It really isn’t much of a stretch for me really.  The day starts with an afternoon game at the friendly confines of Wrigley Field.  It’s a warm, beautiful day, the sun is shining, the bleacher bunnies are in full bloom, and the Cubs are playing the White Sox.  I sit back and relax until some drunk Sox fan tells me how they know how to win the World Series like they have the magic formula in a can.  I ignore him cause obviously he doesn’t understand the joy of watching baseball in one the best stadiums in the country.  Of course, Carlos Zambrano throws a perfect game and I catch a home run ball from Geovany Soto. 

I quickly leave Wrigley and hop on the red line straight south to the Roosevelt stop and go see my Chicago Bears play Monday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers.  The entire nation watches as Matt Forte muscles his way to 100 yards rushing….in the first half!  Grossman throws a beautiful bomb to Devin Hester who takes it to the house.  The Bears destroy the Packers 39-0 with five touchdowns and two safeties. 

For me, that would be my perfect doubleheader.  Now let’s hear yours!  There are a few rules, the doubleheader has to be possible, although its ok if it’s highly improbable like sports played at different times of the year. 

So far the Bears have been able to sign every draft choice except the two major picks, first-round tackle Chris Williams and second-rounder Matt Forte.  There is no word on negotiations and thus far the Bears have handled things very quietly.  It appears the organization would rather handle the veteran issues of Tommie Harris, Brian Urlacher, and Devin Hester before locking up their their top two rookies.  Neither Williams or Forte has given any indication of troubles and both have been participating in off-season workouts. 

As training camp approaches the spotlight might begin to focus on the need to secure both players to a solid deal that will reward them and keep them in town.  While they are not top draft picks, both players have to know that they are expected to be starters immediately and I’m sure they will want to be compensated.  Given the Bears need at tackle and running back, I don’t think they will have much trouble giving each a substantial contract.

Raymont Harris Pick: 114

Harris was never a superstar but for a kid drafted in the 4th round he turned out to be a solid contributor. He was a fan favorite and worked his butt off for the team but was never given respect by an organization that preferred to draft big name running backs that couldn’t perform. Harris was the consummate player and never said a word. He just showed and was ready to kick ass when his team called on him. Commentators like John Madden coined the phrase “all-back” as a result of watching Raymont Harris. He would run the ball on play, lead block as a fullback the next play, and go over the middle and catch a pass the next play. He did anything and everything the team asked of him. Over 54 games he gained 2,509 yards and 16 touchdowns, while throwing his body in front of tacklers for the likes of Rashaan Salaam and Curtis Enis. He was respected and feared among the players in the league for his punishing style of running. He would wear down the opposing defense throughout the game and punish them in the fourth quarter to take over the game. He’s everything that Cedric Benson wishes he could be, but never will. He was a true class act and should have been treated with more respect by the Bears.

Chris Villarrial Pick: 152

The Bears were hoping to get a decent offensive guard in the 5th round of the draft in 1996. They ended up with a 10-year starter on the offensive line that helped anchor 155 games. Anytime you can pick up a key member of your team in a late round and have that player contribute for a decade, you have just done your organization a huge favor.

Marcus Robinson Pick: 108

Taken in the 4th round of 1997, Marcus didn’t develop right away, but when he did he was amazing. He with the Bears for five seasons, accumulating 187 catches, 2,695 yards, and 20 touchdowns before leaving. His breakout season was his second with the Bears when he caught 84 passes for 1,400 yards and 9 touchdowns. He was a great find and good team player that was always greatful for his success. He returned to Chicago this summer to retire with the team where he had the most success and happiness in his career. He played a season in Baltimore and three in Minnesota but never experience the explosive success he had in Chicago.

Patrick Mannelly Pick: 189

Never heard of Patrick Mannelly? That’s because most fans don’t pay much attention to the long-snapper. You heard me right. Mannelly was drafted in the 6th round of 1998 and is still the starting long-snapper for the team. He has played in 157 NFL games and has never started and pretty much doesn’t have any NFL statistic to associate with his name. However, he has hung around with the Bears and collected a professional football player paycheck for 10 years because he can snap the ball to the kicker and punter. You really want to teach your kids the secret to success in the NFL without the risk of injury? Teach them to long-snap.

