Quote of the Week

Jay Cutler had this to say after he was informed about the trade to his favorite team as a kid, the Chicago Bears:

"When [coach] called me he was like, 'We got you [and] we had to give up a little bit,' I was like, 'What's a little bit?' He told me [two first-round picks, a third-rounder and and I was like, that sounds like a lot to me. That tells me they have a lot of faith in me, they believe in me … and I'm not going to let them down."

Tackle Orlando Pace to the Bears?

Free-agent OT Orlando Pace visited with the Chicago Bears today, according to NFL.com’s Steve Wyche.

Pace met with the Baltimore Ravens earlier this month, but did not sign the contract offer they gave him.

The St. Louis Rams saved $6 million in cap space by releasing the seven time pro bowler Orlando Pace(1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005) .

Bears head coach Lovie Smith was the defensive coordinator with the Rams, when Pace was there as well.

What I Think?

If Pace signs, the Bears might not need to address the tackle position in next month's draft, at least not in the earlier rounds.

The negative with the 33 year old Pace is that he's had injury issues the past several seasons and the last three seasons he has failed to make it to the Pro Bowl.

The positive with Pace is that he has been too seven Pro Bowl's and he started 14 games for the Rams last season.

The Bears could use Pace at RT and have newly signed Kevin Shaffer compete with Chris Williams for the LT spot.

If Pace doesn't demand too many, I would I love him in a Bears uniform.

It would be a great signing for them.

Lovie Smith Speaks about Michael Vick

To the left is the picture of Bears MLB Brian Urlacher crushing former Atlanta Falcons QB Michael Vick to the ground.


Chicago Bears Head Coach Lovie Smith spoke about QB Michael Vick and his chances on a comeback to the NFL:

“I would look at Michael like I look at every other prospect that’s available: He goes back into the pool,” Smith told USA Today, via David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune. “That’s what everyone in society does. Mike made a mistake, and he’s paying the price for that mistake. Once you’ve paid your debt to society, you have to say, ‘OK, let’s go on from there."

What I think?

Lovie Smith is crazy for calling Michael Vick's jail time as a mistake.

You do realize what he did to those poor innocent dogs Lovie?

If I were the Bears I would stay as far away as I could from Michael Vick.

The guy is an average quarterback, who is pretty damn good at scrambling, but that's it.

Vick doesn't fit the Bears scheme on offense at all.

The last time the Bears had a scrambling quarterback, they had #9 Jim McMahon under the helm.

Please Bears stay away from convict/QB Michael Vick.

Bears to Open 2009 Season Against Packers on Sunday Night Football

I am glad to announce that the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers rivalry will be put on display in prime time next season.

The Bears will open the 2009 season against the Green Bay Packers Sept. 13 at Lambeau Field on Sunday Night Football, the NFL announced today.


The Bears open the season last year on Sunday Night Football and crushed the Indianapolis Colts, 29-13.


In five seasons as Bears coach, Lovie Smith has compiled a 7-3 record against the Packers.

By comparison, former Bears coaches Dave Wannstedt (1-11) and Dick Jauron (2-8) combined to go 3-19 versus Green Bay.

The Bears lead the all-time series, 90-80-6

Byron Leftwich talks about the Bears

Byron Leftwich had this to say about the Bears:

''We are in the playoff run right now, so I don't even want to go there, but tell them to look me up,'I'm a fan of Lovie Smith, I'll just say that. I thought that was where I was going to go in the beginning. I remember hoping that I would go there. I just wanted to be a part of the tradition, the history of the Bears. You're growing up, watching games at Soldier Field on TV, I wanted to be a part of that coming out. I thought there was a chance I would go there."


all quotes from fanhouse.com

Lovie Smith is the Bears' Defensive Coordinator?

Ya, that's right Lovie Smith demoted Bob Babich back to his old position as the linebackers coach.

Lovie Smith will call the defensive plays and take over as the defensive coordinator next season.


Lovie had this to say about the change:

“I’m excited about taking a more hands-on approach to helping our defense get back to where it was."

“I’m a big boy, and after five years in this role, I think you find out exactly how much time you have and where you have time to do a few more thing."

