and '06, our good years. Plus we'd be able to keep Hanie on the sidelines, learning. Hanie= Brady (In 3 yrs.).
September 1, 2008
#13 animal said . . .Dang pissedoff, i hope you are not .... pissed off. my bad man.
I agree with Biff. if we suck then why not play someone to develope. I hope it doesnt come to that though.September 1, 2008
#14 shonbear said . . .are you guys serious?
this dick sucking on Heine is making me sick. You are all falling for the classic syndrome. Realize it. Christ.Heine is probably Henry Burris, if you want to be realistic. Ok, so if a one in 1,000,000 chance strikes and he is Romo squared, im the idiot. However, chances are this dude is not an NFL QB.
Give it a rest already.
September 1, 2008
#15 Idonije said . . .Animal, I agree, lets just say by chance that he does have all this potential... Ron Turner, Lovie and crew would not develop him anyway, they don't have the skill or ability to actually DEVELOP any QB. Any good QB the Bears get is only good because of their already known natural talent they they might have.
In Chicago the QB seems destined to always stay the same if not improve slightly due to experience, but then look worse wen they aren't because of lame play calling, setting them up for unsuccess and not taking care of the Offensive Line to give them time and provide an outlet useful running and play action attack.
I'm negative, Every teams game plan will be kill the QB and don't worry about anything else. If our D hasn't been faking it then it's all not going to matter anyway.
This coming game will explain the rest of the season in one night. My heart is waning, I'll keep the hope a glimmer onthe edge f my seat until then.
September 1, 2008
#16 animal said . . .Now that the preseason is over, I was just wondering how many wins everyone thinks we finish with this year?
September 1, 2008
#17 Phillip from NYC said . . .I think our lack of talent on offense and aging defense become apparent in the first two games, and we over achieve for 9 wins anyway. Just because I love my Bears. Realistically, we could win 6 games.
September 1, 2008
#18 Phillip from NYC said . . .Idonije:
16 and 0* of course.
* = Apply grain of salt here.
September 1, 2008
#19 Max said . . .Idonije:
16 and 0* of course.
* = Apply grain of salt here
September 1, 2008
#20 DTB said . . .no no no Phillip, you mean 19-0* baby. . .
September 1, 2008
#21 zisk said . . .Well looks like False Start Freddy ends up as the consolation prize. At least we're in the running for Willie, dont know if thats good or bad but at least we haven't signed Fred yet...
http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/09/01/teams-lining-up-for-willie/
September 1, 2008
#22 Phillip from NYC said . . .9-7 the fact that our defense can't be any more injured than last year should be good for 2 more wins
September 1, 2008
#23 jeremy9 said . . .Ah, I understand your reasoning Max. The Bears will be so good this year that the NFL will add an additional three games to the regular season just so the Bears can win them. Makes sense to me, anyway, but I wonder how our Superbowl Opponent, the London Sillynannies, will feel about playing the game in April?
In all seriousness though, I think we'll be over 10 games this season, assuming the D stays healthy and the O line can do the protection thing.
September 2, 2008
#24 jeremy9 said . . .6-10 I am worried about what offense and defense we will have this year. Our offense can't compete with the other offensses in the division. We haven't quite had the luck to draft the offensive playmakers like other teams, we look at Benson at pick 4.......not AP at 7.
Sadly, I don't have great expectations this year. All....my own opinion.
Lets really hope our defense can really bring it this year, I will take a sub par offense if I can see some smashmouth in your face defense and outstanding special teams. Maybe that means 9-7 then???
September 2, 2008
#25 animal said . . .by the way I realize they were different drafts...my point being the draft class that year wasn't as good....regardless...you got to get your first round picks right
September 2, 2008
#26 shonbear said . . .I got excited about willie anderson, but it sounds like he is washed up. he was a backup, and has some nagging injuries.
call me crazy, but I want to see if St. Clair can hold down the position.
Dave Haugh rubbing it in today- instead of Bazuin we could have drafted Ugoh (colts) or Justin Blalock (Falcons guard). Both are solid starters. I say, fuck you Haugh, and your smarty-pants journalism. Id rather remember him as the guy we gave up Thomas Jones for.
I still want the Bears to sign Simms.
