Bearstalk

I would just like to note that Tommy Harris certainly seems to be a player that the Bears can be proud of, and one that us fans should get behind. Besides his obvious physical skills, his behaviour off the field is consistent with what one would would expect of a player making millions of dollars. What a refreshing change from idiots who have children out of wedlock and get their private lives smeared all over town, leave their Lambo crashed on the side of the highway and initially claim it was stolen, and make profane and arrogant comments via the media about the Bears organization. I would rather lose than see punks like that play for the Bears. I am sick to d…

Free agent Byron Leftwich says he's lost 25 pounds and wants to join a team for training camp. His first Rotoworld post in 17 weeks. Dropping 25 lbs off his playing weight would put Leftwich at 6'5/225 and possibly enhance his mobility. Bears personnel director Bobby DePaul called Leftwich "an interesting guy," but the 28-year-old QB hasn't had so much as a free agent visit. Perhaps the Bears will give him a call if Kyle Orton doesn't separate himself this summer.

In watching past games with the Bears against the Saints Bentley looked very good. Now I don't know how good he is after being injuried but he was good in the past. This brings me to our Oline. Can he play guard? Yes he can. But the qustion is do we need him? We drafted Adams and we have Garza, Metcalf Beekman,Balogh, Barton and Oakley in the roster. After watching last years line I still think Garza is weak on the right side at RG, Metcalf look better playing on the right side than the left and we don't know what we have in the other players. I think that not playing Beekman last year tells me that something is wrong with his game. How would this sound. Williams = …

I keep saying that this team has a very good shot of repeating what they did during the Superbowl year. I tell everyone that the injuries killed the Bears last year, and that the TV sportscasters don't know what the hell they're talking about. Then I see a thread with a theme questioning if the Bears have the best DL in the league. It wasn't totally blown out of the water, so I have to imagine that everyone takes the question seriously and places the Bears DL in the top 5 - rightfully so in my opinion. It's pretty clear the Bears have one of the best, if not the best, LB corp in the NFL. It's also evident that the Bears have one of the best DB combos in the …

Since we will have a new LT (Williams)and a new RT(Tait) what teams DE do you think will give them the most problems this year? Colts =Mathis/Freeney Panthers=Peppers/Johnson Bucs=Adams/Douglas Eagles=Parker/Cole Lions x 2 =Devires/White Falcons=Abraham/Anderson Vikings x 2 =Allen/Edwards Titians=Kearse/Vanden Bosch Packers x 2 =Kampman/Jenkins Rams=Little/Long Jags=Spicer/Hayward Saints=Grant/Smith Texans=Weaver/Williams

NFL Live has been successively breaking down how they feel about each division in the league, here's the NFC North. Always fun to see what the CW is coming in to a season.

I know this is slightly off topic but since we are approaching the date where they release the individual home game tickets. I've tried unsuccessfully the past few years. What seems to be happening is the brokers or individuals buy ups large chunks of tickes with no intention of going to the game but with the intent to make a killing selling the tickets on various sites where the prices end up being highly inflated. I was wondering if anyone has a method that works. I've tried the whole Ticketmaster thing and by the time the page loaded I would the tickets would be gone. I do have something in my favor that I didn't have before and that's high speed internet, I'm…

From PFT: OLIVEA SUSPENSION A SUBSTANCE-ABUSE ISSUE? Posted by Mike Florio on June 20, 2008, 8:17 p.m. Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune strongly suggests that former Chargers tackle Shane Olivea’s four-game suspension was imposed under the substance-abuse policy. “[T]hose around the team have known for some time that Olivea partied himself out of the league,” Acee writes. This means that Olivea wasn’t a one-strike victim of a positive test, but a repeat offender. Under the steroids policy, a single failed test results in a four-game suspension. Under the substance-abuse policy, multiple steps apply before a four-game suspension, including a …

from profootballtalk.com BEARS DON’T PLAN TO ADD A BACK Posted by Mike Florio on June 18, 2008, 11:06 p.m. With 2005 first-round draft pick Cedric Benson now having plenty of time to captain a ship under the influence of Captain Morgan, the Chicago Bears have one less running back on the roster. But they don’t plan to fill that void. More specifically, they don’t plan to fill it by signing a veteran like Shaun Alexander or Ron Dayne. “We don’t have any plans to do that,” Smith said. “From Matt [Forte’] to Adrian Peterson to Garrett Wolfe, to P.J. Pope, Matt Lawrence, we like all of our players and those are the ones that we’re going with.” Then …

Do you think we have the best d line in the league ? for me our weak spot is the second DT starter. The Vikings have a great line too but their weak spot is the LE. the Giants have a great one too but how will they play without Strahan ?

