If they play a postseason game in Minnesota...
...and nobody sees it...did it really happen? The Vikings - in a pathetic display of fan support - have anywhere from eight to ten thousand tickets remaining to their PLAYOFF game this Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. The contest is set to be blacked out on local television in the Minneapolis (and surrounding) areas. Weren't there Vikings fans on this site mocking the Chicago Bears a week ago? I hope they come back Sunday afternoon when their local Fox affiliate will be showing re-runs of that TMZ show. I'll give them score updates.
A Note about Brian Urlacher
Brian Urlacher does not like criticism. You know who does? No one. But everything you need to know is in this quote: "Yes, I wish I would have made a lot more big plays. Obviously, everyone could say that on our defense. I wish I was around the ball more, but I wasn't. Just the way things worked out this season."
Ask yourself this. Would Mike Singletary ever say something like that? Would Dick Butkus? Bears fans treat Brian Urlacher like a great football player - look at the kids around the stadium - but 54 doesn't seem to want the responsibility that comes with greatness. (Spiderman had the same problem.) Great players, in any sport, look at a season's failures and put the pressure on themselves to right the ship. Great players use criticism as fuel to get better, play harder, win more. Brian Urlacher doesn't. Maybe because Brian Urlacher is just a good player who had a couple great years.
DaBearsBlog Announces...
We're officially supporting Jeff Fisher and the Tennessee Titans for the championship of the National Football League.
#2 Urlacher FTW said . . .Hi
January 2, 2009
#3 Urlacher FTW said . . .I guess I don't read much into that statement jeff. He is basically just realistically saying he wishes it would have gone differently but it didn't. It's not like he has anymore chances to say it's going to change this year.
Mike Singletary with his pants on or off? I lost a lot of respect for that guy over that I mean comeon, there is a line when it comes to driving home a point and looking like a stupid asshole and he crossed it.
Again I think a lot of the problems with Urlacher this season were due to the ineptness of essentially starting 3/4 of his snaps as a lineman. Add in the fact that we had to blitz more than any other team in the NFL because our D-lineman were worthless at getting pressure, and your left with Urlacher either running away from a running back or having to pivot, race back into position and pivot again to set up coverage, it was a lousy scheme; ran into the ground by a lousy coach, that turned us into a lousy Defense.
Maybe he should have said, try getting us a DC that has done something similar before, or how about a scheme that works, or how about anybody makeing decisions that would know better than to take someone who hasnt played a snap at safety all year, played poorly in past years there, and smack them there for the most important game of the season.
January 2, 2009
#4 johnnyelpaso said . . .I liked this quote from the tribune:
"A once-feared defense gave up 400 or more yards four times this season — that's once per quarter the way Smith breaks down his season. A 10-win season went down the tubes not because the Bears lacked playmakers on offense but because of a defense still in stunning disarray."
..that is truth in journalism.
January 2, 2009
#5 Sdwat51 said . . .Im going to throw this out and try to get some input on it........If Mark Sanchez comes out for the 2009 draft, how would the Bear fans feel about drafting him.....I really like Orton and believe that he is our QB of the future but I see alot of potential in this kid.......I think that the bears need a better QB coach.......Sanchez could be molded into a really good backup for now and to a franchise qb......He reminds me alot of Joe Flacco........Hope Sanchez is still available for us.....
January 2, 2009
#6 TBone said . . .I agree with Jeff;s assessment completely, and without caveat - Urlacher is a good player who had a couple/few great seasons. I have never seen him as the great player many have, and last season felt he should have had a diminished role at the very least.
I, for one, would not feel his loss - at least at MLB - would be all that significant.
As to Sanchez....yes, maybe, and it would make sense to bring in our own version of Aaron Rodgers. However, I also am one who subscribes to the thought that Orton needs a 3rd year, and a better O-line, with a better reveiver or two, before we designate him as our #2.
And, yes, that's me, vacillating.
January 2, 2009
#7 Phil from SATX said . . .Screw the Titans, lets cheer for the Chargers and Ron Rivera!!!
January 2, 2009
#8 Spanish Bear said . . .Brian Urlacher certainly was great. Emphasis on the WAS. What made him great was his unparalleled speed/strength combination, coupled with above-average football smarts in knowing his position.
The speed/strength advantage that he used to enjoy is now GONE. What's left is just an okay middle linebacker.
That makes the timing on that contract extension pretty bad, although I still believe it was a reward for the past, which, strangely enough, I am not against.
What I don't know is whether his skills have diminished enough that he can't have any role on our football team. I do believe he can no longer be effective enough as a middle linebacker. I think he'd be better at covering guys than Hunter Hillenmeyer was, though.
How come the Titans support, Jeff? I like them, really like Jeff Fisher (wanted him for the Bears as of last year, when they were talking about not keeping him). Is it because of Jeff's past Bear ties?
I'm still rooting for the Eagles. Continue the recent NFC SB win streak (currently at 1 in a row), reward the group that killed the Cowboys so completely and deliciously.
January 2, 2009
#9 johnnyelpaso said . . .Jeff, what about the Panthers: as you said earlier in the season "It´s hard not to root for the Panthers, they´re the Bears with a QB".
I don´t like Mark Sanchez at #18. I would pick an OL (Gross?, Goff? Tauscher?) and a WR (really difficult here: maybe Devery Henderson, but he´s not a #1... yet) before the draft and on draft day I would go this way:
1 - OG (Duke Robinson?)
2- DE
3- FS
3 (Compensatory pick) - WR
4 - CB
5 - OL or LBBut we all now they´re not going to buy two players (plus, maybe, a QB) in FA.
