balta1701-A

As long as no one has a blood or breath sample for him from last night...there'll probably be a fine and some community service or something. And everyone will suspect that there's a lot more to it...but nothing more.

Since it seems no one was hurt...it's at worst a "leaving the scene" misdemeanor more than likely, which, assuming Briggs doesn't have anything else in his background, won't bring much from either the league, team, or law. But he better make it a point to never leave his house again until the end of this season...if he wants that long term deal...because a 2nd strike...

UPI

It's certainly possible. And the OC shifting plays may hav ehad something to do with it as well. But these problems can only be accepted for so long before you start making a change...and which is easier to change...Grossman to Griese...or Pro-bowl Center to god only knows?

1992, when he ruptured his Achilles. Of course...that was back when LT played linebacker...

This is very simple. Rex...take care of football. Any questions?

At some point, I think you do have to start wondering if it's more a question of the Bears being cautious or a question of Harris simply not being ready yet. Tribune

The way I think aboot Rex this season is this: Last year, he threw 23 touchdowns and 20 picks. The biggest problem by far was the turnovers. He had quite a few games where he just tore people up, but he turned the ball over too many times. If he could cut down on those turnovers by about 33%, but do everything else exactly the same...then we're talking 23 and 13-14. Not great, but not going to lose you most games; that would have been right in the middle of the pack last year for INT's. If all he does is throw the ball away 6 more times, rather than make 5 really bad throws, and I mean just throwing the ball away on the worst ones, like that one in the Dolphins game I'm thinking of...then suddenly he's probably a pro-bowler.

I thought this SN piece on the way the Bears are working to make Grossman a better QB was a great read.

Hmm, seems like an awful lot of pessimism appeared about this team, not just here but in the whole media, after the bears's performance Monday Night. Here's a decent summary of some of the outstanding issues.

I'll agree that the preseason means nothing...but still...the last thing you want to see is Grossman fumbling the snap during preseason when he had problems with that last year. It means nothing in terms of record, it means nothing in terms of anything counting, but if it does mean anything, it gives you a window into people's preparation.

Is it also worth noting that Grossman was probably by far the most talented QB ever to come through Spurrier's system, thus giving him a unique advantage over some of the other folks?

So, saying "We can't afford them" doesn't do that much for me. The question is...what do you do if game 1 or 2 comes around and Rex fumbles 3 more snaps in the first couple games?

Well, someone has to start it, so it might as well be me. Last night, we're looking at 3 fumbles and an interception by Mr. Grossman, and all of them seemingly at important points in the game. And there's no obvious excuse, like rain, this time. On the other hand, Rex was 9/11 for 59 yards otherwise. So...how much does this concern you...how much latitude to you give Rex, and how many performances like this could the Bears afford in the regular season?

ESPN on the Archuleta signing

One game playoff between them and Atlanta for the #1 pick?

The Bears received a conditional seventh-round draft pick from the New England Patriots for cornerback Dante Wesley. They might never see the pick because it requires Wesley making the 53-man roster. He played in the second half of the Patriots' preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and has not gotten off the third team. Wesley also is working with the backup special-teams units. SunTimes

Link

The Daily Herald has a short profile of the new head of the defense for the Bears, and there's some suggestion that the Bears will be making use of some more aggressive pressure packages than last year. I'm still a fan of the idea of using Urlacher and Briggs in blitz packages more than was done last year. I know how valuable those guys are in the run and in the pass defense game, especially Urlacher, but with his speed he would be a nightmare in any position you put him in, so it sort of makes sense to me to put him in as many different positions during a game as you can to keep a defense guessing and moving away from him.

After all of the stuff the last 2 years about how the team was more behind Jones than Benson, I don't think it's a bad thing at all for Benson to be doing stuff like this in the preseason, even if, unfortunately, someone got hurt. For the Bears, at least they're coming together fairly well.

This sun times piece on Archuleta and his voyage to the Bears was particularly good.

Link

It's all about the INT's and the injuries. He certainly has the talent in himself and around him to do it this year. Good TE corps, good running game, good out-of-the backfield receiver who can hopefully turn a few goallines into pass reception TD's, good down-the-field receiving threats, and a defense and special teams that should give him an awful lot of field position wins. But, an awful lot comes down to how he progresses this season. If he develops like a 2nd year QB should compared to a first year QB, he's got a great chance if his numbers make that jump. If either injuries or INT's keep going with him...

Tribune

If Grossman has a bad year, he won't be back anyway. Every little thing he can do to make the Bears better helps him towards that contract. If he gets hurt, he damn well better do it trying to win. If he's acting like he's trying not to get hurt, trying not to make mistakes, then Kyle Orton may well be the Bears' starting QB next year, because Rex needs to come out and be a winner this year. Otherwise, he'll be backing up someone next year.