'TD'

I think the Bears wil show up an take care of business. I'm just hoping to see a dependable running game to show up from the O-Line.

It was a really good game. I'm happy Orton is seeing some success.

I know alot of people deserve credit for today's win and some more then either. I just want to single them out and give them a lot of credit. Toub is a true professional and genious at his craft. The Bears continually have a great special teams, and that was a major factor in today. Knox, this isn't as much today, though he definitely contributed, I'm just in awe of his contributions as a whole. As a rookie WR it's hard to see time on the field for the Bears. He's not only earned his way on the field, but made the most of his opportunities. If he keeps up this work ethic and his talents continue to develop to the NFL stage he will continue to grow into something special. I know there's nothing new here. I just wanted to make a post giving Toub some well deserved credit and Knox a fourth of the way through his first regular season.

I mentioned brooks to a friend a couple weeks ago when Urlacher first got hurt. He said he saw Brooks on a college game and looked kinda fat and definitely in game shape. To me that was sorta reaffirmed when the Bears called him or whatever and that was it.

I check this site everyday, and I can't even say that about my facebook or email. Love these guys. Congrats man and best of luck.

I don't know if I like that or not. Vasher is so young, and was soo good just a few years ago. I'd like to see them stick by him and see if he can break out of this funk. I'm not saying I don't like Bowman, but Vasher can't really be "That bad" now and unrecoverable. Edit: just realized this as i posted. It's crazy he's being bumped from starting CB to 4th now, considering they are moving Manning from FS to CB during nickel situations.

Is it easier to believe that multiple WR's and TE's were doing the same wrong thing all game, or that it was on Cutler? To me, after that many times, it was obviously Cutler not being on the same page as his receiver's instead of the other way around. Ultimately, despite Cutler makin what IMO was bad decisions all game, it's on Turner/Hamilton for what transpired in the game. The receivers are obviously following Turner's philosophy, while he and Hamilton must not have worked hard enough to instill that into Cutler during the offseason. While the line obviously sucked during the game, I really can't lay the blame on them either as Cutler seemed some what antsy and scrambled when he didn't need to often.

I think it's a combo. An average QB can look good with great WR's Cunningham, George, and Culpepper. Drew Brees makes his WR's look better then they are by padding their stats every week. And then there is Brady when he got Welker and Moss where they made each other look better cuz they all are great. I say the last one is what happened last year with Marshall and Royal, cuz I think Royal is hte real deal.

brletich made me a fan of Orton when we drafted him. I sooured on him later, not cuz of his rookie year, cut just cuz it never seemed he was going to bring it to the table. He did last year tho and it made me a HUGE Orton fans. I thought the Bears had finally developed a QB and I wanted to see how he turned out. At the time I was down on the deal, and think even posted on how I didn't want Cutler when i thought it wasn't an option. Since the trade tho I've been dumbfounded. Cutler, talent, possible awesomeness I've bought into it and still have. Tonight he had a lot to live up to, alot of weight on his shoulders and playing what could be the biggest game of the year, green bay in greenbay, atleast to alot of fans and he choked. It happens, rough offseason but his abilities hasn't changed. Orton looked like crap too today. I watched the Bengals/Broncos game since I live in Ohio. Flipped back and forth between it and the browns some but it don't change the fact I think it changes the talent that was there. Basically, I loved Orton here, but we upgraded. Knox was part of the deal and I think will be huge in chicago one day, even if it's as the 3rd WR fans will still love him and cutler is talented. What killed me all offseason was the Orton hate. I never understood why he had to be buned on all the time when the guy was a big part of the reason the bears had the record they did last year, in a positive way, and fought through injury best he could.

