Mark Anderson?  Really?
I’m not going to read any column that begins “If Mark Anderson wants to be a part of the Bears‘ future, he can make a strong case over the last two games.”  Mark Anderson has seen more than enough snaps over the past few seasons to make it very clear that he is not a viable starting defensive end in the league.  If we’re going to reach for reasons to care about Monday night’s game, Mark Anderson is not going to be it.

The Favre-to-Minnesota Timeline – According to Reports
Childress woos Favre.  Childress chauffeurs Favre to team facility.  Favre plays brilliantly inside the system, thriving behind the brilliant run game.  Favre beats San Francisco on a last-second heave.  Favre begins audibling out of called runs.  Childress starts getting mad.  Favre tries to throw a late touchdown pass to run up the score against the Packers.  Childress gets really mad.  Favre, being a weathered old man, begins slipping physically.  Favre’s touchdown-to-interception ration begins to flip.  The run game and offensive line start slipping.  Childress getting reallllllly mad.  The Vikings lose two out of three, both in primetime.  Childress tries to take Favre out of the Panthers game.  Favre refuses.  Steam begins pouring out of Childress’ ears.  Favre calls out coach to the media.  Childress handles it really well while clearly simmering.

The question is, what’s next?  A disastrous performance Monday night could go a long way toward sinking the Viking season.  Do the Bears have it in them?

The Outdated Cover-2
Mike Mulligan questions whether the Cover-2 is outdated in the Sun-Times, drawing some interesting commentary from Alex Brown.  The problem with the Cover-2 is not the system itself but Lovie Smith’s failure to adapt it as the game changes around him.  He plays soft corners on third-and-seven, basically granting offenses first downs.  He uses the same series of predictable blitz packages on the same predictable downs.  But the main problem with the Bears’ pass defense is the complete lack of a pass rush.  The Cover-2 has never been successful without a premier pass rusher on the roster, preferably two.  The Bears have none.  Alex Brown is a hell of a defensive end, and I’d love him to play here til his career’s over, but he’s not a premier pass rusher.

Chicago Update
The Reverend and I will be at Rossi’s on North State at 3:00 for the Broncos v. Eagles game.  Stop by and have a beer.  We’re not leaving until they ask us to.

FIND OUT WHO IS MAKING THE DECISIONS FOR THE CHICAGO BEARS AND REPORT BACK TO US.  PLEASE JUST FIND OUT WHO IS GOING TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT JERRY ANGELO AND LOVIE SMITH RETAIN THEIR POSITIONS WITH THE TEAM.

I WANT A NAME.  AND NONE OF YOU HAVE PROVIDED ONE.  DO YOUR JOBS.

Lovie Blames the Players
Interesting comments from Lovie Smith regarding his disaster of a defense:

“We have been in position to make some plays,” said
Bears coach Lovie Smith. “It’s still a playmaker’s game and when you
have a situation to make a play, we need to.

“As far as why (it’s happening), there is a lot of reasons why. That’s why you’re an NFL player – paid to make plays.”

Translation: our defensive struggles are not my fault.  It is Al Afalava’s fault.  It is Kevin Payne’s fault.  But not mine.  But please, Bears players.  Keep defending your stand-up head coach.

Morrissey Hides His Best Point

I think I like today’s Rick Morrissey column far more than I wanted to.  He nails my feelings perfectly with this brilliant bit:

Any good things that could happen to Cutler ahead would be greatly
aided by Smith’s ouster. Now, if only we knew who makes the final
decisions at Halas Hall.

It’s not very becoming to show glee over the possibility of a person
or persons being unemployed. I know this. It’s not something that makes
me particularly proud.

I can’t add anything to that.

DaBearsBlog in Chicago

I’m arriving in Chicago Sunday morning and will be spending all day and night at Rossi’s on North State.  Let me know if you wanna stop by and say hello.

From Monday’s Peter King:

“The Bears (21-26 since Super Bowl Sunday 2007, with no playoff wins)
have been an abominable disappointment this season, and they lost their
eighth game in the past 10 Sunday at Baltimore.” King writes. “The Jay
Cutler trade, an abject failure. The offense, pathetic. Does it make
sense to clean house, or just to fire the offensive staff? Something
will be done, and watch Shanahan. He won’t make any commitment until he
knows which way the wind is blowing in Chicago — unless he absolutely
has to. Meaning that he’ll keep his options open until given an
ultimatum by a team.”

I will continue to repeat that Mike Shanahan is THE choice as the next head coach of the Chicago Bears.  If this organization is truly interested in moving forward, and moving forward big a big time leader, they must not allow Shanny to choose Washington without another offer being on the table.  The offer must be from the Chicago Bears.

