Ask yourself a single question: Is there any sport in the vast world of athletics wherein preseason games/matches are dissected with the rigorous attention paid to the NFL’s August exhibitions?

Spring training baseball games are glorified picnics. There is more drama between corrupt AAU “handlers” and assistant college coaches in a Bronx high school gymnasium than in a Knicks v. Heat game in late October at the Garden. The NHL has a meaningless regular season so there’s an almost sub-meaninglessness quality to that which happens prior.

Then there’s the English Premier League – soccer’s preeminent collection of clubs. They handle their preseason a bit differently. These clubs (top to bottom) spread out across the globe to play friendly matches with sides in America, Mexico, Brazil, Malaysia…etc. Why do they do this? Sure, you could argue it’s to find their form for the season to come. But that’s a difficult stance to take when a third of the roster doesn’t make the trip and the big stars are substituted out of the match as soon as the manager can do so without drawing the wrath of the paying public.

The truth? Money! They play these matches for money. That paper shit that allows you to buy things like milk and Playstation games and prostitutes. (Well you normally wouldn’t buy a prostitute. You sorta rent.) Manchester United knows they can sell-out massive buildings around the globe and stock their coffers with money. So they do. The supporters treat these matches as nothing more than exhibitions of talent. The media, even that harshest of harsh British sport press, barely rate the events for coverage. The matches in their entirety – results AND individual performances – carry zero meaning.

But not so with the NFL. NFL preseason games are aired on national television. They are top stories on sports’ pages in New York, Chicago, DC…etc. Even though 95% of what happens in the summer months does NOT correlate to the fall and winter, fans still respond to the exhibition action with emotional bursts as irrational as they are illogical. (When I asked on Twitter who might be a surprise cut for the Bears Saturday, someone actually wrote they hoped Charles Tillman would be shown the door. Because he had a poor road game against a two-time Super Bowl winning QB…in August.)

And it’s our fault! All of us. We love the NFL and nobody knows that better than the NFL. They charge us regular season prices for preseason contests because they know we’ll pay. The networks charge advertisers healthily for preseason ad space because we’ve proven we’ll watch. There were at least forty or fifty thousand people at MetLife Stadium Friday night. Why would Giants owner John Mara ever want to lose that essentially bonus revenue?

Preseason football is about one thing and one thing only: money. If you asked coaches and general managers across the league, they’d tell you they could learn exactly what they learn from preseason games in padded scrimmages against the same opponent. We, the fans, don’t need to be part of the process. But we are because we’re the checkbook. If the NFL thinks it can get an extra dollar out of us you better believe it will.

And I’m to blame as much as anyone. For all my “meaningless game” rants and raves, I spent Friday night at MetLife  and spent a fortune on $10 Bud Light drafts. I’ve also written a preview, posted a game thread and provided a recap for all three of these meaningless games and seen traffic skyrocket during those times. I am not going to turn down an opportunity to grow my readership by ignoring games I’d like to ignore. (Even I don’t have that much integrity.)

But neither are Brad Biggs or Sean Jensen or David Haugh. The newspapers know the NFL sells and not one of them has ever enlisted a writer to call this whole preseason into question. Neither are ESPN or NBC. They want your eyes on the TV screens. We’re all making money and we’re going to treat every moment of the NFL preseason like its important because we know fans would rather hear about fake football than real baseball.

The fans are being scammed. And we don’t seem to care. It’s the American way. And nothing is more American these days than the National Football League.

I’ll be honest: I have very little to say about last night’s game in the Meadowlands. The stadium was half empty. The energy was non-existent. The Giants were even pumping in fake crowd noise at several points in the game. They were clever about how they did it but they still did it.

Here are some of my thoughts from last night:

