Bleacher Report - Articles by Clay Cunningham

Sadly For Bear Fans, "This Is Our Season"

Clay Cunningham — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:03:26 -0500

There's no other way to put it, the Chicago Bears are a joke. A joke so pathetic that we as fans can't even help but laugh; even though we know what we're cackling at isn't funny.

While there is plenty of blame to go around for the struggles of the franchise, much of the problem has come from the embarrassing work of Lovie Smith and the cavalcade of incompetence flowing from the assistants he has surrounded himself with.

However, this Sunday, when the Bears endured a 36-10 pounding at the hands of the Minnesota Vikings, it was Smith's soft-spoken mouth that may have actually produced more comedic fodder than his horrifically designed gameplan.

I don't recall the entire conversation, but according to Fox sideline reporter Pam Oliver, Smith told her "this is our season," as if we should expect some sort of exemplary second half effort from his team, who after committing two turnovers deep in Minnesota territory and once again showing nothing that even resembled resilience on defense, were facing a 24-7 halftime deficit.

As if this team, which has been beyond listless since coming off a bye with an impressive 3-1 record, was just going to flip a switch and overcome a 17-point deficit against a team they were clearly over matched against.

I understand the point of coach speak is to put a positive spin on everything, but when a team is as lost as this one, there's no reason to add the stink of delusion to the already overpowering stench of weekly humiliation. Especially when you are currently the least qualified coach to lead them in such a comeback.

"This is our season."

Had he meant it in some sort of self-deprecating fashion, as opposed to some variation of a cliched rally cry, it would have been the most poignant statement Smith has made in years. But as it stands, it just made the ear-splitting laughter that football nation is directing at our beloved Bears just a little more deafening.

This is our season: Returning the opening kickoff of the second half to the Viking eight-yard-line, only to be pushed back 12 yards and settling for a field goal.

This is our season: Having the second recovery of an Adrian Peterson fumble overturned because the fingertip of Hunter Hillenmeyer grazed the ball while he was out of bounds, thus allowing for the drive to continue and end in a Minnesota field goal.

This is our season: Four second half possessions, resulting in 12 plays, two net yards, and zero first downs.

This is our season: Allowing five Viking players to catch five or more passes, all the while generating no significant pressure to speak of, and coming within 11 yards of allowing the most aerial yardage ever produced by the most prolific passer in the history of the NFL.

This is our season: Jamar Williams making a big open field hit on Chester Taylor early in the fourth quarter to stop him two yards short of a first down and forcing Minnesota to settle for a field goal, then celebrating as if he were Mike Jones tackling Kevin Dyson at the one-inch-line in Super Bowl XXXIV.

Throw yourself a party Jamar, it was great to see you force the Vikings into a field goal that made what could have been an insurmountable 34-10 deficit a more manageable 30-10.

One could easily argue Williams' celebration would have been fitting had he been able to make a similar play on Taylor's go-ahead 10-yard TD reception in the second quarter. Then again, "timely" and "meaningful" plays aren't really what the 2009 Chicago Bears are all about.

If they were, Smith's little pre-halftime shpeal to Oliver may have created something bigger than just another eye-rolling moment in what has become the most gruesomely disappointing season I have ever endured in my 18 years as a Bears fan.

The worst part of the course is knowing this type of display is likely to become the norm in Chicago. With no first day 2010 draft picks for a team that really needs to improve just about every position on the field, the playoffs truly seem to be light years away.

When talking about Sunday's game on NFL Network, Chicago Media personality and former Bear receiver Tom Waddle quipped "This ball hasn't even been kicked off yet, and I'm impassioned to say 'mommy make it stop!'" These are sentiments one can easily foresee many of in Bear nation making over the next few years.

Even if the necessary coaching and front office changes are made, for the next few years the damage that has been done to this franchise, just three years removed from a Super Bowl appearance, is a long way from being repaired.

Strap in everyone, because a great deal of the near future is gonna look a lot like the last six games, where winning is an afterthought and mere competence is a welcome surprise.

This is our season indeed.

It's Officially Time To End the Lovie Smith Era In Chicago

Clay Cunningham — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:27:10 -0500

A year ago, after the Bears suffered a frustrating divisional loss at Minnesota, I suggested the Bears should possibly consider making a coaching change at the end of the season due to a string of uninspired efforts. Now, after two humiliating losses in three weeks—arguably the least inspired two games I ever seen in 18 years of watching Bears games—it's time for fans to violently screech the suggestions I made in that earlier piece at the top of our lungs:

FIRE LOVIE SMITH!

There are a string of problems with the Bears, no question, but the most noticeable is the decline of the supposedly "brilliant" defensive scheme, orchestrated by this alleged defensive "guru."

The parallels in the first half of the Bengals game two weeks ago and the Cardinals game today are stunning. Five opponent possessions, 31 points, 100 percent on third-down conversions, an endless number of shots of a befuddled Lovie's emotionless puckered lip face and an insurmountable halftime deficit resulted in a humiliating loss. The fact Lovie hasn't been able to make any adjustments of any kind speaks volumes of how ill-prepared he is to coach this team any longer.

Sure there were signs all over the place that his defense didn't work without Ron Rivera, who Smith apparently couldn't see eye-to-eye with (possibly because he made the defense work), and the Bears plummeted from the ranks of the elite, but it couldn't possibly be the fault of Lovie's scheme. It was that idiot Bob Babich. With Lovie calling plays, all the unit's problems of the past two years would be a thing of the past.

Last year there was also a major issue with getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. No problem. Lovie's good friend Rod Marineli, fresh off a head coaching stint of the worst team in NFL history, would surely come right in and fix this problem. And it's hard to argue with the results (two sacks in four games since the bye, not to mention giving up a season high rushing total to the leagues worst rushing attack in the first half!)

It's not just current problems, it's his refusal to learn from past mistakes. Great move having Charles Tillman go one-on-one with Larry Fitzgerald on Sunday. All Bears fans were eager to have our memories refreshed from the debacle that came from implementing a similar strategy against Steve Smith in the '05 divisional playoff game, and Sunday, we were lucky enough to relive such a banner occurrence in Lovie's coaching history.

There are problems up-and-down this current Bears roster and anyone thinking the playoffs are a realistic possibility within the next five years are being too optimistic. Not only is the current roster not good enough, there aren't enough draft picks in the near future (we sure are seeing the second-round pick value we gave up for Gaines Adams, aren't we?). The Bears need to rebuild, and a head coaching change needs to be objective No. 1.

Like I said, there's a lot of blame to be spread around from management to players (Tommie Harris should have been released before he even got to the locker room today), but I see nothing that fills me with anything even remotely resembling confidence that Lovie has what it takes to get this team where it needs to be.

Lovie got in at a good time with a team on the brink of good things and, as a result, was hailed as a near Ditka-esque figure for essentially doing an average-at-best job of coaching on a good team. Anyone who would dare make a Ditka comparison now likely wouldn't get the full sentence out of his mouth before being slugged in the mouth.

Mediocrity isn't supposed to be accepted in any organization, and this is particularly true with one as proud and with as rabid a fan base as the Bears. Whatever case could be made for Smith as a good—let alone great—coach is officially worthless. Not only is the defense, his pride and joy, arguably the second-worst unit of any kind in the NFL (behind only Cleveland's offense), but he simply cannot get his team ready to play at a consistent level (see the endless barrage of dumb mistakes at Atlanta).

Smith is stubborn and in complete denial his ways are effective enough to lead the Bears to the playoffs and beyond. Well, I'm not in denial and I don't think anyone whose been subjected to the Bears' stunningly awful play in recent weeks is either.

Each year Lovie Smith is on the Bears sideline will create another string of awful, ill-prepared teams resulting in our fans again having to spend the playoffs rooting for teams we don't care about to beat teams we hate. If Bears management wants this trend to die as quickly as possible, Lovie Smith needs to be sent to the unemployment line as soon as '09 is over.

If not sooner.

Chicago Bears Must Turn It Up to "11" This Week At Atlanta

Clay Cunningham — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:32:21 -0400

Nothing is worse than seeing your favorite team lose simply by giving a game away, and no one gave one away quite like the Bears did in Week Six last year.

Recapping the Bears near-miracle win which turned into an inexplicably impossible loss in just 0:11 is unnecessary. All of us have recapped it time and time again, most notably as the benefactor of said collapse, the Atlanta Falcons, ended up taking the wild card playoff spot that would of been ours had the Bears held on.

I can't count how many times during Atlanta's opening round playoff loss to Arizona last year when I caught myself saying, "damn, that could be us taking it on the chin to the eventual NFC champions"(my foresight is amazing like that).

But it wasn't meant to be.

Well, here we are in Week Six again, where we will see the Bears return to the site of the most devastating regular season loss I can ever recall witnessing. I'm not one who usually puts a lot of stock into "revenge games," but in this case, I am making an exception.

The Bears (not to mention Jay Cutler) have bounced back from their heartbreaking Week One loss much better than I anticipated they would. Their have been various surprises in the three wins that have followed, most notably a high level of play from the receiving core and the defensive line.

They have also been able to do what they struggled so mightily to do last season—close out games. They compiled very impressive fourth quarter rallies to defeat Pittsburgh and Seattlle in back-to-back weeks. After week one, I did not anticipate they would go into their bye 3-1, and I am very pleasantly surprised to see they did.

But while they have faced a few significant tests thus far in the year, none have been as big as avenging last seasons Georgia Dome debacle.

Such a task will not prove easy as Atlanta, a team I already had a very high opinion of, comes into the game 3-1 and riding the momentum of a crushing road win at San Fransisco on Sunday. And for a secondary which has already allowed three individual 100-yard receivers in four games, I'm not sure Matt Ryan, Roddy White, and Tony Gonzalez are what the doctor ordered for a quick recovery.

Oh, and their running back is pretty good as well.

The Bears are not over-matched, however, as their surprisingly deep passing game mixed with a (hopefully) back-on-track Matt Forte should be able to keep them competitive with the "high flying" as it were, Falcons offense.

Competitive simply isn't good enough this time around though. Normally a loss in your fifth game of the year isn't devastating, and honestly there's no reason this would have to be a back-breaker either. But with both of these teams currently looking up at Minnesota and New Orleans in their respective divisions, they may both be slugging it out for wild card births again, and taking a potential tie-breaker would be huge.

But almost as important, this game is about removing a stank taste from the mouths of Bear fans that is still lingering a year later. Loosing a game where you take the lead with 0:11 to go simply shouldn't happen. No fan should ever declare the phrases "we're going to the Super Bowl" and "this is the worst god damn team I've ever seen play" in the same five minute span.

While yes, it is only the fifth game of the season, it is crucial on two levels. One, the needed leverage it would give in the above mentioned playoff race, but also because of the redemption factor. If the Bears can win what is likely going to be a tight game on the road this week, they may finally be successful in pushing the unpleasant memories of last years squad full of chokers out of my brain forever, and finally give me the sense of comfort I need to believe this is a team well equipped for a playoff run.

33 Bullet Point Evaluations/Statements About the NFL's First Four Weeks

Clay Cunningham — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 11:54:12 -0400

With most teams one quarter of the way through their season, there certainly are a great deal of NFL story lines to discuss. If I were a better writer, I may have a stunningly in0depth analysis of one or more of them.

