Yardbarker: Cedric Benson

Devin Hester Holding Out For Contract

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 20:30:23 -0500

The Chicago Bears started training camp fresh off Brian Urlacher's contract extension and Chris Williams signing and hoping for good karma going into the season. Instead, they had the rug pulled out from under them when Devin Hester didn't show up to training camp and announced he was holding out for a better contract. Hester has been negotiating with the Bears all summer and both sides appeared to be slowly reaching an inevitable agreement. Today's announcement came as a shock to coach Lovie Smith and GM Jerry Angelo, who thought everything was going well. Hester was quoted as saying that he needs to hold out from training camp to make a statement. Undoubtable it was heard and the team is now send scrambling to try to get a contract together for their top kick returner and possibly top receiver threat. Hester will make $445,000 this season and he will be fined $15,000 for every day that he doesn't show up to training camp. Both numbers figure to be miniscule compared to the dollar amount he is due in a new contract. The hardest part of signing Hester is due to him just being Hester. Teams usually rely on comparing players to similar players in the league at the same position and reaching a fair dollar amount based on their position value. Comparing Hester to other return men in the league would be laughable and unfair considering his level of talent. Just by stepping onto the field he changes the dimension of the game. Hester will want money unprecedented for a return man and will want to incorporate his added duties as top receiver. He is going to demand top dollar from the Bears and the team is going to struggle to talk him back down to a reasonable number. No matter how you shape it, Hester is likely to be rewarded with a huge contract and become the richest return man in the league. It just remains to be seen how long he has to hold out of camp before both sides reach an agreement. Hester is using the same agent that Cedric Benson used and Benson was handsomely rewarded as a rookie with huge money.

MANUFACTURED JOY - CHICAGO BEARS

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:05:52 -0500

by Zac, Throwing Into Traffic

1. Cedric Benson is a drunk!

While I'm stunned that it happened before Rex Grossman lost his job, the Cedric Benson experiment came to a screeching halt this offseason thanks to Ced's love of booze, the navigation of motor vehicles, and a combination of the two. Taking his place seem to be the tandem of rookie Matt Forte and former Lion Kevin Jones, a switch which makes sense for a couple of reasons. First, the era of the feature back is slowly coming to an end, so giving the team the chance to establish a young tandem of backs shows smart, forward thinking from a front office that hasn't been known for that lately. Second, despite what you've heard about both him and his former employer, Kevin Jones has been pretty good when healthy. He's not so far removed from a very solid rookie campaign (1133 yards on 241 carries) that he can't recapture the magic. Throw in a bolstered offensive line, and positive yardage from the ground game could become a concept not so foreign to long suffering Bears fans.

2. Marty Booker, AAAHHHHHHHH!!!

ARE YOU CATCHING MARTY BOOKER FEVER YET?!? What's NOT to love about having a number one receiver who embodies the terms "consistent" and "workmanlike"? All kidding aside, Booker is a very good possession receiver, and was a steal in free agency (the Dolphins were stupid to let him go). If the Bears can cultivate even one speedster (and they're working on it with Devin Hester), there's no reason to think that Booker won't give the much maligned quarterback corps a consistent target, which is something its never really had.

3. The single dumbest quarterback competition EVER!

That said, it is inexcusable that the team didn't at least TRY to pick up a QB this offseason. When Brian Griese is your most consistent signal caller, you've gone epically wrong here…AND THE TEAM LET HIM GO FOR THE GUYS BEHIND HIM!?!? Rex Grossman is more panicky, dumb, and inaccurate than 99% of quarterbacks in the game, and Kyle Orton is the guy who couldn't beat him out for a starter's job. And Andre Woodson goes to the Giants in the 6th? Really? Watching Rex launch interceptions is cute and all, but wouldn't having ANYBODY new on the bench have been a good idea?

4. More Devin Hester punt returns!

5. Offensive line excitement!

Ok, so the team didn't really make anything exciting happen. Still, assuming that you can turn one of these quarterbacks into a competent game manager (something akin to assuming that you can rejigger that whole "gravity" thing), then this team is built to have a pretty good possession offense. They drafted a big receiver, picked up a top-flight possession receiver, have the makings of a young running back tandem, and, most importantly, started fixing their offensive line by picking up rookie tackle Kirk Barton and potential anchor of the line Chris Williams, both of whom could give some much needed protection to a quarterback (and it should be Grossman) who has shown he doesn't do well with pressure. And if making sure your team is geared toward Rex Grossman's needs isn't a reason for fans to watch…well…ok, I give up, sorry, Chicago…

MANUFACTURED JOY - CHICAGO BEARS

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:05:52 -0500

NFL Summer Police Blotter

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 15:47:51 -0500

Yes, for some players, the offseason is just too boring – so they try to liven it up, usually by getting arrested. For all those players making the kinds of headlines their mother's wouldn't be proud of, I've assembled the RotoHog F"ALL"en Pro Team. Here's a position by position breakdown of the pros who have been spotted on the police blotter this summer.