January 2, 2009
#10 Who's Laughing Now said . . .Sdwat51, I totally agree with you about giving Orton a 3rd year. I feel that he can do much better things with this team if he had recievers that could catch a ball....Our offense has improved from last season and believe that with a bit tweaking the OL & bringing in some recievers that can catch & lets not forget replacing our OC & DC we can make a run for the superbowl.......this team is not as bad as everyone makes it seem...we have to work on making some coaching changes & with that, we should be a much better team...we have lots of weapons on this team.....Olsen, Clark, Hester,Forte,& even Orton.....I see Orton being a smart and dedicated QB who makes an effort in correcting his mistakes by talking to coaches after an int, looking at pictures of the defense when he made a mistake..he cares and thats why I prefer him over Grossman because as for Grossman is selfish and lazy........As with Sanchez, he would be a good draft for us as a backup and eventually a starter.....this kid plays with alot of heart and intensity and thats what this team needs..
January 2, 2009
#11 Urlacher FTW said . . .I think the number of 85 Bears becoming successful coaches is a tribute to what an awesome coach Buddy Ryan was: Singletary, Leslie Frazier, Rivera, Fisher. Then of course there's Ryan's sons. Word is Singletary could be bringing some 85 buddies like Dent and McMichael to San Fran. That's a huge chunk of the league's defenses being influenced by 85 Bears. Buddy Ryan made Ditka look good. Buddy Ryan might have been the last great defensive genuis.
January 2, 2009
#12 Urlacher FTW said . . .It's hard to tell with Sanchez, for one I'm not positive he'll even be in the draft this year; he said it would be hard to leave USC. He has only had one year of real playtime, and he played in the PAC10 for a season when they are arguably 2nd worst to the Big10 out of the regular BCS conferences. I mean he beat up on Penn State but so did a freshman from Iowa. At least he has good size though, I think Angelo heard we wanted a pocket quarterback and thought we meant one that fits in your pocket. Though if we spend our 1st round pick on a backup QB, I think we are in trouble.
Spanish- Only issue with Goff is his age and I don't thin Guard is a huge need. Gross would be a good one but Tausch will prob come cheaper. I really think we need some talent we can build on. We have Buenning who I think is startable allowing Beekman to take over for Kruetz who is apparantly past his prime. A lot of it depends on Williams ability to take over at LT and what they do with St. Clair. If Williams starts and they re-sign St. Clair as a backup, our true need would be a big RT to replace an aging Tait.
Hopefully we will focus a lot of FA money on a Tackle. Hous would be a good WR but he is really a smaller no 2 guy. We already have that, we need a big rangy possesion WR and there really isn't one on the FA market so I would say get the line handled and draft a WR. Brian Robiskie would be great, I think he could slip to 18 and would be a perfect fit. Greg Matthews would be a good 4th rounder if hes there and you could probably still a guy like Barden Ramses late. But I really hope they sign a FA tackle. Then round 2 hopefully Courtney Greene will slip by for us to fill our FS need.
January 2, 2009
#13 Damn Urlacher FTW said . . .And before we throw 54 under the bus, he is a great player, period. He will be in the hall of fame, period.
Dick Butkus played over 8 years and had:
1020 tackles, 22 picks, and 27 forced fumbles, 0 defensive TDs.Brian Urlacher has now played 8 years and has:
1492 tackles, 23 picks, and 37 forced fumbles, oh and 14 defensive TDs.His stats make Butkus' look awful. This season was his worst but still if he does only this good for 3 more years, and you add 300 tackles and 6 picks to those numbers you give him
1792 tackles, 29 picks, and 37 FFRay Lewis has 3 years on Brian and worse numbers in all areas than that; and that's assuming he continues to suck for 3 years, if he rebounds he blows them away. What dimension of reality do you call home to not think he is a great linebacker, no wonder he is cynical, his fans don't even understand what he's already accomplished, they just want more.
January 2, 2009
#14 Mike said . . .When you put it like that
January 2, 2009
#15 Spanish Bear said . . .Wow, really? We're going to give Brian Urlacher the finger and a solid "Fuck off!" after a decade of doing nothing but being consistently one of the two or three best linebackers in the league? You sound like KSK's Tommy from Quinzee, ready to throw our guy under the bus after a bad season where every single guy on the defense played poorly at one point or another. Way to be, moron. The Bears have done nothing, as an organization, to deserve Urlacher's willingness to stay with the team. He could have been playing for a contender for the last five years, rather than for or organization that constantly makes a half-assed effort to win.
January 2, 2009
#16 jeff said . . .@ Urlacher FTW: You´re probably right. We need first an OT (assuming Williams can do his job at LT) because I think St. Clair has played a little better than Tait. John Tait is in his way down and I would like some fresh blood at his position. But we can´t forget that we are also in the limit with our interior linemen. Josh Beekman deserves recognition as one of the top performers of this team (on the offense, I´m only ranking Forte, Orton and Olsen higher than him) but he doesn´t have the size to open gaps for Forte. The same occurs with Garza and Kreutz is playing a lot worse than a couple of years ago. So, let´s improve both positions if we are going to give Orton a fair chance to show what he can do with an average (or a little above average offense).
Also, when we got Buenning, I thought he would step into the OL instead of Beekman. We need to see more of him but, as now, I will be OK with this OL:Williams - Beekman - Kreutz - Duke Robinson (or another rookie or FA) - rookie or FA
Backups: Dan Buenning, St. Clair and Tait. I don´t see Kreutz demoted next season.
January 2, 2009
#17 Phil from SATX said . . .i like urlacher but he's not going to hall of fame.
January 2, 2009
#18 Phil from SATX said . . .When we need good decisions, we make bad ones. When we need good luck, we get bad luck.
Cutting Moose goes into the category of Bad Luck. He gave us every reason to support his firing last year, and we hailed it when it happened.
Unfortunately, if we could have had Moose on the roster this year, we might still be talking about an upcoming football game.
Moose's stats this year would have easily made him the #1 receiver on our team. 65 catches for 923 yards vs. our #1, Hester, at 51, 665.