But despite the deception my recent promotion to "Scribe" (a promotion which took merely a year) may have created, I'm honest enough to admit myself to be a mere hack with only brief assessments to make.

So, for those of you who have ever wanted your football related articles to read like a 10th grade English class power point presentation, do I have a piece for you. Here are my 33 bullet point evaluations for the leagues first four weeks:

Instead of my bold (or to be more accurate, idiotic) July declaration that the Giants would miss the playoffs, I wish I would have predicted Denver would have a better defense than Pittsburgh.
I despise the Colts and hate to think they may be the NFL's best team. That being said, it's hard to make an argument against that belief right now.
How awful is JaMarcus Russell? If the opportunity to show off his ability to throw the ball 60 yards from his knees were ever to arise in a game, he may get a true chance to shine. But for now, he's by far the league's worst quarterback.
I want to praise the Vikings, but I am held back from doing so by the murderous rage I feel anytime I see/hear/think about Brett Favre.
You think you've had bad luck in fantasy football? Try being the idiot who drafted Eddie Royal three times!
I've been a bit of a Tony Romo apologist in the past. No longer. He sucks.
The Eagles and Chargers are preseason Super Bowl favorites who have underwhelmed early on in the year. If these team didn't do this every single year, I'm sure I'd be shocked!
How long do we have to hear announcers talk about how teams should be afraid of facing "a hungry Titans team?" Yeah, they've looked downright ravenous bouncing back losses thus far.
I don't know if Denver's miracle pass in week one will end up standing as the best play of the year, but Gus Johnson's call of said play won't be topped by anyone.
Speaking of that game, with all the surprises of early '09, the fact that the Bengals, a poster franchise for ineptitude over the past two decades, have bounced back from that debacle with three strait wins may be the biggest of all.
Matthew Stafford should end up being pretty good; just not good enough to help Detroit win within the next five years.
I'm all for rookie QB's getting praise when they win, but people who described Mark Sanchez's play before the Saints game as "sensational" have a very liberal definition of that word.
I can't instantly recall a season with so many appallingly awful teams. Seriously, who will lose to St. Louis, Cleveland, Kansas City, or Tampa Bay?
Though I ran a 6.1 40 in high school and haven't worked out since graduating, I think I may be able to accumulate 700 yards as a Colt receiver (I'm generally not one to boast, but my JV coach once said I had "slightly above average" hands).
I must say I'm a bit surprised at how quickly the Bears have made Jay Cutler the undisputed center of their offense. With the exception of two long runs Sunday, Matt Forte has been a shadow of his '08 self.
Drew Brees having nine TD passes thus far isn't a surprise. But the fact that he's thrown zero the last two weeks and the Saints have still easily both games fairly easily makes them frighteningly good.
I think the two receiver Steve Smith's did a Freaky Friday-esque body switch in the offseason. Though in Carolina Smith's defense, the guy in New York has an actual quarterback under center, where as he's been forced to catch passes from a $42.5 million autistic monkey in shoulder pads.
Is anyone truly surprised about Chad Pennington? Winning comeback-player-of-the-year one year and going on IR with a shoulder injury the next is what he does.
You know why T.O. is struggling in Buffalo? Because he's two years removed from being an elite receiver!
I predicted Kurt Warner would be this years version of '03 Rich Gannon (though not in print, dammit!). I like where that prophecy is headed.
Limas Sweed may be the NFL's worst receiver...I mean historically.
I know it was hard to predict just how awful their offensive line would be, but the people who called Green Bay a Super Bowl contender deserve to feel foolish right now. Nathan Vasher is the only reason they are in the playoff hunt at all.
I think every analysts probably believed New England would bounce back quickly from their week two loss to the Jets, they all just wanted to individually state they were the "one-and-only" media figure who had the foresight to not give up on them.
Tony Gonzalez and Ray Lewis may be elite players into his 50s.
It's not officially a Patriots/Ravens game unless Baltimore ends things by blaming the officials for their defeat.
I know he's had to unfairly deal with a lot of coaching changes, but I think it's well past the time to admit Jason Campbell simply isn't good.
Patrick Willis is the best linebacker in the NFL.
If there's a player more fun to watch than Maurice Jones-Drew, I don't know who it is.
Matt Hasselbeck has officially replaced Matt Schaub as the league's most injury prone quarterback...for now.
What the hell has happened to Antonio Cromartie?
I find it amusing that a woman who left a menstrual blood stain on a break room chair has a problem with the way I conduct myself at work (they don't all have to be about football, people!).
If your nickname is "Megatron" you damn well better be a badass.
Lastly, as senile as John Madden was, I would hope everyone would join me in getting on my knees and begging him to come back if it meant the end of the unbearable Chris Collinsworth. If anything, I should be doing color commentary on Sunday Night Football, and Collinsworth should be peanut vendor at all the SNF locations. It would give him a great opportunity to meet a vast array of 14-18 year old punk rockers who would be enticed by the $100 bills hanging out of his pockets.

Points Per Pixel: Using Tecmo Super Bowl for Fantasy Football Rankings

Clay Cunningham — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:27:52 -0400

With less than two weeks before the NFL regular season finally gets underway, millions of us are spending countless hours ranking hundreds of players to see who we deem worthy of a slot on our fantasy rosters.

I have been an NFL addict for as long as I can remember, and in my lifetime there have been two creations that have helped elevate this addiction to almost uncomfortable levels. One is fantasy, and the other is Tecmo Super Bowl, a game that owned my childhood and would likely still own my young adulthood if I were lucky enough to get my hands on a Nintendo (the Facebook NES application simply doesn't cut it).

So knowing the countless hours I have burned on both games, a thought occurred to me: Why not combine the two offshoots of my passion and bring them together to create the nerdiest, but also the most fun piece I have ever compiled?

Below are my top five TSB players at each major fantasy position. By all means, if anyone disagrees with these picks, feel free to suggest alternate ones you (falsely) feel are better.

Running Back

1. Bo Jackson

Tecmo Bo is, quite honestly, the single most beastly creation the sports video game industry has ever created. His speed and cutback ability are second to none, and even if your defense selects the right Jackson run nine times out of 10, you can bet your ass he will make you pay by busting a massive run that 10th time.

Don't be scared off by the sizable carry chunk he shares with Marcus Allen. Bo is the undisputed top pick in any draft format.

2. Christian Okoye

"The Nigerian Nightmare" more than lives up to this moniker. While Jackson kills you with speed, Okoye does it with power, bouncing defenders off his shoulder pads as if they are equipped with land mines. A sure-fire No. 2 overall pick.

3. Thurman Thomas

People were so blown away by the Miami Dolphins' wildcat offense last year, but those of us who worship Tecmo saw it for what it was: a jazzed-up knockoff of Buffalo's Right+A direct snap to Thomas.

On his worst days Thomas is capable of duplicating Ronnie Brown's five-touchdown performance against New England. On his best, he makes it look like a student film.

4. Barry Sanders

Though he's stuck on a team with a subpar passing attack, Sanders is much too explosive not to come off the board in the first round. If Rodney Peete can keep defenses honest, Sanders can make a killing for your team.

5. Bobby Humphrey

There were as many as five players I considered at this spot, but I think Humphrey is the best option. He hits his holes very well and is one of the game's most consistent pass catching backs.

He is also stuck with perennial fantasy by being Denver's only consistent offensive threat.

Wide Receiver

1. Jerry Rice

Normally receivers aren't supposed to come off the board in the top five, but after Bo and Okoye, there's no one I want on my team more than Rice.

The G.O.A.T. at wide receiver is so good, he actually causes players to scream "bullsh**" and angrily chuck their controls on rare occasions where he fails to make a catch in triple coverage.

Hit him in stride on a slant route (down+B), and you've got yourself a license to print money. He almost makes receivers two through five obsolete.

2. Haywood Jeffries

Now the Oilers are loaded at wide receiver, and some may claim Pro Bowlers Ernest Givens and Drew Hill are better options. But for my money, Jeffries (or "Jeffires" as the receiver spells it in real life) is the most complete target on one of the game's most prolific passing attacks.

He can make catches in traffic, get the ball in the air, and is lethal in the YAC department. A No. 1 wideout in all formats.

3. Andre Reed

With a great back like Thurman Thomas, teams may be tempted to stay on the ground exclusively with Buffalo. But eventually that strategy backfires, and when it does, players will be lucky to discover that this team also has a very prolific passing attack. When it gets going, no one is more dangerous than Andre Reed.

4. Mark Clayton

It's really a coin flip whether Clayton or Mark Duper is the top receiving threat for the Dolphins. I personally have just always found Clayton more reliable. Either one is a good option really, as Miami's prolific passing game creates various solid fantasy options.

5. Ernest Givens

Givens in the best home run ball player on arguably the game's most dynamic passing offense. With one swift 80-yard catch-and-run, he makes even a one-reception performance turn into fantasy gold. If he gets a second catch, feel free to take the rest of the week off.

Quarterback

1. Warren Moon

Moon edges out Joe Montana for the simple reason that Montana has a better running game. The San Fran duo of Roger Craig and Tom Rathman possesses enough of a threat to give the 49ers a balanced offense.

While Houston running back Lorenzo White isn't bottom tier, you won't much be interested in using him for six-yard chunks at a time when Moon and his four excellent receivers are capable of striking from anywhere on the field at any time.

That and his added mobility make Warren Moon my No. 1 fantasy QB.

2. Joe Montana

Though I have him second, it's hard to make specific arguments against Montana, as he is clearly one of the best QBs on the game. With the best receiver in Jerry Rice, as well as a good tight end in Brent Jones and a quality burner in John Taylor, Montana is a dream fantasy prospect.

3. QB Eagles

While not one of the game's premier passing threats, Eagles (who holds a striking resemblance to Randall Cunningham) is a more explosive runner than half the running backs you will find on the game.

In fact, he's a hell of a lot more explosive than the anemic Keith Byers-Heath Sherman duo his club possesses.

Mix in a great tight end in Keith Jackson, and you've got just enough air power to balance nicely with the unparalleled speed he brings to the position.

4. Dan Marino

Marino is the poster boy for fantasy consistency. With three solid threats in Clayton, Duper and Ferrell Edmunds mixed in with an average at best running game, you can count on him for big numbers every week.

5. QB Bills

Like with Reed, you may want to pass on Bills (who I can't confirm, but can strongly suggest is supposed to be Jim Kelly) because Thurman Thomas is so good. But doing so could be a mistake, as he is more than just someone who manages the game so as not to screw up his great RB's work.

He is a dynamite starter who can make tough throws at any time and deserves a shot as your starter.

Tight End

1. Keith Jackson

Here are the primary defensive options one faces when playing the Eagles. You either cover Jackson and have QB Eagles scramble for 80 yards, or play up towards the line of scrimmage and watch him dump the ball to Jackson 20 yards at a time.

Since most defenders will choose the latter option, Jackson is a sure-fire top TE.

2. Brent Jones

A great option for the simultaneous occurrences when constantly firing to Jerry Rice gets boring and John Taylor is covered on a streak route.

3. Ferrell Edmunds

Another great option in the great Miami passing attack, Edmunds is a Pro Bowl talent who often elevates his play to deserve such recognition.