September 2, 2008
#27 JWilson said . . .If we have a 6-10 year and at a minimum don't even make the playoffs, then we are looking at Lovie's success that looking like he capitalized on the timing of our weak division and peak of talant on our team. I fully believe Jerry Angelo (despite his failed picks) did improve this team talent wise from at least a 10 year drout in that area, but either way you view it, the potential is that the team has gotten progressively worse since Lovie arrived.
Goes back to that "players coach" type guy that doesn't seem to hold players accountable when they play under their ability and all the drama/gossip/secrecy between him and Ron Turner. Leadership is not always popular, but in the end if it's true leadership it will produce results.
I'm not completely naysaying here, I'm ok with Lovie, after Dick and Dave he's a pleasure. Jerry left Tampa Bay with enough talent that helped lead them to a Superbowl win. He also got us enough talent to get to a Superbowl and several playoff appearances after a lot of down years.
This year is so important for Lovie, Ron, Jerry and our defense. They have a lot to prove, they like it when nobody expects anything out of them. I hope the fans can take it.
The tough schedule is against us, the media is against us, X-players/coaches are against us, FWF's are against us and in a lot of ways a lot of us aren't all that upbeat about what might happen either because maybe we are too close to it, we know too much or we've seen it all before and we can't bear (pun) to see it again.
Here's to the Colts and Panthers game that will tell the REAL story for the season. Strong defense and no injuries, if we can scrape through those two away games healthy with a 1-1 record or 2-0 record and the offense gets into any kind of groove at all with the running game, I wouldn't want to be the Tampa Bay Bucs coming to Chicago for game three. Then the O line and D will have that certain swagger, an unshakeable confidence in the face of all that previous adversity that will carry us through the season as the true MONSTERS OF THE MIDWAY!!!
This is my hope and dream. I'm thinking that all this preseason shit was smoke screens sent from the coaches and Jerry and they have a real plan that all of us just aren't smart enough to understand.
Prove me wrong JA, LS and RT...PROVE ME WRONG I say!!!
In Japan I have to wait till 9 AM to see the Bears/Colts game ARGH!! The wait is killing me.
On a side note, the only good thing from Larry Mayer this weekend is that stat that the last time the Bears went 1-3 in the preseason was the 85 Bears huh? Preseason has little meaning, but at least they came out of it injury free this year...Keep that going!
September 2, 2008
#28 shonbear said . . .Damn! our D now has to play against Rudi Johnson twice a year.
September 2, 2008
#29 Pissed Off said . . .Did I mention that was 9AM Monday morning here. Argh! The waiting is the hardest part.
September 2, 2008
#30 Brad said . . .I'm certainly not overly optimistic with you know who leading the team, maybe 6-10ish like a few others said. I'd be higher on it, maybe .500 or better if we had the backup QB starting. But the D needs to show up unlike they did in preseason for the most part and the O-line needs to protect.
September 2, 2008
#31 Phil from SATX said . . .Wow, Rideau doesn't make it to the final cut. That is surprising considering how well he has played. Maybe he doesn't do well on special teams.
I think we are an 8-8 team. This is the worst possible scenario. Another teaser of a season coming.
September 2, 2008
#32 Pissed Off said . . .Man I would love to come in with this and be optimistic. My problem is I now have deep-seated worries about our D. In these last two exhibition games, the D has really looked like last year's D, not like 2006's D. Brian Urlacher has not looked like old Urlacher at all - instead he looks like the Urlacher of last year.
Mike Brown, the guy I was most excited to see back in uniform, has been nothing special. Tommie Harris - the man some claim to be the best defensive player in the league - where's he been? Have you even seen him in plays?
Lance Briggs has had occasions where he's in the wrong place, and where he misses on cutback moves - kind of like last year.
Blitzes orchestrated by Babich seem to get picked up and come from the wrong side.
Did I mention that even Peanut and Vasher have looked like nothing special? Peanut gets a pass because of his daughter, but...
Babich is making roster/position moves on a game to game basis, just like last year.
I can only hope that it's only preseason, that Lovie has over-emphasized lack of contact in training camp due to a justified fear of repeating 2007's injury situation, and that the cream will rise as the season gets under way. But my fears are running pretty deep right now.
On the other hand, I think the O is going to outperform our expectations, possibily significantly - at least to TOP if not points - which should really help the D. But if Brian U and Mike Brown are in decline, and if the line doesn't get game-changing pressure, we're screwed anyway, right?