Jerry Azumah Pick: 147

Jerry’s career was cut short by injuries but despite being drafted in the 5th round and 10th player drafted by the Bears in 1999, he contributed. The athletic corner back started for three years and was named to one Pro Bowl and 10 career interceptions. He played seven seasons and later in his career he really started to shine as a major player in the defense. He finished 2002 with 82 tackles, 2003 with 82 tackles and 4 interceptions, and in 2004 he played 12 games and finished with 51 tackles and 4 interceptions. After that he was plagued by chronic injuries that forced him to retire from the game.

Rosevelt Colvin Pick: 111

Colvin was taken ahead of Azumah in the 1999 draft in the 5th round and had much of the same success. He was paired with a young Brian Urlacher at linebacker and the pair would become a fierce duo for offenses to manage. He only stayed with the Bears four seasons and didn’t do much his first two seasons, but once given the starting game he flourished. He finished 2001 with 69 tackles and 10.5 sacks and 2002 with 64 tackles and 10.5 sacks. Starting quarterbacks learned to keep an eye on Colvin or suffer the consequences. He left for New England and played a key role in their great linebacker unit and is now headed to the Houston Texans.

Michael Green Pick: 254

Mr. Irrelevant of 2000 taken in the 7th round turned out to be anything but for the Bears. The cornerback ended up playing strong safety for the Bears and was named the starter in his third season. He finished 2002 with 100 tackles and remained the starter for three seasons. It’s quick amazing to think a kid taken so late in the draft could end up playing such a major role on a great defensive unit. However, he is another example of how injuries can cut a player short and he was out of the league by 2007. But for a few years he was able to climb from the basement of obscurity in football to a top safety in the league.

Alex Brown Pick: 104

Taken in the 4th round of 2002, Brown has been relied upon as a developing star at defensive end. Coaches didn’t have a lot of confidence in him originally but he has a very strong work ethic and has become an outstanding student of stopping the run. He was replaced last season by Mark Anderson but Anderson had trouble stopping the run and Brown was quickly put back to work. The Bears recognized their need for the big run stopper and signed him to a long-term deal this past year. He’s been a starter for five seasons, and even though he prides himself on getting after running backs, he has accumulated 31.5 career sacks along with his 283 career tackles.

Bobby Wade Pick: 139

Taken in the 5th round of 2003, Wade had a tough time in Chicago. He had trouble getting involved on the offense and coaches decided to try his talent on punt and kick returns. The result was disasterous as Wade constantly battled fumble issues and coughed up several punts in key game situations, often letting the ball bounce off his chest and right between his hands. Fans started to boo when he ran out for a punt and probably made matters worse for Wade as his fumble troubles got worse. Coaches got frustrated and Wade was allowed to go to leave to Tennessee and now Minnesota where he is enjoying some success.

Justin Gage Pick: 143

Taken four picks after Wade, their careers have mirrored one another. In four seasons with the Bears he never broke out but now with Tennessee he enjoyed a career year last year and established himself as a real threat. Too bad neither player found their stride before leaving Chicago for a new destination.

Nathan Vasher Pick: 110

Taken in the fourth round, “The Interceptor” has developed into a starting cornerback was locked up last season with a long term contract. In four seasons with the Bears he has 130 career tackles and 17 career interceptions. He has earned a reputation as a shut down corner and when he spent most of the last season injured the defense appeared to play differently without him. He offers a security for the other players on defense that he can hold is own and create plays and turnovers. That kind of confidence from your teammates cannot be easily replaced and he will play a big role in the defense being able to dominate this season.

Chris Harris Pick: 181

The Bears made a huge mistake with 6th round pick Harris when they traded him in his third season to Carolina for a draft pick. The Bears assumed they had extra talent at safety, the position Harris played, after signing Adam Archuleta last off season. Archuleta is no longer with the Bears after a disappointing season and Harris had a career year in Carolina. He finished last season with 97 tackles and 8 forced fumbles and only has more potential to grow. The Bears may be sorry they let this talented late round safety go for so little.

