Week 1: Bears at Colts - 8:15 pm Eastern, NBC

[UMFan83]

Simmons might be the first person in the media to not immediately decry the Bears' QB situation or their lack of attempts to fix it.

 

Prediction No. 3: Everyone will hail Chicago's yearly attempt to breathe life into a passing game that hasn't shown life since the Willie Gault era.

 

"Wait a second," you're saying, "didn't they let Bernard Berrian and Muhsin Muhammad leave? And didn't they just have a Kyle Orton/Rex Grossman battle for the starting QB spot? And didn't they just make a kick returner their No. 1 receiver? How are these good things?"

 

OK, let's say you just bought a new house, only you got soaked on your mortgage and had to go with a 75-25 instead of an 80-20. You're short on funds, so you decide, "We're going to spend most of our time in the kitchen, TV room and bedroom" and spend all your remaining funds to make those rooms nice: Maybe a 52-inch plasma, comfy sofa, kitchen table, king-sized bed, a few framed pictures, some homey knick-knacks and so on. By the time you're done, every room in the house looks great except for the dining room. Instead of half-assing it and putting a cheap-looking table and chairs in there, or even worse, splurging on a nice table and crappy chairs, you decided to sacrifice that room for 12 months, leave it empty and use that extra money on the rest of the house. It's the right move. And when friends visit and see an empty dining room, you just explain, "Yeah, we haven't gotten around to that room yet." They will understand, especially when they see the rest of your kick-ass house.

 

Well, that's exactly what the Bears did. Last year's passing game sucked because their quarterbacks sucked. Instead of spending money to patch together another inevitably disappointing passing game, they basically said, "Screw it, we'll leave the dining room empty and spend money everywhere else!" What's the point of spending 10 to 15 percent of your cap to upgrade your passing game from an "F" to a "D?" If Chicago's defense, running game and special teams can carry them like in 2006, maybe the Bears could play four straight months of ugly, low-scoring games and eke out a 10-6 record or something.

 

(Would I bet on this? Of course not! Not in a million years! But splurging on the likes of Chad Pennington, Berrian and Donte' Stallworth wouldn't have changed anything other than hurting their cap in 2010. You have to admit.)

[CuseCubFan69]

I hope I got this wrong but are some of you saying you wouldn't want a top 5 pick because the GM would blow it? It's like instead of fixing my slice, I'll turn to the left a bit. IMO, Get rid of the GM if you don't think he can draft.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Some people have a *ton* more faith in this defense than I do.

 

Urlacher has lost a half-step, the pass-rush isn't that great if Harris is questionable, and the corners are bad without a pass rush.

 

Then comes the dreaded phrase "If Mike Brown is healthy..."

[jersey cubs fan]

I hope I got this wrong but are some of you saying you wouldn't want a top 5 pick because the GM would blow it? It's like instead of fixing my slice, I'll turn to the left a bit. IMO, Get rid of the GM if you don't think he can draft.

 

A) Angelo is signed through 2013 and is going nowhere. Sure, it would be nice to replace him, it's just not likely.

 

B) Angelo has shown he is capable of drafting well in the middle and late rounds, although that has not been consistent. He's struggled with first round picks conistently though.

 

C) A top 5 pick means both, the team sucked, and you have to pay an exorbitant bonus to a rookie which could set your team back years due to salary cap ramifications.

[CuseCubFan69]

I hope I got this wrong but are some of you saying you wouldn't want a top 5 pick because the GM would blow it? It's like instead of fixing my slice, I'll turn to the left a bit. IMO, Get rid of the GM if you don't think he can draft.

 

A) Angelo is signed through 2013 and is going nowhere. Sure, it would be nice to replace him, it's just not likely.

 

B) Angelo has shown he is capable of drafting well in the middle and late rounds, although that has not been consistent. He's struggled with first round picks conistently though.

 

C) A top 5 pick means both, the team sucked, and you have to pay an exorbitant bonus to a rookie which could set your team back years due to salary cap ramifications.

 

On Mike and Mike they had the union guy on there and he said that the rookie money isn't counted against the cap, did I hear that wrong? Why is this guy signed to such a long deal?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

The NFL tells you that you must set aside a certain portion of your cap for rookie deals, so it's technically part of your cap.

 

But more importantly, a top-5 pick isn't signing a one-year deal.

[Derwood]

The NFL tells you that you must set aside a certain portion of your cap for rookie deals, so it's technically part of your cap.