I say if the guy trading Olsen has a servicable TE, top 12ish, then let it go through. Personally, I like the TJ/Marshall side when I think objectively. It sounds to me like a guy needing a TE giving up what could be 2 great WR's this season. TJ was awesom last year with freakin Fitzpatrick last year, if your in a league that gives point per reception then he could be top 3 and easily top ten. He's a consistent scorer week in and week out. Marshall is supposedly working on a new deal, we'll see how that works out along with the rest there. The guy giving up a TE in Olsen is improving his WR corps. Holmes' value is high coming off the play offs and his first game of the season. He will be spuratic however. He'll have a big game one week, then score you next to nothing the next. Holt is considered washed up. While I disagree, it's the common opinion of him and it lowers his value. Olsen will be sharing time at TE, and while we have high hopes as Bears fans he will blow up this year, I think we over value his fantasy value. Lol, well atleast I know I do as I drafted him as the 2nd TE taken in my league behind Witten, before Gates and everyone else.

damn imissed out, woulda been nice to kick ya ass withmy superiour FF skills lol, l/k'n

yea, same thing for me

if my local league's draft gets postponed yet again, then i'll sign up

http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/news/story?id=4429549 Dvoracek out for season -- again Comment Email Print Share ESPNChicago.com Peavy Dvoracek The Chicago Bears confirmed Friday morning that defensive tackle Dusty Dvoracek has a torn right ACL and will miss the 2009 season, his fourth consecutive season-ending injury and second torn ACL of his career. The Bears drafted Dvoracek in the third round (73rd overall) of the 2006 NFL draft out of Oklahoma. He suffered a season-ending foot injury in the preseason four months later, tore his left ACL in Week 1 of 2007, then missed the final four games of 2008 with a torn biceps. Dvoracek has played only 13 games in his four-year career, recording 31 tackles -- 24 solo -- and two pass defenses. The Bears have not announced any roster moves to adjust for the loss of Dvoracek.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/trainingcamp...&id=4375764 Cutler more than just a strong arm Comment Email Print Share Clayton By John Clayton ESPN.com Archive BOURBONNAIS, Ill. -- What's fascinating about Chicago's camp has been the fans' reaction to quarterback Jay Cutler, the most talented Bear to play the position since Sid Luckman five decades ago. Sure, Bears fans are excited about Cutler's arm. It's one of the best in the game. When he snaps off a lightning rod of a pass, they hoot and holler. Whether it's awe or cautious disbelief, Bears fans stand and shout out critiques to the receivers or the thrower when the play doesn't go perfectly. Cutler's arrival has created a fascinating adjustment for a knowledgeable fan base raised on great defense and running the football. Air Coryell wouldn't sell in this town, but a winning Cutler can. Here are five things I learned about the Bears: 1. Cutler's arm is only part of the story: His knowledge of the passing game and receiving talent might equal his arm strength. Cutler and a bunch of his former Denver Broncos teammates remembered watching Eddie Royal make remarkable plays on special teams during the opening of 2008 organized team activities and telling Mike Shanahan, "Who's this guy? I think we need to get him over here." Within days, Royal was working with the offense and ended up catching 91 passes. Cutler has a double gift. He knows where his receivers like to have the ball placed on throws. Plus, he can deliver those passes to the right location. For example, Cutler said Devin Hester likes lower throws, but the completions work best when he gets the pass off to him quicker. Because split end Earl Bennett played with Cutler at Vanderbilt, Cutler knows exactly the right places to make the most of Bennett's talents. To Cutler, Hester's skills resemble Royal's, and Bennett's is a hybrid of those of Royal and Brandon Marshall. 2. Offense optimistic: Bears management clearly values the strength of the receiving corps more than outsiders do, but offensive coordinator Ron Turner is going to play the equivalent of a shell game. One of the Bears' favorite formations is putting tight ends Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark on the outside of Hester and Bennett, effectively turning the tight ends into wideouts and the wideouts into slot receivers. Olsen and Clark combined for 95 catches last season, nine more than the top two wide receivers in the league. The plan is to draw safeties or linebackers on outside coverage, opening up the middle of the field. Offenses with great wide receivers wouldn't have to do such trickery, so this is a sign the Bears may be good but not great at wide receiver. Hester is now a full-time wide receiver with limited special-teams duties, and Bennett has the look of a solid 50- or 60-catch receiver. "If we don't win on the outside, we're not going to win many ballgames," Cutler said. I thought it was interesting that Bennett changed his number from 85 to 80 because he thought 85 looked too slow. 3. The running offense should continue to grow in 2009: Matt Forte rushed for 1,238 yards as a rookie, but eight-man fronts limited him to 3.9 yards a carry. Cutler's ability to throw and recognize defensive alignments should open up bigger plays for Forte and his backup, Kevin Jones. It will be Cutler's job in the early weeks of the season to force opposing defenses out of eight-man fronts by creating enough receiving threats. When defenses move into Cover 2 alignments, Cutler can work magic with Forte and Jones. The additions of Orlando Pace, Frank Omiyale and Kevin Shaffer to the offensive line help with depth and fit the athleticism needed for the Bears' zone-blocking scheme. Chris Williams, last year's first-round pick, looks solid at right tackle. Omiyale will battle Josh Beekman for the left guard job. 4. Bowman turning heads: Cornerback Zach Bowman, a previously unknown fifth-round pick from 2008, has been the star of the offseason, and he has come on at the right time. Bowman was considered a potential high-round corner at Nebraska but he blew out a knee in 2006. All the guy does is make plays. The 6-foot-1 corner had eight interceptions and close to 20 pass breakups in the organized team activities and minicamps. With Charles Tillman out for most, if not all, of the preseason following back surgery, Bowman provides a solid corner who might have to be ready to start on the other side of Nathan Vasher for the season opener. 5. Rejuvenated defense: In 2004, the Bears assembled a core group of young defenders who thought they could play forever. Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Tommie Harris, Nathan Vasher and Mike Brown all were 27 years or younger as Pro Bowlers on an 11-win team in 2005. All but Brown return for their sixth season together, and they are hoping to regain the fountain of youth. Urlacher is 31 and Alex Brown 32. The Bears' defense is coming off seasons in which it finished 28th and 21st in yards allowed. To regroup, Bears coach Lovie Smith resumed control of the defensive play calling. Rod Marinelli was hired to re-energize the defensive line. The Bears feel as though they are still young enough to rebound. In case you're wondering, the Tampa Bay Bucs defense, led by Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks, had a nine-year run in the late 1990s to the early 2000s. John Clayton, a recipient of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's McCann Award for distinguished reporting, is a senior writer for ESPN.com.