There is no question that his performance this year somewhat vindicates him. Doesn't excuse any of the bad teammate in him, but it does excuse some of last year's performance. After all, he had three different quarterbacks throwing him three different kind of balls last year, and all three QBs were under the most extreme kind of duress due to the league's worst offensive line.
The Bad Decision part of it comes from not finding a suitable replacement for Moose. Marty Booker was not it. BTW, last year's Moose production that got him fired would have been the #2 production by a WR on our team this year - last year he was 50 catches, 570 yards, our #2 this year was Rashied Davis, 35 catches for a measly 445 yards.
Siiiiiiighhhhhh.
January 2, 2009
#19 enderwiggin said . . .Jeff, I think you're crazy if you think Urlacher won't be in the Hall of Fame. Throughout his career, he's been the premier linebacker along with Ray Lewis. The fact that he's in his career decline now doesn't diminish what he did before. Popularity alone will get him in, but he earned his way in anyway.
January 2, 2009
#20 Ronaldo said . . .just an absolute mind boggling statement jeff. No hall of fame for Urlacher? I had to check three times to make sure that was really you posting that. What if he gets a ring within the next few years? Then do you think hes in? I believe he is in, even if he breaks his noggin on the first play next year.
January 2, 2009
#21 craig said . . .For once, something other than the QB debate.
I think the mathematics of evaluating the LB position have changed in the past decade with the evolution of the 4-3 vs. 3-4 defense. That being said, Urlacher's a lock for the HOF. I just wonder if he'll Riverdance up to the stage...
January 2, 2009
#22 Murph said . . .TBone, how can you possibly root for the Chargers? I don't know if I've ever seen a more over-hyped, overrated, and overconfident bunch of crybabies. Every time these guys lose they have someone to blame or something to cry about.
January 2, 2009
#23 Murph said . . .Im with ya on the Titans. Fisher is a great coach, and the stadium is a great place to watch a game. Ive been there twice and both times had an awesome experience. There is some real good eatin in Nashville too. I dont realy give a shit if Urlacher is in the hall or not, he deosnt seem to be able to make the plays anymore, he is coming off as selfish now..."it aint me". We the "fans dont know the game" well enough. He also is way too quiet...I love the way a Ray Lewis whips up his teammates into a frenzy, he makes them all better than they are. And we did not blitz more than any other team, in fact many thought we didnt blitz nearly enough. And Ill take Singletary over Urlacher any day....andjust because he dropped trou, doesnt make him an asshole!
Geez Mike,what ya mean 54 coulda been playin for a contender? They went to the Super bowl two years ago....Lotta other players wish they played on that team. Now see old Thomas Jones slamming Favre? Over his three interceptions? Not even a true hall of famer is given any slack if hes playing like shit. Ahhhhhh us fickle fans.....fickle team mates....Any way once again...GO TITANS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!January 2, 2009
#24 Murph said . . .Kyle Orton is Mike Phipps reincarnated....both Purdue boys, similar styles....except Phipps threw a lil sidearm, not as bad as Colt Brennan
January 2, 2009
#25 jdawg said . . .http://www.profootballtalk.com/2009/01/01/urlacher-they-dont-know-football/
Hers a link to most of what Urlacher says about getting blamed for everything....ya think he would be able to take a lil more than he does.....good think hes not QB on the Bears....he would have a freakin breakdown. Kinda like he bitches and cries bout the mother of his kid, like none of it was his fault...ya think with his money he could afford condoms!!!
January 2, 2009
#26 Shady said . . .Marinelli in the HOUSE
January 2, 2009
#27 CSauce said . . .Coming off a strong 0-16 season...
Hey at least he has NFL experience, which is more than you could say about Babich before getting the D-Coordinator gig.
...Still trying to figure out how to explain what happened this year... and it still doesn't make a lick of sense.
January 3, 2009
#28 jeff said . . .You have to understand the frustration that #54 is feeling after such a disappointing season. Thomas Jones, out of similar frustration, attacked Favre's ability to perform in crunch time. While Urlacher may not be the freak of '01-'05, he's still one of the top mikes in the league. (Personally, I think he could have a Joey-Porter/Terrell Suggs-like impact on games playing the outside - but that's just me.) He's obviously not being put in positions that take full advantage of his exceptional downhill and sideline-to-sideline speed.
That being said, you hate to see the face of your franchise (and he undoubtedly still is) whine. Be the stand-up guy, Brian - I hated reading this (from the same article):
Urlacher sounds genuinely miffed about regularly taking flack for defensive breakdowns, playing the sarcasm card to the hilt.
“Yeah, that was my fault,” Urlacher said regarding a 47-yard run by Texans rookie Steve Slaton in a regular-season finale on which a playoff appearance was hinging. “Every long touchdown we gave up this season, it was my fault. Every time a receiver caught a pass for a touchdown, it was my fault too. In Atlanta, when the guy caught that pass that allowed them to kick the field goal, that was my fault.”Get over yourself, admit that you didn't play up to your expectations or your contract, and get ready to tear apart the blacked-out Vikings next year.
January 3, 2009
#29 Shady said . . .popularity doesn't get you into the hall of fame. urlacher's got 4 all pros and one player of the year. i could definitely be wrong and he could get in.
but i've seen every single snap of his career and i wouldn't vote for him.
January 3, 2009
#30 ufh said . . .I guess if I had to pick a team to root for, I'd say the Panthers. Outside of their whiny QB, the team looks a lot like the Bears. You got Chris Harris, you know, the guy they cut after the '06 Super Bowl season? Apparently they thought we were OK at that position with a certain McBerger named Arch Deluxe. You could look at Cameron Worrell, yet another ace special teamer. You can look at a guy in Jeff Otah, a guy who is playing like a BEAST this year not to mention he was drafted only a couple picks BEHIND the Bears Chris Williams. Jonathan Stewart is another rookie RB who is having a phenomenal rookie campaign. Say all you want about Moose, but there is no doubt the Bears could use the guy both in the passing and the running game.