Mark Anderson - Taken with the 159th pick in the 5th round he had a break out rookie year with 12 sacks, but last year he only had 5 sacks and looked like he still had a lot to learn. When he started last season he looked worse and appears to be better just coming in on third downs. It remains to be seen if he will return to form his third season or continue to decline.

Trumaine McBride - Taken in the 7th round with the 221 pick in last year’s draft, he was heavily relied upon last season in an injury plagued defense. He ended up a starter and playing in all 16 games at cornerback last season, starting in 9 and accumulating 35 tackles. It may not be amazing numbers but for a rookie thrown in the mix taken in a round where he should have been on the practice squad, that’s a pretty good find. Coaches are keeping on eye on how he is able to develop as a player as a result of his vast playing experience last season. He may be able to build upon that experience and become a key player on the defense.

Establish The Running Game

Believe it or not, the Bears may have done themselves a favor getting rid of Cedric Benson.  He was never able to translate his success in college to success in the NFL.  The Bears kept giving him second chances because they wasted a high first round draft pick on him and were hoping to get a little production for their wasted money.  With Benson out of the way it paves the way for rookie Matt Forte and veteran Adrian Peterson.  Between the two they pose a better chance for the Bears to establish a running game than wasting more time hoping Benson would produce.  Coach Lovie Smith recently said that he likes the Bears running back depth chart and they don’t see a need to pursue a free agent running back.  Quarterback Rex Grossman looks like he’s running sand when he’s scrambling in the pocket, but he throws a beautiful deep ball off play action.  If the Bears have a running game, they can produce some big plays.

D-FENCE

Last year the offense got most of the attention as the reason the Bears lots.  Let’s get something straight right now, the Bears never have and never will pretend to be an offensive team.  They preach defense and then more defense.  Last year the entire defense got banged up, losing both starting cornerbacks, safety Mike Brown, and Tommie Harris played with a bad knee the entire season.  The return of a healthy defense could quickly return the Bears to dominance quicker than critics believe.  The Bears defense got them to the Super Bowl two years ago when all they had on offense was Thomas Jones and a chance-taking Rex Grossman.  This defensive unit can create turnovers, score touchdowns, and win games all by itself.  If the injury bug can stay off their backs this season, the results may look much different than last year.

The X-Factor: Devin Hester

Last season, the Bears offense was so pathetic that opposing teams were willing to kickoff out-of-bounds and give the Bears the ball on the 40-yard line rather than kick to Devin Hester.  I can tell you from sitting in the stands and watching him on the field, he is the fastest, most ellusive man I have ever seen.  The Bears have talked about letting Hester sit out some kickoffs so he can focus more of his energy on playing wide receiver.  Everyone is holding their breath to see how this experiment works out for the offense.  Last season Hester looked confused after leaving the huddle and frequently had to be reminded his assignment by a fellow receiver, usually Muhsin Muhammed.  Hester has had a full season to study the playbook and if he can make an impact on offense he will offer an immediate spark to ignite scoring.  The quarterback just has to get the ball in Hester’s hands and he can carve up the defense on his own.  If the offense can produce, they will either be able to take advantage of the great field position, or teams will have to kick to Hester.  Either option works in the Bears favor.

A Deep Pass To……Who?