I'm not picking how many games we win - to me it's all about the D. If the D can regain their form, I honestly believe we can go all the way. I'm still not scared by our competition in the NFC, and I'm certainly not scared by our division.
If the D looks more like 2007 than 2006, then it ain't going to be pretty. But then the season will end with a blood-letting, and we'll have a new coaching regime to root for and give us hope.
Either way, I can't wait for the season to start. Sorry for being a downer on a Monday (well actually Tuesday) morning. I'll be sufficiently up for the Colts, believe me.
September 2, 2008
#33 Crown Their Ass said . . .Crown, get off Ortons jock. We know who both QBs are and its my opinion that Rex has the better upside and ability to lead our team. I'm not Jewish but what the fuck does that have to do with anything, I have a feeling your post is going to be removed for that remark. You can hope and pray Orton proves me wrong but I dont think its gonna happen, if you dont like what I write, dont read it......douchebag.
September 2, 2008
#34 Pissed Off said . . .I am Jewish. I didn't intend for my comment to be derogatory, I was just agreeing with Pissed Off that Rex might be the best Jewish QB to ever play the game and he can throw 100 hail mary's a game because he has such a strong arm. Pissed Off dreams of smelling Rex's grundle.
September 2, 2008
#35 Crown Their Ass said . . .Nice cover up Crown, your commentary was lewd and inappropriate much like your general take on life....and besides how do you know if Rex is Jewish?
September 2, 2008
#36 Pissed Off said . . .No cover up, just speaking the truth. Lewd and inappropriate? You are the one throwing douchebag around angry ignorant Bears fan. You are commenting on my way of life now? Wow, you know me so well. Anyways, Grossman is not Jewish, but he plays like one. He is slow, pensive, and trips over his own feet quite a bit. How many great Jewish football players do you know? That was my point, try to keep up. I like reading your comments because they are all about Grossman and how he should be the starter. Personally, I never want to see him play in a Bears uniform again. I'm done with him, and you are still holding onto a dream that will never materialize. Can't wain to Orton trash talk you when the season starts.
September 2, 2008
#37 Crown Their Ass said . . .And I'll bet you were the same guy who couldnt wait to trash talk me about Griese when he came in after Rex was pulled last year. Or maybe you were on Kordell Stewarts or Chad Hutchinsons bandwagon too. Its going to be the same outcome...another shitty Chicago Qb only worthy of being a backup in the league...only for the season to be rescued by Rex when his number is inevitably called. And by the way, we can go back and forth all year on Orton and we'll see if theres more good than bad from him, Ok?
I called you a douchebag and lewd etc., beacuse its far more appropriate to do that than bring religion into the thing. The point is you can call names all you want but you crossed the line with the jewish comment. And so you called me Jewish, then you said Rex was the best Jewish QB ever, now your saying he's not Jewish. Where the hell are you going with this....hold onto a thought man and more importantly leave religion out of it! Call me names all you want, rip my opinions, I dont care but the religion thing is uncalled for. And now are you calling Jews slow and pensive. This is grounds for another post to be deleted. Do you ever just stop?
September 2, 2008
#38 Pissed Off said . . .For the record, I never had faith in any of those QBs you listed. We will see if Grossman gets the opportunity to "rescue" the team. I am calling right now, that Orton will start all 16 if he stays healthy. Obviously, he is going to have his troubles with this O-line, but I think he will surprise a lot of people this year. I'll stop with the Jewish comments because you are getting really worked up and can't wrap your head around it. By the way, I am a Civil Rights attorney who represents people who are discriminated against based on their race, sex, RELIGION, etc. It was a joke about Jews and athleticism, and I have the right to make a non-threatening joke about my people. Did you draft Rex on your fantasy team before taking a running back?
September 2, 2008
I'm not an idiot but I will say that you are easily misunderstood with those comments and that I would think that in your profession you certainly wouldnt talk like that in general. What does someones faith have to do with their athleticism, apparently I havent caught to the idea that (you think) Jews are slow and passive.....are Hindus great passers and runners...how about Christians? It makes no sense? And yeah, Rex was the first overall player drafted in my league, I was going to wait till the second round but he got taken right away.
September 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.