CrackerDog

Good article but mostly could've been written by us. I don't share their worry about backup RB at this point because I think we saw they had promise last weekend. We'd miss Forte if here were injured for lots of reasons and you aren't goinng to have someone of his caliber backing him up. But I think the guys we have can spell him enough to keep him fresh.

HA!!! Wasn't Jimmy Mac on Johnny Carson a few months later and he was asked to respond to criticism from Theismann and McMahon just said something like "I don't take guys who can only punt one yard seriously." Those were the days!

Wait a cotton-pickin' minute there fella! I seem to recall a certain QB from Washington who was a helluva punter! Video proof here! UPDATE: The video doesn't actually play but the guy does a GREAT job of describing the 45-10 ass-kicking the Bears put on the Skins that day.

Regardless, I would assume the Bears have the right to limit this type of work and/or travel. I would if I were them but they aren't. Therefore they must be taking the "this is your day off so do what you want" approach. As others have stated, he knows this offense really well and his timing with Cutler is second to none. I expect his work won't be affected so... As long as the Bears are OK with it for now, so am I. Also, I'll just say, with modern technology I have no idea why he even needs to travel. A remote could be done where he's just as much "there". That might be something they'll have in place for bad weather travel days.

Ha!

Bears haven't officially said anything on Fuller. Here's the latest which doesn't sound as promising as I'd like: http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/grizzly-de...-271339281.html

It looked like nothing. And he walked off pretty easily. Hopefully just a minor strain or sprain. He looks like a good player so far.

It's interesting if you try to do the math it's hard to field ST's without some starters. You have to eliminate all QB's, all starters, all fat guys, the punter or the kicker, depending... But Peanut shouldn't be out there! And I can live with letting 1rst rounders off the hook too.

Per Ian Rapoport: https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/500104548510597121

We agree on this. I'm just saying that in the NFL it isn't uncommon. Urlacher was on ST as a rookie, IIRC. As to the injury, reports are X-Rays are negative.

All true. But it simply isn't unusual to see rookies, even highly drafted ones, on ST's until they become starters. Hopefully his injury is minor.

Looked a lot like 2013 out there today. Offense has flashes, defense got NO pressure early. ST needs Hester. Here's hoping the dress rehearsal next week goes better.

First time I've agreed with you in years.

In 2001 I was at the game the Bears clinched the division by beating Jax. It was damn cold in early January in Soldier Field. Anyway, in the second half of the game Keith Traylor, a big defensive lineman, intercepted a Mark Brunnell pass and took it almost to the house. It may have been the best use of RUMBLIN' STUMBLIN' BUMBLIN' in ESPN's history. I recall it as knowing at that moment the game was over but I know Jax had some time after that and just didn't do anything. Jauron was the head coach and I thought we had something good building. The win that day combined with a Packers loss gave us the division, a bye and home field against what ended up being the Eagles. We lost that game pretty badly, IIRC. One of my favorite moments that day, besides Traylor's runback, was looking up at the scoreboard and seeing that Green Bay had lost and the division was ours.

Just thought I'd open a thread for tonight's game. I hope Cutler plays a quarter with the starters and then Jimmy shows he can handle this offense at least as well as we saw him do last week. Obviously the D Line will be a big thing I'll be watching. If they can build on the success they had last week that'll be very positive. #1 goal: Stay healthy!

I'll give him a bit of a break because he's breaking in so many new people but this needs to improve ASAP. If they aren't performing well by the third perseason game, he needs to be shitcanned. This team has too much potential to have ST lose us a game. One game can mean the difference between playoffs or not, home field or not, etc. The busts on Friday night were pretty big ones so Trestman needs to step in and show some leadership on this big part of team's production.

True. but his time away was meaningless to him and, as it turns out, beneficial to the team. We may not have learned that we have other solid options at TE without this happening. And seeing his teammates welcome him back was pretty cool. He's an important "leader" on the team and needed to be sent a message. I'd say this is "Mission Accomplished!"

Not that Palmer looked bad but I just like Jimmy better as our #2.

ST is a clusterfudge tonight. DeCamilus to the woodshed.

I agree pretty much across the board with this. However, the Bears will likely play the starters a series or two because we're at home.

Smart move on his part, IMO.

I think this suspension is bullshit if it's over that skirmish. If Bennett is slacking off that's another thing altogether and Trestman and Cutler need to tell him to get his head out of his ass.

Meh. I'm not concerned.

I didn't. Feels good. Now if we can just get the D a little mojo we may have something here.

It's probably earier to be more sure of himself when he isn't learning a new system every season. And more mature now with the wife and kids, maybe? Anyway, it appears to be translating to leadership which is a damn good sign.