I wouldn't mind rooting for Jeff Fisher and the Titans either, it's just that Haynesworth guy is a total scumbag for stomping on that guy's face a couple years back.
Actually, fuck the Titans. And fuck the Panthers while you're at it. I just can't honestly give a fuck when the Chicago Bears aren't in.
Go ahead and give Urlacher and this defense some time. Did they fuck this season up? Yes, some of it is their fault (Brian, Tommie, Peanut, 'Wale, Mark A, Payne etc.) and some of it is Lovie and Babich's fault. But I can give these guys a break considering their track record. However, if the Bears continue to lose their return on investment, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Bears move a veteran or two. And why not?
Apparently JA can draft some defense, so why not trade some established guys on offense and replenish the loss on D with more draft picks. JA had a tendency for using the FA market in the beginning of his career here in Chicago, but has gone away from that by re-signing his own guys. The problem is, there's nobody to re-sign on the offensive side of the ball. Orton? Still not the answer. Hester? Already made that mistake. Olsen? Still waiting for him to "stretch the field". Dez Clark and the O-Line? All getting damn old. Point is this unit still needs a LOT of help. Help it out Jerry, help it out.
January 3, 2009
#31 shonbear said . . .WHY THE TITANS? THE TITANS CAN FUCK OFF.
January 3, 2009
#32 Joseph said . . .Urlacher should have a clause in his overpaid contract that keeps him from speaking to the media. If he can't make statements more similar to what you'd hear out of Mike Brown, than don't talk.
I think the issue is that if we knew football as he says then maybe we'd know that it was the coaches contributions to Urlacher's posistions on the field which didn't amount to his success.
Interestingly enough also is this was the first year if the comms equipment in his helmet, how much did that distract him from his previous 7 years of playing using his own instincts vs what was being said in his head, just a thought.
So it seems that he won't bash the coaches, but he will bash the fans who have a right to ask "why the decline", and essentially throw his team mates under the bus too by bringing them into the conversation with all the sarcasm.
I'm hoping for a better or bounce back season from this lack of take responsiblity guy, but each passing year his defiance, arrogance and whining attitude is starting to wiegh on me. I think I will only buy jerseys like 50, 34, 99, 30, 40 etc...
Disappointing Brian, disappointing, but improvement on the field won't change his character or personality at least it will make the team better.
I do believe he works hard and all that, just doesn't take responsibility for things he should own, why bring anybody else up, just say I was disappointed in my performance this year and will work hard to bring it next year, how hard is that? That is too humbling for you?
50/50 whether he goes in or not, but Richard Dent better get there first if it happens.
January 3, 2009
#33 enderwiggin said . . .I HATE the fucking Panthers and the Chargers! Bunch of D Bags on both teams! Rivers, LT, Gates, Dellhomo, Steve Smith, can all go fuck each other! Go Dolphins and Parcells! Good for Pennington...way to show the Jets how stupid they are for trading for a 40 year old whiny bitch who is washed up!
January 3, 2009
#34 Irstfay said . . .Urlacher FTW, thanks for looking up those stats. I thought i would go ahead and throw out mike singletary stats because we are on the subject. '81-92 1,488 tackles~7 interceptions~19 sacks~0 forced fumbles.
January 3, 2009
#35 The Ghost of Halas said . . .THIRTY FOURTH!
January 3, 2009
#36 animal said . . .Phil-
I know how that Hall of Fame voting goes. It's somewhat ridiculous, but generally if someone is considered the greatest player of his position during a period of time during his career, he makes it to Canton. I think from 2001 to 2006 Brian Urlacher was widely considered the greatest MLB in the world, and indeed you would be hard pressed to find someone better or with more popularity than #54. Ray Lewis is close, but what will keep him out of Canton is his....murky past.P.S. My post-season fanfare will be devoted to and divided amongst the New York Giants in the NFC and the Miami Dolphins in the AFC. Not that I like the Dolphins (at all) as a franchise, and I think the '72 team was overrated, but they beat the pussy juice out of Brett Favre last week and in doing so won my heart.
January 3, 2009
#37 Anonymous said . . .Im sorry, but lost respect and Singletary in the same sentence is fightin words. Go fuck yourself.
Johnny Im all for drafting Sanchez, provided we all agree to call him dirty Sanchez.
Don't know what a dirty Sanchez is? google it.Urlacher was a special, special player. the size and speed- phenomenal. 260 lbs. and ran like Ed Reed. took away the entire middle of the field. Don't ever discount him as just good. ever. he was special, one in a lifetime, a freak of nature, and carried us for so many years. he DOES belong with Butkus and Singletary, regardless of the bs. Yes he is fading . But dont fucking detract from his legacy. He was one terrible, small hands dipshit QB away from doing just what Singletary did.
14 TDs? is that a real stat? holey shit. Im with FTW and Mike and personally angered and offended by this conversation. This man IS the Bears and has been for the better part of a decade.
January 3, 2009
#38 jdawg said . . .a Dirty Sanchez is performed when a male fingers a female's ass and wipes the reminants on the female's upper lip. What you referred to below, when a male inserts his penis in a female's ass then transfers the fecal matter from his penis to the female's upper lip is the Dirty Rodruigez, the first cousin of the Dirty Sanchez. Don't feel bad though, they are commonly confused.