“This past year I coached the (nickel backs) for about half of the season and enjoyed that quite a bit. So I saw that I had a little bit more time to do some of these things. It’s not unprecedented for head coaches to call defensive signals, but rare. There are a lot of offensive coaches in the league that call plays, that do a little bit more on their side of the ball where their expertise is."

“For some reason, a lot of defensive coaches haven’t done it. But I think it’s time to change some of that.”

The Bears' defense finished 28th (354.7 yards per game) in 2007 and 21st this past season (334.7 ypg) under Bob Babich.

That is just unacceptable, when you have that many talented players on the defense.

The Bears hired former Lions head coach Rod Marinelli Saturday as defensive line coach and assistant head coach. Smith and Marinelli became good friends while coaching together under Tony Dungy with Tampa Bay from 1996-2000, and Smith said Marinelli will make his job easier.


Lovie said this about Marinelli:

“I have worked with Rod in the past. I know what he brings, he’s an excellent teacher, communicator, motivator."

Marinelli, fired after the Lions went 0-16, was pursued by both Seattle and Houston, but chose Lovie and the Bears.

“I just knew that it was a perfect fit for Rod to be here,” Smith said.

Lovie on the demotion of Bob Babich:

“Bob is a team player."

“We didn’t meet our expectations this past year and in the off season you look to try to make improvements the best you can. … And just because I’m going to be more involved doesn’t mean that Bob’s not our defensive coordinator. There will be a lot of things that he’ll be helping me do."

What to expect:

Lovie hasn't coached a defense since 2003, his last season with the St. Louis Rams.

I expect this defense to be much improved, with the demotion of Babich, hiring of Rod Marinelli as defensive line coach and Lovie calling the defensive plays.

It all depends on Brian Urlacher, he is the most important part of the Cover 2, and most of the season he was horrible.

all quotes taken from chicagotribune.com

Mike Brown: Done for the Year

I thought Mike Brown was going to play this Sunday.

I guess I thought wrong, because today it was announced that, Mike Brown will miss the rest of the season due to a calf injury.

Mike Brown played 15 game this season, which is a lot for a guy, who has been banged up for most of his career.

Many think this will be Brown's last season in Chicago, since he is a free agent this off-season.

But, I see this guy returning to the team, unless Craig Steltz plays out of this world on Sunday.

Mike Brown recorded 101 tackles, one sack and two interceptions this season.

Recently signed Cameron Worrell, will backup rookie Steltz this Sunday.

Steltz filled in for the injured Brown on Monday night against the Packers.


Lovie Smith had this to say about the loss of Mike Brown:

“Very disappointing for our football team and for Mike, too, injuries are a part of it, and Mike’s been in this situation before. He made it through this time about as long as he had in awhile.”

“Losing Mike Brown for the rest of the season is big.”

He has not played in all 16 games since 2003 and with an expiring contract, his future is in doubt.

For now, Lovie Smith said any conversations about that are “definitely premature.”

“Right now, he’s not going to play this week. That’s about all I can talk about,” Smith said, when asked if he would like to re-sign Brown.


Lovie on Craig Steltz's first career start:

“Craig’s a good player, he’s played well on special teams, and when we’ve given him an opportunity to play a regular down, he’s come through.”


Cameron Worrell on his chance to play:

“I’ve been through the system, I know what I’m doing. I picked it up fairly quickly when I came back. I’m just here to add some depth and do whatever they ask me to do.”

Mike Brown expected to play

Mike Brown sat out yesterday's practice with a calf injury.

If you ask anybody, whose a Bears player or fan you know this guy is tough.

I expect him to play.

Mike Brown has been battered by injuries his whole career and he id still a great asset to this team, thus they definitely need him to play Sunday.

Coach Lovie Smith had this to say about Mike Brown:

"Mike Brown, he's been down, but in the end, it seems like he always plays.


All quotes from Chicagotribune.com

Good as Gould Again

My first Soldier Field experience turned out to be a success.

Not only was it the coldest (-2) Bears game in history at kickoff, but they also defeated their most hated rival the Green Bay Packers 20-17.