• It was funny to wake up and see David Haugh writing the same doomsday column he seems to write every year at this point. You’d think he’d learn what everyone should learn: the preseason is nonsense.
• The refs were terrible. They had no moment-to-moment control of the game and there was a feeling of distrust in the stadium. How can the NFL be letting this happen? Why would the most financially successful sports league in the history of the world risk its credibility over what will amount to a few million dollars? If these blow a call that decides a game a Colombian soccer match may break out in the bleachers. (These guys last night were lost on pass interference rules.)
• Whining Bears fans would have had a different opinion of last night if Cutler hit Bennett in the seam for a sure thing 75-yard touchdown. The entire offensive unit was a bit off last night but they’ve got two weeks (sigh) to get things together.
• What exactly were fans expecting from the left tackle position last night? Neither J’Marcus Webb nor Chris Williams are good enough to block the Giants ends. You know why? There are maybe three tackles in the league good enough to do that. These are men who’ve dominated Super Bowls.
• On run defense, the Bears surely miss Urlacher’s sideline-to-sideline pursuit. It is more evident watching them live. Backs have more time to wait for holes to develop without 54 stalking them.
• Brandon Marshall is going to have a monster year. I think estimates have been low to this point.
• You think I’m joking when I talk about injuries in these games? Giants lost another starting corner (Prince, pictured above) and the Bucs lost three starters to serious injuries (Joseph is already announced as out for the year.) If Chris Conte is available on opening day, the Bears will have escaped the preseason by only sustaining an injury to their punter.
• And if Ryan Quigley punts the way he did last night, the Bears will be fine. He was consistent, if unspectacular.
• I’ve said it many times. If the Bears can get a consistent pass rush they’ll be a dominant defense. If they don’t they’ll allow between 17-24 points every week.
• They can score much more than that. There is so much talent on this offense now.
•  Evan Rodriguez was sure in the base offense last night. I think the Bears don’t quite know what to do with him but he didn’t make me forget Tyler Clutts last night at fullback. Bears have some real decisions to make at TE/HB/FB.
• I know the Bears have liked Armando Allen throughout camp but what does Lorenzo Booker have to do to make this team? He’s looked the second best kick returner and the third best back consistently.

Now it begins. The longest two weeks of the football calendar. Nothing happens. Closed practices. Boredom. DBB will begin a series of Around the League NFL previews next week and I’ll be responding to all the cuts and such as they come down.

Just two weeks, kids. Two weeks and these things start being real. To read my preview of this game, CLICK HERE.

I shall be in attendance this evening at the Meadowlands. If you’re interested in my moment-to-moment thoughts from Giants “Don’t Call Me MetLife” Stadium, be sure to follow me on Twitter (@dabearsblog) by CLICKING HERE.

From Giants PR man Pat Hanlon:

Not playing tonite for #Giants vs Bears: 24 Thomas, 31 Bing, 36 Hosley, 44 Bradshaw, 59 Boley, 65 Beatty, 67 Mosley, 73 Rogers, 88 Nicks, 90 Pierre-Paul, 96 Austin and 98 Tracy. 47 Beckum and 99 Canty remain on PUP.

No.

Injuries.

No.

Injuries.

Please.

Please.

Please.

No.

Injuries.

Well, well, well. The Meadowlands. I remember you well. The stadium just outside the windows of my youth. The stadium where Jay Cutler was handed one of the worst beatings I’ve ever seen with my own two eyes. The Bears return to this house of horrors to complete their trio of meaningless contests before embarking on what many of us believe could be a special season in Chicago. (Yes I know there is a fourth preseason game to be played but that game makes college football spring games seem like the Super Bowl.)

Here is what might be of interest to you.