January 3, 2009
#39 Pankster In DA Carolina's said . . .reminds me of when I got my first canoe and googles watersports
January 3, 2009
#40 Murph said . . .Well Gents,
There is a empty fuckining pit in my stomach NO BEARS in the Postseason it is so fucking hard to pull for anyone, but I enlisted into the Army when I was 18 went to boot camp, jump school and all that shit and started my career here at Fort Bragg Nc travled the world met new people killed them and ended up back here in the carolina's soley for the southern belle I have been married two for 22 years who by the fucking way loves the Panthers to include every fucking body else in her family does also so to make a long story short from a man born and raised in Oak Park Ilinois I hate the panthers/Tarheels so I am not jumping on NO Fucking Bandwagon I say bring on 09 bourbanis training camp DA Bears style Bear the Fuck down Bear nation Bear Down 54 A Hell Yeah to h.o.f some day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!FUCK U BABICH PATCHJanuary 3, 2009
#41 Anonymous said . . .I just doubble checked urlacher stats....according to NFL link he has 1 thats one TD and 17 interceptions . I thought he had more than one tD but this is what NFL stas say....heres the link....so FTW seems to have inflated the numbers.
http://www.nfl.com/players/brianurlacher/profile?id=URL059326January 3, 2009
#42 Urlacher FTW said . . .Jeff -
I challenge you to go back and look at the film of Mike Singletary. Watch the 85 tapes, and see how many times he was beat, only to throw a temper tantrum (laying on stomach pounding arms into the ground). He made it to the Hall.
As far as the talent is concerned - Urlacher is a thousand times better then Singletary, and I watched every one of his snaps. Bye the way, it didn't hurt that MS worked behind Hampton, McMichael, Dent, and next to OW.
Please remove head from ass.
January 3, 2009
#43 Urlacher FTW said . . .Yah Murph,
I guess I should know better than to trust wikipedia. I did some checking across various sites and found that he should have 4 tds , 2 defensive, a fumble returned in 01 and a pick returned in 07, a blocked FG he covered in 02 and a pass from Maynard in 05.January 4, 2009
#44 Sdwat51 said . . .Yah anon, Singletary was a bit of a baby, the press just wasn't what it is today. Also don't forget that Butkus sued the Bears for not benching him cuz his little knees hurt.
January 4, 2009
#45 johnnyelpaso said . . .I think the argument that defenses and the MLB position are measured differently now than in yesteryear is certainly compelling.
I also think that fans, as the game changes to new more sophisticated levels, have a responsiblity to "keep up" - to a point.
However, while the debate over BU escalates, I also firmly believe that fans have the right - like it or not - to evaluate a player based on expectations, that player's salary, and past performance as that fan saw it.
Personally, I do hear, and believe a lot of what was said about BU and his taking away the middle, and the speed at which he could disrupt or take away a play.
BUt I also believe he is overpaid, that he is a poor representative of a position so rich in tradition, and that indeed, his better (ie., stardom-worthy) seasons are all behind him.
Can he still have a role? I'm sure. Should he still have center stage? Absolutely not.
January 4, 2009
#46 Tom...JohnnyEP said . . .just finished watching the SD vs Colts & was impressed with Ron Riveras defensive play calling..........he put on a defensive show.......how much I miss this guy as our defensive cordinator....
January 4, 2009
#47 NittyGritty34 said . . .Yeah, me too. I can't say I cared that much who won but as the game went on all I could think of was ....Lovie you dumb stubborn "trust me"fucking asshole. You kicked Rivera out of town for a kiss ass yes man who can't call plays and neither you or your guy can get the players to put out for you. I really don't believe the players believe in the scheme or the coaching.
January 4, 2009
#48 NittyGritty34 said . . .I loved watching Urlacher all these years. but I'm really not sold he's a hall of famer. I'm sorry. I don't know what it is, but I'm not sold. No championships and don't even think of comparing him to Butkus, I don't care what the stats say. tackles are unofficial and Butkus played in a shorter season. Butkus was the best ever at the position. hands down. he gets in without a championship. Singletary was the leader of possibly the greatest defense of all time and was a true leader. Oh, and when he tackled people, you heard it around the stadium. Urlacher had more talent than either one but I don't feel he was in the same class. Intangibles or whatever. I'm going to do some research and see who the last mlb inducted in the hall was, and who has been passed over. I'll get back to you.
January 4, 2009
#49 Murph said . . .Okay, research completed.
Only two linebackers from the superbowl era have been inducted into the hall without having won a championship. Andre Tippet was the only modern player, and it took him until 2008 to make it in. He waited 15 years. The other two were Dave Wilcox (49ers, 1964-1974) and Sam Huff ( Giants and Redskings, 1956-1969). Point is, only one truly modern linebacker made it in to the hall without having won a superbowl, and I'm not sure whether Urlacher is in Andre Tipetts class or not. I do vaguely remember Tippet being a fairly dominant player. I can't speak about the other two.
Now let's ask ourselves, which other linebackers have to get in before Urlacher (unless he wins a championship of course, but I fear our window has closed). In no particular order,
Matt Millen (and GM hall of shame)
Cornelius Bennet (he may get snubbed because of all the other Bills)
Ray Lewis (absolutely better than Urlacher, I don't care what anybody says)
Kevin Greene
Derrick Thomas
Possibly some of the patriots like Bruschi...feel free to join in
point is, I think if he gets in, its after he's waited for 20 years. Anything else is an injustice. Of course, then there's the argument, how many of the players listed above, ever won defensive player of the year. That alone, might get him the nod before these other folks. And I haven't even mentioned the other defensive positions. It seems like at least 3/4 of the inductees are offensive players. So that means 1 maybe 2 defensive players inducted a year. It's a good debate and one I enjoy as long as we all agree on this,
hall of fame or not, Urlacher has been great for Da Bears, and I'll always respect him for that. Not like Mike and not like Dick. Hell, probably not even like Bill George. But I do respect him.
Imagine, Urlachers physical ability combined with Mike Browns heart, mind, and soul. He'd be, he'd be, he'd be Superman.
January 4, 2009
#50 Ronaldo said . . .Urlachers lack of social skills will do him in too. The Hall likes nice people, ambassadors of the game. When he meets fans hes an asshole, he wont even acknowledge your standing there. Briggs is the same way.....they seem to be annoyed by fans attention. Orton also ignores the fans outside of the game. Other players will smile wave actually acknowledge you as a human being and a fan. Alex Brown , Olin Kruetz, Mushin Muhammahd when he was a bear,to name a few of the good ones. No matter how good a player you are, nobody likes an asshole, especially a fan whos standing outside in freezing weather after traveling to Minnesota to cheer on their team.