The Bears were trailing 14-3 at half to the 5-9 Packers and basically did nothing offensively.

They adjusted at half, just like me.

My hands were pretty much frozen, so I put multiple hand warmers in my gloves.

That saved me, and the Bears.


Three reasons how they won:

1. Special Teams- Robbie Gould, Danieal Manning and Alex Brown had huge plays.

2. Matt Forte- He came up big late in the game.

3. The fans- they play a huge role in this one.


If they lost, I would have wasted my time freezing my hands.

Thank goodness they won.

Now they play a 7-8 Houston Texans team in Houston, a must win game to even have a shot at the playoffs.

They need Minnesota to lose to the Giants in Minnesota and the Cowboys and Bucs both to lose.

If Minnesota loses and we win were NFC North champs, and if Dallas and Tampa Bay lose and we win we clinch a wild card spot.

What a great weekend for me.

Not only do the the Chicago Bulls win Saturday night, but all the teams the Bears needed to lose lost and they pick up a huge win.


Just a few notes:

S Mike Brown injured his calf late in the second quarter and did not return.

Brad Maynard’s third quarter punt hit Green Bay’s Jarrett Bush, who was blocking on the play, and the Bears’ Jason Davis recovered at the 27.

The 4th and one, when it was 17-10 was converted by only an inch.

Matt Forte played through an injured toe to keep the Bears playoffs hopes alive.

The coin toss in OT went off of Brian Urlacher's Helmet.


Alex Brown had this to say about his blocked field goal to save the day:

We got a great push from a lot of different people. I was just the one who got my hand on it, we were saying on the sidelines that we have to block it. I got through pretty good but I didn’t really think that was going to happen. You just go as hard as you can and see if you can get a hand up and hopefully you can get it.”

Orton had this to say after the game:

“Everything fell right, gave us a lot of momentum and energy coming into this game. We just had to carry it all the way through."

Lovie on team win:

"I don't know if I've ever been prouder of a team."

All quotes from Yahoosports.com

Lovie believes Forte is fine

Lovie Smith on Matt Forte's injury:

"He has a sore toe, but he was able to finish the football game, we don't think he'll have any other trouble with it."

Forte suffered the injury to his right foot on his first carry against the Saints. X-rays were negative.

Quotes from Chicago Tribune

Quotes of the Week

Brian Urlacher on Sunday's win:

"As long as we win and they win, they're going to get in, that's the picture. We've got to get some help.

"I wanted Detroit to help us out today, but they didn't. But the Vikings have three tough games: Arizona, Atlanta and the Giants. It's not easy for them or us."

Adewale Ogunleye on Sunday's win:

"We're still in a tough situation, it's not even just about this game. The whole season right now is kind of like a big drag. … I'm not even going to look at the [playoff] scenarios, because if we don't handle our business, what does it matter?"

Mike Brown on Sunday's game:

"We peeked up every now and then at the scoreboard, but we had to make sure we took care of our job. That's first and foremost. We've got to win. If we lose, then it really doesn't matter what Minnesota does."

Lovie Smith on win:

“We can finish up 10-6,” most teams that finish up 10-6 end up going to the playoffs. We’re just looking straight ahead.”

Alex Brown on win:

“You look at it, but you’ve got to take care of your part,” he said. “That’s it. Whatever happens in the Minnesota game is going to happen whether you look at it or not. It’s still going to happen. We’ve got to do our part and that’s winning.”

All quotes came from chicagotribune.com

Lovie Smith on must win against Jaguars

Bears last 4 games not in their favor

Bears 6-6, but could be 9-3.

9-10 Lovie Smith's record in December since taking over as head coach of the Bears in 2004.

71-17 How badly the Packers and Vikings outscored the Bears in NFC North showdowns in November.

32 The number of games the Bears have played since they last won their fourth game in a row, on Dec. 24, 2006.

23 Combined victories for the six teams the Bears have beaten. For comparison's sake, the four teams that have lost to Jacksonville have combined for 20 victories.

49.3 Kyle Orton's completion percentage (41 of 83 for 418 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions) in the three games since he returned from an ankle injury.

