Bleacher Report - Articles by Bob Warja

Come To Think Of It: Bears, Rams Battle For Title of Worst Team in NFL

Bob Warja — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 02:08:39 -0500

The Vegas books have made the Chicago Bears a nine-point favorite over the Rams Sunday. Yes, the same Bears who have lost four in a row and six of seven are more than a touchdown favorite over another professional football team.

This says two things. One, Vegas wants more money bet on the Rams, and, two, the Rams are really, really bad.

But you know what? Not only are the Bears really, really bad, too, but they have this on their shoulders. If the Rams win, they are heroes. It is an unexpected surprise. But if the Bears lose...wow.

I'm not foolish enough to predict a Rams victory, but it's not the slam dunk you may think it is.

First, the Bears will be without their best defensive player in Lance Briggs. And they will be without the services of Orlando Pace, thus making it likely that the disappointing Chris Williams will make his first career start at left tackle.

Look, this should be the start of next season, which means looking at future young players. Still, knowing that Lovie needs a win badly, that may not happen.

Devin Aromashodu will hopefully get some playing time. And while they're at it, why not put Gaines Adams and his toothpick arms in there to see what they have? Jarron Gilbert, anyone?

Still, St. Louis is 1-10, so whatever the Bears decide to do, if they don't win by at least 10 points, the entire coaching staff should pack up and go home; not pass go and not collect $200.

The Bears have nothing to gain from this game. If they win, even convincingly, everyone will say it is as it should be. If they lose, they will be the worst team in football history.

They have no one to blame but themselves for this. In fact, they may have no one but themselves watching this game, come to think of it.

Tiger Woods Cheating Scandal: Are There Any Sports Heroes Left?

Bob Warja — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:34:20 -0500

The apology on Tiger Woods' Web site says a lot more than simply the confessions of a star athlete proving human. For me, the bigger story is the stark reminder that, as Charles Barkley once pointed out, athletes aren't role models.

In other words, Tiger's transgressions may just be the final straw that breaks the back of those of us who still believed in heroes.

I like to consider myself a realist, someone who understands that sports is a game and a business concurrently, but that no one player is perfect. Yet, I must admit that I found myself believing in Tiger.

For that, shame on me. Shame on all of us.

Sure, Tiger has no one to blame but himself if he cheated on his wife. But our belief that sports stars can rise to heroic proportions and elevate themselves beyond mere mortal status is something that we, as fans, must never be guilty of again.

Well, you can certainly count this fan as one who will never believe in an athlete again.

I know this is patently unfair since there may be plenty of sports stars who do live their lives as honest, decent, hardworking people. For example, neither Peyton Manning nor Derek Jeter has a known blemish on his record.

But the key word in that statement is "known,” because, as we've learned, painfully, time and time again, there are skeletons just waiting to come out of the closet and spook us with stories of impropriety.

That's just the way it is, my friends.

Few of us believed that Tiger, who has a beautiful wife, all the money in the world, and two young children at home, was living a dual life. But, as you read between the lines, it becomes clear that the life that Tiger was leading was anything but pure.

Likewise, few believed that Manny Ramirez took performance-enhancing drugs. We heard the whispers, but didn't want to believe that A-Rod was a cheat. We wanted to believe that Marian Jones was telling the truth, and that Michael Jordan really could fly.

But now, we have become a society of disbelievers, and who can blame us? How do we know that Peyton Manning is as rock solid as he appears on the exterior?

Look, all this is nothing new. In the past, sports heroes were able to maintain their lofty status in the public eye because there wasn't as much instant media access and reporting of the personal lives of these folks.

People didn't know that Babe Ruth was a drunk and a womanizer, didn't care if someone was a racist. What they accomplished on the field was all we knew or cared about.

Well, all that has changed. Athletes are built up to grandiose expectations they can't possibly live up to, and then are torn down like they were made of paper.

We should all have a suspicious eye for everyone in that public sphere. It makes it almost impossible to believe that any athlete is worth our adulation.

We scorn the sports star who we cheered just last week. Throw down a massive slam-dunk, sink that winning putt, hit that home run and we love you. Expose your human underbelly for all to see and we hate you.

Oh sure, athletes get paid to deal with this, so this is no attempt to make anyone feel sorry for these often spoiled millionaire athletes. But it does raise a serious question.

Just who is at fault here, the athlete for not living up to our expectations, or us for having those expectations in the first place?

As The Who once sang, "don't get fooled again." Don't buy the hype when you buy the apparel. Understand that these are human beings and, as such, are far from perfect.

You don't have to forgive them, nor should you feel sorry for them. Feel remorse over the loss of the magic that comes with believing, if you must, but know that nothing is certain but death, taxes, and the Cubs never winning the World Series.

Heck, for Eldrick Tont, even his name isn't real.

Just like Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, these heroes are not real. It's a grand illusion and, come to think of it, one that we can no longer accept.

Come to Think of it: NFL To Put Jay Cutler on Payroll of Every Team (Satire)

Bob Warja — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:01:27 -0500

In a move sure to spark significant controversy around the league, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced today that Bears QB Jay Cutler's salary will be equally distributed to all of its teams, effective immediately.

Said Goodell of the surprising move, "Look, Cutler does his damnest to throw the ball to each team he plays, which helps them win, right? Well, then it's only fair that the money the Bears are paying him gets shared by the entire league."

"With the length and amount of that contract he's signed to, the Bears can't pull him, so eventually Cutler will play against most of the teams in the NFL before his career is over, and I just think his expected contribution to those teams should be recognized."

The Bears were not immediately available for comment, with Lovie Smith saying only that he couldn't personally vouch for the fact that Cutler plays for the Bears.

"Jay Cutler? Yes, I've heard the name. But I'm not going to get into questions about whether he plays football, and if so, if it's for us or what have you. I just know that we still have a chance to reach our goal, and we'll go from there."

Cutler, who was acquired in a trade with the Denver Broncos prior to the season, leads the NFL in interceptions, with 20. He threw two more in a 36-10 loss to the Vikings on Sunday.

Meanwhile, as to the rumor that the Bears have contacted the Guinness World Book of Records people, a team spokesman said, "I won't confirm or deny that, but do I believe any publicity is good publicity? Yes I do. This whole interception thing has been spun in a such a negative light, and I just feel it's high time that Jay gets recognized for the truly historic event we are witnessing."

Cutler's problems have even carried over to his personal life. His attempt to pass the potatoes during Thanksgiving dinner resulted in a mess on the floor.

As for the weak offensive line, lack of running game and poor receivers, Cutler said none of that matters.

"I am The Saviour, and my mere presence should elevate these mortals into super human status."

No word on whether GM Jerry Angelo has returned from Barbados, come to think of it.

Come To Think of It: Charlie Weis' Replacement at Notre Dame Will be Brian Kelly

Bob Warja — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:15:41 -0500

I was the first writer on Bleacher Report to report that Notre Dame was going to fire head coach Charlie Weis, and now I'm the first to report who his replacement is: Brian Kelly.

Yes, Kelly, the Cincinnati head coach, will replace Weiss when all is said and done. And all will be said and done as early as next week.

Sure, coaches like Bob Stoops and Urban Meyer would be the first choice for the Irish. either of them would represent a major coup for the program. But neither of them are likely to come to Indiana.

Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick has been given complete authority and encouraged by key board of trustee members to be ambitious in his search for a replacement for Weis.

It is possible that Weis could coach in a bowl game depending on the terms of the separation, according to two sources. But it is obvious to everyone that the Irish will be looking for a new coach soon.

It has nothing to do with the 45-38 loss that Notre Dame endured on Saturday night. This has been a given for awhile now.

So just who is Brian Kelly? He is the 48 year old head coach of Cincinnati over the last three years. Prior to Cincinnati he was the head coach at Central Michigan University , where he had a 19-16 record over three seasons, and at Grand Valley State University, where he had a record of 118-35-2 in 13 seasons.

