Countdown to Kickoff… Adam Podlesh Days Until Chicago Bears Season Opener

Nov 25, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears punter Adam Podlesh (8) runs for a two point conversion during the second quarter against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

We decided to do a countdown to the Chicago Bears season opener on September 8th versus the Cincinnati Bengals. Thanks to one of our Twitter followers, we decided to combine the countdown with a roster preview of sorts.

We’re just over a week away from the start of the regular season.  That’s Adam Podlesh or Maury Buford days for those of you who are big fans of punters or Rex Grossman days away if you like clawing out your own eyeballs with a rusty spoon.  We’ll get a little bit on each of these #8’s.

Adam Podlesh was one of the top free agent targets for the Bears in the 2011 lockout shortened offseason.  He was brought in after the relationship between then ST coordinator Dave Toub and punter Brad Maynard went sideways.  Podlesh is known as a directional punter and played right into Toub’s scheme.  His career highlight is probably this 2 point conversion when the Bears caught the Vikings napping on an extra point:

I don’t have too much more to say about the punter and holder for Robbie Gould.   I thought the Bears might push Podlesh for his job with Tress Way, but there wasn’t much of a competition.  It will be interesting to see how Joe DeCamillis uses Podlesh.

Another beloved #8 is Maury Buford, who was the punter and manned the cowbell for the Super Bowl Shufflin’ Bears of 1985.  A not so beloved #8 was the frustrating Rex Grossman, who led the Bears to Super Bowl XLI, but couldn’t rise to the occasion and lead the Bears to a win.

Grossman came in with high hopes as a first round selection back in the 2003 draft.  He spent 2005 recovering from an ankle injury and in 2006, started out the season on fire, but quickly faded and while leading the Bears to the postseason, his turnovers cost them dearly in the Super Bowl.  I often felt like the Bears won in spite of Grossman instead of because of him.

We’re just 8 days away.  Are you ready???

Hang with Bear Goggles On for all your Chicago Bears news and opinions. You can follow us on Twitter and Facebook.