I got hope for knox, but honestly I think Jones was on the verge of breakin out last year. That 6 inches can mean a lot, and it's not like he's micheal vick. I bet the moment he got busted for drinkin on that golf course and had to go to jail 5 days he learned his lesson and would be a boost to this WR core. If it makes the team better, then why not.

Hester did make strides last year compared to the year before last. I think you are giving him a little bit too much credit tho IMO. They are good tight ends, but I didn't over look it, I'm talking about the WR's. How many TE's actually put up WR numbers tho? Pennington isn't exactly chopped liver tho. He is the kind of QB that can excel at spreading the ball around like that. No doubt Cutler definitely can throw the ball alot farther, but Pennington is a very efficient QB. I'd rather have Cutler of course. Miami's WR's had more experience, and you can't really judge talent if you've never seen it on the field. The Bears have 2 WR's that have ever caught the ball in an NFL game. While Miami's WR's were young and may not be big names or extremely talented, only one was a rookie and most had atleast minimal experience in the league. That year or 2 experience tends to have a big impact on a WR's ability to succeed in the NFL, even tho there are some exceptions. Once again, outside of Jackson, their WR's had experience. Baskett 2 years, Curtis 5 years, Avant 2 years, and so on. Is it alot of experience? no, it's not. WR's usally need time to develop in the NFL, Jackson himself should be better this year. You can pick one or 2 rookies that made a significant contribution and expect it out of the Bears, but that is usually the exception and not the rule. What has Hester exactly done to make you feel he is better then anyone on their team? I seriously think you give him too much credit at the position. I'm not saying he is or will be horrible, but the statement has no basis, just opinion. Once again, I am talking about the WR's on team and not the TE's, RB's, MLB's, kickers or anything else. It's nice to have players at other positions, and I'm not saying the Bears are doomed to failure. KC had a good offense with Priest Holmes/Larry Johnson and Gonzalez during the Trent Green years even without a big named WR, The Chargers have did it and so on, but this year the Bears are the most unprepared I've ever seen a team at WR.