4. Ozzie Newsome

Though "The Wizard Of Oz" actually retired prior to the beginning of the 1991 season Tecmo is depicting, that small fact doesn't prevent the Hall of Famer from being the best passing option on a pretty average Cleveland team.

5. Ron Hall

I can see a lot of people groaning about this pick, but it's well worth it. Tampa Bay is one of the game's most truly awful teams, so I'm never excited when I have to play with them.

However, on the unfortunate situations when I am forced to, I have noticed Hall gets open on nearly every play and is pretty good after the catch. Make this pick and laugh about it all the way to the bank—and when you're there, be sure to pick me up a fair percentage of your winnings for leading you to this hidden treasure.

Defense

1. New York Giants

Lawrence Taylor is the Bo Jackson of defensive players. He's so good that in IDP leagues he may be worthy of being taken as high as the second round.

He's such a monster that he could make for a dominant defense if he played by himself. The fact that he's surrounded by 10 other players is a great added bonus.

2. Kansas City Chiefs

If LT is the defensive Jackson, Derrick Thomas is the Christian Okoye. Like Taylor, he is capable of singlehandedly taking over a game by himself, and the sheer number of sacks he accumulates makes the Chiefs D a dynamite fantasy force.

3. Buffalo Bills

It figures that the most complete team on the game would have arguably the most complete defense. A good secondary, great linebackers, and a dominant pass rush led by Bruce Smith make it so the Bills' scary offense is countered with an equally frightening defense.

4. San Francisco 49ers

While this is a talented unit with the likes of Ronnie Lott, Charles Haley, and Bill Romanowski, the 49ers' great offense is actually the greatest asset for their defense.

San Francisco is unstoppable on the offensive side of the ball, which means teams have to take desperate measures to keep up—and desperation leads to turnovers, and plenty of them. They're not a perfect unit, but their opportunistic ways make for several high-scoring affairs.

5. Chicago Bears

This was a few years past the heyday of "The Monsters of the Midway," but the Tecmo Bears still bring a pretty good defense to the table. For one, they have a very good secondary.

The biggest selling point for this unit, however, is linebacker Mike Singletary, who was definitely past his real life prime in 1991. Luckily, no one at Tecmo got the memo, as he is as dominant a player at his position as anyone on the game.

Kicker

1. Mike Cofer

No one can stop San Francisco. It's not even a remote possibility. That alone clearly gives them the game's most enticing fantasy kicker.

2. Scott Norwood

Fact: I once won a Super Bowl in season mode thanks to a 47-yard field goal by Norwood at the gun. Clearly this game isn't anyone's idea of a realistic football simulator.

3. Tony Zendejas

Loses ground to Norwood due to the fact Buffalo has a more balanced offense than Houston. Also detrimental to his cause—being a rapist.

4. Jeff Jaeger

Just let Bo Jackson do his thing, and watch Jaeger clean up with extra point scores.

5. Nick Lowery

Aside from certain situations (end of the game, end of half) there is only one word to describe people who kick field goals on Tecmo Super Bowl, and that word is pussy.

However, if you do fall into this category, no kicker on the game has better credentials than Lowery, as he is more than capable of making any kick within reason (on Tecmo, "reason" stops at about 68 yards).

Top Five Overall

1. Bo Jackson

2. Christian Okoye

3. Jerry Rice

4. Thurman Thomas

5. Warren Moon

Week One Pivotal For The Chicago Bears Receiving Core

Clay Cunningham — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:16:41 -0400

Much (some might even say endless) debate has been sparked about whether or not Jay Cutler has enough weapons to power the Bears passing game to the necessary heights needed to get this team back into the postseason. Many skeptics (myself included) are reluctant to take players and coaches at their word that the current core of wideouts is enough to take the team to the next level.

And while buzz from camp has been predictably favorable, and there have been some impressive moments by new talent such as Earl Bennett and Devin Aromashod this preseason, there's never really anyway to fully gauge how well players will perform until they take the field in regular season action. I won't be convinced I am wrong to doubt this group until they show me something in a meaningful game.

Well, if they want to shut me, and their countless doubters up, they have the perfect opportunity to do so right out of the gate.

The Bears open '09 against Green Bay, noted for having one of the better Cornerback tandems in the NFL in Al Harris and Charles Woodson. Both brutally physical combatants, Harris and Woodson have proven capable of taking opposing receivers entirely out of the mix.

How dominant are the Packers cornerbacks? In four contests since 2007, Chicago receivers have pulled in 13 receptions for 157 yards and no scores against Green Bay. Startling as that stat is, it gets worse when you take into consideration 36 of those yards came on one reception by Rashied Davis during the final meaningless moments of the Packers' 37-3 beating of the Bears last November at Lambeau.

If you take out the Davis catch, that's 12 catches for 121 yards, or roughly four catches for slightly over 30 yards per game! That's an underwhelming output from an individual. From an entire unit, it's flat-out unacceptable.

Now yes, the Bears are likely going to see most of their passing yards come from the Tight End position this season, and Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark have performed rather well in the same four contests (24 catches, 277 yards and four scores). And the anemic receiver output hasn't stopped the Bears from winning three of the four games. And yes, there is of course the great Matt Forte, and the significant upgrade at Quarterback. One could argue maybe they don't necessarily need to see big numbers from the receivers in week one.

But dammit, I want them to.

Remember how fantastic a tone the Bears set with a Grossman to Berrian 49-yard bomb on the opening possession of the 2006 season? If anyone of the current crop of receivers (possibly one by the name of Devin Hester) could light such an early spark, who knows what effect it could have on the outcome of the season. I'd hardly say Berrian's TD was the primary factor to the '06 Super Bowl run, but it sure as hell wasn't a detriment.

The receivers aren't the only big concern this team has (pass defense comes quickly to mind) but I am very reluctant to say I see this as a genuine NFC front-runner, and they are the primary reason as to why my skepticism exists.

If they can put up at least respectable numbers against a secondary that has owned them in recent years, it will go a long way in building my belief that they are good enough to help formulate a long playoff run. If not, then plans to upgrade the unit next offseason will likely have to begin much earlier than anyone had hoped.

Good luck, fellas. Feel free to prove me wrong for doubting you.

The Five NFL Franchises I Am Beyond Grateful Not To Be a Fan of

Clay Cunningham — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 11:58:33 -0400

Even if you support a perennial powerhouse, any fan of any team knows suffering through a loosing season now and then is to be expected and endured. The sad fact is, in our lives, most of us will have our favorite teams will give us more duress than elation (or at least most of us will dwell on the bad rather than focus on the good). But an even sadder fact for various fans is that for various reasons, they will spend their entire lives cheerfully pulling for teams who reach staggeringly new heights on ineptitude on a yearly basis. Now with an uncapped sport like baseball, one could maybe understand why some teams (the Yankees) are always good, and others (the Pirates) are always bad. But for this to happen in the NFL, where the playing field is leveled in terms of spending, how is it there are so many teams that struggle in startling fashion every season? How can these teams' management be so awful that they spend year after year (or in some cases even decade after decade) treating their loyal fans with teams that almost instantly deteriorate into an unwatchable train wreck. Enclosed are five NFL franchises so bad, I've actually attempted to develop a belief in God so I could drop to my knees to thank him I am not cursed to support any of these teams. Rest assured this is not meant to be a cheap shot at the people within these fan bases, but rather a praiseworthy peace congratulating you for the fortitude you've showcased to stick it out with these turkeys.

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My Bottom Five Chicago Bear Moments Of The Past Decade

Clay Cunningham — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:50:49 -0400

A few weeks back I made a slideshow depicting my five favorite moments as a Chicago Bear fan from the past decade. Even though the 218 article reads it received didn't exactly scream for a follow-up piece, I did get a good response from much of the fanbase. And we all know that being a fan means we are forced to share not only in the glory of good times, but also the heinousness of bad ones. In that spirit, I have countered the previously mentioned list with this one, the five most cringe worthy moments I have witnessed with my beloved team over the past 10 years. I should note one of the hardest moments, Walter Payton's death, is likely a toper for most, but I have chosen to focus on moments that effected the team on the field. Also, the drafting of Cade McNown would no doubt be on the list, but the April 17 date of his selection means he narrowly missed eligibility (though I guess watching him play counts for something). I hope reading this is proves to be as displeasureable as writing it was.

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Why the New York Giants Will Not Make the Playoffs in 2009

Clay Cunningham — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 11:57:39 -0400

With Training Camps opening, NFL fans everywhere are getting increasingly antsy, as the beginning of the new NFL season draws ever closer. As a new year begins, as do preseason Super Bowl predictions.

In the AFC, there is some debate, but most seem to think the conference crown will come down to a battle between defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh and perennial conference powerhouse New England.

As for the NFC, things are a bit more open. Philadelphia, Carolina, and defending conference champ Arizona are teams whose names are being tossed around, while more adventurous voters are leaning toward teams like Minnesota and Atlanta. But the most popular team I have seen near the top of many a conference list is New York.

Of course, predictions on Aug. 1 are essentially pointless, because it's impossible to predict what hidden factors could deflate a teams run to a championship.

A large group of people end the season looking foolish, and while I could possibly see them contending in '09, it's my belief that one massively incorrect group will be backers of the New York Giants.

Now over the last two years, the Giants have had one of the league's better defenses, and they should boast a solid unit again this year. An already fearsome pass rush led by young stud Justin Tuck, should improve further with the return of Osi Umenyiora, who missed all of last year with a knee injury.

The Giants are also aided by the solid veteran leadership of Middle Linebacker Antonio Pierce, and several newly acquired players like Michael Boley

While talent is the driving force of a good defense, the Giants lost the architect of their solid schemes when coordinator Steve Spagnuolo bolted to take the head coaching job in St. Louis.

The Giants' stunning upset over New England in Super Bowl XLII was largely due to Spagnuolo's brilliantly devised and perfectly executed gameplan, which virtually shut down the most potent offense in NFL history.

While replacement Bill Sheridan has been with the team since 2005, he still has an uphill climb in replacing one of the games premier coordinators.

While they may drop a little, the Giants' defense may be fine. It's their offense that has me envisioning them on the outside looking in when the postseason begins.

New York put a lot of faith in an unproven receiving core this offseason, by releasing troubled wideout Plaxico Burress, not re-signing the franchises all time leading receiver Amani Toomer and making no splashes in free agency. If you ask me, too much faith has been put into this unit which has already proven to be untrustworthy.

The big question in Giants camp is, who will emerge as the number one receiver? Returning players competing for starting roles include Domenik Hixon, Steve Smith, Sinorce Moss, Mario Manningham and David Tyree among others.

Not only am I not convinced any of these guys could be a No. 1 receiver, I don't think any of them could be a viable No. 2 either.

Now the Giants did bring in new talent for Quarterback Eli Manning in the draft, most notably first round pick, wideout Hakeem Nicks, but if there's any one position that is inconsistent in yielding instant results, it's receiver.

For every rookie who produces a first year like Michael Clayton, there are literally dozens whose neophyte campaigns resemble, well, the rest of Clayton's career. Nicks, along with third rounders, receiver Ramses Barden and Tight End Travis Beckum may have a lot to offer in the future, but counting on them immediately likely won't pay off.