Jones Added to Bears Backfield; Chicago Inks Former Lions Back

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:44:34 -0500

Kevin Jones is moving from one NFC North team to another, as today the former Lions back inked a one-year deal with the Chicago Bears, a team that could use a quality running back to help out their backfield. Jones spoke yesterday on NFL Radio, and talked about one team already offering him a deal. [...]

Bears eyeing Jones for backfield

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:25:45 -0500

The Bears organization has given second-round pick Matt Forte (Tulane) all the support in the world, but high expectations for such a young player could prove to be career-shattering. I've heard nothing but great things about Forte, but I would be much more at ease if a veteran runner was brought in to help shoulder the load. Remember Cade McNown, the proclaimed next big thing? Wasn't his career supposed to skyrocket? Bleh.

Cedric Benson's other job -- convenience store entrepreneur?

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 21:55:51 -0500

Now that Cedric Benson is unemployed and it's uncertain whether or not he'll play again this year, it might be time to think of alternative work for the former Longhorn. "Other than football, what profession could you see Cedric Benson embarking in?"

Bears show no interest in Jones; neither do 26 other teams

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 15:51:13 -0500

If you had visited this site earlier in the month, you would know that there was some speculation the Bears were interested in ex-Lion running back Kevin Jones. In fact, Jones' doctor even seemed to think the Bears were interested and after Cedric "The Designated Drunk Driver" Benson was waived following his second alcohol-related arrest in five weeks, it appeared the Bears could be in the market for another running back. Not so...

KICK THEM WHEN THEY'RE DOWN – CEDRIC BENSON

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:46:37 -0500

by Zac, Throwing Into Traffic

From time to time, professional athletes remind us why they're often stereotyped as overpaid, entitled ingrates. Every once in a while, one of THOSE athletes falls...hard. When they do, we at Epic Carnival step in to kick them when they're down. Getting salt in the wound in this first ever edition: Cedric Benson.

One day, when Matt Forte uses a revamped bears offensive line and a surprisingly vertical pass attack to rush for over 2000 yards in a season, Cedric Benson is going to be too drunk to notice. But when he stumbles off of his couch hungover the next morning, he'll probably hear about it on his way to go be an assistant high school football coach somewhere, and he'll be pissed. Or maybe he won't; after all, Benson, by all accounts, is pretty much a grade-A asshole. His fellow running back in Chicago had so much trouble getting along with him that the Bears had to split them up and send Thomas Jones away due to the team's investment in Benson (money well spent). Benson's teammates disliked him so much that they tried to injure him. To clarify: They would rather have THOMAS JONES starting. This is the same Thomas Jones who spent so much time running into the backs of his offensive linemen that they should all file sexual harassment lawsuits against him. Now, Cedric Benson is without a job. He went from being a top five draft pick to out of the league in THREE SEASONS.

Worse still, Benson has had not one, but two run-ins with the law on his way out of the league. In one, he was allegedly boating under the influence, and walked away looking like he'd gotten the holy hell beaten out of him. He insists that police manhandled him and forced him to the ground, and I for one believe him, but I don't know that he was necessarily brutalized; anyone who watched Cedric Benson run knows it doesn't take much to bring him down. Then in the next one he gets pulled over allegedly driving drunk in a shirt that he was either going to be a male stripper in or was going to look at male strippers in. Either way, poor image choice.

At this point, it's pretty much a lock that Cedric Benson will never see action in another NFL game. After all, this is Commissioner Roger Goodell we're talking about; he suspends black athletes because it's a day ending in Y. And yet it's a testament to Benson that not one single "what a waste" article has been written. This means that Benson's fall is even sadder than wasted talent; it means that he was just never that good to begin with. So because he can't navigate sober by land or by sea (Cedric, whatever money you have left MUST go toward buying a Cessna and a handle of Cuervo), because he will be a permanent testament to wasted drafts (Cadillac Williams's kneecap is in three pieces, and he looks like a safer investment for the future), and because he made Chicago long for the plodding stylings of Thomas Jones (whose career highlights will have to dig into footage of him in that Trina music video), lets all take this chance to kick Cedric Benson when he's down.