The Minnesota Vikings are a playoff team in turmoil.  They’ve lost two of their last three games.  Their left tackle was benched after one of the more embarrassing performances of the 2009 season.  Their illustriously self-obsessed quarterback and prematurely extended head coach have decided to air their grievances in public.  They have gone from a Super Bowl favorite to battling the Philadelphia Eagles for a first round bye.  And no team in the NFL needs that rest in January more than the one with a forty year-old quarterback.

Have no fear, Vikings fans.  The Chicago Bears have become the penicillin for the NFL’s bacterial infections.  Bryant McKinnie won’t have much to do on the left side of the line.  Favre will find the passing game’s rhythm.  Adrian Peterson will break at least one fifty-plus run.  The Bears will also turn it over a few times to get your defense feeling good again.  On Tuesday morning, the talk in Minnesota will be whether or not they should go all-out against the New York Giants.

This is what it’s come to.  Three days after Christmas, on a brisk Chicago night, Soldier Field will be reduced to sixty thousand cold people holding a three-hour funeral service for another season dead and gone.  If Jerry Angelo is to maintain control of football operations, he must fire Lovie Smith and subsequently reinvigorate the 2010 season.  There will be no excitement in Bourbonnais with Lovie Smith.  There will be no expectations, except failure.  A new coach.  A new future.  A new hope.  That’s the opportunity Jerry has before him right now. 

And for those of you who want Jerry gone too, I understand.  But I’m willing to give him one more free agent group/draft class as long as there’s a new man running things on the field.  Lovie is the key.  The time for doubt was a month ago.  That time has gone.  The team on the field lacks the fire of three years ago.  They lack the fire of Dick Jauron.  They even lack the fire of Dave Wannstedt. 

It’s Christmas, Jerry.  You’ve never had an opportunity to give so many people such a beautiful present.   

I believe John Mullin’s reporting on Lovie Smith’s future was most likely thorough and accurate.  I also believe – after sitting through this afternoon’s utter disgrace of a football team – that Lovie Smith will be fired as the head coach of the Chicago Bears.

The quarterback is lost.  The receivers are lost.  The defense is the worst I’ve seen in my lifetime.  Worse than all that, the team plays without any passion.  They’re deceased.  And so it the head coach’s career in Chicago.

I’ve believed all along that Jerry Angelo would get to hire one more coach and based on today’s comments, I believe he does too.  “At the end of the year, we sit down, we talk,” Angelo said at Sunday’s game between the Bears and the Ravens, according to the Associated Press.

It is no longer a decision.  The Bears are currently – without question – one of the worst teams in the NFL.  Lovie Smith should be fired tomorrow morning, if only to prevent Shanny from prematurely signing a deal to coach in Washington.  If this man is retained in Chicago, the organization is telling everyone who loves the team that terrible will be tolerated.

It won’t be.  We’ll have to find a way to show them that next Monday night.

The Baltimore Ravens are competing for a playoff position with half the AFC and Sunday they’re favored by double digits to beat the Chicago Bears.  Now, word is out that the Bears may not be able to make it to Baltimore until Sunday morning – giving the Ravens about as significant an advantage as possible.

The NFL – with precedent already set – should move Bears vs. Ravens to Monday evening.  The Dolphins, Jaguars, Jets, Broncos…etc. deserve a Bears side at full strength in Baltimore and the Ravens deserve an opportunity to get their fans to the game.

(Side note: Why in God’s name didn’t the Bears leave for this game earlier than Friday evening?  The whole world new the snow was coming.  Doesn’t anybody working for the Chicago Bears do their job correctly?)

Thanks to Al In WI for pointing me in the direction of this horrible, horrible article…

John Mullin, formerly of the Trib and now of CSNChicago, is reporting that Lovie Smith will not be fired at the end of this season, “due in some measure to the looming prospect of a strike/lockout”.  While not ruling out coaching changes on both sides of the ball, Mullin goes on to say:

Don’t look for any announcement one way or the other, by the way.
Organizations typically do not issue statements that nothing is
happening. But this is the first time that I’ve been able to find
something close to “statement” on Smith’s future, which is now all but
certain to be coaching the 2010 Chicago Bears.

This is the simplest opinion I’ve ever had to write.

Bullshit.  Plain, old American, Chicago Bears bullshit.  Not John’s reporting (which I’m glad to know is still available) but the rationale.  If the Bears decide to keep Lovie Smith, while firing all of his assistants, the decision is about money.  How can an organization attempt to convince its fans that they dislike a team’s offense and defense but have confidence in the head man?  They can’t.

But the Chicago Bears will certainly try.