January 4, 2009
#51 Wow said . . .I'm sorry Murph, but I'm pretty sure that "social skills" are not evaluated for HOF entry. If that was the standard, then it would be the standard for removing players from the HOF and I've yet to hear of OJ Simpson being removed from the HOF.
January 4, 2009
#52 Rancid said . . .Mike Brown with Urlacher's freak physical gifts. I can barely imagine it. 80 forced fumbles a season? I don't know. If he hit you at 100%, there would probably be a few dead players out there.
January 4, 2009
#53 Willie from Chicago said . . .I don't really care what players say to the media. I understand Urlacher's point to some degree. Why do I as a fan have a right to attack him personally, especially while I'm calling for Bab's head with the same breath? I'd be pissed if I was a pro player and some 5'9 240 lb. bum on a couch (me) thought he could call me out. I guess I just like 54, always have. I don't really care about how he handles himself with the media. I like the way he plays when he's on. Dang, that Arizona game. That was greatness.
January 4, 2009
#54 NY Bears Fan said . . .First off, go Dolphins!
Second, Fuck the Vikings!
January 4, 2009
#55 Murph said . . .Rivera's defense did a great job against the Colts last night but the Bears still think Babich is the solution and it looks like he will be sticking around next year.
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/1360494,CST-SPT-biggs04.article
"Smith is back for sure, and it appears his top lieutenants — offensive coordinator Ron Turner and defensive coordinator Bob Babich — are returning."
I sure hope they wise up and make the change at defensive coordinator. If their only scapegoat is the defensive back coach they need to wake up.
January 4, 2009
#56 Murph said . . .Ronaldo, Hate to disagree, but many players are out of the hall because they were assholes. Ron Santo is an example, other players thought he was an asshole and thats why he doesnt get voted in now. dont believe players can get removed because if they could OJ might be gone...LMAO. Writers vote players in, and many writers dont vote for a guy beacuse he was an asshole. Read an article where Sports Illustrated writer Paul Zimmerman will refuse to vote Randy Moss in because he thinks hes a dog.
January 4, 2009
#57 Tom said . . .Rancid, your not attacking him personally, its professionally youhave a problem with him. Hes not doing his job, you as a money spending fan supporting this team and contributing to his salary have a right to complain, just like if your electric is only good half the time....you gotta right to call Com Ed out!!!
January 4, 2009
#58 Murph said . . .Interesting. The Sun Times article sees the Defense vs Offense thing much as Jeff does.
As I posted last night...I hope fans saw Rivera's crew at work holding the Colts scoreless in the 4th qtr and 17pts for the game. And Fucking Smith fired him to hire a yes man buddy that IMHO the players don't believe in and don't play for
January 4, 2009
#59 Urlacher FTW said . . .http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/stats?playerId=2140
Here is a good site with Urlachers stats, which have been vastly overstated on here. wikipedia is wayyyyyyyyy off he has 8 forced fumbles not 37....cant find tackle stats on older players, they werent a stat until the year 2000. So to vouch for the accuracy of any numbers would be hard....kinda like saves in baseball.January 4, 2009
#60 johnnyelpaso said . . .The way you get into the hall of fame is by either being one of the greatest at your position ever or being the face of a franchise and being really good. To me Urlacher fits both those categories but without much argument he fits the second. He did have an awful year, I mean really pathetic. However I'm still not convinced most of that was not his fault, a crap scheme and a crap DC had him out of position before the ball was snapped most of the time. To me he will always be the guy I watched on Monday night football in 06, who put the whole team on his back and almost single-handedly stole a football game. I could watch that game a million times. I just hope we get to see the old Urlacher at least one more year.
January 4, 2009
#61 Anna from WI said . . .the team that im liking thru the playoffs are the ravens.......the defenses is playing with the bears intensity of 2006 going after the ball and creating turnovers.....this team is letting the defense to win games......Rex Ryan is one hell of a defensive cordinator......
January 4, 2009
#62 John said . . .Tom - I thought the exact same thing while watching rivera's defense against the colts yesterday. Unbelievable. At the same time, I was also thinking that maybe Norv should give his brother some tips on play calling, you know, after the first quarter.
On another note, I saw today that the NFL decided not to black out the game today after TWO extensions to give the fans a chance to purchase tickets. Way to go, vikings fans - you really rallied together to support your team. You practically had to be begged by the NFL to buy tickets to watch your team in the PLAYOFFS, except - wait, there are STILL tickets left. Not only that, but these tickets are going for $50, $80, and $100. PATHETIC. I honestly can't imagine anything that would get in the way of me purchasing a $50 ticket to see the bears in the playoffs at soldier. Oh well, Go Eagles (for today).
January 4, 2009
#63 Anna from WI said . . .Have fun watching the vikings game bears fans. I had fun watching the bears play last nigh.... er, oh I forgot, you guys didn't make the PLAYOFFS
HA ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha haJanuary 4, 2009
#64 Ohio Bears Fan said . . .John, shouldn't you be AT the game (for $50 a ticket), rather than sitting on a bears blog reading bears fans' comments on game day? Either that, or spending all day getting together with your friends, eating delicious snacks, drinking a few beers getting PSYCHED to watch your team in the PLAYOFFS? I mean, that's what I would be doing, but I guess that's just the difference between me and you, bears fans and vikings fans :)
January 4, 2009
#65 animal said . . .John, whether the Vikings win or lose, you will still be a dick. As previously stated- fuck you.
January 4, 2009
#66 Willie from Chicago said . . .I watched the chargers-colts with my brother in law, a Raiders fan, and watched him passionately root for the Colts for no other reason than wanting a divisional rival to lose.