Meanwhile, the undefeated, fifth-rated UC Bearcats will surely try to keep him. And I'm sure that Kelly likes it at Cincinnati, but if the Irish come calling with a blank check, he's gone. It's as simple as that.

Kelly's new five-year contract took effect on Jan. 1, but it wasn't signed until June 18. He will earn $1.337 million this year, not including incentives. That's not exactly chump change, yet Kelly's salary ranks only fourth among the Big East's eight coaches and he's closing in on a second consecutive league title.

Meanwhile, expect the Irish to more than double that salary and sign him as their next head coach.

Come to Think of It: Jeff Baker is Not the Answer for the Cubs at Second Base

Bob Warja — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 17:14:33 -0500

I keep reading and hearing from both Cubs fans and the media alike that Jeff Baker is likely to be the starting second baseman for the Cubs in 2010. If that happens, I think it will be a mistake.

You see, Baker has never done anything outside of Coors Field. It would be a leap of faith by Cubs general manager Jim Hendry to expect Baker to post the same numbers over a full season as he did during his time with the team in 2009.

Similar to the leap of faith exercised by Hendry with Mike Fontenot last year, when he posted that unrealistic BAbip in 2008, Baker has never proven he can hit outside of Denver.

Consider these numbers:

.299/.352/.556/.908 at Coors

.247/.306/.379/.685 away from Coors

.251/.313/.394/.707 2009 with Cubs, if adjusting to a normal (his career away) BAbip (instead of the .360 BAbip he actually saw)

Just like last year when Hendry decided that 300 at bats were sufficient to proclaim Fontenot our guy at second base, Henry seems poised to make that same mistake over again, that is, if the rumored Milton Bradley deal involving the Mets' Luis Castillo doesn't materialize.

If you examine Baker's numbers closely, you'll see that his career away from Coors and his neutralized time with the Cubs are virtually identical.

Another point to consider is that Baker has played only 755 innings in his career at second base.

Well, we have one infielder who is a non-tender candidate already in little Mikey, we don't need another next year. Yet that's exactly what we'll have if Baker posts a 250/.310/.390/.700 slash line as he has away from Coors throughout his career.

Remember that most everyone hopped on the Fontenot bandwagon last year, let's not make the same mistake again with this guy.

Come to think of it...

Breaking News: Tiger Woods "Seriously Injured"? No, but what a Cover-up!

Bob Warja — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 15:10:54 -0500

UPDATE: Police have said that he has been released from the hospital and he's OK. They also said alcohol wasn't involved. But you tell me: A guy gets in his car after 2am and crashes into a bunch of stuff, his wife has to use a golf club to pry him out. Then, he's found lying bleeding on the ground. And he wasn't drunk? C'mon! He must have been smashed...or worse...but since he's Tiger, the whole thing is swept under the rug. The fact they didn't report this for twelve hours tells the story in my opinion...

ESPN.com is reporting the following about the golfing legend:

"Tiger Woods has been seriously injured in a car wreck in Florida, authorities said Friday.

The Florida Highway Patrol said Woods hit a fire hydrant and a tree as he pulled out of his driveway early Friday in his 2009 Cadillac sport utility vehicle.

Woods was taken to Health Central Hospital. His condition was not immediately known, though the news release said his injuries were serious.

The airbags in the car did not deploy, according to a report in the Orlando Sentinel. The newspaper said that airbags typically do not deploy if a vehicle is traveling less than 33 miles per hour.

The highway patrol says the crash is still under investigation, and charges are pending. However, the highway patrol said the crash was not alcohol-related.

The Orange County Fire Rescue received a call about the accident at 2:28 a.m. ET. The Florida Highway Patrol did not report it until 2 p.m. ET."

Woods is one of the rare stars to transcend his sport. Similar to Michael Jordan and other such icons, it doesn't matter if he plays golf, basketball or tiddlywinks, even small news is big news when it comes to legends like him.

So any story about Woods being "seriously" hurt is something we should all be interested in. I hope he's OK, but more to come.

Come To Think Of It: Black Friday May Lead To Black & Blue Sunday For Bears

Bob Warja — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 14:55:35 -0500

Today may be what they call "Black Friday", the busiest shopping day of the year. But for the Chicago Bears team, the only shopping they should be doing is to stock up on some Advil, because they may be pretty beat up come Sunday night.

It used to be the Bears doing the beatdowns. But this Minnesota Vikings team is really good. If it's not the Bears bodies that will be hurting after this game, it may be their ego.

Look, I'm a die-hard Bears fan but even I'm not sure I want the Bears to upset the heavily favorited Vikes. For one thing, it would lead to more of the false optimism that may result in justification for another year of Lovie Smith as head coach and Jerry as GM.

For another thing, it will mask the problems that need to be addressed on this team.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on your viewpoint, a win for the Bears this Sunday is not likely. Brett Favre is not throwing interceptions, so the Vikings will not beat themselves. He was nearly perfect last week against the Seahawks.

Even if you stop Favre's passing, can you stop Adrian Peterson's rushing? They haven't before, and he is still the same prolific runner as always, though he has an ankle (as Wanny would say). Peterson is listed as "probable" on the injury report.

Then there is the Minnesota defense, led by the hated but equally awesome Jared Allen. Allen said this about Jay Cutler after he signed with the Bears: "Twice a year I'm going to peel the back of his head off the turf."

Allen goes up against Orlando Pace this week, and let's face it, he is not playing like a hall of famer these days.

And if that nightmare wasn't enough, you have the "Williams Wall."

So the Bears, who have lost five of six, play on the road against a 9-1 Vikings team? Against a defense that held Seattle to just four yards rushing last week?

As Dick Enberg would say, "Oh, my!"

They call it the "black and blue" division for a reason, come to think of it.

Come to Think of it: Josh McDaniels "Swears" Denver Broncos Just Trying To Win

Bob Warja — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:43:00 -0500

Hey, the Denver Broncos finally ended their run of futility, and all the reports focus on only one thing.

The win snapping Denver's four-game slide? No. Brian Dawkins' inspired play? Nope, that's not it either.

Instead, a swear word uttered by coach Josh McDaniels that was accidentally broadcast by the NFL Network during the game Thursday night took center stage.

It had been 38 days since the Broncos had won a game, yet all the talk is about McDaniels' penchant for the F-word.

Meanwhile, there was a football game played last night, a 26-6 victory over the Giants, who are in the midst of a serious slide of their own.

Elvis Dumervil had two more sacks, raising his NFL-leading total to 14, the second one leading to a fumble. But both teams share one common theme: They have stalled since starting out undefeated.

Denver won its first six games before losing four in a row, and the Giants have lost five of six since starting the season 5-0. So much for the concept of momentum.

But, it was Denver's inability to score in the red zone (hey, this is Kyle Orton and not Jay Cutler QBing the team, right? Just checking) that led to the NFL Network's embarrassing mistake.

Coming out of a commercial break, the NFL Network showed a clip of McDaniels yelling at his players on the sideline, saying, "All we're trying to do is win a [expletive] game!"

The vulgarity was clearly audible to viewers, and announcer Bob Papa immediately apologized on air. But he certainly doesn't need to apologize to me, and I suspect most football fans could care less about swearing.

This is football, after all, a tough game played by tough men, and things get said in the heat of battle. Isn't the game what it's all about anyway?

So McDaniels swore last night? Tough [expletive], I say, come to think of it.

Come to Think of It: A Chicago Sports Thanksgiving Poem

Bob Warja — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 13:24:05 -0500

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Thanks to Tom Ricketts, who purchased the team,

Here’s to someday achieving our World Series dream.