 

But more importantly, a top-5 pick isn't signing a one-year deal.

 

so many problems solved if the NFL implemented a better version of the NBA rookie contract

[CuseCubFan69]

From the way I heard it, it was like for example the cap is 100 and rookies get another 32.

[jersey cubs fan]

Simmons might be the first person in the media to not immediately decry the Bears' QB situation or their lack of attempts to fix it.

 

He implied it was smart to not waste money on a retread. But he has still decried their overall situation and the lack of attempts to fix it, primarily through the draft.

 

It was stupid to not draft QBs in recent years. It was not stupid to avoid Pennington and others.

[Soul]

Simmons might be the first person in the media to not immediately decry the Bears' QB situation or their lack of attempts to fix it.

 

He implied it was smart to not waste money on a retread. But he has still decried their overall situation and the lack of attempts to fix it, primarily through the draft.

 

It was stupid to not draft QBs in recent years. It was not stupid to avoid Pennington and others.

 

But they must fix the development portion of the puzzle or drafting QBs will not likely yield the results they want. Unless the guy is simply good enough to succeed in spite of the coaching/teaching. I know you addressed this earlier, but I just wanted to re-point to it here.

 

They must have the people ready to take that draft talent and hone it for the NFL, on the offensive side of the ball.

[jersey cubs fan]

Simmons might be the first person in the media to not immediately decry the Bears' QB situation or their lack of attempts to fix it.

 

He implied it was smart to not waste money on a retread. But he has still decried their overall situation and the lack of attempts to fix it, primarily through the draft.

 

It was stupid to not draft QBs in recent years. It was not stupid to avoid Pennington and others.

 

But they must fix the development portion of the puzzle or drafting QBs will not likely yield the results they want. Unless the guy is simply good enough to succeed in spite of the coaching/teaching. I know you addressed this earlier, but I just wanted to re-point to it here.

 

They must have the people ready to take that draft talent and hone it for the NFL, on the offensive side of the ball.

 

Yes, this is true. The most important thing is an offensive line. No QB prospect can develop without one. Next is a good coach, however, you don't have to employ a genius to get a very good QB to be a solid pro.

[soapy]

i'm kind of surprised how many of the silly Colts fans calling into to talk shows and what not saying the Bears should kick to Hester. lots of beating their own chests type stuff. "he's the best but we're the best"; "we're not afraid of him", etc.

 

seriously, pretty much one of the only chances the Bears have to win the game is if Hester does something in the return game. getter over your pride.

[Banedon]

i'm kind of surprised how many of the silly Colts fans calling into to talk shows and what not saying the Bears should kick to Hester. lots of beating their own chests type stuff. "he's the best but we're the best"; "we're not afraid of him", etc.

 

seriously, pretty much one of the only chances the Bears have to win the game is if Hester does something in the return game. getter over your pride.

 

I actually saw the last bit of Rome is Burning yesterday, and he pretty much said the exact same thing. He replayed Hester's opening kickoff return at the Super Bowl, and said anything other than kicking it out of bounds is a mistake. I hate to agree with that man, but...

[minnesotacubsfan]

i'm kind of surprised how many of the silly Colts fans calling into to talk shows and what not saying the Bears should kick to Hester. lots of beating their own chests type stuff. "he's the best but we're the best"; "we're not afraid of him", etc.

 

seriously, pretty much one of the only chances the Bears have to win the game is if Hester does something in the return game. getter over your pride.

 

I actually saw the last bit of Rome is Burning yesterday, and he pretty much said the exact same thing. He replayed Hester's opening kickoff return at the Super Bowl, and said anything other than kicking it out of bounds is a mistake. I hate to agree with that man, but...

 

i'll take it....

[minnesotacubsfan]

i'm kind of surprised how many of the silly Colts fans calling into to talk shows and what not saying the Bears should kick to Hester. lots of beating their own chests type stuff. "he's the best but we're the best"; "we're not afraid of him", etc.

 

seriously, pretty much one of the only chances the Bears have to win the game is if Hester does something in the return game. getter over your pride.

 

I actually saw the last bit of Rome is Burning yesterday, and he pretty much said the exact same thing. He replayed Hester's opening kickoff return at the Super Bowl, and said anything other than kicking it out of bounds is a mistake. I hate to agree with that man, but...

 

i'll take it....

