Week 1: Bengals @ Bears 9/8 Noon CBS/780

[Banedon]

I'm confident the Bears are a very good football team. It's just that the schedule is sort of difficult and we have 2 other good teams in this division and it's only 16 games. Who knows what'll happen.

 

I'm not really convinced that either the Vikings or Lions are good though. I'm also not sold that the Lions will wind up worse than the Vikes. I feel like there's a chance that the Vikes were a blip last year and wind up worse this year.

 

I think the Vikings are easily the worst team in the division.

 

I expect a bounce back from the Lions.

 

I don't. The Lions have weapons, but they're a seriously undisciplined team, and I think they'll implode in one way or another.

[Banedon]

For the second time in a little more than two years the Chicago Bears have tweaked the contract of defensive end Julius Peppers to create salary-cap room.

According to reporter Brian McIntyre, the Bears converted $3 million of Peppers’ $12.9 million base salary for this season to a signing bonus. That reduced his salary for this season to $9.9 million and created $2 million in cap savings for the Bears, who have been right up against the cap.

 

This move reduces Peppers’ salary cap for this season to $14,383,333.

 

While the move creates flexibility for the Bears this season, it makes Peppers’ cap number in the final two years of the contract grow even more -- $1 million each year. Peppers is scheduled to earn $14 million in 2014 -- $13.9 million in base salary with a $100,000 workout bonus. His cap number now climbs to $18,183,333 for next season.

 

In 2015, Peppers’ base salary is $16.5 million and this move pushes his salary cap for that season to $20,683,335.

[jersey cubs fan]

Brad Biggs ‏@BradBiggs 3m

#Bears have released prac squad QB Jerrod Johnson

Brad Biggs ‏@BradBiggs 6m

No sign of prac squad QB Jerrod Johnson at practice. Might have been released

[UMFan83]

For the second time in a little more than two years the Chicago Bears have tweaked the contract of defensive end Julius Peppers to create salary-cap room.

According to reporter Brian McIntyre, the Bears converted $3 million of Peppers’ $12.9 million base salary for this season to a signing bonus. That reduced his salary for this season to $9.9 million and created $2 million in cap savings for the Bears, who have been right up against the cap.

 

This move reduces Peppers’ salary cap for this season to $14,383,333.

 

While the move creates flexibility for the Bears this season, it makes Peppers’ cap number in the final two years of the contract grow even more -- $1 million each year. Peppers is scheduled to earn $14 million in 2014 -- $13.9 million in base salary with a $100,000 workout bonus. His cap number now climbs to $18,183,333 for next season.

 

In 2015, Peppers’ base salary is $16.5 million and this move pushes his salary cap for that season to $20,683,335.

 

So I'm assuming that salary is guaranteed and the Bears cant just turn around and cut him and get rid of some of his cap hit, right?

[Banedon]

So I'm assuming that salary is guaranteed and the Bears cant just turn around and cut him and get rid of some of his cap hit, right?

 

I don't see anything saying it's guaranteed.

[CubColtPacer]

So I'm assuming that salary is guaranteed and the Bears cant just turn around and cut him and get rid of some of his cap hit, right?

 

I don't see anything saying it's guaranteed.

 

The 3 million they just gave him in signing bonus is guaranteed. In fact, it probably got paid to him immediately. He still very well might get cut after the year, because he has large unguaranteed base salaries each of the next two years. But 2 million in guaranteed cap hit was pushed back beyond this year with that move.

[rocket]

bengals win 16-10 in a game that isn't fun for anybody to watch

 

GO BENGALS

[Guest]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/09/04/urlacher-said-bears-faked-injuries-to-slow-down-offenses/

 

Oh good, a talking head on Fox Sports. Not sure how I feel about that.

[Soul]

Tact is not one of Brian's strong suits. Everyone knows this happens but does he have to blab about it?

[Guest]

bengals win 16-10 in a game that isn't fun for anybody to watch

 

GO BENGALS

 

Oh look, a Bengal fan picking the Bengals.

[rocket]

bengals win 16-10 in a game that isn't fun for anybody to watch

 

GO BENGALS

 

Oh look, a Bengal fan picking the Bengals.