The odds are against them, but we'll have to what they can do.

It's up to the Bears, to decide if they win these four final games of the season.

Bears plans for the rest of the season and next year is??

1. Win the next four games and you might have a real shot of making the playoffs.

You play Jacksonville this week, New Orleans, Green Bay and @ Houston in the four game stretch.

Don't worry about the other teams in your division, worry about yourself and winning the next four games.

2. Minnesota obviously beat you on Sunday, but they have a tough four game stretch to finish out the season. They play the win less Lions on the road, then Arizona on the road and Atlanta and NY "football" Giants in Minnesota.

The Vikings have lost both Pat Williams and Kevin Williams for the rest of the regular season, so that is huge for the Bears.

The Packers still have a real chance of winning the division, they play vs Houston, at Jacksonville, @ the Bears, and vs the Lions. They can easily finish 9-7.

3. Start thinking about what you need for this team to win in the future. They need a big time receiver, maybe T.J. Houshmandzadeh or Chad Johnson would come to Chicago. They could always draft someone in the first round.

Other areas of need:

backup RB, Forte needs a helper.

DE, a big time pass rusher, Adewale Ogunleye, Alex Brown, Mark Anderson and Israel Idonije are just not getting it done anymore.

S, Mike Brown is getting old and Kevin Payne just isn't very good.

Coach, I think it's time for Lovie to go, the guy doesn't show any character after a win, loss or a big play.

Offensive Coordinator Ron Turner is consistent with his horrible play calling, especially in the red zone. He consists on giving it the FB at the one yard line or just running the same play three times in a row.

4. For now, the Bears need Orton to get healthy, cause he hasn't looked himself since his injury and fans are starting to call for Rex to come in, but Orton will be just fine. Hopefully Hester, Davis and Lloyd are enough to help Orton and Forte just be yourself.

5. The tight ends have been almost invisible the last couple of games, Olsen looks like a bust and Dez Clark looks really old all of a sudden.

6. This team better get their act together if they want to win the NFC North, they have been so inconsistent this season. One week they barely beat the Lions, then they almost beat the Titans and they get crushed by the Packers and Vikings.

Coaches, players, if you want to be here next year, i'd tell you this, "step it up a notch.(Mark Rogers, friend)"

A Look at Lovie Smith

Here's a look at Lovie Smith's record as the head coach of the Chicago Bears.

I personally think his time in Chicago is coming to an end.

Team	Year	Regular Season					Post Season
		Won	Lost	Ties	Win %	Finish	Won	Lost	Win %	Result
CHI	2004	5	11	0	.312	4th in NFC North	-	-	-	-
CHI	2005	11	5	0	.688	1st in NFC North	0	1	.000	Lost to Carolina in Divisional Round
CHI	2006	13	3	0	.812	1st in NFC North	2	1	.666	Defeated Seattle in Divisional Playoff Defeated New Orleans in Conference Final Lost to Indianapolis in Super Bowl XLI
CHI	2007	7	9	0	.437	4th in NFC North	-	-	-	-
CHI	2008	6	6	0	.500	'Season in progress' '	-	-	-	-
Total		39	29	0	.576		2	2	.500
Overall Total		41	31	0	.571	NFL Championships (0)

Why So Much Love for Ron Rivera?

I know last year the Bears ranked in the bottom of the NFL defensively and this year is about the seem, but people are really jumping on Lovie's guy Bob Babich.

Many have said Rivera was way better than the current defensive coordinator Bob Babich.

They are also saying that the players aren't playing for Bob Babich like they did for Ron Rivera because Rivera was a former player, so he set an example to his players.

Here is why I disagree.

Ron Rivera had basically the same defensive scheme and almost the same group of players.

Bob Babich hasn't been great thus far, but the defense could easily turn it around.


An Example of turning it around:

Lovie Smith was linebackers coach of a Buccaneers team in 1999 that lost to the Raiders 45-0 and ended up playing in the NFC Championship Game five weeks later.

“After going over what happened with the Packers game, you have to move on, and that’s what we’ve done,” Smith said. “We have a six-game season starting up right now.

