CrackerDog

I don't read the article as a "Covering his ass" scenario. I see it as someone trying to clear the air.

Plenty of room if we see a FA lineman we like... http://www.profootballtalk.com/2008/08/25/...s-of-august-25/ Kansas City Chiefs $31.9 million Tampa Bay Buccaneers $27.8 million Green Bay Packers $24.7 million Buffalo Bills $20.9 million Philadelphia Eagles $19.0 million New Orleans Saints $17.7 million Miami Dolphins $16.2 million Jacksonville Jaguars $13.3 million New York Giants $12.3 million Tennessee Titans $11.8 million Dallas Cowboys $9.6 million Cleveland Browns $9.4 million Chicago Bears $9.2 million San Diego Chargers $9.2 million Seattle Seahawks $8.8 million Atlanta Falcons $8.2 million St. Louis Rams, $8.1 million Carolina Panthers $8.0 million Indianapolis Colts $7.5 million Baltimore Ravens $7.0 million San Francisco 49ers $7.0 million New England Patriots $6.9 million Cincinnati Bengals $6.4 million Denver Broncos $5.9 million Minnesota Vikings $5.0 million Houston Texans $4.9 million Oakland Raiders $4.2 million Detroit Lions $4.0 million Arizona Cardinals $3.5 million New York Jets $1.9 million Washington Redskins $1.8 million Pittsburgh Steelers $1.7 million

Agree.

Sadly, not enough of the country seems to care that we're at war in Iraq.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3551359 Chris Mortensen article: The Arizona Cardinals are expected to name Kurt Warner as the team's starting quarterback, a team source said Sunday. BUT BUT BUT... I THOUGHT FIRST ROUND PICKS WERE A SCIENCE AND JERRY WAS JUST A DOOFUS!!! OMGZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!

Yep. Risk/Reward. Moss slipped to 20th. Happens every year. People take chances on character issues, health concerns, signability, etc.

Someone on the chat that evening referred to him as "Cuttis".

This sounds good when preaching on the internet but ain't how things work in the real world. And, I'll add, if his back is made 100% by this operation and he turns out to be our LT for the next 8 years, how foolish will shortsighted internet fans look? The guy was the last LT on the board. Period. He'd been playing with it at a level that warranted his being a first round pick. I still think Jerry owed everyone the truth from the beginning.

People seem to be missing these key parts of the story: "It wasn't affecting me so if nothing is broke, you don't fix it." He first learned he had a herniated disc "probably three, four years ago." So, he had an injury and played with it, not missing time, for YEARS. I'm sorry, our GM is named Angelo, not God. Like you Connor, my only question on this is why they tried to spin it.

My take is the coaching and the players have been playing heartless football for a while now. They've convinced themselves they're a #1 D when they walk onto the field and if they don't acheive that level of performance, well, there are excuses for it. Frankly, this is when the coaches need to go all "Ditka" on the team and punch of few lockers, if not a few players! Missing tackles on Defense is about the same in my mind as missing a blocking assignment on O. It shouldn't happen at this level. These are professionals and those two aspects of football are the BASICS. Everything else is built on that foundation. So, if the players don't get their damn heads out of their asses and the coaches can't find ways to force them to do so, it's time for some new coaches and/or players. I'm not sure where that self-satisfaction is coming from but I fear it's becoming a cancer. These coaches have this season to prove they can get the job done, as far as I'm concerned, before fans like me start calling for their heads. These highly paid "leaders on the field" better stop playing like bitches with their panties full of poop. We're all tired of the excuses here. Lovie is a defensive guy, he damn well better get his house in order.

Could be Booker.

Not sure what you mean when you say "typical bears make starts outta jackasses". Are the Bears letting you start?

Yeah NFO! How DO you know? Huh? You got a private web cam in a bucket of Gatoraid or something? Puh leeeeeease, STFU.

Your post is too long and I don't feel like getting bummed out today. I skimmed it and can see your logic. I won't bother arguing, I just hope for the best. What we've seen from the D thus far in PS hasn't been very inspiring.

No, he just seems a little self righteous to me. I think he's probably an excellent coach and I really loved the way he played football.