Thanks go to the Blackhawks, wearing the Indian so proud,

With their ambassadors in tow and the roar of the crowd

Here’s to the hope of a change for the Bears,

The fans are not lovie-ing his passionless stares

Thanks to the Bulls for at least making a run,

This season may not impress, but the Celts series sure was fun

The Fightin’ Illini were a wreck and a mess,

At least the Wildcats gave us some upsets to witness

Thanks to Marian Hossa, who made a triumphant debut,

Eight in a row lookin’ ‘Buf as they do

Kenny is thanking his San Diego treat,

Hoping that Jake brings ‘em back from defeat

Thanks to the youngsters who make up our teams

Names like Toews, Kane, Rose, and Beckham filling our dreams

Here’s to the final curtain for all-too-sweet Lou

Retiring to Tampa after the season is through

Thanks to the honesty spewing from the Blizzard of Oz,

A refreshing alternative to the Lovie façade

Thanks to the Fire and Wolves, you thought I forgot

In a crowded landscape there's always a spot

And here’s one final "Thanks" to you "Creatures" out there,

With Thanksgiving wishes filling the air.

Come To Think Of It: Some Lower Cost, High Upside Options For Cubs

Bob Warja — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 12:32:13 -0500

We know all too well that the Cubs are financially constrained this winter. In addition to focusing on moving Milton Bradley, GM Jim Hendry has numerous issues to address on a ball club that seriously underachieved in 2009.

But I'm always here to help my friend Jimbo, so, as usual, here are some moves and/or signings that wouldn't necessarily break the bank, yet may provide some high upside for the Cubbies this winter.

Justin Duchscherer

The right-hander didn't pitch in the majors at all this year — in part because of clinical depression — and is now a free agent.

Duchscherer pitched out of the A's bullpen from 2004 through 2007, before moving into their rotation in 2008. He went 10-8 with a 2.54 ERA in 22 starts during what was his second All-Star season.

Duchscherer underwent hip surgery in 2008 and arthroscopic surgery on his throwing elbow this March. He has been on the disabled list five times in the past four years.

Sound familiar? It should, because there are several similarities to Rich Harden, whom the Cubs have apparently said goodbye to.

But, like Harden, when healthy, this guy can pitch. Unlike Harden, given the fact that he is considered more of a risk, he may be available at a lower cost. Meanwhile, the Red Sox are said to be interested, but it's worth a look.

Marlon Byrd

The 32-year-old outfielder makes for an interesting free agent case. He set career highs with 599 plate appearances, 20 home runs, and 89 RBIs this year. On the other hand, his .329 OBP and 5.3% walk rate fell short of his 2008 marks.

Byrd played all three outfield positions. He played mostly in center field. His defense in center ranked as a slight negative according to UZR/150 ; it was a positive in previous years. John Dewan's plus-minus system also saw Byrd as a slight negative in center.

Playing in the Ballpark At Arlington seemed to help him and his power production seems like an outlier. So Byrd would be somewhat of a risk. But he wouldn't exactly break the bank, either.

Mike Cameron

With Cameron, you pretty much know what you're getting. He will be 37 in January, so a one year contract might be the most I would do.

Cameron can still play an above average center field and offensively, while his .342 OBP didn't set the world on fire, he did walk 75 times, with a .452 SLG and a .795 OPS.

As BleedCubbieBlue points out, "in 138 career PA at Wrigley Field, Cameron has hit .261/.355/.521 with 8 HR, and hits .257/.349/.454 in day games."

David DeJesus

DeJesus may be a left fielder, and we all know that Soriano isn't going anywhere. Still, the Roayls are said to be looking to trade him and if so, count FanGraphs among those that think he has real value.

Matt Klaassen wrote, "As for DeJesus, I have him as about a +10 fielder and a +6 hitter — so he’s also right in that 2.5-3 WAR area." This is similar to Jason Bay.

He’s likely to be worth at least twice as what he’s paid, and he’s just about as good as the far more expensive options on the open market. Hey Jim, it's Dayton Moore on line one.

Ben Sheets

Unless some team overvalues Sheets, and that would be irresponsible given his injury history, Sheets would be worth a gamble with a reasonable one year contract.

I know, we're all tired of the perpetual Kerry Wood/Mark Prior towel throwing, but this is a potential ace willing to sign a reasonable deal to get back on his feet.

Jack Moore of FanGraphs suggested that "Sheets has potential provide value at the level of a John Lackey type pitcher." Yet his price tag will be way, way less than Lackey.

Ryan Spilborghs

It's a crowded outfield in Colorado. I'm tempted instead put Seth Smith here instead, although I think it is much more likely that the Rockies will part company with Spilborghs than Smith.

FanGraphs says this about the Rockies outfielder: "With a .351 career wOBA and passable defense even in center field (-2.1 UZR), he could fill a more important role on another team. Bill James projects him to have a .362 OBP in 2010.

Spilborghs would not start, but let's say the Cubs acquire an outfielder that doesn't hit well against left-handed pitching. This guy could be a bargain as a replacement for Reed Johnson, and they wouldn't have to mortgage the farm to get him.

None of these guys will turn the Cubs into champions, but who knows, they just might stumble onto something, come to think of it.

Come To Think Of It: Will Red Sox Have Happy Hollidays Or Halladays?

Bob Warja — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:30:28 -0500

Matt Holliday...Roy Halladay...this offseason is so damn confusing. But we know one thing - both players are available and at least one will sign a huge deal this off-season. Will one of the teams that bites be the Red Sox?

Look, with apologies to Jason Bay and John Lackey, Matt Holliday is the best free agent on the market. Lackey is good, to be sure, but he's the best starting pitcher in a weak market.

Meanwhile, the only question surrounding Holliday is which player will show up for the team that signs him? The one in Oakland who seemed to further the idea that Matt was simply a product of the thin air in Denver, or the guy in St. Louis that destroyed NL pitching?

We do know that Holliday is better defensively than Bay, and we also recognize that he is represented by uber agent Scott Boras, so he will command a bigger contract for his services.

Still, the Red Sox, among others, are said to be interested in Holliday. Or is that Halladay? I told you this is confusing.

There are almost equal reports that the Sox are aggressively pursuing Doc from the Blue Jays, though I would think the key to any deal would be a contract extension.

If Doc was only a one year rental, the Jays know they wouldn't get as much for him. But if they allow a window for a team like the Sox to negotiate an extension with the star pitcher, well, that's a different story my friend.

For it's clear the Sox need starting pitching. Tim Wakefield is 44 years old. Dice K is coming off of injury and poor performance. Clay Buchholz is unproven.

Of course, Buchholz is likely to go as part of any package used to acquire Halladay. But in the AL East, you simply can't afford to stand pat, you have to take chances.

What would it take to sign Holliday? Try seven years and $126 million dollars perhaps. I don't see the Sox going that high.They could just as easily trade for Doc and sign Bay.

And what would it take to extend Halladay? Likely $20 million dollars per year but perhaps over a shorter time period. Let's say, for the sake of argument, four years, $80 million dollars. That may be more appealing to Theo Epstein.

I don't think any of this is going to materialize quickly. Still, it is the holidays. Or do I mean the Halladays? I told you this stuff was confusing, come to think of it.

Come to Think of It: For Bears' Lovie Smith The Difference Is Accountability

Bob Warja — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:09:11 -0500

"We were 9-7 last year and weren't able to get into the playoffs ... 10-6 normally gets you there. So it's only fitting to look ahead to see what's still left in front of us, if we take care of business this week."

Of course this was Lovie Smith talking with his optimistic blinders on, as usual. This team has lost five out of six games and faces a Minnesota Vikings team that is 9-1 and Lovie is talking about the playoffs?

In just what alternate universe does this guy live in? For a long time we've known what a stubborn and obsessively loyal-to-a-fault coach he was, so it's not surprising to hear him spew this nonsense once again.

But give us Bears fans some credit, Lovie. We're not stupid, we see what's going down. And this Bears team is going down ... the toilet.

But not in Lovie's world, where everything is always coming up roses. When Rex Grossman was posting a QB rating of 10 or whatever, Lovie would still be saying in his aw-shucks manner, the familiar refrain that "Rex is our quarterback."

And the fact that our savior, Jay Cutler, is throwing the ball to the opposition more often than the weather changes in Chicago hasn't seem to dim Lovie's rosy view. Lovie offered this scintillating review of Cutler's most recent performance:

“He made good decisions (Sunday) night,” Smith said. “He overthrew a few passes. That happens with all quarterbacks.”