It was just drunken frustration with the team. There were a lot of WR's available this year, probably the best class available through FA or trade in recent history. I still think the team would strongly benifit from the addition of Burress or even a Darrel Jackson. Sticking with the Patriots, they probably wouldn't have the same year, ie. Moss with Cassell but still possible to have a good year Welker making the Pro Bowl. If you want to go really extreme TJ Who's your momma with Fitzpatrick last year, but obviously the exception to the rule as Ochocinco really suffered.

Brady doesn't even make average WR's good. See the year before they added Moss, Welker and guy I don't think is worth naming due to what he did. Benson averaged like 3.5 yards a carry last year. He had 2 good games to end the season against bad defenses, but he didn't have a goo year last year. This is coming from a guy who thinks he will end up a good RB. Name me 5 teams or less in the last 20 years that have only 2 WR's with a catch the year prior less. I can't name one. I really want the Bears to kick ass this year because i'm a big fan, but still you have to be realistic. Until Bennet, Knox, and Iglesias show something in a real game, you can't count on them. Hester couldn't catch last year and other then Camp Fodder, I have no clue why Davis is even still on the team.

I think on pure coaching ability, he is probably ranked pretty fair. I'm not going to argue who deserves to be higher or lower. I think he was pretty much exposed when he released Rivera. The defense has taken a pretty bad turn, and it was supposed to be more of what he was wanting to run once he got his guy in there. The team had a lot of young good players at Rivera's departure, and this D should have only gotten better. You'd almost think that players such as Nate Vasher were 34 then instead of 24 due the D's decline. Hopefully this year we won't see Urlacher at the line so much or the CB's 15 feet away from the LoS. I still can't helpt but think that should have been an adjustment made last preseason, by midseason, during half time of a game or hell 5 minutes after they thought it up. We'll see for sure if he can coach this year as he will be more involved with the D, and we'll see if he can't produce with basically a more seasoned group players from that same dominate D of a few years ago.

I don't see the big deal with what he might face. If he missed half of this year or even all of this year, next year he's 32, still has 4 or 5 years left in him and better then 90% of the receivers in the nfl atleast.

"The last quarterback to do that was Eric Kramer in 2006." I'm guessing the year is wrong.

I think you have to look even bigger. Suspended for 4, but have him for 44 to 60 games. Heck, 76 if he can play at 36 like TO will be.