The Bears decided the offense needed to go in a new direction this season.  Last year they got a very talented tight end in Greg Olsen who can run and block and this year they picked up a top tackle in Chris Williams to solidify the line.  Everyone already knows about the running back situation, but the wide receiver corps is a complete unknown.  The top 2 receivers from last season, Muhsin Muhammed and Bernard Berrian, are gone and in are Marty Booker, Brandon Lloyd, rookie Earl Bennett, rookie Marcus Monk, Mark Bradley, Rashied Davis, and Mike Hass.  That’s a lot of names isn’t it?  That’s because the Bears have no idea who will be the starting wide receivers and have brought in a whole new crop to choose from.  Marty Booker had a lot of success the first time he played with the Bears and is happy to be home.  He will be the veteran presence but it is unclear how much talent he has left.  Brandon Lloyd has be praised as the best looking receiver in OTA’s and appears to be the most promising prospect of the bunch.  Surprising little has been said about rookie draft picks Bennett and Monk, which isn’t good and means they need to step it up in training camp.  Davis and Bradley have been with the team a few years and are good, but far from being great.  Mike Hass just missed making the team last year but made some absolutely amazing catches in the preseason last year and eyes will be on him this year.  I will say one thing, the Bears have made many mistakes in the draft but they have rarely made mistakes with wide receiver.  Booker and Lloyd will be the front runners, but Bennett and Monk may become big producers down the line.

NFC NORTH

Last year the Bears had a tough time with their own division, getting beat up by the Vikings, Packers, and the Lions.  Hopefully this year the Bears will solve the riddle of how a terrible Lions team managed to give them hell and keep the Vikings’ Adrian Peterson from running all over the field.  Brett Favre was always a Bears killer and with him gone the defense should be able to exhale a little bit.  The problem is the NFL North appears to have replaced Favre with the new division star in Peterson.  It will be hard to match up against a good Vikings team, but I will be interested to see how they treat Berrian in the first game.  If the Bears are going to have any success, they have to find a way to at least split the games with their three rivals.

Season Schedule

Coach Lovie Smith likes to break the season into quarters so I’ll do the same.  First quarter: open against the Colts in their new stadium, at Panthers, Bucs, and Eagles.  I would LOVE to see the Bears take out the Colts in their new stadium but I doubt the Bears will have everything ready.  This team will take time to feel each other with so many new faces.  The Bears need to rebound quickly with a win against the Panthers.  The Bears have always enjoyed success against the Bucs and they have bigger problems than the Bears with their roster.  The Eagles are always tough in the beginning of the season with a healthy McNabb.  They’ll likely open 2-2.

Second quarter: at Lions, at Falcons, Vikings, Lions.  The Bears played the Lions close together last season and it spelled disaster as they confused Bears coaches both times.  This year I doubt they will let the same thing happen.  The Falcons are a few years away from being competitive in the NFL and should offer some relief.  The first match up against the Vikings will be charged up for the Bears to test themselves against the new NFL darling as NFC favorite.  Second quarter record: 3-1.

Third quarter: Titans, at Packers, at Rams, at Vikings.  You never know what to expect from the Titans and Vince Young.  However, Brian Urlacher has always matched up well against scrambling quarterbacks by chasing down all over the field.  He did it to Michael Vick and he should be able to do it against Young.  The Bears then have a tough three game stretch of away games but thankfully they are all in the midwest and will save players from travel fatigue.  The Bears will try to take advantage of a Favre-less Packers, shut down the Ram offense, and try to escape Minnesota with a victory.  They will be successful in 2 out of 3 trips.  Third quarter record:  3-1.

Fourth quarter:  Jaguars, Saints, Packers, at Texans.  This will be the toughest stretch of the season for the Bears and will test their ability.  By this time they will be in contention for a playoff spot but will have to fight hard to keep it.  The Bears play the Jaguars on Sunday and then must prepare for the Saints on Thursday night.  The Jaguars are a physical team and may present a problem for players to be ready by Thursday for a talented Saints team.  I fear at best they will split these games and could possibly drop them both.  The Bears will have no problem getting focused for the Packers game at Soldier Field on December 22nd for Monday Night Football.  The house will be rocking and the Bears will be looking to put on a good show.  The Texans offer a nice trip to warm Texas and hopefully wrap up a playoff spot.  Fourth quarter record:  2-2. 

That leaves the Bears with a record of 10-6 and in the NFC that will always get you to the playoffs. 