KICK THEM WHEN THEY'RE DOWN – CEDRIC BENSON

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:46:37 -0500

Best Bear Draft Picks

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:18:48 -0500

I recently wrote about the biggest draft day blunders by the Chicago Bears so I thought I would take the time to note the best draft day gambles. The players that are drafted in the late rounds that don't get any attention until they suddenly start making a difference on the field. They garnered little more than a passing mention on draft day but a few years later they turn out to be a real find. I didn't give them a rank because I found it too hard to weigh the contributions of the player against the position of the pick. So here are the best bear draft day finds of the last 20 years. Raymont Harris Pick: 114 Harris was never a superstar but for a kid drafted in the 4th round he turned out to be a solid contributor. He was a fan favorite and worked his butt off for the team but was never given respect by an organization that preferred to draft big name running backs that couldn't perform. Harris was the consummate player and never said a word. He just showed and was ready to kick ass when his team called on him. Commentators like John Madden coined the phrase "all-back" as a result of watching Raymont Harris. He would run the ball on play, lead block as a fullback the next play, and go over the middle and catch a pass the next play. He did anything and everything the team asked of him. Over 54 games he gained 2,509 yards and 16 touchdowns, while throwing his body in front of tacklers for the likes of Rashaan Salaam and Curtis Enis. He was respected and feared among the players in the league for his punishing style of running. He would wear down the opposing defense throughout the game and punish them in the fourth quarter to take over the game. He's everything that Cedric Benson wishes he could be, but never will. He was a true class act and should have been treated with more respect by the Bears. Chris Villarrial Pick: 152 The Bears were hoping to get a decent offensive guard in the 5th round of the draft in 1996. They ended up with a 10-year starter on the offensive line that helped anchor 155 games. Anytime you can pick up a key member of your team in a late round and have that player contribute for a decade, you have just done your organization a huge favor. Marcus Robinson Pick: 108 Taken in the 4th round of 1997, Marcus didn't develop right away, but when he did he was amazing. He with the Bears for five seasons, accumulating 187 catches, 2,695 yards, and 20 touchdowns before leaving. His breakout season was his second with the Bears when he caught 84 passes for 1,400 yards and 9 touchdowns. He was a great find and good team player that was always greatful for his success. He returned to Chicago this summer to retire with the team where he had the most success and happiness in his career. He played a season in Baltimore and three in Minnesota but never experience the explosive success he had in Chicago. Patrick Mannelly Pick: 189 Never heard of Patrick Mannelly? That's because most fans don't pay much attention to the long-snapper. You heard me right. Mannelly was drafted in the 6th round of 1998 and is still the starting long-snapper for the team. He has played in 157 NFL games and has never started and pretty much doesn't have any NFL statistic to associate with his name. However, he has hung around with the Bears and collected a professional football player paycheck for 10 years because he can snap the ball to the kicker and punter. You really want to teach your kids the secret to success in the NFL without the risk of injury? Teach them to long-snap. Jerry Azumah Pick: 147 Jerry's career was cut short by injuries but despite being drafted in the 5th round and 10th player drafted by the Bears in 1999, he contributed. The athletic corner back started for three years and was named to one Pro Bowl and 10 career interceptions. He played seven seasons and later in his career he really started to shine as a major player in the defense. He finished 2002 with 82 tackles, 2003 with 82 tackles and 4 interceptions, and in 2004 he played 12 games and finished with 51 tackles and 4 interceptions. After that he was plagued by chronic injuries that forced him to retire from the game. Rosevelt Colvin Pick: 111 Colvin was taken ahead of Azumah in the 1999 draft in the 5th round and had much of the same success. He was paired with a young Brian Urlacher at linebacker and the pair would become a fierce duo for offenses to manage. He only stayed with the Bears four seasons and didn't do much his first two seasons, but once given the starting game he flourished. He finished 2001 with 69 tackles and 10.5 sacks and 2002 with 64 tackles and 