And this isn't just scoffing at an unproven unit. This is a unit whose inability to make plays derailed the season of a team which looked poised to repeat as Super Bowl champions.

The Giants were cruising at 11-1, before loosing three of their last four in the regular season, and bowing out against Philly in the NFC Divisional round. In those five games, New York averaged a meager 156.6 passing yards a game.

For them to follow this ineffective stretch by essentially putting the same unit on the field is a bit head-scratching.

The Giants lone win in that span, a 34-28 OT victory against Carolina, was fueled by a 301 yard performance by their rushing attack, the highest ranked rushing attack in the league last year. Sadly for Giant fans, said attack likely won't possess the same luster this season.

Derrick Ward, who accounted for 215 of the 301 yards in the above mentioned game, took some punch out of the ground game when he and his 1,025 yards bolted to Tampa Bay.

I'm sure G-men fans will be quick to point out they still have a very good offensive line, and they are blocking for another 1,000 yard rusher in Brandon Jacobs but that doesn't wipe out all concern. Not at all.

While talented, Jacobs is also one of the greatest injury risks at his position, having missed eight games over the past two seasons. If and when he goes down, the bulk of the workload will go to third-year back Ahmad Bradshaw.

Bradshaw has looked ok when given the opportunity to play, but I haven't seen anything that has sold me on him as a potential feature back, or even someone who come close to duplicating the 1,000 yards Ward accumulated in the backup role last season.

And to go back to the passing game, the Giants also lost their best receiving back when Ward left. The loss of his 384 receiving yards last season seem more notable when considering his counterparts Jacobs and Bradshaw finished '08 with 78 yards receiving combined!

After a drama plagued 2006 season, the Giants became very successful in turning a circus-like organization into a smoothly run powerhouse that brought in a Super Bowl and a Conference best record in back-to-back seasons.

Coach Tom Coughlin and GM Jerry Reece have done great work in removing much of the the distractions that had previously held the organization back, and with them at the helm, it's impossible to write the Giants off as a complete non-contender.

That being said, I see a lot of holes in this years squad. Their defense is in transition, and the loss of his partner-in-crime has put a lot of pressure on Brandon Jacobs to do what he hasn't been able to do since become the Giants' top back: stay healthy.

Even if these situations don't create major problems, it still may not be enough to counteract a weak passing game. Eli Manning is few people's idea of an elite Quarterback, but he can be effective with good weapons around him.

This year, his top weapon is arguably Kevin Boss, an average-at-best Tight End. Come late in the season I think the Giants may be kicking themselves for not making a play at available veteran talent like T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

Obviously with many training camps only hours along, all articles like this are merely speculation and many may prove to have no worth by seasons end. If you were to ask me could the Giants make the playoffs? My answer would be, certainly. But if given deep analytical thought, for all the reasons mentioned above, if you asked me will they make the playoffs? My answer would be no.

And as for the "will the Giants reach the Super Bowl?" question, I would put all the supposed integrity I have accumulated by playing journalistic dress-up on this site for the past 10 months into this very confident answer:

Not a chance.

Michael Vick Reinstated By The NFL

Clay Cunningham — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:41:24 -0400

According to a breaking news bulletin on NFL.com, Roger Goodell has reinstated the troubled ex-Atlanta Falcon Quarterback. The bulletin reads as follows:

"The NFL has reinstated Michael Vick on a conditional basis, the league announced Monday. The former Falcons QB will be considered for full reinstatement and to play in regular-season games by Week 6."

Soak in this information everyone, because it's very likely you won't be hearing much about it in the coming weeks.

My Top Five Chicago Bear Moments of the Past Decade

Clay Cunningham — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 11:57:17 -0400

I've been searching my memory bank for the last few days in order to recollect my favorite Bear moments from the past decade. Sadly, this search wasn't as difficult a task as I would have hoped. Though there have been undeniable high points, they haven't been spread out adequately, which is evident seeing as how three of the final five moments occurred in the same season. Nevertheless, there certainly have been several joyous occurrences over the last ten years and I have compiled the best list I can think of to recount my most specific moments of joy. I hope my fellow fans will find it to be to your liking.

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Why the Atlanta Falcons Are the Frontrunners of the NFC

Clay Cunningham — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:58:13 -0400

Last season, they stunned the NFL, making an inconceivable playoff run just one year removed from one of the most disastrous campaigns in NFL history.

Yet based on early season projections, most "experts" would be further surprised if the Atlanta Falcons pushed things to the next level by reaching the Super Bowl.

They shouldn't be.

Last year, the Falcons possessed a very good offense, seemingly missing just one key component that would elevate them to greatness. Well, that component came this offseason with the acquisition of ageless wonder tight end Tony Gonzalez, a move that made the already strong Falcons offense (sixth in yardage, 10th in points in '08) arguably the league's most complete unit.

This move could prove to work wonders for Gonzalez. His pairing with Roddy White (2,584 yards, 13 TDs the past two seasons) marks the first time in his illustrious career he will have a consistent and proven wideout to take pressure off him.

This move is also good for Michael Jenkins, a receiver better suited to be the No. 3 target of the Falcon passing game.

The improvement to an already good aerial attack will also take pressure off a great running game. Michael Turner was a revelation last season, but he touched the ball over 400 times last season including the playoffs. Such a large intake is never good for a running back's longevity.

Not only will the improved passing game soften Turner's work load, it will also force teams to play more honestly and help create running lanes for him to potentially improve on last year's 1,700-yard season.

Oh, and the Falcons are also aided by one of the league's better backups in Jerious Norwood.

Of course, if Atlanta wants to take the next step, much of the responsibility rests on the shoulders of Matt Ryan, the 2008 Rookie of the Year. Ryan showed veteran poise throughout his rookie season, not only with his production but also with the way he restored hope to a hopeless franchise.

He (with a large assist from Turner and first-year coach Mike Smith) turned what seemed like it would be an extensive project and produced instant results for an organization in desperate need of them after feeling the sting of Michael Vick and champion weasel Bobby Petrino.

Seeing as Ryan's rookie year would be good for most veterans, what reason is there to think a full year's experience, mixed with the addition of the greatest tight end of all time, won't help him take his game to another dimension?

One squabble people will have with Atlanta is that they don't have a championship-caliber defense, pointing out they were ranked 24th in the league last season. While I fully acknowledge this isn't the NFC's best defense, it's better than that ranking would let on.

While the 24th overall ranking isn't very impressive, the Falcons finished a respectable 11th in points allowed. If they score as many points as they are capable of, having the league's 11th-ranked scoring defense won't seem like much of a detriment—especially not when elevated passing downs allow John Abraham and his 16.5 sacks from a year ago to tee off on opposing quarterbacks.

But knowing there was room to improve, the Falcon brass wisely spent seven of their eight draft picks on defense. Most notable was their first round pick of defensive tackle Peria Jerry. Jerry could prove to be a great accompanying piece for Abraham, as well as a springboard to former first-round pick Jamaal Anderson, who has disappointed in his first two seasons.

There are several teams in the NFC who are capable of making a run for the Super Bowl, but Atlanta is the only one of them without a glaring weakness. Whether it's a lack of receivers (New York, Chicago), questions at quarterback (Carolina, Minnesota), injury-prone stars (Philadelphia), or potential conflicts with crucial players (Arizona), there are plenty of contenders conflicted with problems the Falcons simply don't have.

This team reminds me a bit of the 2006 Bears, in the sense they came out of nowhere the year before and just needed an extra year's boost to elevate themselves to an elite level. I predicted a Super Bowl appearance (albeit a biased one) then, and with the addition of Tony Gonzalez and an improved defense, I'm calling it for this Atlanta squad.

Come to me in February and tell me I was wrong (unless they get to the Super Bowl by beating Chicago; in that case, stay the hell away from me).

The Five Chicago Bears Who Absolutely Must Step It Up In 2009

Clay Cunningham — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:58:50 -0400

This offseason has been one of the most noteworthy the Bears have had in a very long time, creating an eagerness for the upcoming season that has been lacking ever since Super Bowl XLI ended in crushing defeat. But., as we know (alert the cliché alarm) championships aren't won in the offseason, and while the newly acquired talent is cause for excitement, it doesn't conceal the fact there were a great deal of returning players who underperformed last season, and cannot repeat the disappointing outputs they displayed in '08 if the Bears hope to make a deep playoff run. Compiled here is a list of the five players whose improvements I feel are the most crucial if the Bears wish to take the necessary steps forward this season.

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Houston Rexans: Grossman to Sign With Houston

Clay Cunningham — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:07:07 -0400

According to a report on NFL.com, former Bears Quarterback Rex Grossman is poised to sign a one-year deal with the Houston Texans, where he will compete with former Lion Dan Orlovsky, to backup Matt Schaub.

Honestly, this signing surprises me a bit. Considering how badly Grossman's name has been dragged through the mud around the NFL, I assumed the best chance he had to sign with another team would be as a backup to a team with a set-in-stone QB, like New Orleans or Indianapolis.

For the Texans, he will be playing behind arguably the most injury prone human being on the face of the earth in Schaub. With this and the fact he's surrounded by a ton of offensive talent, Rex has a real chance to prove he can succeed in a less hostile environment than he constantly faced in Chicago.

Can he do it? Maybe, maybe not. I'm really just glad I no longer have to deal with the circus first hand.

Good luck, Rex.

Why the '09 Chicago Bears May Resemble the Pre-Train-Rex Days

Clay Cunningham — Fri, 29 May 2009 10:53:02 -0400

"We get off the bus running the ball." -Lovie Smith, following virtually every Bears game over the past five years.

While the Bears have been a run-first team for pretty much the duration of their existence, they haven't really had steady enough quarterback play to break from their traditional offensive style. That is hopefully no longer the case after the acquisition of Jay Cutler.

And while the idea of a quarterback in the Bears system slinging the ball around the field with great success seems foreign, it shouldn't, as the franchise was just removed from an, albeit brief, stint with one just a few seasons ago.

When Rex Grossman opened the 2006 season on a roll, he did so with the aid of speedy, but unproven wideout Bernard Berrian. The combination of each players strength; Grossman's arm, and Berrian's speed, made them an exciting combo to watch.

Through the first five games of the season, the duo proved to be an electric tandem, connecting 19 times for 413 yards (a massive 21.7 YPC) and four TD's.

People seem to forget how exciting this offense was because, as we all know, it didn't last. Rex is now looking for work and Berrian, fed up with Chicago's QB inconsistencies, left for Minnesota where he became free to play with the always reliable lineup of Tarvaris Jackson, Sage Rosenfels and Gus Frerotte. Oh, and $42 million.

I bring this comparison up because despite what they may say, Smith and offensive coordinator Ron Turner may actually have a more pass happy streak in their offensive mindset than they would ever let on, as the aforementioned argument illustrates.

It would seem fitting if this "gunslinger" style of offense was implemented in the coming season, as many of the same components from 2006 are there. A strong armed quarterback in Cutler, and a lightning-quick, if unpolished receiver in Devin Hester. The only difference is Cutler is much more proven than Rex was.

Now I admit I have been as stinging in my criticism of Bear wideouts as anybody, but in my more optimistic moments (which are sadly few and far between), I think this offensive style could work very well.