Sure, and it's normal to expect your defense to get stomped on to the tune of more than 40 points twice in three weeks too, right?

Look, it's true that his players support him, but why wouldn't they? They continually make mistakes and their head coach continually covers for them. What's not to like?

There is simply no accountability. Speaking of that, where is the accountability from Jerry Angelo on Lovie? Or from Ted Phillips regarding Jerry's performance? Or from the McCaskeys on Ted? It seems like everyone is in on this little charade of hide the truth.

Being an optimist is fine. Being blind to the truth is dangerous.

WSCR's Hub Arkush reported Tuesday that someone in the Bears hierarchy is putting out feelers as to what interest the available coaches might have in coming to the Bears. But the team quickly denied this, of course, and even Hub says this doesn't mean the Bears will make any changes. It seems they may be simply doing their due diligence.

Meanwhile, there are some very solid former head coaches out there if the Bears do decide to make a change. Personally, I'd like to see Mike Shanahan, who coincidentally has a relationship with Cutler and would bring an offensive mindset to the Bears.

Alas, it is more likely that the Bears simply make Ron Turner the scapegoat and fire him after the season. I would certainly not be opposed to firing Turner, but that would be masking the real problem.

The difference is accountability, come to think of it.

Come To Think of It: The Curse of the Honey Bears

Bob Warja — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:20:43 -0500

Chicago Cubs fans have certainly heard of the Curse of the Billy Goat, while the Red Sox killed the Curse of the Bambino when they won the World Series in 2004. But have you heard of this one?

Yes, ever since then-President Michael McCaskey got rid of the Bears cheerleading squad, the team has not won a Super Bowl.

While it's not surprising that a guy like McCaskey wouldn't be interested in female cheerleaders, it is a fact that the Bears' cheapness is personified in a move like this.

Just prior to Super Bowl 20 in New Orleans, founder/manager/choreographer Cathy Core was informed by Bears management that her group's contract would not be renewed to take the field for their 10th year at Soldier Field.

The real reason for this choice has not been revealed publicly, but the semi-official reason given by the Bears organization is that they felt cheerleaders were not an acceptable part of the gameday experience for an NFL team.

Right, and neither is beer drinking and tailgaiting.

Look, Papa Bear himself reportedly decided that he wanted cheerleaders. Hey, no man purse for this guy.

In fact, Halas said that "as long as I'm alive, we will have dancing girls on the sidelines."

The Honey Bears danced on the sidelines, as well as made appearances around the city, from 1977 to 1985. Halas made good on his word that the cheerleaders would always be a part of the team as long as he was alive. He passed in October of 1983. The following season the team attempted to end the relationship, but had a binding contract with the group through the end of the '85 season.

Since then, the Bears have appeared in, but not won, a Super Bowl. Coincidence? Perhaps. But then again, crazier things have happened, come to think of it.

Come To Think of It: Chicago Bears Key To Victory is To Pressure Donovan McNabb

Bob Warja — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:12:49 -0500

The biggest difference between last week's tilt against the 49ers and this week's contest versus the Philadelphia Eagles is the quarterback play.

No, not Jay Cutler, although better ball protection for the Bears offense is a key. I'm talking about the difference between Alex Smith and Donovan McNabb.

For good QBs with time to throw the ball have picked apart the Bears defense. And McNabb is a much better QB than Smith at this point.

To avoid another Carson Palmer debacle, the Bears need to generate pressure on McNabb. With one less weapon to go to (Brian Westbrook is out with an injury), the defense needs to force bad decisions and off-balance throws from the Eagles QB.

That won't be easy.

Still, these teams seem strikingly similar. They both are desperate, coming off of two game losing streaks. Both have had trouble running the ball.

Despite 450 passing yards and two scores while tying his own franchise record with 35 completions, McNabb was unable to rally his team to victory against the Chargers last week.

Expect the Eagles to throw the ball a lot Sunday night, with McNabb utilizing tight end Brent Celek (46 receptions, 5 TD) and young wideouts DeSean Jackson (34 receptions, 621 yards, 6 total TD) and Jeremy Maclin (31 receptions, 4 TD), who both have speed to burn and excel at gaining yards after the catch.

If the Bears defense allows McNabb time to throw, he will pick them apart and the Bears will suffer yet another embarrassing defeat on national TV, come to think of it.

Come To Think Of It: Notre Dame's Charlie Weis Will Be Fired

Bob Warja — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 23:35:51 -0500

Saturday's stunning loss to UConn has sealed the fate of Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis, who has likely coached his last home game for the Irish.

Despite a show of support for their coach by the seniors prior to the game, Weis will be gone following the season.

"It was an idea that myself and two other guys had," quarterback Jimmy Clausen said. "It was Senior Day, but coach Weis has gone through a lot, and we're behind him 110 percent. And that's what we were trying to do today."

Weis had nothing to gain by beating UConn, really. But by losing, for the third straight week and for the second consecutive year to a Big East team on Senior Day, he surrendered all chance of returning for a sixth season.

As ESPN.com has reported, Unlike previous difficult losses, athletic director Jack Swarbrick didn't come into the media room after the game to answer questions. There was no need. Swarbrick has insisted that he will evaluate Weis at the end of the season and won't make any announcements until after next week's season finale at Stanford.

But there is nothing left to evaluate. The announcement will be a mere formality.

Weis now has a lower winning percentage than predecessors Bob Davie and Ty Willingham. He is 16-20 in the last three years. The Irish will be heavy underdogs to Stanford, and a defeat will guarantee a third straight non-winning regular season.

As usual, Weis deflected any questions about his own status, saying only that he felt "absolutely miserable" for the seniors.

"Today's not the day for me to reflect on things like that," he said. "I'll worry about me tomorrow."

In a strange, convoluted way, as in how a train wreck is tragic yet you can't turn your eyes away, the end of the Weis era will be a sad moment for the program. For the total blame cannot be pinned on him.

Yes, despite outstanding performances by QB Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate, and with several members of Weis's first full recruiting now fifth-year seniors, the Irish are losing again and that is simply not tolerable in their world.

Touchdown Jesus would not approve, come to think of it.

Come to Think of It: Top Ten Chicago Bears Players of All-Time

Bob Warja — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:34:57 -0500

The Bears have a long and storied tradition, steeped in great players, mostly on the defensive side of the ball, though we have perhaps the best running back of all-time.

In fact, the Bears have retired the most uniform numbers of any NFL team.

Meanwhile, I guarantee you that a Chicago sports fan has a more difficult time limiting the best Bears to only 10 than in any other sport. Cubs, Sox, and Bulls are much easier to come up with. The Blackhawks would be a struggle too, but not as challenging as picking the top Bears.

I am sure to have left someone off the list who you, the Bears fan, feels is more worthy than someone I did include. Such is life and debate is what makes this site so great.

Heck, I left 13 HOF'ers off of my list!

So have at it, Bears fans, feel free to tell me where you disagree. But remember, it's only my opinion. And opinions are like baring your soul to the world: everyone may not like what they see.

So, in no particular order...

Sid Luckman

During his 12 seasons with the Bears he led them to four NFL championships. Luckman was the first modern T-formation quarterback and is considered the greatest long range passer of his time. He was the league's MVP in 1943.

It’s pretty sad that he is the only great QB in Bears history.

Walter Payton

Wow, what can you say about “Sweetness” that hasn’t already been said or written?

Walter held the league’s record for most career rushing yards, touchdowns, carries, and many other categories when he retired. In addition to being perhaps the greatest running back, he was simply one of the greatest football players of all-time.

He was extremely strong and durable, which made it even tougher to swallow when a rare liver disease took his life at such a young age.

Dan Hampton

“Danimal” played at a Hall of Fame caliber for 12 seasons, despite having to endure 10 knee surgeries.

During Hampton's tenure with the Bears (1979-90), the Bears defense ranked No. 1 in the NFL in allowing the fewest rushing yards, the fewest rushing touchdowns, the fewest total yards, the fewest points, and inflicted the most sacks.