What if?

But if Babich doesn't turn things around, I am pretty sure it's time for him to get out of town.

I understand we were statistically better with Rivera, but the guy hands down lost us the Super Bowl.

You can say Rex Grossman lost us the game, but the Bears D was supposed to control the Colts offense and they got thumped.


Do you remember Super Bowl 41?

If you do, you'll remember that the Bears D let the Colts run all over them.

They played conservative defense the whole game, where they let the Colts gain 15 yards here and there.

The bend but don't break mentality, which Rivera used in this game against Peyton Manning is a prescription for losing.

The Colts offensive play, looked the Bears usual game plan.

That is the stupidest way to play with such a great defense.

That is why the Bears management made Bob Babich the new defensive coordinator.

The Bears wanted to pound the ball and control the time of possession.

Even in the 4th quarter when the Bears were losing 22-17, I never felt they had a chance to actually win the game.

They just didn't look the like the Bears team, that I was used to for that season.

The reason they were so good was because they had so much talent on the defense and pretty much every player was in the prime of their career.

Babich Haters:

Maybe the Bears defensive players aren't as good as they were two years ago, because it seems like they have lost a step.

I'm not saying Babich is a good defensive coordinator, but I'm just thinking maybe there is another reason for all the bad defensive performances this season and last.

Where's Ron?

Ron Rivera later left for San Diego where he was hired as the inside linebackers coach.

The Chargers made him their defensive coordinator about three weeks ago, when the fired Ted Cottrell.

We can all boo Babich now, but we should always boo Ron Rivera.

We can all glamor about the Bears' Super Bowl season, but when you look back there is something very important missing and that is a championship.

So for all you Ron Rivera lovers out there, you should get your facts straight before praising him.

A Super Bowl loss, will sting way longer than a disappointing year as a defense unit.

Lovie Smith on loss to the Packers

Did you Know? 11/5/08

The Bears haven’t played an opponent with a better record since Dec. 8, 1929 when the Green Bay Packers improved to 12-0-1 with a 25-0 win at Wrigley Field.

In their last three games, the Bears pass defense has allowed the Falcons’ Matt Ryan (301 yards), the Vikings’ Gus Frerotte (298 yards) and Orlovsky (292) to post season-highs in yards.

The Bears know they better step it up, if they want to have a chance to get the W.

Lovie Smith on defense on Sunday:

“What I’m going to choose to remember [from Sunday] is how the defense finished. There was nothing inconsistent about the way we finished that second half. There was consistent good football, and I’m hoping that’s what will carry through the second half of the season.”

Guess whose back? Back again. Rex is back. Tell a friend.

Rex had this to say back in August:

“I’ll never fully get over it and I don’t think anyone would expect me to, my motivation is to be a great player in this league and a starter again, but for right now I’ve got to be the best quarterback ready at a moment’s notice. That’s my goal and that’s my job.”

Rex had this to say after the big win:

“The last couple months have been tough, but when you have a role and your number is called to fulfill that role, I was happy to come in and help us win the game.

“It was tough, I didn’t have any reps in practice. I was [Lions quarterback] Dan Orlovsky all week. I just had to memorize the game plan and go through it, pay attention, all those types of things. It’s not easy to just sit there for an hour or hour and a half not thinking you’re going to play at all and then, boom, be brought into the mix.”

Orton was being reevaluated Monday after exiting the game with :26 remaining in the second quarter when his ankle bent awkwardly while being tackled by defensive end Dewayne White.

“You always want to play, but never under those circumstances, I had the whole half[time] to think to myself about my game plan; how I was going to go out there and get ready. So that was nice. After that first series I started feeling pretty good about just being out there. I got my feet wet and calmed down and everything was fine.”

“As frustrating as it was to not be the guy to start off [the season], you have a different role, and in that role, I came in and did the job.”

Lovie Smith had this to say about Rex:

“When you’re the backup quarterback and you haven’t gotten a lot of reps and you’re asked to step up and make plays like that, it was important for Rex to come in and then do some of the things that he was able to do.”