• J’Marcus Webb against a duo of attacking defenders (Tuck, Umenyiora) has been written to death. It’ll be the focal point of the broadcasting team tomorrow evening.
• I wrote a full-length piece on the safeties defending against the explosive big-play Giants offense. If you want to read that piece, CLICK HERE.
• Consistency in the passing game. I didn’t speak to, email with or Tweet @ a single Bears fan left unimpressed by the ease with which Jay Cutler dissected the Redskins defense through the air. They’re hungry for a passing game capable of competing for a title with the best in the business. Cutler doesn’t need to do anything but it’d be nice to see him complete a few through the air, hit five different targets, and continue building the confidence of this newly-exciting unit.
• Middle linebacker. It turns out Brian Urlacher visited Dr. Strangelove during his “personal time”. Now the conspiracy theorists believe Urlacher is destined for extended time on the bench. The question facing the Bears is will Blake Costanzo win the middle ‘backer spot, sending Roach back out to his more natural SLB? (Answer: Probably not.)
• Ryan Quigley. I don’t know much about the mechanics of punting but I’ve seen quite a few in my day. It would seem the hip is – even on the not kicking side – is a somewhat pivotal component. Adam Podlesh’s hip flexor isn’t a season-ender by any means but it’s not inconceivable he’ll miss those initial two games. If Quigley punts well, he’ll earn the job. If he doesn’t, the Bears may have to return to the big-legged but wildly inconsistent Matt Dodge. (I don’t see Brad Maynard returning after the way he left but stranger things have happened in this league.)
• Matt Blanchard v. Josh McCown. Nobody should overreact to what Blanchard achieved against the seventh-team defense of the Washington Redskins. But clearly the kid has ability. Be honest with yourself: If the Bears are down to their third quarterback, would they be in a significantly better position if McCown took to the field? (Everyone would love to see Blanchard moved to the practice squad but one wonders if Phil Emery would risk losing him and the practice squad is a risk.)
• Evan Rodriguez. He’s an intriguing talent but I would be interested if the Temple tight end truly has a role within the Bears base offense. He looks small and a bit weak to me but his pass-catching skill is undeniable.
• Improvement from the fringe: Sanzenbacher, Adams, Collins, Price…etc. If Bears’ championship hopes depend upon any of these guys we’re all just marking time. But depth in this NFL is important as players drop like flies across the league.
• Remember: It’s the third preseason game, yes, but it’s still a preseason game. In 2006 this game was the foundation for Denny Green’s “they are who we thought they were” rant in Arizona. That summer the Bears looked like a team that could neither score nor tackle in their third preseason effort, leading to a cavalcade of negativity from the local media. End result? They won the NFC.

There is very little to be concerned with tomorrow night, outside Webb (perhaps). The truth of this visit to the Meadowlands for the Bears is that only one thing matters: get out in one piece. Losing a couple more starters to injury could be devastating to the early-season campaign. No more damn injuries!

We all understand the major threat posed by the New York Giants. With Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora and Jason Pierre-Paul lined up on the edge, the world champions possess the most dynamic and versatile set of 4-3 (or 3-4 for that matter) pass rushers in the NFL. And as the Bears are set to enter into the season with their most glaring weaknesses along the offensive line, there is no doubting the match-up of these two units is Friday night’s main event. DING!

But as should be expected from a group that’s won two of the last five titles, Tom Coughlin’s Giants feature another signature strength. As their running game in the post-Tiki Barber era has been reduced to one of the league’s worst (dead last in 2011), the G-men have turned to Eli Manning’s big play ability to win games. They are among the league’s top teams in every statistical category measuring the ability to throw the ball downfield.

Lovie Smith ought to be hoping Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride dials up a few shots over the top.

A week ago, I would have shrugged off this concept, leaning on my go-to “it’s just another meaningless game” mantra. But the injury suffered by free safety Chris Conte against the Washington Redskins changes that. Conte is the only safety on the Bears roster with the skill set to play the center fielder role. He has great closing speed and exceptional hands. His instincts were a bit rookie-ish in his rookie season (imagine that) but most reports from Bourbonnais seemed to suggest he had found his comfort zone in Lovie’s defense.

Can a combination of Major Wright, Craig Steltz and Anthony Walters handle the workload at safety? If Conte missing the first two weeks of the season can those three individuals defend the NFL’s blossoming golden boy Andrew Luck and current golden boy Aaron Rodgers? The Bears will most likely have an opportunity to test the Conte-less group Friday night in New Jersey. If they fail, Smith and Marinelli will have a great deal of work to do before the whistle blows against the Indianapolis Colts.

To read my immediate recap of Saturday night’s preseason game with the Redskins, CLICK HERE. Here’s a thought and a half from Saturday night…

MELTON THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE

One thing became apparent to me watching the Bears against the Redskins: If Henry Melton takes the next step in his progression, Lovie Smith will have the best defensive line of his tenure with the organization. In 2011 Melton had flashes of brilliance, leading all defensive tackles with 7 sacks, but lacked consistency on a play-to-play basis.

Early Saturday night, one witnessed how powerful this defensive unit can be when there is a significant push from the middle of the defensive line. The cover-2 was never as dynamic, never as powerful, never as exciting to watch as when Warren Sapp was knocking centers on their asses during Tampa’s Super Bowl season. The fear of Sapp turned mediocre talents like Simeon Rice into all-pro defensive ends.

The Bears had that in spurts from from Tommie Harris in the middle of the last decade. But never during the Harris era did the Bears have a defensive end like Julius Peppers. And never during Julius Peppers’ career has he played beside a tackle with Melton’s potential. If it comes together in 2012 for the Bears, the NFC North will be put on alert.