10.5 sacks. Starting quarterbacks learned to keep an eye on Colvin or suffer the consequences. He left for New England and played a key role in their great linebacker unit and is now headed to the Houston Texans. Michael Green Pick: 254 Mr. Irrelevant of 2000 taken in the 7th round turned out to be anything but for the Bears. The cornerback ended up playing strong safety for the Bears and was named the starter in his third season. He finished 2002 with 100 tackles and remained the starter for three seasons. It's quick amazing to think a kid taken so late in the draft could end up playing such a major role on a great defensive unit. However, he is another example of how injuries can cut a player short and he was out of the league by 2007. But for a few years he was able to climb from the basement of obscurity in football to a top safety in the league. Alex Brown Pick: 104 Taken in the 4th round of 2002, Brown has been relied upon as a developing star at defensive end. Coaches didn't have a lot of confidence in him originally but he has a very strong work ethic and has become an outstanding student of stopping the run. He was replaced last season by Mark Anderson but Anderson had trouble stopping the run and Brown was quickly put back to work. The Bears recognized their need for the big run stopper and signed him to a long-term deal this past year. He's been a starter for five seasons, and even though he prides himself on getting after running backs, he has accumulated 31.5 career sacks along with his 283 career tackles. Bobby Wade Pick: 139 Taken in the 5th round of 2003, Wade had a tough time in Chicago. He had trouble getting involved on the offense and coaches decided to try his talent on punt and kick returns. The result was disasterous as Wade constantly battled fumble issues and coughed up several punts in key game situations, often letting the ball bounce off his chest and right between his hands. Fans started to boo when he ran out for a punt and probably made matters worse for Wade as his fumble troubles got worse. Coaches got frustrated and Wade was allowed to go to leave to Tennessee and now Minnesota where he is enjoying some success. Justin Gage Pick: 143 Taken four picks after Wade, their careers have mirrored one another. In four seasons with the Bears he never broke out but now with Tennessee he enjoyed a career year last year and established himself as a real threat. Too bad neither player found their stride before leaving Chicago for a new destination. Nathan Vasher Pick: 110 Taken in the fourth round, "The Interceptor" has developed into a starting cornerback was locked up last season with a long term contract. In four seasons with the Bears he has 130 career tackles and 17 career interceptions. He has earned a reputation as a shut down corner and when he spent most of the last season injured the defense appeared to play differently without him. He offers a security for the other players on defense that he can hold is own and create plays and turnovers. That kind of confidence from your teammates cannot be easily replaced and he will play a big role in the defense being able to dominate this season. Chris Harris Pick: 181 The Bears made a huge mistake with 6th round pick Harris when they traded him in his third season to Carolina for a draft pick. The Bears assumed they had extra talent at safety, the position Harris played, after signing Adam Archuleta last off season. Archuleta is no longer with the Bears after a disappointing season and Harris had a career year in Carolina. He finished last season with 97 tackles and 8 forced fumbles and only has more potential to grow. The Bears may be sorry they let this talented late round safety go for so little. Honorable Mentions: (recent picks that could go either way) Mark Anderson - Taken with the 159th pick in the 5th round he had a break out rookie year with 12 sacks, but last year he only had 5 sacks and looked like he still had a lot to learn. When he started last season he looked worse and appears to be better just coming in on third downs. It remains to be seen if he will return to form his third season or continue to decline. Trumaine McBride - Taken in the 7th round with the 221 pick in last year's draft, he was heavily relied upon last season in an injury plagued defense. He ended up a starter and playing in all 16 games at cornerback last season, starting in 9 and accumulating 35 tackles. It may not be amazing numbers but for a rookie thrown in the mix taken in a round where he should have been on the practice squad, that's a pretty good find. Coaches are keeping on eye on how he is able to develop as a player as a result of his vast playing experience last season. He may be able to build upon that experience and become a key player on the defense.