Playoff Match Ups

The good news about a good Minnesota team is that if the Bears meet them in the playoffs, they will be very familiar with each other.  The more experience you have with a team, regardless of talent, the better chance you have to find a way to beat them.  Teams like the Saints and Cowboys are unpredictable but talented and may face challenges for the Bears.  However, no NFC team has really established itself as a top team beyond ranking speculation.  As we have seen, a key injury to the Cowboys or Saints lineup can leave them vulnerable.  A lot of things can happen in a football season.  As the saying goes, any given sunday.  The opportunities are there for the Bears if they can seize it. 

Harris is considered one of the most dominant young defensive tackles in the game and in the last year of his rookie contract.  If allowed on the free agent market, he would have landed a huge deal in a new city.  With that type of leverage the Bears didn’t have much of a choice other than to award him with their biggest contract ever.  The Bears will probably have to do the same in the coming weeks as they try to sign an extension with already legendary returner Devin Hester.  The deal also allows Harris to still test the free agent market when he will have a high demand.  When this extension runs out he will still be 29 years old and may command a contract even more lucrative than the one he just signed. 

Harris has already been to 3 straight Pro Bowls in his 4 years in the league and has established himself as a force in the middle of the field.  Offensive lines usually have to devote a double team to Harris, leaving linebackers free to roam the field, a key to success for Brian Urlacher.  Harris has also had some issues with injuries but always bounces back at full strength or is willing to play injured to help his team.  In the week 3 matchup last year against the Cowboys, Harris injured his knee and opted to play out the remainder of the season on a bad knee rather than take time off. 

The move also ensures the Bears have a strong core on their defense that will be around for at least the next few years.  Tommie Harris joins Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs, Charles Tillman, Nathan Vasher, and Alex Brown in the list of long-term players. 

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QB:  Rex Grossman

This one goes without saying.  The Bears brought him back with a 1-year deal to try to once-and-for-all slay his demons and show that he can compete in the NFL consistently and not just show flashes of greatness followed by a game-ending interception.

RB:  Matt Forte

Isn’t this what every rookie dreams of when they are drafted?  The starting spot has basically been handed to Forte, now he has to step it up and show that he deserves it.  Coaches have been raving about his skills during OTA’s but things are different with the pads on.  The organization is holding its breath for the first few weeks of training camp to see how the youngster runs routes when he’s being chased down by Urlacher and Co. in full contact drills.  If things don’t turn out well, the Bears may become big players on the running back market.

WR:  Brandon Lloyd

There is a lot of attention being paid to Devin Hester but all Hester really needs is the ball in his hands and he can create his own plays.  It appears the real score for the Bears on the free agent market was landing Lloyd out of Washington.  Word from the Bears is he looks great in drills so far this summer and he appears to be distancing himself from the pack as the number 1 receiver.  If he has a strong training camp Lloyd may be able to resurrect his career as a top wide out.

TE:  Greg Olsen

Olsen has put together some flashy plays and has an incredible ability to go up and get after the ball.  Bears quarterbacks need to look to him more often and hopefully will rely on him now that he has more experience.  The Bears resigned Desmond Clark so Olsen will platoon for playing time.  Both players are known for their good hands and ability to spread the field, but Olsen has blazing speed and incredible height to go along with it.  Olsen has done everything right so far, he just needs to get more familiar with his quarterbacks and make sure they don’t forget to look for him.

OT:  Chris Williams

Ok rook, time to show us what you got.  Chicago is not known for their great first round draft picks so Williams will have a lot of pressure on him to perform and perform well.  Reporters and fans will be on his every step to see if maybe, just maybe, a first round draft pick will come through.  He’ll have a lot of veteran mentors on the line and hopefully he’ll be up to the task.

OG: Terrence Metcalf

Entering into his seventh season in the league he has seen some short stints as a starter but the team has never had full faith in him.  Now that Rueben Brown has departed, the job is his to lose.  He will have to show coaches that he is ready to be a part of the offensive line and hold his own.  Given his contribution in the past I think he’s ready to be in the spotlight full time. 