Dick Butkus

Butkus was simply one of the meanest, fiercest, toughest competitors to ever play the game of football. He was arguably the greatest linebacker in NFL history.

Butkus recovered 25 fumbles in his career, an NFL record at the time of his retirement. He regularly led the Bears in tackles, interceptions, forced fumbles, and fumble recoveries throughout his career.

Gale Sayers

“The Kansas Comet” averaged five yards per carry for his career. One of the most spectacular and elusive runners in football history, knee injuries shortened his great career.

A prolific kick and punt returner, Sayers still holds the NFL’s highest career kickoff return average (30.56) and is tied for most career touchdown returns.

Mike Ditka

“Iron Mike” Ditka may be better known as “Da Coach” of the Super Bowl Bears team of 1985, but he was a Hall of Fame tight end well before that.

Although he was a fierce blocker, Ditka transformed the tight end position to an effective offensive weapon as he appeared in the Pro Bowl every season with the Bears. Ditka was the first tight end elected to the HOF.

Did you know that Ditka’s last name was originally Dyczko?

Bronko Nagurski

Nagurski played a long time ago, back in the leather helmet days, when players often played on both sides of the ball. He was also the biggest running back of his time at 6’2” and 235 lbs.

A standout defensive lineman as well, he is the only player in history to be elected to the Pro Bowl at three different non-kicking positions. He was one of the charter members of the Hall of Fame.

Nagurski was also a professional wrestler during his football career. Did you know that his given first name was Bronislau?

Bulldog Turner

Clyde “Bulldog” Turner was a prolific center and linebacker who played on four championship teams.

While it’s hard to rate players from different eras, Nagurski was an eight time All Pro selection, is a member of the HOF, and the Bears retired his number. That’s good enough for me.

Red Grange

Another charter member of the HOF, “The Galloping Ghost” was not only a great football player, he started his own league following a dispute with the Bears following his first season. The league lasted only one season and Grange returned to the Bears the next season.

In 2008, he was named the greatest college football player of all time by ESPN .

Speaking of the four letter, the following is a great quote from a story told by the obnoxious Chris Berman:

“I was interviewing George Halas and I asked him who is the greatest running back you ever saw. And he said, 'That would be Red Grange.' And I asked him if Grange was playing today, how many yards do you think he'd gain. And he said, 'About 750, maybe 800 yards.' And I said, 'Well, 800 yards is just okay.' He sat up in his chair and he said, 'Son, you must remember one thing. Red Grange is 75 years old."

Doug Atkins

At 6’8”, Atkins was one of the most feared defensive players ever, being enshrined in the Hall of Fame and as the leader of a devastating Bears defensive unit.

Atkins played 17 seasons in the NFL despite a variety of injuries, and was one of the meanest players ever. He was a starter in the Pro Bowl in eight of his last nine years with the team.

Honorable mention:

Mike Singletary

George Blanda

Dan Fortmann

Joe Stydahar

Bill George

George Trafton

George Musso

George McAfee

George Connor

Link Lyman

Bill Hewitt

Stan Jones

Ed Healey

Come To Think Of It: Toronto GM Calling Cubs About Roy Halladay

Bob Warja — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:48:28 -0500

According to MLB.com's Carrie Muskat , Toronto Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos has contacted the Cubs about a possible trade of star pitcher Roy Halladay to the Cubs.

While on the surface it would appear to be a very unlikely scenario, it does at least bear some discussion. If for no other reason than Halladay is one of the best pitchers in baseball. And moving to the National League would only make him better, in all likelihood.

Look, it's a long shot, to be sure. First off, the Cubs probably don't have the payroll room to do this unless Toronto is willing to take one of our huge salaries in return. Second, Halladay's contract is up after this season, so would it be prudent for them to trade away the farm just to obtain one year of his services?

Anthopoulos has reportedly stated he is willing to allow the trading team a period of time to work out a contract extension. That would likely be a prerequisite for any trade, though with all the long-term contracts the club already has, I can't see Jim Hendry doing another one.

This may simply be two GMs doing their due diligence. Even so, one just can't simply dismiss an opportunity to acquire a great pitcher.

Halladay is owed $15.75 million this year. Plus, they'd have to be willing to part with top prospects, such as shortstop Starlin Castro and Josh Vitters, to obtain the Jays' ace.

It is clear, however, that the Jays are serious about trading Doc. While it's unlikely to be to the Cubs, it's interesting, come to think of it.

Come To Think Of It: Hey Bears Fans, Is Brian Urlacher a Future HOF'er?

Bob Warja — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:07:31 -0500

A few relatively short years ago, this would have been an easy question to answer. It would have been an emphatic "Yes!" as Urlacher was generally thought of as one of the best defensive players in the NFL.

But in recent years, he has been criticized as overrated or has been injured. Football is not like baseball and careers are normally a lot shorter. Unlike in baseball, where you have to play 10 years to be eligible for the Hall of Fame, there are NFL players like Gale Sayers, for example, who served less time in the NFL yet made it among the elite.

This is Urlacher's 10th year in the league, though he is on injured reserve, out for the season following surgery on a dislocated right wrist.

It is widely thought around the league that the Bears base defensive scheme, the Tampa-2, does not play to the strengths of Urlacher, and limits his ability to pile up stats.

The most sacks he has had in a season was his rookie year when he had eight. He does have the fifth most interceptions among linebackers since 2000, but it's hard to judge a defensive football player by stats alone.

What we do know about Urlacher is that, when healthy, he is an explosive run-stopper and an effective pass-defender. He has great instincts, and power to sustain leverage on blockers and separate to the ball. He has the speed, agility and size to match up well with many interior targets in the passing game.

He is a six-time Pro Bowl player, winning the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award in 2000 and the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2005. Urlacher is only the fifth player in NFL history to win both awards.

He holds the Bears record for most tackles in a season. But is he a future HOF'er?

There are those who claim he is overrated. In a 2006 Sports Illustrated poll of 361 NFL players, Urlacher was named as the second most overrated player in the league, behind Terrell Owens. Jealousy perhaps?

Personally, I do not feel he is in the same category of Dick Butkus, but then again, no one is. It's hard when arguably the greatest linebacker in NFL history is openly critical of you. Just because you may not measure up to his standard does not necessarily mean you are not a great player.

As to being overrated, the one Bears linebacker who I do feel was in this category was Mike Singletary. I know this may rub Bears fans the wrong way, but I think the play of Dan Hampton and Steve McMichael on the inside helped elevate the play of Richard Dent and Singletary.

Yet he made the HOF. Don't get me wrong, he was a very good player. But he got in mainly on the basis of those piercing eyes and the cracked helmets. Starring on a Super Bowl winning team didn't hurt his chances either.

So far, Urlacher hasn't had the luxury of a championship as part of his resume, though he did play in one. I do think he is as good, if not better, than Singletary was.

I'd like to know what you think, Bears fans, come to think of it?

NOTE: Shortly after I wrote this, it was brought to my attention that Joey Garcia had written a piece earlier this year also asking if Urlacher was a HOF'er. Though I hadn't read that article, I wanted to give a shout out to it:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/141979-is-chicago-bears-brian-urlacher-a-future-hall-of-famer

Come To Think Of It: MLB Writers Take Steps Forward and Back in Award Voting

Bob Warja — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:36:34 -0500

Perhaps there is hope for the writers who vote for the Major League Baseball awards, after all. Then again, it's always one step forward, two steps back with these guys.

One might hope that the preponderance of advanced statistical evidence might educate voters for awards such as Cy Young, MVP, ROY and the Gold Glove.

After all, as younger and (hopefully) more enlightened writers obtain voting rights, the subjective manner of awarding players should improve.

One possible example of this is Zack Greinke winning the Cy Young award today. In the "old" days, many voters used such sad stats as won-loss records as a judge of the best pitcher. In that regard, Greinke wouldn't have had a chance.