PFT has a piece, using quotes from Harris, saying Harris could be calling out Urlacher and Briggs. Reading the quotes, I tend to agree, or at least calling out one of them. In another thread, the title is, "Harris showing leadership". Interesting thought. Is Harris really calling out other players, and if he is, is he showing leadership? Before anyone answers, think back a couple years when Farve had some choice comments for Walker, and the way he was handling his negotiations. I seem to recall most every bear fan blasting Farve. Is this really different. I don't know that I have a problem w/ his comments, as they are pretty much dead on. The issue to me is…

from profootballtalk.com BENSON ORDERED TO GET BUILT-IN BREATHALYZER Posted by Mike Florio on June 23, 2008, 12:16 p.m. Free-agent running back Cedric Benson, the fourth overall pick in the 2005 draft who was cut earlier this month by the Bears, has been ordered by a judge to install an ignition interlock breathalyzer in his car. Benson was arrested for DUI in the day preceding his release. In May, he was arrested for boating while intoxicated. Benson also must take alcohol counseling courses as a condition of his bail. Meanwhile, Taco Bill has chimed in on the situation with a new Pic of the Day.

Peanut was on the SCORE tonight at 8 pm. Some highlights: - Had a Flag Football challenge for charity last week. Evidentally, Rod Wilson was a all american QB in high school and tore it up on the field. - Was very happy with his play last yr. Felt he dropped some easy picks, however, and this kept him from making the pro-bowl. - Felt that rookie salaries may be unfair in that they get money based on their play in college. I hope the NFLPA is open to addressing this during the next contract negotiations. Overall, a very good interview. One final note. He was in his car with his daughter and she kept saying she was hungry - evidentally they were on their…

Pretty crazy. They found him unconscience on the street in Vegas.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/bears/1016781,harris062008.stng Harris: 'Classy' talks led to deal June 20, 2008 FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Tommie Harris says the talks that led to his four-year, $40 million contract with the Chicago Bears were businesslike and ''classy.'' Speaking at a morning news conference at Halas Hall, the defensive tackle said he and Bears management kept negotiations private in reaching a deal that will keep him with Chicago through 2012. That differs from what has happened between the team and linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs. They've both gone public with complain…

The TalkBears Fantasy Football Leagues are ready for signups. I have 3 leagues set up with Yahoo. They have been set up with the same rules as the Bearstalk league I was in last year in all 3 leagues. However, once the leagues are filled, we can discuss with the league's team owners if there are any changes you would like to take place. Links to the rules and draft times are found with the links below. TalkBears FFL 1 – will be a live draft Sat. Aug.23rd at 10:00 PM CDT http://www.talkbears.com/Contests/TalkBears_FFL_1.htm TalkBears FFL 2 – will be a live draft Sun. Aug. 24th at 8:00 AM CDT http://www.talkbears.com/Contests/TalkBears_FFL_2.htm …

Bears sign Tommie Harris to four-year extension June 19, 2008 Recommend (3) BY BRAD BIGGS Staff Reporter Tommie Harris‚ the Bears' three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle, agreed to a four-year contract extension Thursday night, meaning he will remain in place through 2012. Agent Drew Rosenhaus hammered out the deal in person at Halas Hall, his fourth trip to town in two months to try to secure a long-term contract. Harris had been hoping for a four-year deal, but the extension means he will be 30 when he's ready to hit the free-agent market again. He faced the likelihood of being franchise tagged after this season if a contract was not worked out

Colts | B. Sanders could open year on PUP list Sat, 14 Jun 2008 11:30:25 -0700 Mike Chappell, of The Indianapolis Star, reports Indianapolis Colts S Bob Sanders (shoulder) could open the 2009 season on the Physically Unable to Perform list until he gets "full go" medical clearance. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Colts | Freeney could open year on PUP list Sat, 14 Jun 2008 11:29:33 -0700 Mike Chappell, of The Indianapolis Star, reports Indianapolis Colts DE Dwight Freeney (foot) could open the 2009 season on the Physically Unable to Perform list until he gets "full go" medical clearance. -…