C:  Olin Kreutz

Kreutz has long been considered the cog holding the Bears offensive line together and their undeniable leader.  However, last year there was a sudden drop off in his productivity and he didn’t look like his normal self.  As a result the entire offensive line looked unprepared and confused all season.  The success of the O-line starts and ends with Kreutz.  He needs to get back into his old form if this offense is going to have a chance to move the ball.

DE:  Mark Anderson

After a flashy rookie season, Anderson was given the opportunity to start at end over veteran Alex Brown and he folded under the pressure.  His inability to handle the run distracted him from focusing his energy on being a great pass rusher.  The Bears decided to resign Brown to a longer deal and put him back on the starting line for his experience to contain running backs.  Anderson will return to his 3rd down role as a pass rushing threat on the edge.  If Anderson can’t find his rookie spark, he may find himself replacable down the line.

DT:  Matt Toeaina

I had a hard time with this one because the real attention will be paid to Israel Idonije, who has put his time in as a special teamer and is trying to win a job as starting DT.  However, I’ll be particularly interested in watching the development of Toeaina.  When the Bears were thin at the position towards the end of last season, they signed Toeaina and he burst into the backfield making plays against the Minnesota Vikings on Adrian Peterson.  Any kid that can shed a block and chase down Peterson in the backfield is someone I want to keep an eye on.  It may have been a fluke burst of adrenaline so he could make the team, but if not……you never know.

LB:  Brian Urlacher

Urlacher may be the face of the defense but he also is admittedly playing with an arthritic lower back and coming off surgery on his neck this offseason.  Eyes will be on Urlacher the first time he participates in contract drills to see how that back neck and back are going to hold up.  It appears the neck is healed, but he will likely have to play the rest of his career dealing with an aching lower back.

CB:  Nathan Vasher

There is a reason why they call him “The Interceptor.”  Vasher was injured most of last season and you could see how his absense had an effect on the team.  When he returned to play a couple games the defense had a different swagger and more confidence in their play.  Vasher also turned up with an interception.  He’s got a nose for the ball and when healthy and paired up with Charles Tillman, they can shut down opposing receivers.  He needs to be healthy and get back to form for this defense to return to dominance.

S:  Mike Brown

If you have never seen Mike Brown play I cannot even begin to describe him to you.  He is to the Bears what Mark Prior was to the Chicago Cubs.  He is not only Pro Bowl caliber, he is possibly a Hall Of Fame caliber player that has been sidelined by injuries his entire career.  When he is on the field the Bears defense looks almost unstoppable.  He will stop the run(101 tackles his rookie year), cover wide receivers, and has a knack for coming up with interceptions(14) and returning them for touchdowns (He is the franchise leader with 7 defensive TD’s).  He is the total package.  When he plays the Tampa Cover-2 defense is running at it’s best and will give an opposing quarterback nightmares.  Last season he played in only one game and had to be taken off the field with an injury.  After the game he broke down in tears in frustration over his career.  He wasn’t sure if he would return but he agreed with the Bears to give it one more shot.  Every Bear fan and player prays that Brown can stay healthy and make a huge difference on this defense.

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It wouldn’t be much of an improvement over Grossman or Orton but at least it offers another arm for competition in training camp.  Given the lack of success at quarterback for the Bears, they are willing to take gambles to go in new directions. 

This by no means indicates Simms has the potential to start in Chicago but it would be an interesting turn in events and a fresh face.  Grossman appears to still be the organization favorite but they plan on giving Orton every opportunity to win the starting job. 

Urlacher originally stated he wanted nothing to do with OTA’s and was going to stay in Arizona, but he showed up last week for OTA’s and has been leading the first team defense.  It really has more to do with common sense than anything else.  Urlacher is coming off a season with issues of arthritis in his back and surgery on his neck.  The only way he can show the team he merits a new deal is by getting on the practice field and showing the organization he is in good health. 

It looks like the Bears will be able to avoid an ugly situation with their most popular player and work something out before the start of the season.  Both sides took a level-headed approach and are waiting to see how Urlacher performs on the field before they work out numbers. 