His victory total (16) matched that of Arizona's Brandon Webb three years ago for the fewest by a starting pitcher to win a Cy Young Award in a non-shortened season and was the fewest by an AL starter to win in a full-length season.

But Greinke won in overwhelming fashion over King Felix of Seattle, who went 19-5. This is a positive result because it demonstrates that voters are finally beginning to appreciate that a pitcher's record is largely dependent on such things as park factor, defense, and run support.

Kansas City scored just 13 runs in his eight losses and 21 runs in his nine no-decisions. He failed to get a victory in six starts in which he allowed one run or fewer.

Meanwhile, he easily led the league in FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching), and ERA.

Yet just as soon as you think there's light at the end of the tunnel, you harken back to the Gold Glove award. How Seattle's center fielder Franklin Gutierrez could be left out in the cold is almost mind-boggling.

UZR is not the be all, end all of stats and admittedly, defensive metrics have their flaws and limitations.

But a UZR of 29.1 and an RngR (the number of runs above or below average a fielder is, determined by how the fielder is able to get to balls hit in his vicinity) of 29.3 is so far off the charts that it is downright sick.

Even owing to statistical deviations, this was a great performance and more than worthy of a GG. Jones' UZR? -4.7.

Jones' one statistical advantage is his arm. He not only throws out more than his share of runners, but also keeps more than his share of runners from advancing extra bases.

Shane Victorino was another head scratcher, with negative metrics across the board. Nyjer Morgan would have been a much better choice.

Even admittedly fine fielders such as Mark Teixeira did not have their best seasons, at least in terms of the metrics. Yet he also won a GG.

Meanwhile, Derek Jeter seemingly won on reputation, and Orlando Hudson over Chase Utley? Blasphemy.

And on it goes. So maybe we shouldn't give writers too much credit for picking Greinke after all. Maybe it was simply the buzz. At least that's what ESPN's Rob Neyer thinks.

Let's see if FIP leader Tim Lincecum wins the NL Cy Young now, come to think of it.

Come To Think Of It: Chicago Bears Problems Start at The Top

Bob Warja — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:44:45 -0500

Count me among the throng of Bears fans calling for the heads of Lovie Smith and Ron Turner. But in actuality, that would only be like putting a tourniquet on a gushing wound. If we really want to fix what ails the Bears, we need to address the root cause, and that's the organization itself.

Look, let's be clear: this isn't a reaction to the comments made by Rex Grossman's dad recently. In case you hadn't heard, Dan Grossman talked about how it's not the player, it's the organization that causes failure.

No, his whining isn't what prompted this article. Let's look at the Bears hierarchy for a moment.

Mama Bear, Virginia McCaskey, technically controls the Bears. But let's face it, by all accounts she may be one helluva lady, but she leaves the internal workings of the team to Ted Phillips and her grandchildren. Phillips is the President and CEO of the Chicago Bears.

Phillips may not be very visible to Bears fans but he likes it that way. He hired Jerry Angelo to be his football man and mouthpiece, and entrusts him and Lovie with obtaining and developing the players that will take us to another championship.

Phillips is a bean counter who isn't a football expert. He's a step above Michael McCaskey, to be sure, in terms of football IQ, but that isn't saying much.

If Phillips and the other management types know football, why did Phillips need to employ a search firm to hire Angelo? Why did this team go 14 years without a GM?

As to Michael McCaskey, while it's always fun to throw him under the bus (hey, perhaps the same bus the Bears come off of running? lol), he really does not engage in the day to day operations of the Bears any longer.

Mrs. McCaskey fired her son Michael as president following the Dave McGinnis fiasco in 1999.

Michael is the CEO, however, and when his mother dies, he may assume main responsibility for the team.

That is, if he can afford to control at least 20 percent of the team upon his mother's death. I shudder at the thought.

You see, the league now requires a single individual to own at least 20 percent of a club, so if the 11 grandchildren with ownership stakes were to assume voting control, one may need to buy out some of the others to reach the league threshold.

Much of Michael McCaskey’s wealth is believed to be tied into his share of the team, however, so whether he would have the means to buy out his relatives is unclear. He would be constrained from borrowing against the team by NFL debt regulations.

Other logical successors could include Andrew McKenna and Aon Corporation founder Pat Ryan, who purchased 20 percent of the team in 1990.

But for now at least, the question is where is the accountability? Well, since the Bears are profitable, Phillips and the McCaskeys really don't have to hold Jerry and Lovie accountable for their actions. In fact, I can almost hear the Bears president thinking:

Bad drafting? OK. A failed defense scheme? We can live with that. A losing season? Well, just give us a winning season every couple years and we'll be fine. That Super Bowl in 2006? Now, we can feed off of that for awhile, as long as we're making money.

There is simply no leadership emanating from the front office. I wish Virginia would do the right thing and fire Lovie and Jerry and go outside the organization to seek opinions on hiring a solid football man.

Sadly, that's not going to happen and you can't tell me it's only because of the money owed them. Hell, the Bears are worth more than a billion dollars; it's about control of the Bears family fortune and yes, it's about ego.

Ted Phillips was the first outsider brought in to run the football operations. But he earned the family's trust by watching over the family purse as a tough contract negotiator.

The Bears have been like a toy played with by spoiled rich brats. It's time the fans recognized where the real problem lies. Here's a quote from Virginia McCaskey from 2007:

"It was a bumpy road a lot of times, how I should sell the team and give Chicago competent ownership. OK, maybe I'm not competent , but Ed and I found the people to do the job."

Oh, did you really Mrs. McCaskey? I don't think so. It's time to start over, come to think of it.

Come To Think of It: Is a "No Chicago Bears Sunday" Now a Welcome Respite?

Bob Warja — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:32:40 -0500

It used to be that a Sunday without a Bears game just ruined my day. I mean, the ritual of gathering around the television on Sunday is ingrained in my DNA. But now, I'll admit that I really dont' miss them all that much.

Sure, I watched on Thursday night. And yes, we've always had the occasional Sunday or Monday night game, so this is nothing new.

And yes, there was a period of time after Da Coach left that I became disillusioned with the team. The Wanny and Jauron years, for the most part, were brutal.

Yet, in the past, it seemed there was always a reason to watch even if the team wasn't that good. Primarily, our defense. But the way this team plays defense, and that damn Tampa-2 (which has outlived its useful life), it's just not that fun anymore.

And let's face it, one of the main reasons for hope this season was the arrival of Jay Cutler. But now, every time he drops back to pass, I cringe at the thought of another interception.

Look, I hate to be so negative, but I can't readily envision a plan to get us out of the mire, and even if we did have one, I wouldn't trust Jerry and Lovie to execute it properly.

Hey, I'll continue to watch and write about the Bears. After all, you just can't stop being a fan of a team you've loved seemingly forever. Being a fan doesn't involve some switch that one can simply turn on and off at will.

But if this Bears team makes the playoffs this year, I'll be more surprised than a deer in a lion cage.

It looks like our boys in blue and orange have two more wins, at a minimum. St. Louis and Detroit are both very winnable games, especially the Rams who will drop to 1-8 after playing the Saints today.

Meanwhile, I'll be fine without a Bears game today. The house will be a lot quieter without the yelling and swearing, come to think of it.

Come To Think Of It: Curtis Granderson Rumors Should Be Shelved

Bob Warja — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:21:11 -0500

It has been reported that the Detroit Tigers may be willing to trade center fielder Curtis Granderson. I just hope the Cubs aren't interested.

Sure, the Cubs need a center fielder, so they can trade Milton Bradley and move Kosuke Fukudome (who, if it weren't for the money owed to him would be gone by now) to right field, where he is at least adequate defensively.

But let's stop right there, Cubs fans. Granderson isn't an everyday player. He is a guy who can't hit lefties and would be overpriced as a platoon player.

Phil Rogers, who seldom has a lucid thought, has suggested Carlos Marmol and Starlin Castro as trade bait for local product Granderson. That is simply way too much, even if you think he can somehow turn it around.