With last year essentially being Hester's first season as an offensive player, he took more positive steps forward than I anticipated he would. And if Larry Mayer's "Chalk Talk" column on chicagobears.com is any indication, he is well on his way to even further progression this season.

Now there are different components at work that could affect this philosophy. For one, Berrian knew the position better as he was not a converted defensive back.

Also, while I hesitate to compliment Muhsin Muhammad for the constant drops and poor attitude he displayed in Chicago, he was still a helpful veteran presence the Bears don't currently have in their receiving core.

Lastly, the Bears will be entering the season with a better running game than they did in early '06. Thomas Jones wasn't in game shape because of a preseason injury, and Cedric Benson, as well all know, is and was, just a worthless human being.

There's nothing to indicate Matt Forte won't be good to go out of the gate, which means the running game should be strong.

So, with the lack of depth at receiver, and a generally solid running back, it would be silly to suggest the Bears abandon their running game.

But with a stud quarterback who won't melt down at the first sign of trouble, and a dangerous receiver whose strengths could best be utilized by said quarterbacks arm, why not use this combo to strike fear into opposing defenses?

What better way to do this than a quick strike; like say, a 49-yard TD bomb on the seasons opening drive, not unlike the Rex to Bernard play opening week 2006 at Lambeau Field? Refresh my memory, where do the Bears kick off the 2009 campaign?

Would a genuine, pass-first overhaul put an end to the "off the bus running" line? Doubtful. Lovie has seemingly become so attached to that verbal chestnut the only way to remove it from his postgame press conferences would be for him to swap personalities with Mike Martz.

Also, I don't feel the word "overhaul" is the right word as largely decreasing the role of Matt Forte would be outright foolish. But I think it would be silly to think the Bears wouldn't be open to a wide expansion of their playbook, because we have seen in the past that they are.

If Hester jumps out of he gate with a few deep scores early in the season, it makes teams more honest, thus creating more open space for Forte and the one-two Tight End punch of Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark.

I think we have seen enough of Cutler to know he isn't going to Grossman out mentally, and thus wouldn't need the playbook altered to work around his mental misfires.

If the Bears can make a habit out of finding the right way to use his massive arm with Hester's lightning quick speed and (hopefully) improved fundamentals, it could give the Bears offense a much needed aura of excitement.

They may get off the bus running, but if they can make the Cutler/Hester mash-up work, maybe they can get in the end zone through the air.

My Realistic Expectaions For The 2009 Chicago Bears

Clay Cunningham — Fri, 22 May 2009 11:38:14 -0400

It's amazing what having a proven quarterback can do for the confidence of a fan base.

Cynicism is in very small supply in Chicago these days, as I witnessed first-hand at the Bears Expo at Soldier Field last Sunday.

The same people who were calling for Jerry Angelo's head just a few short months ago were mercilessly booing a fan who pointed out the Bears' lack of quality receivers during a Q & A session.

These boos came even as this gentlemen was calling out a receiving corps in which only two active members have caught a pass in the NFL (one of them being Rashied freakin' Davis!)

The people angry the Bears essentially kept the same defensive line whose porous pass rush led to the team finishing 31st against the pass last season, are now fully sure the simple addition of D-line coach extraordinaire Rod Marinelli and one third-round pick will fix all the problems the unit ran up against last season.

All of this optimism seems to stem from the acquisition of one individual, and that individual is, of course, Jay Cutler.

A common perception over the past few years has been the only thing keeping the Bears from winning a Super Bowl is a quarterback. Hell, it was our lousy quarterback who single-handedly cost us the Super Bowl in 2006 (disregarding that our defense allowed 438 yards and struggled to get off the field to the rate of a 38-22 minute defeat in time of possession).

Don't get me wrong—I am optimistic about the upcoming year. I can foresee a championship coming through Chicago this season; just not the one everyone wants.

The lack of receivers argument is admittedly tired, so I won't bother making it again. That being said, it's still a very valid concern.

Also, I know Marinelli's track record as an assistant coach (I'll sidestep easy jabs at his head coach debacle) is top notch, but can one coach instantaneously fix all that was wrong with the Bears pass rush last season?

Tommie Harris' injury and personal problems have limited his productions in recent years, and ends Adawale Ogunleye, Alex Brown, and Mark Anderson haven't proven they can play solid football for more than two games a year. Anderson did have about five solid games as a rookie but averaged it out accordingly by having just one good game total over the last two seasons.

Lastly, it seems destructive to look past winning the NFC North, for that will hardly prove to be an easy task.

The only thing we know for sure about Brett Favre is that he's a big enough attention whore that he will drag this will-he-or-won't he crap with the Vikings out for as long as he possibly can.

Regardless, with or without him, Minnesota's running game and defensive line put them in a similar position to the Bears; good enough to get to the playoffs, but not good enough to make much noise when they get there.

Then there's Green Bay. As much as I'd love to guarantee another 6-10 campaign from the Packers, it's hard to. If they can get their defense right, they have enough offensive fire power to be in the mix with the Bears and Vikings.

That being said, if I were financially stable enough to make bets, I would wager on the Bears to win the NFC North this season. However, anything beyond that strikes me as wishful thinking.

I am excited about many things—there are various things to be optimistic about to go along with the acquisition of Cutler. His arm strength and deep ball accuracy will play to the strengths of his best receiving weapons, Greg Olsen and Devin Hester. He's also accompanied by Matt Forte and the deepest offensive line the Bears have had in years.

But aside from the lack of experience at receiver, this is a team whose once proud defense simply isn't the championship caliber unit it was three years ago. That isn't to say it's a bad unit, but it's a unit more equipped to go 10-6 as opposed to 13-3.

Jerry Angelo proved us all wrong this offseason. He made a very gutsy move that has rightfully gotten people abuzz over the potential of what it could mean for a city desperate for another Super Bowl title. And as much as I want to see that title, it just isn't realistic to believe it will come into vision this year.

So be patient I say. It's already been 23 years since the Lombardi Trophy was hoisted in Chicago. If it comes back in another two or three, the wait shouldn't be all that torturous.

The 10 Questions I Would Ask Matt Forte

Clay Cunningham — Fri, 15 May 2009 21:19:57 -0400

So I get to go to the Bears Expo this Sunday (not a bad 25th birthday present) and I could not be more excited. I have never been to, nor do I have an intimate knowledge of the event, but I hear rumblings that various players will be in attendance. The idea of meeting any of my favorite players is very exciting to me, but of all the potential meet ups, the one that would excite me the most would be the chance to meet my favorite current Bear, running back Matt Forte.

In addition to being the backbone of the Bears offense, Forte strikes me as a genuinely good guy. Therefore, I have no reason to doubt he wouldn't relish the opportunity to have a thorough Q & A session with a die hard fan posing as a sports reporter.

So in that vein, below I have worked up 10 questions that I would ask him if I were lucky enough to score an interview. Matt, I have no idea if you actually will be in attendance, but if you are, feel free to stumble across this questionnaire so as not to be blindsided by my hard-hitting journalistic prowess.

So here it is, my questionnaire with Matt Forte:

1. So often we see rookie players struggle in their first season, yet no player in the league accounted for a higher percentage of his teams offense than you did. What was it that helped you adjust to the game so quickly?

2. How has having a full year under your belt helped you better prepare for this coming season?

3. If last season was any indication, the 2008 class of running backs could prove to be one of the best in league history. Is there a drive in you to be seen as the unquestioned top back in this class, or are you solely concerned with winning?

4. In recent years the Bears have had run ins with backs (Anthony Thomas, Rashaan Salaam) who showed great initial promise only to see their production drop off drastically in following years. What are you doing to assure we won't see this with you?

5. The organization stated that getting a backup running back to take some of the pressure off of you was a high priority in the offseason. Yet they did nothing to bring in new personnel, rather choosing to retain Kevin Jones whose first season with the Bears was a wash. Do you feel comfortable in Jones' ability to spell you, and if he's unable to, how confident are you that you can carry the same sort of workload you did last season?

6. The Bears made a gigantic splash by trading for Jay Cutler. How much pressure do you feel he and his big arm will take off of you and what changes in defensive scheme's do you expect to see this season?

7. In the same vein, you led all running backs with 63 receptions last year. With the Bears still lacking a proven #1 wideout, do you anticipate your role in the passing game to change this season, and if so, in what way?

8. One of the primary reasons you missed the playoffs last season was an inability to close out games early in the season. What sort of mental adjustments have been implemented to assure this isn't a problem again this year?

9. Entering the league last season, you didn't get the chance to experience playing against Brett Favre. With all the rumblings of another return, this time as a Viking, what are your thoughts on the possibility of seeing such a legendary Bear killer twice a year, and how do you foresee a potential Favre comeback affecting what already promised to be a tight NFC North race?

10.When asked what their expectations for the upcoming season are, most players answer that they believe their respective team can win the Super Bowl. If you were to make such a bold declaration, what reasons would you give as to why people should be optimistic that the Lombardi Trophy could be coming to Chicago anytime soon?

Remembering the Strange Odyssey of the 2001 Chicago Bears

Clay Cunningham — Fri, 08 May 2009 10:56:39 -0400

I became a Bears fan in 1991 at the age of seven. It has certainly been a mixed-bad from an emotional standpoint.

In that time, I've seen them win 136 games while loosing 152. I've seen a mere three playoff victories. I've seen countless heart wrenching draft busts.

However, I acknowledge it could be worse. Unlike several people who have experienced fandom in that same time frame, I have been lucky enough to at least see my team reach the SuperBowl. So with all the crap I've had to weed through, one would likely assume the 2006 season was easily the highlight of my sports viewing life. Was it the highlight? Probably. But was it easily the greatest season I ever saw? Hardly.

The Bears entered 2001 having achieved loosing records the previous five seasons, and a talent pool that indicated a sixth was on the way. What followed was one of the most improbably, and arguably fraudulent, 13-3 campaign's in NFL history.

Don't believe me, here's a refresher of the more insane moments of an insane season:

Two touchdowns drives of 66 and 67 yards in four minutes to wipe out a 15 point deficit and force overtime against San Fransisco

Two touchdowns in 28 seconds, including a Shane Matthews to James Allen hail-mary as time expired to force overtime against Cleveland.

Mike Brown's game winning pick-six in both games. Even odder, these games occurred in back-to-back weeks!

Three missed field goals by Jason Hanson (who has missed three or fewer field goals in three entire seasons mind you) to help the Bears earn an ugly, 13-10 win against the then winless Lions.

A go-ahead touchdown pass on a fake field goal for a comeback win at Washington. This play featured the ho-hum TD combo of Punter Brad Maynard to emerging stud Linebacker Brian Urlacher.

A 67 yard interception return by 340 pound behemoth Defensive Tackle Keith Traylor against Jacksonville

Anthony Thomas, yes Anthony Thomas, winning rookie of the year. His primary competition? A little known back by the name of LaDanian Tomlinson (now that's a great "Stump The Schwab" question if I've ever heard one.)

The entire season seemed like a formulaic movie with turn after turn that would make you roll your eyes thinking that what you saw would never actually happen. Looking back it's hard to believe that a team quarterbacked by Jim Miller and Shane Matthews could even call itself a playoff contender, let alone a #2 conference seed. Thus was the magic of the 01 season.