Extra: CHRIS WILLIAMS TO LEFT GUARD?

It has never even been rumored and I don’t understand why. Why isn’t Chris Williams moving back to the left guard position he seemed to thrive at during the 2011 season? Does anyone NOT believe the best alignment for the Bears on the offensive line to start the 2012 campaign would be Webb-Williams-Garza-Louis-Carimi? What has led anyone to believe Chris Spencer, moving to his third different position in three years, is a better option at the left guard? This seems like a no brainer, doesn’t it?

I have stated many times that I believe these preseason games to be meaningless. Let me actually take a step back from that statement now. Late in the fourth quarter I watched Matt Blanchard (QB) and Evan Rodriguez (TE) play their hearts out to earn the Bears a win. These were two terrific efforts and they should not go ignored. (I’ll have more on each as we proceed.)

Let’s go…

• Not to start negative but if Brandon Hardin’s injury is anything near serious, I expect him to receive the Lovie red shirt for 2012. If he can’t participate for the remainder of the preseason I can’t imagine him on the 53-man roster come September 1.
• This Bears receiving corps is going to be terrific. I legitimately can’t wait until the start of the season. (Side note: I think Chris Summers has a nice talent but you can’t put the ball on the ground if you’re trying to crack an NFL roster. I’m hoping the Bears practice squad this kid, though, because I think there’s something there. Longsho, I know.)
• What is Evan Rodriguez? He is NOT a fullback. He is NOT a blocking tight end. Is he just a pass catcher? How would he find his way onto the field? (Side note: I thought he looked very small.)
• Let’s hope Chris Conte is okay.
• Henry Melton is going to have an outstanding season if he brings to the entirety of 2012 what he brought tonight.
• This is an honest opinion: I think Justin Blackmon was the best receiver in this year’s draft but I think Alshon Jeffery is going to have a better career.
• Devin Hester looked like a professional wide receiver. I was shocked too.
• If Mike Tice never calls another endzone fade route to Brandon Marshall I won’t complain.
• Michael Bush. Wow. Like Marion Barber but with tons of ability.
• Yes it took this long for me to get to the left tackle situation. You know why? They both played well. I would be shocked if J’Marcus Webb is not the starting LT against the Indianapolis Colts.
• Matt Toeaina. Positive.
• Chris Spencer. Negative.
• I loved watched Major Wright blitz. If he finishes a few of these he’ll be looking at a big statistical year.
• How about Eric Weems! Not only did he look terrific in the return game but he showed some moves on the outside at wide receiver.
• While most people will read too much into Lorenzo Booker’s return TD, I won’t. What I loved? Seeing Rashied Davis leading his path down the field. Rash is one of the better special teamers of the Lovie era and it’s great to have him back.
• I don’t care what Sam Rosen says. Blake Costanzo is not going to play middle linebacker for the Bears. Did you see him in pass coverage? Not good. Tough player. Definitely an asset. Not going to make folks forget Urlacher.
• Jonathan Wilhite. Negative.
• Nate Collins. Positive. (Watch out for Collins. He is going to be 2012’s Amobi Okoye. He is also pictured above.)
• Did you know Robbie Gould had 57 in that leg? I didn’t.
• I think the Bears are crazy if they let Matt Blanchard leave town in favor of Josh McCown. If this season comes down to McCown or Blanchard, it is over . Done. Dead. So why not allow the kid to get some necessary field time?
• Hey JT Thomas! Where’d you go?

Okay that’s enough for tonight. Bears move on to the Meadowlands Friday night for the meaningless game that means the most. (Just ask a certain former Vikings and Cardinals head coach.)

Putting this one up early today, folks. To read my preview of tonight’s game against the Washington Redskins, CLICK HERE. (I’m using this video for the game thread just because I like it…)

The second preseason game feels more meaningful because the starters tend to see more time on the field. Don’t be fooled. It isn’t. There is still only one truly definable goal for every NFL franchise as they suit up this week: stay healthy. But there are certainly some things to take a look at (and subsequently overreact to) when it comes to these 2012 Chicago Bears.