Olin Kreutz on Rex's Play:

“We believe in Rex, Rex has been our starter for a long time. Like he showed, he’s ready to play. If a guy runs the no-huddle, he’s studying his plays.

“He’s being a professional as what’s expected of him as a backup quarterback. All along he has taken his demotion well and he’s studied hard, and he showed that [Sunday].”

WR Rashied Davis on Rex's Play:

"Grossman hasn't been in there for a while, so we tried to pick him up until he could get comfortable, everyone knows what he is capable of doing."

DE Alex Brown on Rex:

"It's not like it's his first time, he has been there before. If we can just cut out some of the boos when a bad play happens, we'll be fine, Orton's our quarterback, but right now I guess Rex is, "We have two good quarterbacks."

Now backup QB Caleb Hanie talks about the possibility of playing and how Rex played:

"Rex came in and did a good job. He did what he's supposed to do."
"It was a wake-up call to both of us that you're one play away, so you have to prepare. We'll see what Kyle's injury entails. It's looking decent, so hopefully he won't be out for the year. He has earned the right to be in there. But luckily we have Rex. He's also an NFL quarterback and he's a talented guy."

Down the Road:

If Kyle Orton aka K.O. is out for a month, Rex will have to face Tennessee at home next week, and then Green Bay, St. Louis and Minnesota all on the road.

Next week will be a huge game, but also the two NFC North games will be huge.

My inside source told me that Kyle Orton drove home last night after the game and Rex Grossman has been told by Pep Hamilton (the Bears QB coach) to not be a gunslinger.

Rather be more like Kyle Orton, who was so far the Bears' best player.

If Orton finished out the season and kept playing well he would have been a sure pick for the Pro Bowl and a fantasy football stud.

Prediction:

The Bears won't be awful without Orton, but there offense must step it up for Rex and I think with this week of practice as the #1 QB will be huge for him and the team.

Tennessee will be a huge test for Rex and the Bears.

The Packers almost beat them and we are ahead of the Packers, so will see.

Bears not willing to give the game to the 0-7 Lions

What can Brown (AKA Mike Brown) do for you?

“They’ve been in pretty much every game, there’s been a couple of them where they weren’t in them, but everyone understands that this is a professional football league and honestly any team can beat any team on any given day. That’s just part of how the league is set up, so we’re going to be prepared to play them and we want to come out with a victory.”

The Bears insist that the Lions aren’t the same team they drubbed 34-7 at Ford Field on Oct. 5. Since that game, Detroit has new starters at quarterback (Dan Orlovsky for Jon Kitna), running back (Rudi Johnson for Kevin Smith) and wide receiver (Shaun McDonald for Roy Williams).

Lovie what did you have to say about the Lions?

“They are a much improved ballclub since we played them last, the Washington Redskins are a pretty good football team. Except for a few big plays, Detroit gave them everything they wanted [on Sunday].”

In the Bears' win in Detroit this season, Kyle Orton established career highs with 24 completions, 334 yards and a 121.4 passer rating while tossing two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Defensively, Chicago scored a touchdown on Charles Tillman’s 26-yard interception return, registered four sacks and held the Lions to 185 total yards, including just 67 in the first half.

The other Brown (Alex Brown) speaks:

“If we expect it to be like last time, we won’t win, we’ve got to understand that they’re going to be hungry to come in here and beat us. We’ve got to come ready to play.”

Nate The Great, what do you think?

“Every team we play has an opportunity to be good, we don’t really go by a team’s record. Detroit has played a lot of teams close but hasn’t been able to close it out.”

Thought for the Bears:

As 49ers Head Coach and former Chicago Bear Mike Singletary would say "we can't afford to give them the game, were not a charity."

Time to Bring your A Game

The Bears are preparing for their second of three straight home games and the second in a stretch of four of six contests against NFC North opponents. Chicago (4-3) is tied for first place atop the division with the Packers (4-3), who visit the undefeated Titans (7-0) on Sunday.

Coach Smith, any final thoughts?

“I think football really begins when you get to November, that’s when the separation really begins, and we want to be one of those teams that is contending in the end.”