Of course it didn't end magically. January 19, 2002 was a weird day in Chicago. For starters, Michael Jordan was playing at the United Center in a Wizards uniform. And the miracle Bears just ran out of whatever pixiedustesque material that had been sprayed on them all season, getting thumped by the visiting Eagles 33-19, in the last game to be played at the old Soldier Field.

The playoff loss was disappointing, because it gave the Bears a chance to prove they weren't a fluke. Sure they had some good fortune and, aside from the miracle San Francisco, game hadn't beat a team with more than nine wins all season. But as a fan you still never want to believe any success is fraudulent. Sadly, the lethargic effort put forth in the Divisional Playoffs sort of proved it was.

The fluke theory came full-circle in 2002, when what was essentially the same team stumbled to a disastrous 4-12 campaign. One year later Dick Jauron, NFL Coach of the Year in 2001 was gone, and the Bears wouldn't get back to the playoffs until 2005.

But whether or not the success was truly deserved, I think it's crucial to continuously celebrate what an amazing ride the 2001 season was. We finally saw the Bears overtake the Packers for the NFC Central title and could throw it in their fans faces. It didn't matter that they beat us twice and were unquestionably a much better team, we won the division!

Above all, we should always celebrate the memories created by that team, which are much stronger than the ones created by most 13-3 teams that bow out in the second round of the playoffs (does anyone think Titans fans will remember 08 in the same way we remember 01?).

History may not remember the 2001 Chicago Bears with wonderment, but I know I will. It wasn't the same as the 2006 NFC Champions, because that was a genuinely good team made up of players who were equipped to make a run at a championship. By all accounts this team should have won five or fewer games, yet they miraculously won 13! A mostly rag-tag bunch of players who somehow were able to put together a season whose success wasn't just surprising, it was mind- boggling.

So here's a final toast to the 2001 Bears. The most fortunate, and more importantly, the most fun team I have ever had the honor to watch.

Why Patience Will Be a Virtue with Jay Cutler

Clay Cunningham — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 02:05:21 -0400

The excitement in the air for Bear fans is undeniably palpable this evening, as the most elusive element the franchise has been searching for, for as long as I have been alive is finally here. At last, Chicago has a quarterback who not only looks good on paper but has proven to be an upper tier talent in the league.

And while I share much of the elation of many Bear fans about his arrival, I have to be the realist and point out what many of us don’t want to hear. Major success in the Cutler era may take time.

There are undeniable benefits that will have an instantaneous impact. The primary one is that he simply is a better quarterback than Kyle Orton. I will go on record and admit to being an Orton supporter but I was nowhere near 100 percent sold that he was a long-term solution at quarterback. Cutler is without question the real deal.

With a better quarterback comes accelerated play from your better players. Greg Olsen is on the brink of exploding, and his Tight End counterpart Desmond Clark has a few serviceable years left. This move will only improve their already solid play.

I will admit that I think the Bears have much too high beliefs in Devin Hester’s ability as a No. 1 wideout. However, teaming him with a rocket armed QB like Cutler will much better serve his burner abilities than the dink-and-dunk approach of Orton.

Lastly, he’s got a great running back in Matt Forte who not only takes more pressure off of him than any of the back by committee players he had in Denver, but is also dynamic enough to make a huge impact in the passing game.

Sadly after that, the Bears offense is pretty much a crap shoot. Jerry Angelo and Lovie Smith have both expressed their belief that Earl Bennett will establish himself as the teams No. 2 wideout immediately.

I think it’s safe to say the number of people who believe that to be true is equal to the number of receptions Bennett accumulated in his rookie season.

After that, it gets even worse.

Cutler throws much too hard to assume Rashied Davis could handle any of his passes, Brandon Rideau is a practice squad player and D.J. Hackett (though he’s not officially signed yet, it will happen, mark my words) isn’t durable enough to handle the violence of an intramural flag league season, let alone the NFL.

Another knock some people have on Cutler is his unimpressive 17-20 record as a starter. This is not a concern for me as he was playing on a team with a defense that featured a future hall of fame corner and 10 other guys whose abilities peaked in high school.

I know the Bears' defense isn’t great, but they could play with six guys and be an upgrade from Denver.

Cutler is an undeniably solid quarterback and I do applaud Jerry Angelo for doing what everyone said he would be too cowardly to do and actually go full throttle after a hot commodity player.

But while I think he will find a groove, he is no doubt playing with a more shallow talent pool than he was with the likes of Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal. This is why I think it’s much too soon to elevate the Bears as anything higher than a postseason possibility.

Even with the steep price of giving up two first round picks, I do think for the sake of the future of this team, Angelo did the right thing here. But to say this shoots the Bears into another stratosphere is no doubt premature.

There are still questions at safety, defensive and offensive line (though they have at least made the need for the o-line less immediate).

Most notably, there is a big issue at receiver. If you have a good quarterback in place that takes a lot of pressure off and allows you time to make sure you get the proper pieces around him.

The Bears have the quarterback, but the search for the right pieces is still ongoing. Cutler may no doubt have the talent to take the Bears deep in the playoffs. But for the next year or two, I think we may have to be happy just getting there.

D.J. Hackett Will Be a Perfect Fit in Chicago

Clay Cunningham — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 02:01:56 -0400

Because:

1. He's cheap

2. He's injury prone

3. He's not very good.

Roll out the welcome wagon, everyone!

I am officially guaranteeing this will be Jerry Angelo's solution to "fixing" the receiving corps.

Why Pursuing T.J. Houshmandzadeh Is a No-Brainer for the Bears

Clay Cunningham — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 01:12:30 -0500

It was announced yesterday that the Cincinnati Bengals were likely not going to place the franchise tag on receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh. This added with the team’s inability to sign the one-time league receptions champ to a long-term deal makes it all the more likely he will be hitting the open market at the start of free agency on Feb. 27.

He will no doubt be one of the hottest commodities of this year’s market, and if Jerry Angelo doesn’t make the Chicago Bears the hottest pursuer in the Houshmandzadeh sweepstakes, he is making a critical mistake.

I’ll start by stating the obvious that he just makes the offense better. Not just because he is far more talented than any of their current receivers, but because he instantly increases the value of several other players on Chicago’s offensive roster. As much as I loved the progression of Devin Hester as a receiver, he will never be a No. 1 wideout in the NFL.

But could he be a viable No. 2? I say yes, and putting a receiver of Housh’s caliber opposite him will only speed up his progress.

He makes the Tight End duo of Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark more effective because if there’s a receiver who actually possesses a threat on the field at all times, it forces teams to cover the duo with Linebackers, creating favorable mismatches in the Bears’ favor.

He makes Matt Forte by preventing teams from stacking the box against him, creating more favorable running lanes for the all world running back.

Most importantly, he makes Kyle Orton better. I know that several people feel that Orton is a problem and the Bears need an instant upgrade at the Quarterback position. Are they’re better QB’s than K.O? Certainly. Will the Bears find a better one in the offseason? I don’t see it.

The top two free agent prospects at this position seem to be Jeff Garcia and Byron Leftwhich. The former is 39 years old, while the latter has likely suffered 39 broken bones in the time I have taken to write this.

Admittedly Orton had some breakdowns mentally at the end of last season, but I trust him more on the field with T.J Houshmandzadeh than I do the above mentioned quarterbacks with the Bears current rag-tag receiving core.

I have also heard rumblings that some would like to see the Bears deal for newly franchised Patriots Quarterback Matt Cassel. While he was undeniable impressive in an almost impossible situation last season, I don’t think one good year merits trading away two first round picks to get him.

Plus, playing with Marty Booker and Rashied Davis isn’t exactly playing with Randy Moss and Wes Welker.

The one downside to going after free agencies top receiver is that it offers less cash flow to upgrade the Bears’ other glaring weakness; their pass rush. As it stands, there are some enticing names out there that could offer increased productivity in getting after opposing quarterbacks. Most notably, Terrell Suggs and Julius Peppers.

While the idea of one of these two extraordinary talents playing in Chicago is exciting, it don’t think it offers as sure fire a solution to that particular problem as adding Houshmandzadeh would to the offense.

Suggs (who is more than likely going to stay in Baltimore anyway) has excelled when playing in a 3-4 system, while Peppers has said that he wants to move to a team that plays the 3-4, making him more likely to sign with a team that employs this style as opposed to the Bears' Tampa Two. While the pass rush absolutely has to improve, I think the draft is a better place to find more instant results

As I watched Andre Johnson almost single handily ruin the Bears playoff hopes in week 17, I thought to myself, “man, think of the damage the Bears could do if they only had a receiver of that caliber.”

While Houshmandzadeh is not the dominate force that Johnson is, he has proven to be a big time talent that has produced big numbers in arguably the most unstable organization in the NFL.

And while playing with Kyle Orton is a definite downgrade from Carson Palmer, I can only imagine that a player of his skill would welcome a change of scenery, and I think Chicago would be a great fit.

Despite their problems, the Bears were a disastrous 11 seconds in Atlanta away from getting into the playoffs last season. As it stands, next season could either lead to a return to the postseason, or could end in a floundering 5-11 or 6-10 type year. This is a critical offseason in many ways, and solidifying the receiving core absolutely has to be done.

I think taking a stab at T.J Houshmandzadeh would prove to be a great first step, if Jerry Angelo is truly committed to doing everything needed to get this team back into the postseason.

My Pointless Award "Bear"amony

Clay Cunningham — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 16:35:15 -0500

Following Sunday’s loss and subsequent elimination from postseason play, I wanted to write an angry column to summarize my disgust with the Bears blowing what was a hand fed opportunity to make the playoffs.

Sadly, all I was able to muster up was a profanity laced tirade that more or less made me seem illiterate. So now, with the season sadly over, I have decided to compile a list of meaningless “awards” to the players I see most deserving to receive them. Here’s my take on the rollercoaster ride that was the 2008 Chicago Bears:

Offensive MVP: Matt Forte

This was the only name that even deserved to be on the ballot. Thrust into a workload that is almost unfair for a rookie, Forte delivered nearly every week, totaling 1,715 yards from scrimmage and 12 total touchdowns. He also solidified one of the Bears shakiest positions heading into the season for years to come.

Defensive MVP: Lance Briggs

Another no-brainer. For the second straight year, Briggs proved to be the only consistent player in a maddeningly inconsistent defense. This season, Briggs easily supplemented a disappointing Brian Urlacher as the defenses best player. Stunning to think that at this point last year, the idea of Briggs in a Bears uniform seemed laughable.

Special Teams MVP: Robbie Gould

Though Robbie’s horrific onside kick at Houston last week is the final image we can take from him this season, his steady and clutch kicking will more than make up for that blunder in the long-haul. His 26-29 seems all the more impressive when you take into account that two of his misses were blocked. While the fact that he has yet to make a kick of 50+ yards in his four year career does raise an eyebrow, he is certainly worthy of this fictional prize for this season.

Biggest Surprise: Forte

The only multi-award winner of this sham of an award ceremony, the rookie from Tulane more than earned his additional hardware. Expectations were high for the second round pick, but what Bears fans got far exceeded our hopes. From the second he blasted a 50 yard touchdown run against the Colts on opening weekend, it was clear that #22 was something special.