I agree whith alot of what you said, but you can't really go on vegas odds on anything. They just go on how people will bet. Bigger markets such as new york or dallas "america's team" will have more faith in their team, and more likely bet on them then say green bay. Atleast they have more fans to. I'd hate to see what the Bills odds are but they are probably a lot better team then other teams with better odds. The Bears chances all lay on Lovie this year. I'm not saying that because he is the head coach, but because he took over the DC job this year. If he can get out of this defense what Rivera did, then this team will be a threat. If no, the addition of Cutler will not matter, atleast for this year.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AtyU...o&type=lgns Willie Gault is still racing around at 48 By Jonathan Littman, Yahoo! Sports May 1, 9:26 pm EDT * Buzz up! 207 votes * Print Yahoo! Sports The man in blue in Lane 2 looked just like the ripped young runners on either side of him, chiseled from head to toe. Yet there was a subtle difference in his demeanor. Cool and measured, he didn’t leap up and down like the others before settling into his blocks. “On your marks,” boomed the starter. Taking his sweet time, the man eased his lean frame into position for the open 100-meter dash at the Mt. SAC Relays in Southern California. One runner couldn’t hold back and popped a false start, but the man in blue paid no mind. The gun fired again, and he exploded off the line, his long, muscled legs seeming to float off the ground. A football fan might have imagined him dashing under a long pass from Jim McMahon in the 1985 Super Bowl. Any spectator could have been forgiven for rubbing his eyes as if experiencing a flashback. ADVERTISEMENT The man in blue was Willie Gault. A 48-year-old Willie Gault. The same Willie Gault who played 11 seasons in the NFL after getting drafted in the first round – in 1983. Decades later, Gault still has world-class speed. His 10.80 clocking at Mt. SAC a couple weeks ago – not bad for his first 100 of the season – was only seven tenths of a second slower than his personal best nearly 30 years ago. A few minutes after the race, sitting languidly at the end of the track next to the 20- to 22-year-old youths he’d kept up with, Gault eased off his spikes and slipped on mirror shades. “I like to see the expression on their faces when they hear the announcer say this guy has the [100 meter] world record for over 45,” Gault said. Gault shook his head and smiled. “Age is just a number,” he said. Time can be especially cruel to sprinters, but Gault keeps clocking swift times and beating the odds. To put his accomplishments in perspective, few professional sprinters win beyond their 20s, and most hang up their spikes for good in their early 30s after the hamstring pulls and the years of pounding have taken their toll. Furthermore, most NFL veterans approaching the half-century mark suffer from arthritic knees and assorted aches and pains. Most consider themselves lucky if they can golf without pain. Compare that to Gault, who can still crack 10 seconds in the 100-yard dash, and last year ran the 40 in a blistering 4.27. Age-grading track and field tables suggest that his recent 10.80 for the 100 meters at 48 is the equivalent of 9.76 by a man in his 20s – only a step behind Usain Bolt, and fast enough for a silver medal at the Bejing Olympics. In this steroid and HGH-obsessed age, it’s a fair question to ask: Is Gault on the juice? He said he’s clean, and his consistently swift performances the past 30 years without the injuries associated with drug use would argue against any chemical shortcuts. “What would I have to gain?” he said. “I’m not getting any money from running. I do this because it keeps me in shape. This is the only body I get. I understood that in high school.” Track experts don’t know quite what to make of him. “He’s a freak of nature,” said Ken Stone of Masterstrack.com. “It’s phenomenal. I don’t see him as even needing to take drugs. He’s quite a specimen.” Dennis McKinnon, Gault’s teammate on the ’85 Chicago Bears Super Bowl champion, marvels at his dashing friend. “It’s rare someone as humble as Willie has this perfection for life,” McKinnon said. “His No. 1 thing is preparation. He really hasn’t changed who he is in the last 20 years.” Experts in aging say it’s a miracle. “Mr. Gault is a remarkable individual,” said Catherine Sarkisian, associate professor of geriatrics at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine. Whereas decreased aerobic capacity and muscle atrophy begins at 25 for most men, “Gault probably has a delayed decrease in the maximum heart rate, and a lower rate of atrophy of the fast twitch muscles.” Scientists would love to study Gault. “I know people who would like to do tests on him,” said Steven Austad, a biologist who studies aging at the University of Texas. “This shows we have not yet plumbed what