Notable player additions:

Defensive end Julius Peppers, running back Chester Taylor, safety Chris Harris, tight end Brandon Manumaleuna, safety Major Wright, defensive end Corey Wootton, cornerback Tim Jennings, Pisa Tinoisamoa (re-signed after playing in just two games)

Notable player subtractions:

Defensive end Alex Brown, defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, linebacker Jamar Williams, safety Kevin Payne, cornerback Nathan Vasher, offensive tackle Orlando Pace, fullback Jason McKie, running back Adrian Peterson, running back Kevin Jones

JD goes on to outline where the offense and defense ranked last season, but I’ll leave that depressing reading to you. (more…)

NFL.com is reporting that the Bears may be readying to make a run at a big name free agent defensive end such as the Panther’s Julius Peppers or division rival Green Bay’s Aaron Kampman.

Defensive end is clearly a position of need for the Bears.  With Adewale Ogunleye headed to free agency himself and the tragic passing of Gaines Adams, the Bears are left with Alex Brown and a handful of projects.

Last season the Bears tallied 35 sacks and struggled to get a consistent pass rush without blitzing.  That certainly weakened the much maligned Cover-2, which is predicated on getting pressure from the front four.  (more…)

Lovie let's his guard down to show his excitement.

Try as they might, the Bears couldn’t squander a 16-point halftime lead to keep the Vikings in the mix for the #1 seed in the NFC.  Instead, they somehow they managed to hang on to pull off the 36-30 upset win and help the Saints back into home field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

Brett Favre led a second half Vikings comeback where he picked apart Lovie Smith’s Cover-2 defense to tie the game up on a last gasp 4th and goal play with under a minute to go in the game.  Had Izzy Idonije not blocked a Ryan Longwell PAT earlier in the game, the Vikings may have very well prevailed.

Lovie Smith apologists will try to use this win as a reason to keep Smith and his staff, but don’t be fooled.  There are still plenty of reasons to pass out the pink slips at the end of the season.  Be sure to check out FIRE LOVIE SMITH for lots of coverage as the walls cave in around Lovie.   Let’s look at the memorable moments of the game:  (more…)

The Bears roll out the unwelcome mat as they get set to host their oldest rival – the Green Bay Packers – on Sunday.  In case you forgot the horror that was Week 1, I’m right here for you with video lowlights.

It really struck me while watching the video how differently Cutler seemed to carry himself in that game.  Sure, the picks were bad and look worse when you watch them again in the context of how the season has played out.  When you compare how he looked against the Vikings  (I won’t say the Rams because that was more of a scrimmage) and he just looks beaten down.

Remember when you thought that his 4 INT game was as bad as it could possibly get for Cutler?  Me too.  They even fooled us by rattling off three straight wins to start the season 3-1.  My, my, how times have changed.

What’s different since their last meeting?  Hmm, a lot has changed since Week 1 for the Bears and most all of it bad.  For the Pack, things are looking up.  Let’s check out the Keys to the Game.  (more…)

I have even read some comments on the internet about this trade that some think this trade is the first step in the Bears landing Terrell Owens.  Could it be???  I think you all know my position on that idea, but stick with me on this…the theories out there would suggest that the Bills were eyeing the Bears 2010 2nd round pick for T.O. and that the Bears traded for Adams, so the best they could give would be a 3rd rounder, but since the Bears now have Adams, they could possibly deal Adewale and a lesser draft pick to get T.O…you got all that???  I really doubt that is what Jerry is thinking, but who knows…

In theory, I think this is a good deal IF and ONLY IF Rod Marinelli can get this kid back to being the player that warranted the #4 pick overall in 2007 since we will enter the 2010 draft again without a 1st or 2nd round draft pick.  Perhaps, Gaines Adams will be to us what Cedric Benson (I miss Ced and so does Boomer) is to the Bengals…a 4th overall selection that needed a change of scenery to get things going for their career.  If that is the case, then maybe this is not such a bad deal…for Jerry’s sake, I hope he knows what he is doing, because for the “Master Drafter,” he is emptying out the draft cupboards quite liberally these days.

We should get our first look at Adams on Sunday night in Atlanta.  Let’s hope for a good first impression.

UPDATE:  The Tribune’s Vaughn McClure is reporting that Adams will be inactive on Sunday.  Probably best not to rush.  Even though, in theory, he knows the Bears’ scheme, they would have to cut someone off the 53-man roster to activate him.

Can I Get an Amen???

The DeCon has spoken…so let it be written…so let it be done…

As Bears fans, we’ve put up with viewing our favorite team on one of the worst surfaces in the NFL or years.  When news broke this morning about the Chicago Park District rejecting the Payton family’s request to place a Walter Payton statue for outside of Soldier Field, I couldn’t be silent any more.

The Bears are the Chicago Park District’s primary tenant for Soldier Field.  When the Bears aren’t using it, which amount to about 355 days a years, the CPD is free to host other events there.   Last weekend, U2 kicked off their North American tour with 2 sold-out shows at Soldier Field last weekend.  Sounds great, right?  I’m a huge U2 fan and to think that they were playing in my home town was an exciting prospect until you see what they did to the playing surface.

Soldier Field looked amazing with the "War of the Worlds" looking stage for U2.

(more…)

It’s time to start the building process for the 2009 Chicago Bears.  Jerry Angelo hasn’t exactly been a master builder in recent drafts, but whenever draft talk comes up, he seems to talk enough about floors and ceilings (of players) that you’d think he was a carpenter and not a GM.  Since the Bears announced that they won’t be raising ticket prices in 2009, I don’t expect any big splashes in Free Agency, so the bulk of the work will have to come through the draft. (more…)

If you think the arrow is pointing up for the Bears’ offense, the once-heralded defense is another story.  Long gone is the defense that carried the Bears to Super Bowl XLI.   The defense that ranked 5th overall in the NFL in 2006 has been in steady decline in the two seasons since.  The team that ranked 3rd in scoring defense in 2006, slid down to 16th the last two seasons.  In fact, last year the team’s average PPG was 21.8 compared to 21.9 this season.  That’s a far cry from the 15.9 PPG in the Super Bowl season of 2006.  Many will point to schemes and coaching.  I’ll dedicate a separate post just to address those issues.  In the meantime, let’s break it down: (more…)