On Monday night, Adrian Peterson underwent an appendectomy and will be sidelined at least until the start of training camp.  That leaves the Bears with Forte and Garrett Wolfe, who sparingly got on the field last season, to run plays in the backfield during OTA’s (Organized Team Activities).  The positive is that Forte will now be thrust in a roll over the next few weeks to run all the plays with the first team offense and learn the playbook.  He should have a solid grasp on the Bears offense by the time he puts on pads and takes real hits.  The negative is that Forte will not have a veteran influence to help guide him on how to be an NFL running back.  Players and coaches will have to guide him and get him started on the right foot.

Offensive coaches have done nothing but praise how great Forte looks in all the team drills and appear to optimistic what the rookie can accomplish.  However, they always finish with a caution to reporters and fans that they haven’t actually seen Forte with pads on in full contract drills and training camp will be the true indicator of Forte’s impact.  I for one am very anxious to see what he can do on the field.  The biggest complaint by rookies in training camp is that they don’t get enough attention and don’t get a chance to learn the plays.  Forte is in a crash course on Bears offense and has the attention of virtually every offensive coach.  With this type of nurturing and cuddling into the system, if Forte can match with intensity in training camp he may be able to add a spark to the offense.

Even with this latest development, the Bears organization hasn’t given the slightest indication they plan on bringing a new running back into the fold.  We have been assured that Peterson will be 100% before training camp and will resume his position.  My guess is the Bears will wait until right before the start of training camp to evaluate the need to bring in a new running back. 

Number 10: Marc Columbo

Drafted with the 29th overall pick of 2002, Columbo is more of a Bears bust than NFL bust.  The Bears had high hopes for the large right tackle, but towards the end of his five year stint with the organization he had severe injury setbacks.  After a couple years of having trouble getting back on the field, he was released.  Fortunately, this story has a happy ending because Marc signed with the Dallas Cowboys and has had great success and no injuries.  If he had stayed as healthy in Chicago he probably would have been a fan favorite and an anchor on the offensive line.

Number 9:  Alonzo Spellman

Drafted with the 22nd pick of the first round in 1992, Spellman was an extremely athletic defensive end that had the physical talent and ability for greatness.  While he did manage to collect 43 sacks over his 9 year career, he was always haunted by his own shadow.  Coaches couldn’t understand why a player that appeared destined for greatness could never reach the next level on the playing field.  Spellman was good, but never reached his promised greatness.  Later in his career he was plagued by mental conditions that likely started earlier in life and went ignored.  It culminated in an episode in which he was seen walking around his neighborhood bare foot and locked himself inside his house, creating a stand off with police.  Hall of famer Mike Singletary was brought in to talk to Spellman and agree to get treatment. 

Number 8:  David Terrell

Drafted with the 8th overall pick in 2001, I have a hard time putting Terrell up here because I really think he was a talented receiver.  He had all the makings of a great receiver, but 1,602 yards and 9 touchdowns in 4 seasons, he earns a spot on the list.  Terrell is another example of a receiver running his mouth instead of his legs.  It’s tough for a young receiver to get used to the NFL when Bears quarterbacks were rotated every game during his career.  However, a receiver should talk to coaches and quarterbacks about breaking off routs when you see your quarterback scrambling so you get create plays.  Instead Terrell was content to pout on the field and see his criticism of teammates printed in the papers.  He had enough talent to get consideration from a few teams after leaving the Bears, but never saw great success.

Number 7:  Rex Grossman

Drafted with the 22nd overall pick of the 2003 draft, I wouldn’t quite call him a complete bust yet but he’s riding the fence.  He has thrown for 5,907 yards, 31 touchdowns, 33 interceptions, and some forget that the first half of the 2006 season he played well enough to be considered for MVP.  However, we all know his trouble his consistency and regression with his mechanicals.  Most of his success has come when he can utilize the play action pass and when the running game fails, he becomes a big target.  Hopefully with the release of Benson the Bears can find a new back to establish the running game.  Grossman still has time to resurrect his career, but this could be his last chance with the Bears.