Forte was the only reason to garner any hope that the Bears put forth any offense week in and week out. He was a sense of relief to fans who had to endure the likes of Enis, Salaam and Benson. For GM Jerry Angelo, he was atonement for the disastrous decision to keep Cedric Benson instead of Thomas Jones. And, above all, he was the most valuable player in a Chicago Bears uniform in 2008.

Biggest Disappointment: The “pass rush”

The quotations are well earned, as the Bears amassed a mere 28 sacks this season. Relatively pressure free pockets led to four different quarterbacks setting career high single game passing numbers against the Bears this season.

The defense never posted more than five takedowns in one game, and registered one sack or less eight times (including five games with zero and another game where the lone sack came by virtue of the quarterback falling to the ground before contact was initiated). Many would argue a beefed up receiving core is priority #1 in this offseason, but getting to the quarterback would have to be considered a very close second.

Best Win: Indianapolis (week 1)

The season began with a road game against a team I hate in a game I had no foreseeable reason to believe the Bears would win. But, my misery quickly turned to jubilation. Sure the Colts had a better season, and this hardly one-upped the Superbowl two years ago, the Bears 29-13 opening week drubbing of my least favorite team not named the Packers still brings a smile to my face.

Worst Loss: Atlanta (week 6)

It’s really sad that in a season that featured the losses to Carolina (blown 14 point third quarter lead), Tampa (blown 10 point lead with three and a half to play) and Houston (playoff elimination), that none of those losses are even a blip on the radar compared to the gut wrenching debacle to the Falcons.

Losing a game after you take the lead with 11 seconds to play would seem impossible to someone who wasn’t watching. Sadly, Bear fans witnessed it all too clearly. When evaluating why the Bears are not in the playoffs, the brightest light is to be shined on this game.

Most Encouraging Sign: Greg Olsen

Olsen’s struggles at the end of last season seemed as if they could be chalked up to him hitting “the rookie wall.” That seemed less obvious following his two fumble disaster in Carolinain week two.

Fortunately, the second year player put all that behind him and turned in an unspectacular, but still impressive 54 catch, 574 yard, five touchdown season, and also proved to be clutch in tight situations. If the Bears manage to bring in a viable threat at wideout to take some pressure off of him, there’s no reason to think Olsen couldn’t become a Pro-Bowl caliber player.

Most Discouraging Sign: Mark Anderson

Many people are likely to say the dissolving skills of Brian Urlacher or the poor return play of Devin Hester are the most disappointing happenings of 2008. While I don’t disagree that they were upsetting developments, I think the all-out disappearance of Mark Anderson’s pass rushing skills are more head scratching.

After getting 12 sacks as a rookie fifth round pick in 2006, and four through the first five games of last season, Anderson has totaled exactly two take downs in the 27 games that have followed. With his 18 tackle, one sack performance this season, he may as well of not even been on the field at all. Two years ago, Anderson looked to be on of the great defensive draft steals in recent memory. Now, as next season approaches, he’ll likely be fighting for his job.

Most Crucial Offseason Need: Wide Receiver

While the defense, in particular the pass rush, need revamping, if the Bears think that the receiving core they put on the field this season is a recipe for success, we may not be seeing the playoffs for years.

While Devin Hester did enough to make it seems as if he could be viable #2, the passing game cannot flourish with him as the top receiver. To make an immediate impact, the Bears need to make a major veteran acquisition. Drafting Receivers can be very risky as a list of this years busts (Limas Sweed, Malcolm Kelly and our very own reception less wonder Earl Bennett to name a few) proves.

Whether it’s signing a major free agent like T.J. Houshmandzadeh or trading for an unhappy player like Anquan Boldin, a trustworthy veteran presence in that receiving core is imperative. Giving Kyle Orton the starting job next season was the right move, and if the Bears are committed to him becoming their quarterback of the future, they need to surround him with as many weapons as possible.

That brings my evaluation of the 2008 season to a close. I can only hope that the problems that need to be addressed are so that I won’t have to wallow around in self-pity come playoff time next season. Watching simply to cheer against teams you hate is simply no substitute for watching the team you love.

Chicago Bears Not So Lovie-Dovie

Clay Cunningham — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 04:07:32 -0500

If a proper description is needed for the 2008 Chicago Bears season, there’s no need to look further than the 6:13–4:43 mark of Sunday’s second quarter.

Leading 7-3 and standing at the Minnesota one-yard line, on the brink of extending their lead, the Bears got stuffed four plays in a row and then are instantly burned by a 99-yard touchdown pass to the emerging receiver they were unable to hold on to.

What followed is a humiliating 34-14 shellacking that pretty much slammed the door shut on their hopes of a division title.

And there you have it.

Just another instance of them promising great things only to yank the run out from underneath us leading to a horribly painful fall. While it’s not possible to pinpoint one specific source for why this team can’t put together any sort of consistently good play, a major cause can be seen on the permanently stoic face of one Lovie Smith.

There was something undeniably effective about how Smith ran the team during the 2005 and 2006 campaigns, when the Bears won back-to-back division titles and even a conference title.

Lovie, with his ultra quite and reserved manor, was able to keep his teams inspired without having to be the animated disciplinarian like his predecessors George Halas and Mike Ditka. His silent confidence resonated almost perfectly with his players.

Well, now it’s two years later and whatever magic that made those teams so successful simply isn’t there anymore. While there are some new faces, the core of the teams is virtually unchanged and yet the results are entirely different.

At 6-6 the Bears are uninspired, they are unmotivated, and at times in recent weeks they have been flat-out unwatchable.

Admittedly, the season hasn’t been a total wash. The best of Lovie-Smith-coached teams have made appearances from time-to-time, but the staggering inconsistency has made this squad all the more frustrating to watch. It’s exhausting to watch the Bears play an almost perfect game to upset the Colts in Week One, then turn around and waste everyone’s time by even showing up against Green Bay three weeks ago.

How can the same team that turned out an inspired goal-line stand to beat Philadelphia not even hold on to beat Atlanta in a game where they took the lead with a mere 11 seconds to play? Whatever Lovie is preaching simply isn’t getting through to the congregation like it has in the past.

Inconsistent motivation is not the only problem to come out of the Smith regime. Sure, he has had his share of success since coming to Chicago in 2004, but to say Lovie has been a great coach is almost laughable.

Whether it’s baffling, pin-headed, in-game decisions (giving the Seahawks a hail mary attempt by foolishly calling a time out with two seconds remaining in the '06 Divisional Playoff game when Seattle was letting the clock run out to go to overtime) or failures of player development (I guess it just took the brilliance of Tyler Thigpen to make Mark Bradley a viable receiver), Lovie has had several moments where he has countered any coaching effectiveness with acts of pure idiocy.

Is it too early to say Lovie Smith needs to be fired? Ultimately, it still comes down to the fact that the team's many high-paid players simply aren’t performing. My reasoning for suggesting a coaching change should potentially occur is that this team is either too mentally weak to close out a game (Tampa, Atlanta) or they simply can’t be bothered to work up anywhere near enough energy for important games (Green Bay, at Minnesota), and at least some of that falls on the coaching staff.

If Smith can’t make this team play as if they give a crap, surely there is someone who can. And if not, then the Super bowl team of two years ago was a fluke, and that is a real shame. That would call for a full-blown overhaul, and we all know that that always begins with a change at signal caller.

Other thoughts

I’m not saying it’s time to declare Kyle Orton the next Bears QB bust, but there’s no denying that his three pick in seven attempt display in the second half was very Grosmanesque.

At the risk of stating the obvious: Matt Forte is flat-out awesome. If the Bears had a team full of Fortes, Roger Goodell could just crown them Super bowl champions right now. But instead, he’s stuck being the bright spot on a team full of Cedric Bensons.

Complete overhaul or not, I hope one of the first offseason moves Jerry Angelo makes is releasing Adawale Ogunleye. I’m sure there are plenty of teams in the market for an arrogant ass who plays well a maximum of three games a year, so we shouldn’t have to deal with him anymore.

I thought a Jason McKie injury would put at least a one-game halt on using the up-back in goal-line situations. Nope. Let’s send Jason Davis up the gut without a lead blocker against the most impenetrable interior defensive line in football. Now that sounds like a recipe for success.

Lastly, is anyone else as sick as I am of the Colts and their weekly undeserved victories? Living in what is essentially Colts country likely adds to my anger, but they get outplayed every week just to have their opponent roll over and die. It’s infuriating.

An Irreversible Rex

Clay Cunningham — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 05:15:17 -0500

Oh, how we all have been eagerly awaiting the return of this chapter.

For the time being it looks like Bear fans will have to put their confidence in the quarterback position on hold. On each drop back our stomachs will now be twisting as ferociously as Kyle Orton’s right ankle.

That’s right, Rex Grossman is back under center for at least a month as the Bears try and hang on to their slim lead in a tight three-way divisional race with Green Bay and Minnesota. No matter how desperately the fan base wants to see ties with the former first round pick be severed, some kind of cosmic like pull just won’t seem to allow it to happen.

The last thing I want to do is write an in depth piece about all the mental anguish Rex Grossman has put us through and yet for some reason something out continues to bring these thoughts to the forefront of our brains.

What is it that constantly keeps this guy coming back every time Chicago has decided it wants to move on? Rex seems much more determined to over stay his welcome to pester his teams fans than he ever has fixing the inconsistencies in his play that cost him the starting job in the first place.

Maybe this is just the way it is supposed to be. Like Denver fans can always rally around stories about the fourth quarter comebacks of John Elway, Chicago fans will likely always be able to reminisce about the Sexy Rexy experience. No matter how badly we don’t want to.

It really is fitting in a way. Very few positions in sports, if any, have turned out one clunker after another like the quarterback position for the Chicago Bears. That’s what made Kyle Orton’s rise so exciting because it gave us a chance to look for only positives about the position. Not anymore.

The primary reason Rex Grossman merits so much conversation is that he has genuine ability and has displayed it in glowing fashion. No one ever talks about Cade McNown anymore because when his turn ended, he got up and left never to return.

And since Grossman wasn’t the total burnout that McNown was, he seems determined to prove to everyone he has what it takes to start in Chicago. And as much as we want the door to slam shut on him, opportunities continue to arise pushing it right back open.

Sadly, Rex does have an argument towards his upside. For starters he has a 21-13 (including postseason) record as a starter and did help lead the team to the Superbowl in 2006. And while his stats yesterday (9-19, 58 yards, 1 TD, 1 Pick and a TD run) were hardly a stunning achievement, he earned his third “save,” if you will, leading the Bears from 10 down to beat the hapless Detroit Lions.

But whatever optimism one could possibly have worked up about has been completely washed away by his much publicized down side. Rex Grossman is capable, in terms of ability, to lead a successful football team. But the mental handcuffs he wears will not permit him to do so on a consistent basis.

I, like all of Bears fandom, am tired of having to play the "will he or won’t he play well" card every week and wish that what ever black magic power constantly puts him back in our teams lineup would just go back to hell and take Rex with them.

I must say I do feel odd being so negative. I had no realistic hopes the Bears would be 5-3 and in first place of the NFC North at this point of the season. But they are, and it’s hard to get excited with a season that hangs on so many maybes.

Maybe the defense will stop sleepwalking through large chunks of each game; maybe Ron Turner will not need an entire half to realize Matt Forte needs to have the ball in his hands.

