In a letter being sent to season ticket-holders, Bears President Ted Phillips wrote that holding the line on ticket prices is a reward for the fans’ loyalty and passion.

Phillips commenting on the organization’s decision from the Sun Times:

“Frankly, it’s really no more complicated than taking a look at the very challenging economic environment that every fan, every person in America is facing,” Phillips said of the team¹s decision “It’s not just a down economic year, it’s an unprecedented situation that has huge impact on every citizen, and we felt for that reason it was the right thing to do.”

As a matter of fact, the Bears will actually pull in less revenue than in 2008 because the City of Chicago has raised the amusement tax by one percent to 9 percent.  Fear not faithful, Phillips assures us that this will not hamper the Bears spending spree in the upcoming Free Agency period:

“The short answer is no,” Phillips said when asked if Angelo’s budget would be impacted. “We’ve set that budget for the cash that we can spend on players. It’s typically pegged right around the cap and so it will be again this year. That being said, we are taking a look at every department and trying to find ways to cut back expenses and try to make operations more efficient.”

I have to give the team credit for not raising prices in these challenging economic times and frankly I’m shocked by this announcement.  That being said, I don’t believe a word they say about not letting it affect their free agent plans.   I didn’t expect the Bears to break the bank before this announcement and certainly don’t expect any bold moves after it.

Who is the worst Super Bowl MVP?

Add Pittsburgh WR Santonio Holmes to the list of the Super Bowl MVP’s.   Lots of big names and Hall of Famers in the bunch, but there are also quite a few one-hit wonders on the list.  (more…)

Smith will handle play-calling duties this coming season with Bob Babich remaining the defensive coordinator while returning to his roots as the team’s linebackers coach. The staff was filled out Tuesday morning with the addition of Jon Hoke as secondary coach.

“I have been involved a little bit,” Smith said this afternoon on a teleconference. “My involvement will be a lot more now. For some reason offensive coaches, there are quite a few offensive coaches that [call plays]. There are not a lot of defensive guys. I think this is what will help us get back to where we need to be.”

There’s a lot that one could read into from this seemingly innocuous announcement:

1. Lovie has placed the bulls-eye squarely on his back.  If the defense is bad, there is no one else to blame but himself.  This is the coaching equivalent of going “All In” in Texas Hold ‘Em.

2. Babich is and has been in over his head.  Lovie saying “I think this is what will help us get back to where we need to be” is an indictment of BFF Bubba Babich and his lack of ability to handle in-game adjustments and run the defense when it counts.

3.  Lovie may have been put on notice by Angelo that it is put up or shut up time.  He figures if he’s going down, at least he’ll be at the wheel.

Whatever else you want to read from this, know this.  At the conclusion of the 2009 season, there will be only Lovie Smith to blame.   Hopefully Lovie’s not bluffing.

”We are in the playoff run right now, so I don’t even want to go there, but tell them to look me up,” Leftwich said. ”I’m a fan of Lovie Smith, I’ll just say that. I thought that was where I was going to go in the beginning. I remember hoping that I would go there. I just wanted to be a part of the tradition, the history of the Bears. You’re growing up, watching games at Soldier Field on TV, I wanted to be a part of that coming out. I thought there was a chance I would go there.

Don’t know if this Gary Coleman look-alike is the answer as the starter, but he is probably as good as the Bears can expect to bring in.  With Donovan McNabb leading the Eagles to the NFC Championship Game, I doubt he’s going anywhere.  Thanks to his Grossman-esque performance on Saturday night against the Cardinals, I’ve heard Panthers’ QB Jake Delhomme might be on the outs in Carolina.   I suppose the Bears will need someone to turn the ball over when it matters most after Rex leaves town.   Based on recent free agent quarterbacks that the Bears have brought in (Kordell Stewart, Jonathan Quinn, Brian Griese, Chad Hutchinson, etc.), my advice to them is simple:   Rent, don’t buy.

”He [Matt Forte] is having a great year, but when I see the highlights, I see holes,” Benson told reporters in Cincinnati. ”I see them using him in the slot, something they didn’t do with me. If I was there right now with the holes I see, I’d probably have 1,800 yards right now. I definitely would have 1,500 by now. I congratulate him on all of his success. He is taking advantage.”

No, that is not a joke.  I am not nearly that funny and couldn’t make up something that absurd.  That BUST, who should be wearing a ski mask for all the money he stole from Chicago, had the audacity to actually say that. 

Cedric Benson, he of 151 carries for a whopping 465 yards and 1 touchdown this season in 10 games with

Cedric Benson Mugshot

the Bengals, said that.  Cedric Benson, who had a long run of 43 yards in his illustrious 3-year Bears’ career said that.  Matt Forte bested that in the first quarter of his first professional game with a 50 yard TD run to spark the Bears’ victory over the Indianapolis Colts. 

Cedric Benson, with two alcohol-related arrests in a 5 week period, which mercifully led to his release from the Chicago Bears prior to the 2008 season, said that.  

Cedric Benson, whom the Bears drafted with the #4 selection in 2005 despite having the very capable  Thomas Jones already in the fold, and handed the starting job because of his draft status and nothing more, said that. 

Cedric Benson, who could never earn the respect of his teammates, much less the fans, said that.  During Super Bowl XLI, the biggest game of his career on a global stage, Cedric was hurt in the first quarter.  On a wet and sloppy night, when an effective running attack would have been just what the doctor ordered to keep Peyton Manning and the potent Colts offense off the field, Ced showed his true colors.  He wilted and never returned to the game.  Compare that to rookie Matt Forte, who sucked it up and returned to a crucial regular season game last Thursday against the Saints. 

Ced, if you had done ANYTHING during your three year tenure with the Beloved, do you think the Bears would have drafted Matt Forte in the second round before last season?  You say that when you watch highlights, you see holes.  You haven’t seen a hole since the day you were born.  You say that you’d probably have 1800 yards by now.  Ced, in 45 career regular season games, you’ve barely amassed 2000 yards. 

Last time I checked, the Bears’ offensive line was a huge question mark heading into this season, especially with first round draft pick Chris Williams having back surgery during the pre-season that kept him out for the first eight regular season games and still has prevented him from cracking the starting lineup.  That is virtually the same line that you ran behind last season that is a year older.  Forte has been able to do what you never were able to: break a tackle and make would-be tacklers miss.  If Matt Forte never rushes for another yard, he will be deemed a more successful running back than you!   Good bye and good riddance!

BOOM!!!