I'd vote no to Jones and yes to AA. I really like the idea of two backs ever since I saw what relying totally on Benson did to us last year (a decision I supported at the time.) I think the rookie has what it takes to be darn close to "special" but I haven't seen enough yet to be certain. And we aren't deep enough at this position without him.

I give no credence to FF projections in this category. Everything would be based totally on last year as there is so little expertise on FF sites for Defense. I've got years of experience in this area. I typically pick up a team based on the rankings I have from the site or sites I frequent and then invariably I dump them 3 weeks into the season for the real performers. Thus far in the preseason SF ranks: Fourth in D for Passing. LINK First in Sacks. LINK Second in forced fumbles. LINK Sixth in yardage. LINK Sure, some of these are a bit skewed by the fact that they've played 3 games now but we were the team that hurt them statistically thus far. Sure, this is all preseason and probably doesn't mean much. But, all I'm saying is, I wouldn't discount what we saw last night because FF sites don't give them any respect. And they have Mike "God Made ME Greater Than You" Singletary running the D there. I think he's done a fine job.

Knew it was a break when I saw the splint. Was hoping it was minor. Dang. Sorry to see this happen to him for many reasons.

I've got to believe this D will come around. I refuse to believe they got old and can't do it. They looked that way last night as they made J.T. look like Elway. I expect they'll bring it when the season starts. With that said, the O looked like they could be at least "average" this season. The equation to me is: Average O + Solid D + Super ST = Playoffs Obviously everything rests on staying healthy. To truly understand how impressive the O was putting up 20 points, protecting the QB and total offense last night, take a look at what happened to those poor bastard Packers just last week against the same 49er's team. LINK I've always been hopeful but now I don't feel like this team will make a fool of me for being that way.

Yep. I was talking about a return. I just want to see something that gets me excited. Pure joy. I'll take it either way, actually. And you're right, a reception would be more meaningful although not far more. We saw a deep one for a TD to Hester last season in the final game so I know he can do that too. Dusty... I'm so looking forward to this guy doing it. His start reminds me of Grossman. Hopefully this story has a happy ending! I want to see Orton display "all the throws" not just the dink and dunks. He'll do fine. I know. The great Crackerskin says it and therefore, so shall it be! This was a hope, not a prediction. LOL Good point. They won't want to waste Hanie on a meaningless game. I think we've seen that already but not for an extended period this season. I'm not sure last year he was working with a smaller playbook. He's the man now, time to show it all.

First, I wasn't specifically talking to or about you. I used your quote mostly because it mentioned pessimism. There are other "We're going 0-16" types out there much worse than you. You aren't a "Bears suck!" type of guy. I just like reaming you, regardless. Nothing personal. Second, I'm not drinking the kool-aid dude. Look at what I've said recently. There's a way to do it without being a dick, which is what I think some here are doing. I've said we could win 6 to 10 games this season, hardly a kool-aid soaked opinion. Third, some here have had an agenda against Lovie and/or JA for years now. You and I both know that. I'm not going to name names. I know everyone here claims to be a Bears fan but it sure seems to me that those folks are hoping for a bad season to vindicate themselves. Face it, over the last three seasons, we've had our #1 QB go down and still make the playoffs, made it to the Superbowl, and then have a terribly unluck season for injuries and QB play only to see our team produce a respectible record (7-9) given the circumstances. During those years we've also done very well against our #1 rival. So, if I feel like kicking a little ass later in the year should things turn out well, as I hope they do, those pricks damn well have it coming. Putting their egos above the best interests of the team means they deserve whatever they get from me or anyone else. My point is that saying "Gosh, I know I shit all over Jerry and Lovie and dragged this team through the mud for three months but dang it, I was wrong. Golly gee willikers guys, I'm so embarrassed I'm eating some crow. I'm back on the bangwagon now. Go Bearsh!!!!" AIN'T GUNNA STOP ME FROM STOMPING THEIR GUTS OUT. Fourth, this is the time of year to have a little hope. There isn't a team out there who will be 0-7 on opening day. Some of these douchebags here take all the joy out of being a fan! Jeez, I'm 43 years old and still a kid at heart. Some of these dudes act 89.