Granderson cannot hit lefties. He hit .183/.245/.239 against them last year. While he is a decent (not great) defensive outfielder, his defense does not make up for his lack of offense.

Granderson's .327 OBP is not worth a future star shortstop and a reliever who, when he is not walking people, is unhittable.

Yes, Granderson hit 30 homers. And yes, he is from Blue Island. But I wouldn't give up that much talent for a guy who makes outs just under 70 percent of the time.

Meanwhile, if they do trade Bradley, the Cubs better get someone to put in center other than the garbage they are likely to obtain in the actual trade. For let's be real here—the Cubs are not likely to get a good player in return if they move Milton.

And you can forget about Tyler Colvin—he may make it as a fourth outfielder, but that's about it.

Hey Detroit, you can keep Curtis—he is not worth trading for, come to think of it.

Come To Think Of It: Jay Cutler is the Football Equivalent of Fool's Gold

Bob Warja — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:55:37 -0500

Look, I'm sick and tired of defending this guy. When the trade happened, I was ecstatic. Denver fans warned us that Jay Cutler couldn't get it done in the red zone. He was reckless in key situations. He threw too many interceptions.

I figured it was sour grapes. Look at that strong arm, I would say. See all those yards he has thrown for. I screamed about how we finally had our franchise quarterback.

What a fool I was. Jay Cutler is the football equivalent of fool's gold. This Bears fan has seen enough.

Oh, he looks like the real thing, all shiny and polished. Rocket arm? Check. Youth? Check. Wins? Well, no, but that was largely out of his control. The Denver defense was awful last year.

Oh, but now I know it was all fool's gold. Five interceptions? Really? Sure, two weren't his fault, but the others were—and could have had a couple more.

And it's not like this is the first time. He has now thrown four or more picks in two games of a season that still has a ways to go. Why, at this rate, we may start longing for a Caleb Hanie sighting.

OK, that won't ever happen, but you get my point.

All along, while I was watching the evidence before my very eyes, I would make excuses for Cutler. He has a bad offensive line. He doesn't have the weapons he had in Denver.

And hey, isn't he tough? Sure, he lost again, but man, he can take a pounding. He gets knocked down, but he gets up again.

Well, now I'm not so sure I want him to get up again. Not that we have any better options at our disposal. Let's face it, he will be our QB for a long time. That used to excite me. Now it makes me shudder.

You can make all the excuses in the world for the man, and many of them are true. We do have a bad offensive line. We have no running game. Our receivers aren't great. But hey, he makes bad decisions. He forces the ball into tight situations.

In short, he may have that cannon of an arm, but he has the football brain of Rex Grossman.

He is just not good at playing the quarterback position.

If you think I'm overreacting, here is some news for you: Cutler has nine interceptions in the red zone in the past two seasons, more than twice as many as anyone else .

He leads the NFL in interceptions with 17. He became the first Bears quarterback since Billy Wade in 1962 to have two four-interception games in a season.

I'm not even going to write about the dumb penalties. And don't you dare tell me how good the defense played. We play well against mediocre quarterbacks like Alex Smith. Against real talent, we stink. Period.

Both teams played ugly, but I'd rather win ugly than lose ugly. As for Cutler? This is not my definition of a franchise quarterback. A franchise-killing quarterback maybe, come to think of it.

Come to Think of It: The Who to Headline Super Bowl XLIV

Bob Warja — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:40:04 -0500

SI.com is reporting that, according to a "source," legendary rock group The Who will be performing the halftime show on Feb. 7 in Miami.

Those of us over the age of 40 may be thrilled that Roger Goodell keeps picking old-timers to headline these shows, but the younger fans may be wondering why they are being forgotten.

Well, for one, Goodell is 50. Acts like Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, and The Who, while still undeniably great, were in their prime as he was growing up.

It also comes down to money. The demographics of the age group that most appreciates so-called classic rock are said to have the most disposable income.

Um, have they looked at my bank account lately?

Anyway, I am surprised to see that some of the posters on the various sites like Yahoo! are turning this into a racial thing, saying that the halftime show is only aimed at older white people.

Now, I'm sure that a guy like Goodell understands that musical preference transcends race. I loved Jimi Hendrix growing up and never even gave pause to reflect on his skin color. Whites and blacks alike love the Black Eyes Peas, for example, and they are a band mixed in race. My son loves rap. And so on.

Still, some people just want to always stir things up by playing the race card. For me, it doesn't really matter because I'm there to see a football game. Halftime is when you re-load on food and drinks and mingle with friends. If the halftime show is decent, well, that's a bonus.

Meanwhile, let's just be glad they didn't do a Michael Jackson tribute instead, come to think of it.

Come to Think of it: 49ers Defense May Tee Off on Bears' One-Dimensional Offense

Bob Warja — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:01:45 -0500

I know everyone is focusing on the play of the Bears' defense. And with good reason, since it hasn't shown up for two of the past three weeks. Still, with no running game, the real problem is that the San Francisco defense can tee off on Jay Cutler Thursday night.

Defenses don't have to worry about the Bears' running game because there isn't one. Thanks mainly to a horrid offensive line, the Bears' offense is very one dimensional. So you can expect the Niners to blitz like crazy and put pressure on Cutler all night long.

But this is no gloom and doom scenario necessarily. The Bears can win this game. Really. Here's why:

Alex Smith makes mistakes
After a fast 3-1 start, the Niners have lost four straight, including a 34-27 decision to a struggling Tennessee team on Sunday.
Niners coach Mike Singletary loves the Bears

OK, so I admit that last bullet, while technically true, does not play into the outcome of the game. "The Bears will always be a team that I love," Singletary said Tuesday. But you can bet that he'd also love to beat the Bears.

Meanwhile, Smith does make mistakes in key situations. Still, the Bears' secondary is weak and may not have a fully healthy Charles Tillman. And TE Vernon Davis could be the beneficiary.

Few tight ends are as fast as Davis, who can really wreak havoc on a Cover 2 scheme. He has become Smith's primary option and is having a tremendous season.

So while the Bears can win, there are also a lot of reasons why they may not. They are on the road, playing just four days after their last game. Lovie Smith & Co. don't seem to prepare the team properly when they have a full week, so look out.

The Niners defense actually gives up more yards per game than the Bears and are ranked 23rd against the pass. They aren't great against the run, but that isn't relevant since the Bears have no running game.

A big question is, can the Bears' defense stop Frank Gore? They rank 20th versus the run, and Gore is averaging 5.6 yards per attempt. Of course, that number is slightly skewed by the huge game he had in Week Two, when Gore rushed for over 200 yards against Seattle.

Still, Gore is not only a good runner, he is a viable weapon catching the ball. He caught seven passes for 75 yards in his last game.

So when you add it all up, it's really a match-up of two fairly even teams. Slight edge to the Niners because they're at home, and should be able to key on stopping Cutler, or forcing him to make poor decisions, as he is prone to do.

It should be a much better game to watch than Sunday's debacle, come to think of it.

Come To Think of It: Broncos' Anemic Offense Rears Its Ugly Head

Bob Warja — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:50:57 -0500

I'm a Bears fan, but the Denver Broncos have become my adopted team it seems, as this is the fourth article I've written about them since the start of the season. So it's no sour grapes when I say that the defense I've been purporting as the main reason for their success just couldn't overcome an offense that was weak on Monday night versus the Steelers.

Yes, that defense couldn't stop the Steelers' running game. But it was the offense that lost this one for Denver. Hey, I'm the first to admit that Kyle Orton is an efficient QB and that Jay Cutler hasn't been as good as advertised.

Still, this is about the time last season when Orton went into the tank. Of course, his comeback from an ankle injury was blamed at the time, but I wonder if this is the start of something sinister with regards to Orton.

Three interceptions after throwing only one all year is a red flag. But let's not let one bad game panic anyone. That running game for Denver tonight didn't help anything either.

Sure, give credit to the Pittsburgh Steelers. But to show you what a crazy game football is, my Bears beat the Steelers earlier this year despite being a terrible team. Over two of the past three games, the Bears have looked like one of the worst teams in the NFL.

