Points of View, May 11, 2008
http://chicagobearsfanforum.com/blog/?p=241
The Bears
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Jerry Angelo finally commented upon the Cedric Benson arrest yesterday. “The thing that I am most disappointed in is the fact that he put himself in a position to be the victim.''
I couldn't agree more. Benson stated that he felt that he'd been targeted and his friend said that he'd been boarded at least six times. In addition, no one denies that he'd been drinking. As a pro athlete you do have a responsibility not to put yourself in that position and he, by his own admission, certainly did.
I might also mention that I think Angelo's comments were more than appropriate in that they didn't criticize Benson by going any farther. Angelo stuck to the facts and didn't comment upon whether he believed Benson's side of the story. That is obviously for a court to decide.
Finally, Angelo said that Benson will not be released. All jokes aside, I've largely agreed with the local media that one misdemeanor offense should not put Benson's job in jeopardy. If he's released it should be for football reasons.
All in all, it was very well handled, indeed.
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As usual, David Haugh provides something of a different point of view on the Benson arrest by suggesting that it might motivate him. It's a little optimistic but I'll take anything motivating Benson at this point. The fact that he might need something like this to do it is a little disappointing but I guess you deal with people as they are, not as you'd like them to be.
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Haugh also suggests that “It might be a small percentage, but there are people pulling for Benson who never have pulled for him before simply because of what he says police did to him.” That is not correct. As far as I can tell a very large percentage of Bear fans are pulling for Benson for a lot of reasons, including that one. Critical we may be. But loyal Bear fans we are. And Benson is a Bear.
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Kyle Orton has commented upon his up coming camp competition with Rex Grossman. When asked what makes him think the competition will be fair he said, "That's what you've got to believe.” Orton has an uphill battle because while I do think the competition will be even, he's going to have to be significantly better to beat out Grossman who, whether coaches admit it or not, is obviously the starter going in.
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Profootballtalk.com thinks you should take your mom out on the lake today for some booze and pepper spray. A picture for the front of your card can be found here.
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From Pro Football Weekly's Audibles column: “What were the Bears doing? I don’t know how you could pass on (OG-OT) Branden Albert for (OT) Chris Williams. And I’m not sure they realized how many times (RB) Matt Forté put the ball on the ground at Tulane. I was shocked they took both of those players where they did, but I’m not complaining. It just pushed more good players to us.”
To be used as ammunition later if these guys don't pan out. And to be conveniently forgotten if they do.
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From the same column: “I could see why teams would think about (QB) Joe Flacco in the first round. When you are facing that situation where you don’t have a quarterback, you have to think about it. But take a look at most of the teams that reached at the back end of Round One to find a passer. Look at J.P. Losman. Look at Rex Grossman. Look at Patrick Ramsey. Look at Jason Campbell, who I am still not convinced will be a great quarterback. When you reach in the first round for that position, you just create expectations that are hard to meet. You’re much better off letting the board fall to you.”
I don't really think I need to comment, do I?
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From Pro Football Weekly's Whispers column: “Bears rookie minicamp observers tell us that, with the notable exception of second-round RB Matt Forté, who looked impressive enough to make the beleaguered Cedric Benson more than a little bit concerned, nobody stood out (literally) more than fifth-round TE Kellen Davis. At the very least, the 6-7, 262-pound Davis is an undeniably impressive physical specimen. But we hear his athleticism was also readily apparent.”
For those who don't know, Davis did play defensive end in high school and its been speculated that he might do it again with the Bears. While they do very much need a blocking TE, having an “athletic” DE wouldn't be a bad thing, either.
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Raven's coach John Harbaugh is doing the same thing Lovie Smith did when he took over as coach with the Bears. Unlike former coach Brian Billick, who liked to practice indoors, Harbaugh had the Ravens practicing out in the rain the other day. Its my opinion that Lovie Smith has brought “Bear Weather” back to Chicago largely because he, also, keeps the team outside in less than convenient weather.
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The Ravens are flip-flopping their guards, putting Jason Brown on the right and Ben Grubb on the left. I'm wondering if the Bears shouldn't do the same thing. Having veteran Roberto Garza next to Chris Williams rather than another new guy might help stabilize him in his apparent new role at left tackle.
The NFC North and Elsewhere
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As Charles Rogers prepares to play in Canada, another former Lions first round draft pick, Mike Williams, is on his last chance in Tennessee. Williams blames his troubles on missing a year of football after declaring for the draft in the wake of the Maurice Clarett lawsuit, then having the NFL deny his entry after a court reversed the decision. Williams told the Nashville City Paper:
“I think what I lost the most wasn’t anything football related; it was the structure. Being a part of a routine and having a regimen and having a set schedule of being here for how long and being there for how long. That was my main thing that I struggled with for awhile. I struggled with it.
“I got better about it at the end of my first year, but the second year I got right back into [being late]. It was the structure. That was the main thing that hurt me, just the structure and waking up and commitment. What do they call it? Being a pro. Having a year off from that, that was the main thing that hurt me.”
I don't think missing a year causes receivers to eat too much, to not show up on time and to be unprofessional. I think what causes them is called “laziness”.
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Also from the above referenced Audibles column: “Someone needs to show me the tape where (Texans first-round pick OT) Duane Brown plays like a first-rounder. It does not exist. We had him in the fifth round.”
I will make no bones about it. I thought I knew all of the top prospects going into that draft and I had never heard of this guy. The Texans could make fools of us all. But I doubt it.
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This one from Pro Football Weekly's Whisper's column is for Bear fans who wanted them to take Chad Henne: “It’s becoming clear that the Dolphins’ Week One starter will either be Josh McCown or John Beck, not second-round draft pick Chad Henne. Henne had a miserable conclusion to minicamp, showing lapses in judgment and throwing errant passes.”
I'm not saying Henne won't eventually be a good pro starter. But eventually could be a long time away.
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In the “there's a reason why these teams are bad” department, this from the same column: “In a recent Q&A with the South Florida Sun Sentinel, Dolphins second-round rookie QB Chad Henne revealed that the Rams called him right before the 29th overall pick to say they were going to try to trade up so they could select him, but that never ended up happening. In fact, with their regular second-round pick, 33rd overall, the Rams chose WR Donnie Avery instead, and the Dolphins picked Henne later in the round, at No. 57.”
Think the Rams had any confusion in the draft room?
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New Falcon's QB Matt Ryan wears a brace on his plant leg as a precaution against injury. One wonders if that might not help Rex Grossman as well. It might make him less tentative in the face of a rush up the middle.
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Koren Robinon's brother was arrested for trafficking ecstasy. Big deal you say? I think so. Koren's brother lives with him. Is anyone else thinking about Darren McFadden? Just sayin'...
One Final Thought
Memorabilia dealer Mike Gilbert claims in his upcoming book that O.J. Simpson had smoked pot, took a sleeping pill and was drinking beer when he confessed to murder. Simpson told him he didn't bring a knife to his ex-wife's apartment on June 12, 1994 -- and that, "If she hadn't opened that door with a knife in her hand ... she'd still be alive."
Somehow I very much doubt that.
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Another unsettling element in modern art is that common symptom of immaturity, the dread of doing what has been done before.
- Edith Wharton
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