[rawaction]

i'm kind of surprised how many of the silly Colts fans calling into to talk shows and what not saying the Bears should kick to Hester. lots of beating their own chests type stuff. "he's the best but we're the best"; "we're not afraid of him", etc.

 

seriously, pretty much one of the only chances the Bears have to win the game is if Hester does something in the return game. getter over your pride.

 

I actually saw the last bit of Rome is Burning yesterday, and he pretty much said the exact same thing. He replayed Hester's opening kickoff return at the Super Bowl, and said anything other than kicking it out of bounds is a mistake. I hate to agree with that man, but...

 

i'll take it....

 

The Colts special teams is really bad. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Bears go after a couple punts (assume they force them to punt) Sunday night.

[RedFlash]

i'm kind of surprised how many of the silly Colts fans calling into to talk shows and what not saying the Bears should kick to Hester. lots of beating their own chests type stuff. "he's the best but we're the best"; "we're not afraid of him", etc.

 

seriously, pretty much one of the only chances the Bears have to win the game is if Hester does something in the return game. getter over your pride.

 

That's the problem that coaches deal with when the face the Bears. If they kick it to Hester and Devin burns them for a TD or more, then people are going to call that HC a moron for kicking the ball to the most exciting threat football has seen since..........Michael Vick (pre-dogs). But if they kick away from me (sribbing it, or kicking out of bounds) and they are roasted for being a "coward", and/or don't have faith in the special teams. Coaches are in a lose-lose situation when dealing with Hester.

[WrigleyField 22]

in an effort too trick myself into being excited about this season, I'm calling upset

 

Bears 12

Dolts 9

Come on defense scores at least one touchdown.

[Cynosure]

Woo.... 30 hours til the start of our 6-10 season, who's excited?

 

At least I can root for Hester to break his own record again. The Barry Bonds of football within a couple years, not bad.

[BigSlick]

The Bears descent into complete suckitude from their huge 2006 Super Bowl year has made me care less about football than anything else

 

Even if they were to pull off an incredibly improbable win here, they wont possibly move toward a playoff spot. This team is atrocious. The offense is worse than a few college football offenses I could name. Defense is getting old and Urlacher is a ticking time bomb.

 

There is almost no future with this roster.

 

The front office has no idea how to assemble talent on the offensive side.

 

Me and Soul used to follow this team together in the old Bears official forums, good times. I have no enthusiasm for this team. Maybe they could pull off a 2005-like season, but it wouldn't matter.

 

Go Cubs. Go Illini?

[minnesotacubsfan]

in an effort too trick myself into being excited about this season, I'm calling upset

 

Bears 12

Dolts 9

Come on defense scores at least one touchdown.

 

defense, no. Hester, yes.

 

hester TD = 7

O FG = 3

Defense Safety=2

 

Bears score 12

 

 

:)

[Magnetic Curses]

Woo.... 30 hours til the start of our 6-10 season, who's excited?

 

At least I can root for Hester to break his own record again. The Barry Bonds of football within a couple years, not bad.

 

the more i break it down, the more it looks like 4-12 to me.

[Brian]

i'm not excited at all

[Soul]

The Bears descent into complete suckitude from their huge 2006 Super Bowl year has made me care less about football than anything else

 

Even if they were to pull off an incredibly improbable win here, they wont possibly move toward a playoff spot. This team is atrocious. The offense is worse than a few college football offenses I could name. Defense is getting old and Urlacher is a ticking time bomb.

 

There is almost no future with this roster.

 

The front office has no idea how to assemble talent on the offensive side.

 

Me and Soul used to follow this team together in the old Bears official forums, good times. I have no enthusiasm for this team. Maybe they could pull off a 2005-like season, but it wouldn't matter.

 

Go Cubs. Go Illini?

My level of enthusiam is less this year. Much less. But I'm willing to give Lovie/Angelo just one more chance to build it back up. If I can see some young players develop and start to see a path to the future at a few positions, I'll watch. I'm nowhere near as gung-ho as I was a few years ago though. Back then we had a young up-and-coming defense that was promising to wreak terror on the entire league. The possibilities seemed endless -- good times indeed.

[Wilson A2000]

Coaches are in a lose-lose situation when dealing with Hester.

 

That's correct. Didn't the Bears have the best field position in the NFL last year? The Bears have to make other teams pay for that.

 

I heard that the Bears might be slotting their new LG to start b next week. That has to be an upgrade correct?