Obviously, I'd like to see the line perform better. I predict they will, actually. You'll see Orton in there from the start and I believe now that the QB battle is over, we'll find the game plan much more balanced. We aren't trying to see what our QB's have but rather work our entire O. This means we'll be keeping the D a bit more off balance. The 49ers terrorized the Packers last week and made them their bitches. If we perform better than that, it should be meaningful. Hester take one to the house. Someone just walk up to Mike Singletary and punch him squarely in the face. Damn am I sick of hearing his self righteous bullshit on the radio. Orton hit on a deep ball to Hester or Bradley or anyone else for that matter. More than one would be icing. I'd love to see Booker get open. Once! The D Line get consistent pressure on the QB. I predict the TE's will have near 50% of the receiving yardage but hope I'm wrong. Forte put up at least 100 yards of total offense while he's in there. KJ get some reps, look good, take a few hits and come away healthy. Speaking of health, NO INJURIES! I predict a successful screen play to Forte. Probably a TD! I'd like to see Lovie get a touch animated at least once. Show us he's alive. I predict Bradley will look like he's free and clear for a TD but will trip over his skirt. I hope Urlacher hits Gore so hard he never considers running for President again. Oh wait... I hope with the pressure off, I hope Grossman looks solid against the #2's. I'd like to see some evidence that we're running as close to our full playbook as possible with Orton in there, even given this is the 3rd preseason game. I'd like to know that he's really grown since what we saw his freshman year. I predict the Hanie fan club will march on Halas Hall after the game with pitch forks and flaming torches. I hope we win. I know it doesn't matter and all but... I'll be on the chat, probably, so hope to see some of you dogs there.

This is classic. I've been posting with this group for a few years now, here and on the old site. I believe almost every year, there's something like 60% of the poster here who are completely negative and pessimistic during this stage of the season. Then, when the season starts and things don't go according to their plan, meaning the Bears are actually successful, two things occur: 1.) They hide or 2.) They say "My bad, I'm eating some crow" and expect that makes it all OK. Well let me just tell you something, it doesn't make it all OK. Dragging this site and all the members here through all your petty fears, your whining, your sissy boohoo crap, your predictions of 4 win seasons isn't all just washed away by "My bad." In the past I've let bygones be bygones because I've been excited about the performance on the field and didn't sweat the small stuff with a lot of "I told you so's." Not this year man. If the Bears win 10 or more games, I'm going to hammer some of you weak ass tools over and over again for all the shit you dragged us through before the season started. You know who you are and you've been warned.

How about none of the above? I don't agree with your premise at all. I think Angelo was probably slow to address the line issue I saw coming at us before last year but there could be lots of reasons for that other than "Jerry's an idiot." I also don't agree with you that coaching is necessarily at fault. You claim we can't cover stunts because we don't practice/use those on defense but lots of teams play one gap, lots of teams play 3-4 and others play 4-3. Teams play bump and run while others play back or zone... You practice for those elements and game plan for them within the context of the week's practice for those teams. You don't go out of your way to do so during training camp while players are trying to develop basic skills and learn the playbook, checkdowns, coverages, timing, etc. You're mixing apples and oranges. Right now the Bears are trying to adjust the plan from having a rookie at LT, Tait at RT and a few new guys at guard to introducing yet another wildcard by having to cover for an injury at LT. The job was already difficult, forgive them if they can't whip this all together to your satisfaction in a few days. I know, you claim we've sucked at all of this for years now and you're just now bringing it up. Fine. I'll take sucking all the way to the Superbowl all day, every day. Seems to me they were doing something right on offense despite Rex and his inconsistent nature. Seems to me this coaching staff has consistently brought in new bodies and plugged them in and gotten decent productivity out of them. Seems to me Jerry has done a fairly good job of providing them with talent, via the draft and free agency, while managing the cap and rewarding our current deserving players. Seems to me we still have some time before the season starts for all of this to show, once again. I hope things aren't as bleak as many here seem to think they are. I'm sure certain low character guys here will be dancing on my grave for being hopeful on August 21 if things go south this season. Screw them.

I'll answer this question indirectly. If the O Line improves, either by FA pickups or just via having time to adjust to their current assignments and the defense stays reasonably healthy, this team wins 10 games this year. If the O Line doesn't improve or if we take massive injuries to the D, we could be in for a LOOOONG year. I think the team is well enough constructed to be a playoff contender but it'll take a little luck for it to happen.