And the one win in that three-game span? To the Rams. 'Nuff said.

Yet Denver, enjoying a very fine season, loses to the same Pittsburgh team. I told you it's crazy.

So do you simply chalk this one up to a very good Steelers team and tip your cap, or does the two-game losing streak begin to scare you?

And can Kyle Orton recover and get back to his winning ways? Those are the questions, Denver fans, come to think of it.

Come to Think of It: Top 10 NFL Quarterbacks

Bob Warja — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 22:08:13 -0500

Selecting the top QBs in football is a lot like picking your nose. A part of you is dying to do it, yet you hope that nobody sees you. For you just know that everyone isn't going to agree with you and see it your way. Still, this is the path that I've chosen and dammit, I am right! Unless I'm wrong, of course. Either way, check this out and let me know what you think. Oh, and by the way, as for the picture, um, well, she is wearing a Tony Romo thong, come to think of it.

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Come to Think of it: Fort Hood Tragedy Places Sports Into Perspective

Bob Warja — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:57:01 -0500

The tragic shooting at Ft. Hood, Texas on Thursday and the shootings in Orlando, Florida on Friday make me realize that there is a sort of irony in sports.

That is, while events like these remind us just how unimportant sports are as compared to real life situations, it is also the time when sports are needed most of all.

We often use sports as an escape from the real world. Not to remove focus from grieving families, but to take our minds off of the depressing world around us, and allow us to find some joy in an otherwise crazy world.

Gunmen who rampage and kill innocent victims may make us wonder what this world is coming to. Meanwhile, sports, at least in its purest form, serve as a vehicle to appreciate the hope that exists amid the despair of a world gone mad.

It certainly won't help bring the victims back to life. Nor will it stop the grieving from occurring. But at least it offers a consistent reminder to all of us that life does go on and that better days lie ahead.

All forms of entertainment help, at least temporarily, to serve as a sort of bandage covering the wounds of real life. And as sports fans, we know all too well that even the sting of your favorite team losing a game can never begin to compare to the pain resulting from the loss of a loved one.

It even puts the bad things about sports into perspective. Steroid users may be cheating baseball and its fans, but appear a lot more tolerable when viewed under the cloudy lens of the real world and in the midst of horrific tragedy.

When the New York Yankees won the World Series, many rejoiced, while others bemoaned the perceived inequality in the game of baseball.

But in the game of life, those issues drown in the shallow waters of sport, while real inequities rise to the surface for all to see.

Yes, sports can be a microcosm of life, and often deliver subtle hints of the real world around us. And in the end, there is always another game tomorrow, another chance to redeem ourselves. Just as in life itself.

It's important to remember that, especially in times of great loss. If sports can teach us something so simple and yet at the same time so profound, so be it. It is what it is, as they say. Nothing more, nothing less.

For when all is said and done, it will be the final picture that matters, not the individual pieces to the puzzle. Those pieces may be stained by the blood of innocent men and women right now, but they will eventually be cleansed by something that is far greater than those that strive to defeat us.

The dichotomy between sports and life may not be such a contradiction after all. For sports is truly a coping mechanism, come to think of it.

Come to Think of It: Lovie Smith's Stubborness over Tampa-2 will be his Downfall

Bob Warja — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:03:54 -0500

Look, I know that a coach doesn't necessarily need to be fiery to be successful. One recent example would be Tony Dungy, and a much older example would be Tom Landry.

But let me say this: I do believe it's time for Lovie Smith and his coaching staff to hit the road. But it's his stubborness that is the main reason, not his laid back approach.

Dave Taub can stay; he's done a wonderful job coaching special teams. Perhaps we should consider retaining Rod Marinelli too. Though the results haven't been there, all indications point to his being a solid position coach.

But everyone else can go as far as I'm concerned. I know the Bears are too cheap to replace Lovie now, and his contract extension may play a role in his staying on for at least another season as head coach.

But ultimately it should not be about what he is paid; it should be about results and whether he is a good fit for the Chicago Bears.

They say you ultimately judge a leader by the quality of people he brings in to work around him. Well, if that's true, then Lovie has failed miserably.

He effectively fired Ron Rivera over philosophical differences and perhaps even fear that he was aiming for his job. He brought in inexperienced coaches all around him, which seems to indicate that Lovie is more concerned with getting along with his coaches than having an environment of healthy debate.

Bob Babich was not an effective defensive coordinator, and in all fairness to him, he never should have been put in that position. Likewise, Ron Turner, while experienced, seems to lack creativity. That lack of creativity and imagination seems to be a hallmark of the Lovie regime.

Slow to react and adjust; stubborn to a fault; loyal to players re: "Rex Grossman is our quarterback" that don't deserve it; seemingly even somewhat paranoid—those are not traits that make a head coach successful in the NFL.

Sure, Lovie took us to a Super Bowl in 2006. We thank him for that and will send him on his way with millions of dollars in parting gifts. But how has that defense looked since then? I mean, since Lovie took control of the defense with "his guys?"

This year, the defense has been mostly effective, except for the Cincinnati debacle. It is true that we lost Brian Urlacher. But teams have injuries; it's part of the deal in the NFL. Good teams like the Packers, Falcons, and Bengals have been able to pick us apart at key situations (or, in the case of the Bengals, the entire game!).

Meanwhile, that offense...ugh.

It is clear that, for better or worse, Jay Cutler is the piece the entire offense is built around, and it will be that way for a long time. So it's important that we have an offensive coach who can get the most out of his new toy. That coach is not Ron Turner.

Still, as I've pointed out before, firing Turner won't help that awful offensive line.

Yes, GM Jerry Angelo certainly has to share the blame in all this. He signed or traded for the players, and many of his first round draft picks have not panned out here under his watch.

With no early draft picks on the horizon, the brain trust of this team will have to make effective decisions in the free agent market and in the draft in order to improve in 2010.

There is little margin for error now. Do we trust Angelo to continue to make those decisions? I wouldn't, but I don't think he is going anywhere right now. So any change at the head coach position will likely be Angelo's last.

Speaking of that, will Angelo be man enough to admit his mistakes in firing Lovie? Or will he be as stubborn as Lovie has been?

Look, I'm not one who necessarily believes that the temperament of the head coach drives the way the team plays. But does Lovie hold his players accountable? Or is he too soft?

Maybe that's one reason the players like playing for him. In a recent Chicago Tribune article, Desmond Clark mentioned that players relate to Lovie's laid-back approach. Gee, what a surprise. Remember, they said a lot of the same things about Dick Jauron until he was gone.

Perhaps no greater indictment of Lovie Smith is his love affair with the Tampa-2. I purposely didn't say the cover-2 because there is a difference.

The cover-2 is basically a form of prevent defense that almost every team employs. Truthfully, the Bears only use it about one third of the time.

But it's the Tampa-2 that is the base package of the Bears defense under Lovie Smith. Only a couple teams continue to use that as their base package after finding out that other teams have adjusted to it.

Plus, you have to have the right players if you're going to be successful using that scheme. You need pressure from your front four and solid safety help.

So while most teams have moved away from the Tampa-2, our Bears have not. No sir. And that won't ever change under Lovie since he cut his teeth using that scheme.

The real problem here is that the longer this staff is in place, the longer we waste Cutler's talent and the longer the defensive players stay here in a failed defensive scheme, come to think of it.

Come to Think of it: Top Ten Chicago Cubs of All-Time

Bob Warja — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:41:15 -0500

We all know that picking a top ten list of players in any sport must contain some subjectivity. Sure, one could simply use statistics to support their choices, but how do you compare the relative worth of a pitcher versus a hitter, for example? Players we remember from our childhoods often have special meaning for us, and it can be difficult to block out those emotions when rating players on your favorite team. We may have looked up to these players as heroes at the time. Well, we are older now and smart enough to understand that you shouldn't use athletes as role models. Still, it's a fun trip down memory lane and hey, it always raises some debate. What else do we have to do right now anyway, right? So, without further ado...

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