And now, for the next month at least, maybe Rex Grossman can tap some of that “Good Rex” magic and keep the Bears atop the NFC North. None of which seem like realistic hopes.

While it may come across as such, I am not rooting against Rex Grossman. I really do hope he does play well enough to at least keep the Bears in the playoff picture, and then upon Kyle Orton’s return to the lineup, I hope he can lead them into the post season and beyond, acting not only as QB savior, but also as the exorcist who is hired to remove the spirit of Rex Grossman from Halas Hall permanently.

Whether he plays well in the next month or not, I think Chicago has had more than its needed share of “Rexual Healing.”

Other thoughts

Detroit is literally the only team the Bears would have beaten yesterday. How many other teams have to go for a touchdown instead of a tying field goal on their last drive because their kicker slipped on an extra point attempt earlier in the first quarter?

I’ve officially given up on thinking the Bears will develop anything that resembles a pass rush this season. One sack against Detroit is awful. Having that sack occur because Dan Orlovsky fell down on the play is inexcusable.

Mike Brown only gets injured on days he makes big plays. Consider his history:

2004: Returns a fumble 95 yards for a touchdown in an eventual 21-10 win at Lambeau Field; then tears his Achilles and is lost for the year.

2006: Returns a fumble for a six yard score to kick off the Bears miracle comeback in Arizona; then tears a foot muscle and is lost for the year.

2007: Gets a pick and recovers a fumble at the Bears one yard line in a week one loss to San Diego; then tears his ACL and is lost for the year.

Then yesterday, he has to leave with a calf injury after his first interception of the year. Thank God Calvin Johnson made contact with him to nullify what originally looked like a pick six. That stop might be the only thing that gets Brown back on the field this season.

An Ur-Lacking Presence

Clay Cunningham — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:54:54 -0400

So there it was. Minnesota facing a 4th-and-1 on the Bears' 36-yard line, trailing by three with 4:12 to play in the third quarter. Gus Frerotte faked and rolled out looking for tight end Jimmy Kleinsasser, only to have him smothered by Bears Linebacker Brian Urlacher. With his primary option covered, Frerotte turfed the ball, giving it over to the Bears on downs.

“That a baby, Urlacher” I shouted delightfully. Then something surprising and somewhat sad hit me. This was the first play of this season that I could actually recall Brian Urlacher making a decidedly big play.

It’s a very sad thought as a Bear fan to think Urlacher could be loosing steam in his career, but the evidence is hard to ignore. If ever there is a big play being made on the defensive side of the ball this season, No. 54 just doesn’t seem to be in the area.

It’s not just his play that evokes doubt. It goes without saying Urlacher is the life force of the defense; he has been since he’s been in Chicago. When he is at his most dominate, so are the Bears.

Who could forget the Oct. 16, 2006 game at Arizona? Down by 20 points and dealing with an inept offense that committed six turnovers, the Bears' defense led an inspiring charge to get back in the game, scoring two touchdowns and forcing a three-and-out which lead to a game-winning punt return by Devin Hester.

Right at the center of this valiant effort was Urlacher, who had an astonishing 19 tackles and forced a fumble, which led to the second defensive touchdown. He seemingly enforced a silently confident swagger that let his teammates know they simply were not going to lose that game.

Now that swagger just isn’t there. It wasn’t there last year when the Bears fell to 27th in the league, defensively. And it isn’t there this season. They Bears sit at 4-3 with all three losses coming from blown fourth-quarter leads.

Then there was Sunday’s game against Minnesota where they allowed a Viking offense, led by Gus Frerotte, the same Gus Frerotte whose career highlight was injuring his neck slamming his head into a concrete wall, to put up 41 points against them while nearly squandering another fourth-quarter lead.

I am as much a believer in the “a win is a win” philosophy as anybody, but when you let a Gus Frerotte offense put up those kinds of numbers on you, it’s not encouraging. The Bears just aren’t making enough plays, and one can’t help but think it all starts with the middle linebacker.

Now this is hardly to say Brian Urlacher is the sole reason for the decline of the defense. He certainly is not responsible for the defensive line's inability to put any type of pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Nor is he to blame for a starting secondary that is seemingly in competition with each other to see who can miss the most games per season. But every team needs a leader to feed off of, and it just doesn’t seem like Urlacher is doing the job right now.

One has to think that one reason for this is the series of injuries he has been dealing with. It was well documented he was plagued with an arthritic back condition last year, and while he claimed it wasn’t a serious injury, it looked to have an impact on his play.

Then there was his offseason neck surgery. Urlacher just isn’t the type of guy to use these injuries as an excuse for his deteriorating play, but Chicago fans have to be skeptical. In fact, it’s almost crucial for us to believe this is the cause of his decreased production, because if it’s not the cause, then that only leaves one explanation: He’s just not the same player he once was.

Brain Urlacher has been everything Bear fans could have ever wanted, not just because of his great play, but because of how he carries himself as a player. He is an unflashy superstar and about as good a leader as there is in the NFL, never gloating about his accomplishments and always holding himself accountable when he screws up.

What I always liked most about him was how brutally honest he was about the play of himself and his defensive teammates, never seeming even remotely interested in giving a politically correct, media-friendly answer. And while he truly doesn’t have anything to prove as a player, the apparent deterioration of his skills on the field is a very depressing thought that one hopes is nothing more than an extended cold streak.

The highlight of his season seven games in should be more than smothering Jimmy Kleinsasser on a bootleg (though his death stare towards Andrea Kramer for saying their Week One win over the Colts was an upset was a pretty awesome highlight in itself).

Right now, the Bears are 4-3 team that should be 7-0, or 6-1 at the absolute worse. They really do have all the elements needed to make an extended run in the playoffs. They have a balanced offense and nearly all the defensive pieces from the NFC Championship team just two seasons ago. But right now, they are in danger of squandering a great opportunity, and it mostly stems from a lack of fire on the defensive side of the ball.

As much talent as they have, they should not be struggling to win games when the offense scores 48 points. When you are lacking fire, one place to look is always the backbone of the unit, and the backbone of this team is, no doubt, Urlacher.

The same guy who spearheaded the monstrous comeback at Arizona two years ago doesn’t seem to be around at the moment ,and he is very badly needed. Much of the success this season will come from whether or not he can return to form and in turn inspire a select few underachievers (Tommie Harris, I am glaring directly at you) on the defensive side of the ball to pick up their play.

Right now, it seems an inconsistent defense is on the brink of ruining the season put together by a steady offense, and that is never a statement that should be uttered by a Bears fan.

Other Thoughts

Had he not missed the vast majority of his rookie season due to injury, Kevin Payne quite possibly could be the single most bad ass safety in the NFL right now. As it stands, he still seems to be needing a little polish to truly be considered amongst the games elite at the position.

But at the rate he is progressing, there is no reason to doubt he won’t be there very soon. And who better to mentor him to greatness than Mike Brown?

Speaking of Brown, it’s seven games in and he is still healthy! Though, he too seems to be missing a portion of what made him such a great young player, it’s just fantastic to see someone who has been dealt such a rotten hand over the past few years actually get a chance to play. When you have missed as much time as he has and are still beloved by Bears fans, you know you’ve done something right.

Jerry Angelo’s greatest move in recent years has to be the one-year extension he gave Kyle Orton into next season. With each passing week, K.O. seems like he is more on his way to being a long-term quarterback and having that extra year under contract can only be beneficial to determining his worth.

Some sort of cosmic force must have sensed the guilt Marty Booker felt for dropping two potential touchdown passes. There simply had to be something else directing Booker on his 51-yard, third-quarter touchdown catch and run because he just simply isn’t as fast as he looked on that play.

Lastly, I have officially had it with Nathan Vasher. Either take the field or go on IR because everyone is tired of your weekly will he or won’t he routine. It’s pointless, because you never play!

A Plea To All Bears Fans

Clay Cunningham — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:51:58 -0400

Like most Bear fans (or at least the ones who weren't still shell shocked about the demise of the Cubs in the days prior) I was giddy as can be about the stellar performance of Neckbeard Army General Kyle Orton in the Bears decisive victory over Detroit last Sunday.

The Lions were clearly intent on shutting down Matt Forte and the Bears running attack and Orton made them pay by tossing for a career high 334 yards and two TD's while committing no turnovers in Chicago's 34-7 rout against the lowly Lions.

While it is exciting to imagine Orton as the quarterback savior this team has been looking for over the past three centuries or so, I implore those of you who are ready to hail him as such to take a history lesson. And I mean a very recent one.

It was at this time two years ago when all of us were declaring our individually impassioned man crushes on Rex Grossman, who had been lights out in the first five games of the 2006 season.

Then came the first of multiple epic disasters, when he turned the ball over six times and recorded a dismal 10.2 quarterback rating in what proved to be a miracle 24-23 Bears victory over Arizona in one of the most stunning games in the history of Monday Night Football.

This began the "Good Rex, Bad Rex" roller coaster ride that was the rest of the season (a ride which included two games in which he actually compiled two QB ratings worse than the disastrous effort in Arizona) and ended in his bumbling performance in the rain as the Bears fell to Indianapolis 29-17.

Then came last year. After failing to recover from the mental shakeups that plagued him, Grossman was benched in favor of Brian Griese. Griese was hailed as a potential savior because of his supposed stability.

He even got fans ultra-elated after leading a stunning two minute, 97 yard drive with no timeouts to lead the Bears to a come-from-behind 19-16 win at Philadelphia. This drive alone was enough to get Chicago fans elated.

It didn't matter that the Bears depleted defense was playing awful or that their starting running back was as useless as a rotted tree stump; there was quarterback "stability" and that was all the Bears needed to get back to the Super Bowl, and to this time win it.

Fast forward a week. Griese threw four interceptions, three in the end zone, and the Bears stumbled to an embarrassing 16-7 home defeat at the hands of the always lowly Lions. Just like that our newest messiah had forsaken us.

Two weeks later Griese went down with a shoulder injury and never started another game with the Bears (though we were treated with a reminder of what a tease he was when he conducted a comeback win similar to the one he led against the Eagles when facing the Bears as Tampa Bay's starting quarterback three weeks ago).

Now it would appear we are at the same type of crossroad with Kyle Orton. He's played enough to show that he doesn't have the crippling mental weakness of Grossman and he hasn't played enough to offer up the journeymen skepticism there was with Griese.

But if history has taught us anything, there always seems to be some type of hidden plague just waiting to stricken a Bears quarterback, just as the fan base is ready to hail him as the answer to our long suffering prayers.

This isn't to say I have no faith in Orton, as his improvement a passer in recent weeks is evident. His play has even provoked sparkling articles from sites such as Yahoo! and ESPN.com. Sadly, these are the same types of articles that were thrust upon "Sexy Rexy" and "Griesed Lightning" in the past two seasons.

While Bears fans can seemingly be cynical about most anything, the promise of a quality, consistant starting quarterback is just too exciting to be hard-assed about because the wait for one has been insufferable.

But we owe it to ourselves to see if Orton does in fact have what it takes to make it though an entire season and into the post-season without succumbing to all the prat falls that have occurred to his contemporaries at the position.We as a fan base have endured too much to blindly hail Orton as the long term cure to our wounds.

And we've got the fresh scars to prove it.