training would do to people at older ages. What’s the optimum training in your 40s? It may be that he’s hit on something really good. Or he’s some strange genetic outlier.” Gault has always been fast. The Georgia native ran track and played football at the University of Tennessee, and at 19 was a member of the U.S. Olympic team that boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics. He set a world record with Carl Lewis and two other speedsters in 1983 in the 4x100-meter relay at the World Championships in Helsinki and won bronze in the 110-meter hurdles. He stepped into the Bears’ lineup as a rookie and averaged 20.9 yards a catch that year and 19.9 yards over 333 catches in his career. The sprinter’s blinding speed required double coverage that helped open holes for running back Walter Payton and played a key role in the Bears’ dominant 1985 championship season. “Talk about [NFL] speed, and the list includes Ron Brown, Darrell Green, Deion Sanders,” McKinnon said. “I say that Willie was faster than all of them. After a few steps Willie was at top-end speed. Nobody could catch him.” Gault was a versatile showman off the field always seeking new challenges. He orchestrated the Bears’ hit single and video, “The Super Bowl Shuffle,” rapping, “This is Speedy Willie, and I’m world class.” With less than two months training, he performed the male lead with the Chicago City Ballet in a 1986 benefit performance that earned him glowing reviews. Later that year he phoned the USA Bobsled Federation. “I couldn’t ski or ice skate,” he explained. “All I could do was run and push.” Run and push he did. The next year Gault earned his second world record, this time for the four-man bobsled. Fast forward 20 years: In 2006 at Indianapolis, he clocked 10.72 in the 100 meters, setting the masters world record for over 45, and generating national press. Gault seems to be improving with age. Last April, at 47 he broke the over 45 record for 200 meters with a brisk 21.80. His secrets? Hard work, an ethic learned in the NFL. “When I was with the Bears, I ran guys all game, every play,” Gault said. “They’d have to run with me. I wanted to make sure they were tired.” Gault weighs the same 176 to 178 pounds he did 25 years ago. He eats sparingly, loves his vegetables and organic foods, and eschews meat. “If a fish walked I wouldn’t eat it,” he said. He said he abstains from the popular vices: “No drugs, no drinking, no smoking.” Six hours is all the sleep he needs, and on his hard training days he does 1,600 crunches. “Willie’s an old gladiator,” said Larry Wade, a former world-class hurdler. “If he’s hurting or in pain, he’ll keep going.” Wade recalled a 2004 sprint workout at UCLA with Maurice Green, that year’s Olympic 100 meters bronze medalist, and former world champion Ato Boldon, saying, “Willie ran right with them. Maurice and Ato took pride in winning the last 100 meters. We were all in our prime. He was killing us.” Gault remembers it well. He was 44. “We were all betting on who would win each race,” he said. “We ran 100 meters seven times. The seventh time I beat Maurice.” His afternoons and evenings are dedicated to various business endeavors and his Athletes For Life Foundation, which offers free testing for heart disease. He is an actor who appeared in several episodes of The West Wing and a season of The Pretender. Gault recently married singer and actress Suzan Brittan and the couple lives in Encino, Calif. He has a son in high school and daughter in college from a previous marriage. But four mornings a week he adheres to the rigorous regimen of an elite professional sprinter. He works out with the professional HSI track club coached by John Smith, famed for developing numerous Olympic champions. Gault doesn’t lift as much weight as younger sprinters, but he still benches 225 pounds 10 times for three sets, and squats nearly 200 pounds during his four 90-minute sessions per week. Gault then displays his speed at the nearby West Los Angeles College track with pro sprinters young enough to be his sons. “We were running 200 meter repeats earlier this year,” Smith said, “and Willie kept picking up the pace.” Martial Mbandjock, an elite 23-year-old French sprinter, struggled to stay with Gault. “My God, how old is he?” Smith recalled Mbandjock asking his coach, who couldn’t resist a slight exaggeration. “He’s 50,” said Smith, who chuckled at the memory. “He said, ‘No way!’ ” Gault said he has fulfilled his ambitions as an athlete. “I’ve done what I can as far as sports go. I’m entering a new chapter, enjoying business, working on saving people’s lives, enjoying spending time with my son and daughter.” Don’t believe that stuff about no more athletic goals. Smith said he wants to help Gault meet his next challenge: to run 10.65 in the 100 meters at age 50. The age graded tables equate that to 9.5 for a sprinter in his prime – faster than Usain Bolt. Speedy Willie just might get there. And fast.