On that note, Go Eagles!January 4, 2009
#67 BearDownInMoco said . . .The Dolphins laid a big egg. They still had a great season. Still they didn’t have enough talent to compete in the playoffs. They need a couple shut down corners and a WR to be good next year.
Go Bears and Dolphins in 09!
John, Have fun listening to your Vikes get killed on the radio. Think of this, the Dolphins sold out their stadium in 3 hours, you guys got a 48 hour extension to sell out your stadium and you still fail. Go stick the Viking horn up your ass.
January 4, 2009
#68 Brian said . . .Jeff, I love what you do us Bears fans (especially transplants who aren't in Chicago) with this site. But Brian Urlacher is going to the hall of fame, he is a great football player who had a mediocre year.
January 4, 2009
#69 Murph said . . .I'm just tired of seeing everyone getting on Orton's case. I didn't talk to a single person who thought they would even make 8-8 before the season. He did an excellent job with a horrible offensive line, a running game that only shows up in the fourth quarter, receivers that should almost all be #3's, and a defense that can't get you the ball back. How are you going to get in rythem with multiple WR's that you haven't had alot of time with when you run the ball the first two plays for a total gain of 3 yards. Then you throw for a first just to have it dropped.
How many superstar QB are there right now? Manning is but who else, Brady's out because he can't escape pressure, Romo has the same record as Orton, Rivers was 8-8. Three of the four AFC division leaders had QB's that are managers. The NFC division leaders with the exception of the vikings all have good offensive lines, at least one good #1 receiver, and a good runningback to go with there top QB.Defensively it seems obvious that thay need a monster at DT. Not an undersized pass rusher who can't play the run or be effective after the first half. This is forcing the LB's up leaving the middle of the feild wide open. Not even the best sefeties in the league can cover the entire feild indeffinately. They need to fill this with a first round pick to get the talent they require. However since this is a position that usually is easier to learn and can produce from they should save it for next season. That way they can see if Harris and co have the ability or just a bad season.
They need to fix that offensive line NOW!!! St.Claire is a turnstile, Beekman was the best player but should be moved to take over for Kreutz, Garza was getting bowled over by safties, and Tait's best days are past. So hopefully Williams is able to take over for St.Claire so they could go after a mean guard in the first round. Then find a fast WR that can catch in the second. A FS with some range in the third with a CB, a RT in the fourth, and maybe find some special team players with the rest.
January 4, 2009
#70 do said . . .Why does everyone want to throw Kruetz under the bus? He's been selected to six pro bowls the same as Urlacher, he's been outstanding on the line year after year....if hes had a bad year why not the same benefit of the doubt for #57 as almost everyone on this blog has for #54?
January 5, 2009
#71 Ohio Bears Fan said . . .so we didnt make the playoffs and the vikings did. they played one more week and got embarassed.
so john how was it watching your team this week? hope you enjoyed. bastard.
January 5, 2009
#72 Willie from Chicago said . . .Hey John? Who's crying now???
Hahahhahahhahahhaha!
January 5, 2009
#73 Willie from Chicago said . . .Why do people put so much emphasis on the pro bowl? It’s a popularity contest that doesn’t always send people to the game that deserve to be there. Brett Favre even made the pro bowl roster this year for christ sake.
January 5, 2009
#74 NittyGritty34 said . . .john you should be happy that the game was blacked out so you couldnt watch that pathetic performance the queens put out.
January 5, 2009
#75 Anna from WI said . . .Fuckin Queens
January 5, 2009
#76 Tom said . . .oh, so THAT'S why the vikings couldn't sell tickets. It's alllll coming together...
touche, vikings fans, touche.
January 5, 2009
#77 CA BEAR FAN said . . .VIQUEENS SUCK
BWAAAHAHAAHAHA
Not sure Tavaris Jackson could make the Bears practice squad. TV said Leslie Frazier might be a candidate for the Kittens head coaching job. PLEASE NO. Not a Bears guy coaching Detroit. They deserve Wannsted or Neil Armstrong.
January 5, 2009
#78 shonbear said . . .HAHAH VIKINGS SUCK! THE BEARS BEAT THE EAGLES BUT THE VIKINGS COULDNT! HAHAH JOHN THATS WHAT YOU GET YOU FUCKING QUEEN!
January 5, 2009
#79 Brian said . . .How wonderful it was to see BB get knocked on is 42 million dollar ass.
January 5, 2009
#80 Paging John said . . .Hey Murph I don't think Kreutz is bad but he's starting to show some wear. So why not start looking into a replacement in advance for a change.
Devin Hester made the pro bowl for kick returns this year didn't he?
January 5, 2009
#81 Uhh I don't know said . . .Why win the Division if your Vikes were just going to do that? Bernard Berrian= 2 catches for $42 million. What a bargain. Well you lasted a week longer than the Bears. Congratulations! Hopefully your Williams wall will be out the first 4 weeks and you can hang out with the Lions in the cellar next season.
January 5, 2009
#82 Last chance Lovie said . . .If we are going to be stuck with Babich next season (there is still hope for no) then maybe Marinelli as Asst head coach/ Defensive Line Coach can show him how to run it better than the Bears or Lions did last season and get something out of Harris, Anderson and keep Harrison moving in the right direction.
Weird
Harris + Anderson = Harrison?
January 5, 2009
#83 GP said . . .I consider that Bill Cowhers is sitting this next season out a small victory for Da Bears. Especially happy that he isn't coaching an NFC team next year. If we don't at least make the Playoffs next season I would love to dump Lovie and give him whatever he needs to coach here.
And I just read that JA hasn't drafted a position Pro Bowl player in the last 5 seasons. That seat getting warm yet Angelo?
Bear Down.
I nailed both games against the spread and lost both overs by 1.5 points. A safety in each game puts me in the money. WTF?! A fricking safety. Damn the over and your wicked temptations.