 

how about if the bengals win you have to mow my lawn in your wife's best sunday dress

[Banedon]

Peter King doesn't have the Bears in the playoffs.

 

http://mmqb.si.com/2013/09/03/the-mmqbs-2013-predictions-and-preview-spectacular/

[Banedon]

Cornelison to do the anthem at Soldier Field this weekend.

[Banedon]

Green grinned recalling how Tillman forced him to fumble during the Pro Bowl, a mistake he vowed not to repeat when it matters.

 

"I'm going to be wrapping it up like a freakin' running back, both hands on the ball,'' Green said. "Don't worry about (yards after the catch) this week. Keep the ball covered.''

[Banedon]

@csnmoonmullin: Lance Briggs clarifies for #Bears - 'D.J. Williams is our starting 'mike'" - MLB question answered

 

Ok then.

[RynoRules]

@csnmoonmullin: Lance Briggs clarifies for #Bears - 'D.J. Williams is our starting 'mike'" - MLB question answered

 

Ok then.

 

Actually made me feel like our depth at LB is far better than it has been in many years. DB is another matter.

[Banedon]

@csnmoonmullin: Lance Briggs clarifies for #Bears - 'D.J. Williams is our starting 'mike'" - MLB question answered

 

Ok then.

 

Actually made me feel like our depth at LB is far better than it has been in many years. DB is another matter.

 

LT depth is scary.

[scarey]

@csnmoonmullin: Lance Briggs clarifies for #Bears - 'D.J. Williams is our starting 'mike'" - MLB question answered

 

Ok then.

 

Actually made me feel like our depth at LB is far better than it has been in many years. DB is another matter.

 

 

What's wrong with the DB depth? Steltz and Bowman have both started a significant amount of games, Walters has shown he's capable when inserted into the lineup, and Frey has looked good in camp/preseason. I'm not too worried about DB depth personally. It may not be as good as LB, depth, but it's not a bleak situation especially compared to most other NFL teams.

[Banedon]

@brian_mcintyre:

2013-09-06 14:28:07 UTC

 

Bears WR Earl Bennett took a $1M pay cut this week. Was due $2.25M in base salary, now will earn $1.25M. Bears save $1M in cash/cap space

[rawaction]

@csnmoonmullin: Lance Briggs clarifies for #Bears - 'D.J. Williams is our starting 'mike'" - MLB question answered

 

Ok then.

 

Actually made me feel like our depth at LB is far better than it has been in many years. DB is another matter.

 

 

What's wrong with the DB depth? Steltz and Bowman have both started a significant amount of games, Walters has shown he's capable when inserted into the lineup, and Frey has looked good in camp/preseason. I'm not too worried about DB depth personally. It may not be as good as LB, depth, but it's not a bleak situation especially compared to most other NFL teams.

 

If a CB has to miss time, you're 1 in-game injury away from having to play a UDFA or the terrible, McManis at CB. And Frey is essentially a rookie as is also. Of course, most teams don't have more than 3 proven CBs either. But after Jennings and Tillman, you have 4 guys who were either late picks or not drafted at all. Not the most talented depth on the team for sure, though probably not quite dire.

[Guest]

The Bears over under for wins is 8 this year according to Vegas. It seems a near lock to me to take the over, but Chris Russo and some dudes on the radio make me want to shy away.

[jersey cubs fan]

There's plenty of downside risk with this team. I've become more comfortable with them the more I've seen and heard, but this is still a team that could have a death spiral season. If I had to bet on the outcome, I'd take the over as well, but I'm staying away on that stuff this year.

[UMFan83]

Andy on Desipio does a pretty good job describing the meatball bears fans and the almost as bad media that covers the team, including our buddy Hub:

 

http://www.desipio.com/?p=4568

[Banedon]

Meh...I don't know that it was all that great. I disagree about Joniak and Thayer. I enjoy hearing them, and would take them over the tv announcers in a heartbeat. Hub is an easy target, and yeah...football fans are meatballs. That's not exclusive to Chicago.

[Guest]

When did Desipio re-design to look like a homeless man's version of SBNation