• The Ghost of Quarterbacks Past continue and Saturday night it will be Rex Grossman in the role of Jacob Marley. (Yes, this is an 1843 pop culture reference.) I like Grossman and always believed both he and Kyle Orton would have long careers in the NFL as backups. It seems that is going to be the case. I hope the Soldier Field faithful treat him well. (And I think it’d be utterly surreal to see Kelvin Hayden pick off one of his passes down the right sideline.)
• We all need to face the possibility of Brian Urlacher not starting against the Indianapolis Colts on September 9th so it will be interesting to see how the starting linebacking corps shakes out. Seems a sure thing we’ll see Roach in the middle and Briggs on the weak side but my question: can blog-favorite J.T. Thomas supplant Geno Hayes as the front-runner on the strong side?
• Hey! Guys! Left tackle! This is the only position I will be legitimately evaluating Saturday night. J’Marcus Webb is the only player on the Bears roster that needs a solid effort against the Redskins. He needs a clean sheet. He needs to show toughness. If he doesn’t the howls from fans and media will only grow louder and Mike Tice will be forced to select Chris Williams as the lesser of two evils.
• I’d like to see Shea McClellin and Julius Peppers play at the same time but I can wait till next month for that. I don’t see any reason for Peppers to play more than a series or two.
• Also on that “series or two” plan should be Lance Briggs. This team can survive losing Urlacher for a week or two during the regular season. They can’t survive without Urlacher AND Briggs. Be careful.
• Watch the tight end position for depth purposes. It seems unlikely that Kellen Davis, Matt Spaeth, Kyle Adams and Evan Rodriguez will all make the final 53-man roster but stranger things have happened. (If they do there is no chance Tyler Clutts is kept at fullback.)
• I’m assuming the defensive line rotation of this roster will be: Peppers, McClellin, Wootton, Paea, Toeaina, Melton, Idonije. Last year the Bears had 10 defensive linemen on the 53. That leaves three spots. Chauncey Davis? Nate Collins? Brian Price? John McCargo? Somebody else’s roster cut? For all the talk of the aging Bears defense, Lovie Smith is sure relying on youth when it comes to his front line.
• I’d like to see Alshon Jeffery catch one pass from Jay Cutler.

Yeah I just wrote a lot. But honestly, outside the play of the two left tackles, I don’t care what happens on the field. As long as all the pertinent players walk off it.

The banality of training camp continues Let’s overreact to some more stuff!

URLACHER GETS SCOPED

Urlacher received a knee debridement yesterday morning – “the medical removal of dead, damaged, or infected tissue to improve the healing potential of the remaining healthy tissue.” Urlacher, Lovie Smith and the organization believe the middle linebacker is still on pace to appear in the season opener on September 9th.

The truth? Who cares about September 9th? Who cares about the following Thursday night trip to Green Bay either? If this knee isn’t ready for the impact of the NFL, the Bears would be better off dropping Urlacher to PUP and ensuring a healthy star come the seventh week of the season. We can’t be shortsighted. We can’t be impatient. As I wrote a few days ago, if the Bears expect to make a deep run into the 2012 postseason, they’ll need Urlacher in January not September.

WILLIAMS & WEBB WORTH WATCHING SATURDAY NIGHT

It is a meaningless game, of course, but not for one position on the Bears roster. Mike Tice has said Chris Williams will see time for the first team offensive line Saturday night against the Washington Redskins due to J’Marcus Webb’s subpar work in the opening preseason game. The first-team unit is expected to play the entirety of the first half.

Unless you want to overreact to Cutler or Forte’s first action of the year, these two are the only players on the roster worth truly watching Saturday night. If Williams significantly outperforms Webb – in a way visible to fans – the sounds from the Soldier Field faithful will become deafening. There has been personal vitriol lobbed at Webb. Fans seems to be angry at not only the player, but the man as well. If Williams keeps a clean sheet, he’ll win in the court of public opinion.

HEALTH UPDATE

Stephen Paea spent Monday in a walking boot but was getting around pretty well Tuesday, per reports across the sideline. Major Wright came out of the preseason opener with hamstring tightness but hasn’t missed a beat at practice since. Knock on wood but outside Urlacher the Bears have yet to face a significant injury this summer. Three weeks to go!

SIDE NOTE: I don’t know how much energy I have for these inane preseason posts but I’ll keep trucking along. I see what other blogs out there are doing and, let’s be honest, I’m not going to do that. I’ll start putting my heart & soul into this thing when the players do – Wednesday, September 5th.