Judge Puts Booze Brakes on Benson, There's Something Weird About This Whole Thing

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:11:51 -0500

Drink and driving is bad. No two ways about. There is nothing funny about operating any sort of motorized vehicle while intoxicated (maybe a golf cart). We wanted to get that out of the way first before talking about Cedric Benson. Because, we're starting to get the vibe that the folks down in Austin just might have it out for the former Longhorn standout. First, Benson gets arrested for boating while intoxicated on Lake Travis in Austin. Now, boating and booze have gone together like peas and carrots for just about, well, forever (what else does one do on a boat besides drink?). Again, not that it's right, but bringing Benson down to the clink seemed a little extreme based on the initial reports. Maybe you put somebody else at the wheel, tow the boat in, give him a ticket and warning? Then, of course, there was the pepper spray and resisting arrest part of the story, all of which Benson disputed then and continues to today. Too many versions of the story. Too much distance between those recounts of the episode. Not buying it. Only a month later, Benson gets nabbed again. This time his arrest comes on land where Austin cops say he ran a red light and failed a field sobriety test in downtown Austin. Now, I spent a lot of time in Austin. New York City it is not. But it's not that small. It takes some pretty dumb luck (or maybe just a really dumb dude) to get nailed twice in the span of five weeks for the always tough t0 achieve DW/BW-I combo. Now it seems like unabashed piling on. Yesterday, a judge ordered that Benson install an "ignition interlock breathalyzer" in his car within 72 hours. First off, shows how long I've been without a car that I didn't even know these things existed. Apparently, this is somewhat standard procedure these days, but how might it be I'd never heard of such an action being taken before? I understand it was two violations within five weeks, but, again, there's something fishy about this whole thing (pun really not intended just utterly lacking a formidable vocabulary). The fact that an athlete is denying he/she was drunk is nothing new. But to do it both times so adamantly is either sheer arrogance or unparalleled stupidity. If we were judging by mugshots alone, we'd be inclined to say one if not both of the above were at play. But something tells us there's more than meets the eye on this one. Anyone else feeling it?

Judge Puts Booze Brakes on Benson, There's Something Weird About This Whole Thing

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 09:11:48 -0500

Can The Bears Reach The Super Bowl?