January 5, 2009
#84 Rancid said . . .Where are those numbers in post #12 coming from? I just checked his player page on ESPN.
He has 17 picks, not 23.
He has 1 defensive, 1 offensive TD, not even CLOSE to 14 (does ANY defensive player ever have this many?).
1055 tackles, not 1492.
8 forced fumbles, not a ridiculous 37Urlacher's been a good player. But if anyone here thinks that he was near Dick Butkus...well, I never saw Dick Butkus play, but Brian Urlacher was no Dick Butkus.
January 5, 2009
#85 Murph said . . .This should be a good test of John's legitimacy as a potential candidate for being a true villain on the blog. If he still comes back spewing, he takes a step that way, if he disappears, we know he was just some punk kid. I think we've seen the last of him.
Murph - Concerning 54, I don't totally agree with the idea that as a paying fan I deserve something from players. I've just never bought the analogy. They are what they are. I choose to follow them. It's not like any other product. If you think a product sucks you can stop using it. You can stop anytime. If you're a real fan, you can't. I can't do that with the Bears. If I buy a brand of cereal and it tastes like shit, I won't buy it again. I'll eat something different. But if I get pissed at 54/JA/Lovie/Whoever, can I stop being a fan? No. Should I jump on the office bandwagon of a good team all of a sudden? No. I'm from NY, should I adopt the Gmen as my "second team" and care about them for the playoffs? I can't. It's not in my blood. I just can't. It scares the hell out of me but I am completely at the mercy of these players and management. They should have a stronger sense of responsibility to me, but they don't have to. All I really can do is piss and moan on this blog and hope they read it occasionally. In good seasons this blog is a place to celebrate together. In shitty times its more of a support group for addicts of a painful drug who have no intention of ever quitting.
January 5, 2009
#86 Phil from SATX said . . .GP.....covered the bad stats earlier,apparently they were gotten from wikipedia....and we all know how accurate they are. Wish they woulda kept tackle stats back before 2000? I think thats when they started...hard to compare todays players against guys from 15 or 20 years ago when they dont keep the same stats.
January 5, 2009
#87 Urlacher FTW said . . .Rancid - you are one deep-thinking individual, and you nailed it. We don't have a choice in our fandom - the choice has long since been made, and now we just have to sit back and hope decisions will be made that help us to enjoy our seasons.
Here's where I'm at right now. I am working myself up to writing off 2009 as a meaningful season. History shows that I will not be successful with my outlook-management - I am perennially optimistic, and even when my head knows bad decisions are being made my heart wants to look on the upside. After all, all 53 guys that we suit up, whoever they are, are professional football players, and anything's possible.
But with no new coordinators and the same head coach, and with the same GM making personnel decisions - right now I do not believe that we will be making any forward strides for next year, at least meaningful ones.
HOWEVER, even thinking that, all is not lost. I am looking ahead to the new regime, and one man still remains possible - Bill Cowher. My earlier prediction that Jerry already has a secret agreement with Cowher is looking blessedly shaky - reports were that Jerry wants to talk with Shanahan.
I now have a new theory. That theory is, Bill Cowher comes to the Bears in 2010. Why not? In my opinion, as one of the most storied and legendary coaches in the game, he is going to want his next stop to be a premier coaching job. Cowboys qualifies as such. But the Bears in 2010 is truly the right job, no, the PERFECT job for Bill Cowher.
What other franchise matches up better as a second career? THE most storied of franchises, another cold weather team that plays in an open stadium (the only way football SHOULD be played), a team that has always emphasized defense and running and toughness, a team that had its one modern achievement under another famous coach from Pennsylvania - what else?
How about the ownership - the Bears are, like the Steelers, owned by a low key family who doesn't want to be in the spotlight. Here is the key difference as to why Cowher wouldn't want the Cowboys gig - Jerry Jones. An owner who not only wants the spotlight, but craves it. Doesn't fit Cowher's style. No, the McCaskeys are the epitome of low-key, almost absentee owners.
You want full control of personnel, Bill? I don't advise it but I'd be willing to give it. I'm not ready to axe Angelo YET but if it took that to get Cowher, pack your bags, Jerry.
There are many teams that I don't believe would have a shot at Cowher because the franchise is not big or important enough - Raiders, Rams, Seahawks, Cardinals, Broncos, Texans, Jaguars, Bills, etc. - to name a few.
Ones that would make the grade -
Bears
Packers
Giants
Cowboys
MAYBE Jets, probably not
Browns? to restore to former glory? Probably not.Anyway, that's the theory I'm working. And I do think the McCaskeys would pay to get him. Hell, they spent $15MM on Ricky Manning Jr.
You can say dream on, I'll say -
I will. I'm a Bear fan.
January 5, 2009
Okay basically throw away the stats from before, I decided to set a formula and start over using stats from nfl.com period. I tracked tackles/game by taking number of total tackles divided by number of games played 01-08 (thats when tackles where recorded officially), all other stats where divided by total number of games played since they were tracking INTs and sacks.
They are laid out, Name - Tackles per Game - No. Games for each sack- No. Games for each INTBrian Urlacher - 7.7 - 3 - 8
Ray Lewis - 7.6 - 5 - 7
Lofa Tatupu - 6.8 - 10 - 8
Teddy Bruschi - 6.6 - 5 - 10
Derrick Brooks - 7 - 15 - 10I used those names because they are names I've seen on here, pro bowlers, or known great MLB names. So in the end BU makes more tackles per game than all of those people, Ray is the only one close. BU also is an ungodly sack machine, I didn't expect this when I started crunching numbers but it really is nuts that he provides a sack every 3 games, wow. The only area he is lacking in is the INT department, he isn't the machine that Ray Lewis is there but he does hold his own there considering his dominance in the sack department.
So to me, tackles divided by games played while tackles are tracked is a pretty fair gauge.
January 5, 2009
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.