Number 6:  Rashaan Salaam

Salaam was drafted with the 21st pick of the first round in 1995.  He came out of the University of Colorado fresh off winning the Heisman Trophy and had Chicago buzzing.  That buzz quickly turned to boos as fans became frustrated with a running back that couldn’t get anything right.  He played four years with the Bears and put together only 1,684 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.  There were no bright spots in his career, he never seemed to figure out how to transfer his success in college into success in the NFL.  His rookie season he rushed for 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns but the rest of his career was plagued with problems on and off the field.  He’ll be most remembered by fans for his frequent fumbles to cough up the game. 

Number 5:   Cade McNown

Drafted with the 12th overall draft pick in 1999, the Bears would learn the hard way they have difficulty drafting on offense.  He only lasted 2 seasons with the Bears, passing for 3,111 yard, 16 touchdowns, and 19 interceptions.  McNown constantly struggled on the field, resulting in boos from the fans and caused him to further decline.  After signing McNown, the Bears released quarterback Erik Kramer, a fan favorite and my favorite Bears quarterback of the last 20 years.  He also had to compete with Jim Miller and Shane Matthews.  Miller had injury issues that gave McNown windows for playing time, but his poor play and the fan preference of Miller was overwhelming.  McNown was quickly traded and bounced around the league before retiring.

Number 4:  Curtis Enis

Taken with the 5th pick of the first round in 1998 he appeared to solve the Bears running back troubles.  The results were disappointing to coaches and fans alike.  He lasted three seasons with the Bears, rushing for 1,497 yards and 2 touchdowns.  He never broke the 1,000 yard rushing mark in a season and was a disaster from the start.  Worse yet, Enis left the Bears and would never play football for another team, a true indicator of how poorly he adapted to the NFL.  Bears fans tear their hair out when they remember the Jacksonville Jaguars were willing to give up both their first round picks to trade up and get Enis.  The Jaguars settled on drafting a kid named Fred Taylor. 

Number 3:   Cedric Benson

Drafted with the 4th overall draft pick of 2005, he has to be the most disappointing draft pick in recent memory.  He was praised as the solution to all the Bears rushing problems and came in with an extremely impressive pedigree from the University of Texas.  He had all the makings of a great running back but he was another example of how some college backs never adapt to the NFL.  Rushing for 1,593 yards and 10 touchdowns in three seasons he was determined that he could make his punishing, steam roller rushing method in the NFL.  However, the NFL has little room for slow backs that run with their backs straight up and allow defenders to take shots at them.  Even if Benson had any success, his running style would have resulted in a very short career.  He was injury prone and wouldn’t change his methods.  He also became a liability on third downs when he almost seemed to refuse or not care to bother blocking a blitz.  Coaches eventually became as frustrated with him as fans and his recent alcohol arrests gave the team no choice but to release him.

Number 2:  Rick Mirer

The Bears didn’t draft Mirer, but they did trade their 1997 first round pick to Seattle Seahawks to bring him to Chicago.  Mirer had come into the league as a golden boy after a great career at Notre Dame, but the longer he stayed in the NFL, the more problems he had on the field.  The fans in Seattle had enough of Mirer and the Bears thought a change of scene could jump start his career.  The results were a complete flop.  Mirer barely played in 1997 and was cut the beginning of the next season.  In exchange for a first round draft pick, the Bears got 420 passing yards, 0 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. 

Number 1:  Michael Haynes

Haynes has a unique place in Bears history as a great trivia question to test die hard fans.  Name the first round draft pick of 2003 taken 14th overall and ahead of Rex Grossman.  In 2003 the Bears grabbed Haynes and later took Grossman with the 22nd pick.  There is no other way to describe Haynes than the biggest waste of a first round draft pick in the last two decades.  He stayed with the club three seasons, played in 42 games, and managed 5.5 sacks as a defensive end.  I have never seen a first round draft pick come into Chicago and almost immediately disappear.  From kick off to the final whistle you could count on Haynes being as far away from the ball as possible.  He never started a game, never made a difference, and wasn’t even well known enough by fans to merit a boo.  The person who scouted Haynes for the draft should have lost their job.