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:00:26 -0500

I bet that headline caught your attention. Despite the consistent success of a few franchises, the NFL has become a very unpredictable place. The rollar coaster ride has become particularly bumpy in the NFC with an ever changing fight for dominance. The era of the mid-90's when Dallas and San Francisco made the NFC Championship a better game than the Super Bowl is over. A new team will likely be crowned NFC Champion this year. This is my explanation for how the Bears can get there. Establish The Running Game Believe it or not, the Bears may have done themselves a favor getting rid of Cedric Benson. He was never able to translate his success in college to success in the NFL. The Bears kept giving him second chances because they wasted a high first round draft pick on him and were hoping to get a little production for their wasted money. With Benson out of the way it paves the way for rookie Matt Forte and veteran Adrian Peterson. Between the two they pose a better chance for the Bears to establish a running game than wasting more time hoping Benson would produce. Coach Lovie Smith recently said that he likes the Bears running back depth chart and they don't see a need to pursue a free agent running back. Quarterback Rex Grossman looks like he's running sand when he's scrambling in the pocket, but he throws a beautiful deep ball off play action. If the Bears have a running game, they can produce some big plays. D-FENCE Last year the offense got most of the attention as the reason the Bears lots. Let's get something straight right now, the Bears never have and never will pretend to be an offensive team. They preach defense and then more defense. Last year the entire defense got banged up, losing both starting cornerbacks, safety Mike Brown, and Tommie Harris played with a bad knee the entire season. The return of a healthy defense could quickly return the Bears to dominance quicker than critics believe. The Bears defense got them to the Super Bowl two years ago when all they had on offense was Thomas Jones and a chance-taking Rex Grossman. This defensive unit can create turnovers, score touchdowns, and win games all by itself. If the injury bug can stay off their backs this season, the results may look much different than last year. The X-Factor: Devin Hester Last season, the Bears offense was so pathetic that opposing teams were willing to kickoff out-of-bounds and give the Bears the ball on the 40-yard line rather than kick to Devin Hester. I can tell you from sitting in the stands and watching him on the field, he is the fastest, most ellusive man I have ever seen. The Bears have talked about letting Hester sit out some kickoffs so he can focus more of his energy on playing wide receiver. Everyone is holding their breath to see how this experiment works out for the offense. Last season Hester looked confused after leaving the huddle and frequently had to be reminded his assignment by a fellow receiver, usually Muhsin Muhammed. Hester has had a full season to study the playbook and if he can make an impact on offense he will offer an immediate spark to ignite scoring. The quarterback just has to get the ball in Hester's hands and he can carve up the defense on his own. If the offense can produce, they will either be able to take advantage of the great field position, or teams will have to kick to Hester. Either option works in the Bears favor. A Deep Pass To……Who? The Bears decided the offense needed to go in a new direction this season. Last year they got a very talented tight end in Greg Olsen who can run and block and this year they picked up a top tackle in Chris Williams to solidify the line. Everyone already knows about the running back situation, but the wide receiver corps is a complete unknown. The top 2 receivers from last season, Muhsin Muhammed and Bernard Berrian, are gone and in are Marty Booker, Brandon Lloyd, rookie Earl Bennett, rookie Marcus Monk, Mark Bradley, Rashied Davis, and Mike Hass. That's a lot of names isn't it? That's because the Bears have no idea who will be the starting wide receivers and have brought in a whole new crop to choose from. Marty Booker had a lot of success the first time he played with the Bears and is happy to be home. He will be the veteran presence but it is unclear how much talent he has left. Brandon Lloyd has be praised as the best looking receiver in OTA's and appears to be the most promising prospect of the bunch. Surprising little has been said about rookie draft picks Bennett and Monk, which isn't good and means they need to step it up in training camp. Davis and Bradley have been with the team a few years and are good, but far from being great. Mike Hass just missed making the team last year but made some absolutely amazing catches in the preseason last year and eyes will be on him this year. I will say one thing, the Bears have made many mistakes in the draft but they have rarely made mistakes with wide receiver. Booker and Lloyd will be the front runners, but Bennett and Monk may become big producers down the line. NFC NORTH Last year the Bears had a tough time with their own division, getting beat up by the Vikings, Packers, and the Lions. Hopefully this year the Bears will solve the riddle of how a terrible Lions team managed to give them hell and keep the Vikings' Adrian Peterson from running all over the field. Brett Favre was always a Bears killer and with him gone the defense should be able to exhale a little bit. The problem is the NFL North appears to have replaced Favre with the new division star in Peterson. It will be hard to match up against a good Vikings team, but I will be interested to see how they treat Berrian in the first game. If the Bears are going to have any success, they have to find a way to at least split the games with their three rivals. Season Schedule Coach Lovie Smith likes to break the season into quarters so I'll do the same. First quarter: open against the Colts in their new stadium, at Panthers, Bucs, and Eagles. I would LOVE to see the Bears take out the Colts in their new stadium but I doubt the Bears will have everything ready. This team will take time to feel each other with so many new faces. The Bears need to rebound quickly with a win against the Panthers. The Bears have always enjoyed success against the Bucs and they have bigger problems than the Bears with their roster. The Eagles are always tough in the beginning of the season with a healthy McNabb. They'll likely open 2-2. Second quarter: at Lions, at Falcons, Vikings, Lions. The Bears played the Lions close together last season and it spelled disaster as they confused Bears coaches both times. This year I doubt they will let the same thing happen. The Falcons are a few years away from being competitive in the NFL and should offer some relief. The first match up against the Vikings will be charged up for the Bears to test themselves against the new NFL darling as NFC favorite. Second quarter record: 3-1. Third quarter: Titans, at Packers, at Rams, at Vikings. You never know what to expect from the Titans and Vince Young. However, Brian Urlacher has always matched up well against scrambling quarterbacks by chasing down all over the field. He did it to Michael Vick and he should be able to do it against Young. The Bears then have a tough three game stretch of away games but thankfully they are all in the midwest and will save players from travel fatigue. The Bears will try to take advantage of a Favre-less Packers, shut down the Ram offense, and try to escape Minnesota with a victory. They will be successful in 2 out of 3 trips. Third quarter record: 3-1. Fourth quarter: Jaguars, Saints, Packers, at Texans. This will be the toughest stretch of the season for the Bears and will test their ability. By this time they will be in contention for a playoff spot but will have to fight hard to keep it. The Bears play the Jaguars on Sunday and then must prepare for the Saints on Thursday night. The Jaguars are a physical team and may present a problem for players to be ready by Thursday for a talented Saints team. I fear at best they will split these games and could possibly drop them both. The Bears will have no problem getting focused for the Packers game at Soldier Field on December 22nd for Monday Night Football. The house will be rocking and the Bears will be looking to put on a good show. The Texans offer a nice trip to warm Texas and hopefully wrap up a playoff spot. Fourth quarter record: 2-2. That leaves the Bears with a record of 10-6 and in the NFC that will always get you to the playoffs. Playoff Match Ups The good news about a good Minnesota team is that if the Bears meet them in the playoffs, they will be very familiar with each other. The more experience you have with a team, regardless of talent, the better chance you have to find a way to beat them. Teams like the Saints and Cowboys are unpredictable but talented and may face challenges for the Bears. However, no NFC team has really established itself as a top team beyond ranking speculation. As we have seen, a key injury to the Cowboys or Saints lineup can leave them vulnerable. A lot of things can happen in a football season. As the saying goes, any given sunday. The opportunities are there for the Bears if they can seize it.

Can The Bears Reach The Super Bowl?

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 17:00:26 -0500