It’s never as easy picking candidates for a Game Ball following a loss, but the Bears still had a few standouts in their 13-6 loss to the Texans.  Here are this week’s nominees for the Bears Week 10 Game Ball:

Nov 11, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears cornerback Tim Jennings (26) intercepts a pass intended for Houston Texans wide receiver Keshawn Martin (82) during the second quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-US PRESSWIRE

Tim Jennings

Jennings continues to have a career year, adding two more interceptions to his league leading total.  With the success that Peanut Tillman is having at the other cornerback spot, “The Hawk” as his teammates call him, will continue to get action.  If he continues to rise to the challenge, the Bears defense will continue their dominant ways.

Henry Melton

Melton had himself a nice game vs the Texans.  He continued to shoot his gap and fight through double teams to get into the backfield.  His stat line of 4 tackles and 2 assists doesn’t jump off the page, but his disruptions in the backfield certainly did.  Dare I say he’s starting to remind me of an economy-version of Tommie Harris and looks to finally be that 3-technique the Bears have been looking for.

Nov 11, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) makes a catch over Houston Texans cornerback Johnathan Joseph (24) during the second half at Soldier Field. The Houston Texans defeat the Chicago Bears 13-6. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-US PRESSWIRE

Brandon Marshall

Marshall’s stat line versus the Texans was impressive – 8 catches for 107 yards with a long catch of 45 yards.  He continues to pile up stats and appears set to break about every Bears receiving record.  Despite the impressive game, it’s hard to give him the Game Ball when he dropped a sure touchdown.

Nov 11, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Houston Texans safety Danieal Manning (38) intercepts a pass intended for Chicago Bears tight end Kellen Davis (87) during the second quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-US PRESSWIRE

Danieal Manning

A tone-setting forced fumble, a crucial interception, what more could you want?  Oh, he’s not on the Bears any more?  Someone tell Brian Urlacher.

What do you think?  Vote in the poll and post your comments.

The defense will become aggressive and force turnovers despite the continued uncertainty regarding Tommie Harris and the total lack of continuity in a secondary in which the Bears have started 40 different safety tandems during Smith’s tenure because, as he said, “We’re Chicago Bears. We have to play good defense. We’re going to talk a lot about the Monsters of the Midway, getting guys to that brand of football, being a tough physical group.”

I guess the Monsters of the Midway theme is real, as evidenced by Danieal Manning’s t-shirt that he showed off (via Brad Biggs’ Twitter)

Danieal Manning shows off his Monsters of the Midway t-shirt, the theme the Bears are adopting for camp. (Photo courtesy of Brad Biggs)

Is it just me or does it like like a ferret on that t-shirt?

It’s one thing to have some t-shirts printed up, it’s another thing to act like it.  I hope this camp reflects even half of a true Monsters of the Midway attitude.  By the way, the first practice of the day will be in shorts and shells.  Monsters, eh?

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Oh, you said Minicamp. I thought you said Mini Me.

The Bears wrapped up their minicamp, completing five practices in three days,  on Sunday.  What have we learned?  Let’s see if I can boil it all down for you.

• TE Brandon Manumaleuna and WR Earl Bennett both had offseason knee surgeries.  Both seem minor, but a couple of points.  First off all, can’t we be informed about these minor procedures without finding out when players are in sweatpants on the sidelines?  And second, didn’t Manu have to pass a physical before signing for big money?  Just sayin’.
• Tommie Harris is only practicing once on double session days.  I thought he was healthy?  If he is, get your ass out there and practice; if you’re not , stop telling everyone you are.
• Marcus Harrison missed a few practices with an undisclosed illness.   Normally, this wouldn’t be a big deal, but when the guy in question showed up to training camp last year out of shape and overweight, you have to worry that’s he’s passed out under a pile of KFC Double Down wrappers somewhere. (more…)

It started late last week when they inked 7th round pick J’Marcus Webb to a 4-year deal worth about $1.85 million with a modest $60k bonus. Webb will be Mike Tice’s pet project and at 6-8 328 lbs this mammoth could be a project for right tackle.

Next up, 5th round pick Josh Moore signed on the dotted line to try to compete in the secondary.   The K-State corner should figure into the mix on special teams and might add some depth to the cornerback position.

The next money move was long overdue as Danieal Manning finally signed his one year tender to collect a $1.76 million dollar payday in 2010.  Have you ever seen someone so slow to cash a million dollar lottery ticket?  Here’s the puzzling thing about Manning from Vaughn McClure’s post on Chicago Breaking Sports:

Manning is working with the first team at strong safety while Chris Harris is working with the first team at free. Harris, who was traded back to the Bears from Carolina, prefers to play strong safety. Manning has played a lot of free safety, but the Bears might turn to rookie Major Wright at the position if Wright picks up the defense quickly.

Why exactly are Manning and Harris working out at the wrong positions?  Put Harris at strong safety, Major Wright at the free safety spot and work Manning in as the nickel back.  I think that makes the most sense.  Giving guys reps in the wrong spots doesn’t do any good.  But I digress.

(more…)

Payne was part of a bevy of safeties and have been piling out of Jerry Angelo’s clown car in recent years.  He had a strong 2008 season, but took a step backwards last season.  He should have a better chance of playing meaningful snaps for the Rams.  Meanwhile, see what Michael Wright has to say about the current state of the Bears safety position:

The Bears’ jettisoning of Payne doesn’t exactly alleviate what appears to be a logjam at safety. The club has six players — Wright, Harris, Danieal Manning, Al Afalava, Josh Bullocks and Craig Steltz – fighting for two starting spots.

I think Wright, Harris, Afalava and Steltz make the roster.  Where’s Danieal Manning you ask?  Last I checked, he hadn’t signed his tender offer.  At best, he could be moving again; this time, back to the nickel spot.

Alex Brown will take his Gator chomp elsewhere next season. (Photo courtesy Chicago Tribune)

Alex Brown tweeted his goodbyes earlier today, confirming earlier reports that he had played his last game as a Chicago Bear.

I am extremely grateful for my time as a Chicago Bear and I wish the Bears the best. I am glad that they gave me an opportunity to realize…

… A dream I had (as) a child. I appreciate the fans but as we all know this is the nature of the business. Bear down!

CSN Chicago’s John “Moon” Mullin recounted a candid chat with the estranged DE before this latest shit hit the fan, where Brown was quite prophetic:

Brown learned the NFL lessons and had good teachers. When he arrived, Bryan Robinson was the starting defensive left end, himself an undrafted free agent who scrapped his way onto the St. Louis Rams, made it to Chicago and has endured to play in a Super Bowl with the Arizona Cardinals in a career that is still going.

“B-Rob was probably the biggest as far as helping me understand that it’s a privilege to play here,” Brown said. “You can be gone tomorrow.”

Remember after the Super Bowl run when Lovie was quick to anoint Mark Anderson as the starter and send AB to the bench?  How did that work out for everyone.  Anderson flopped and Brown returned to his rightful spot at DE.

Isn’t it great when players are just handed things?  Just like Danieal Manning being handed the starting strong safety spot, Anderson has yet to sign his tender and is sitting out the offseason workouts.  Didn’t it work out great when the Bears traded away Thomas Jones to hand Cedric Benson his job?

Supposedly the Bears are trying to save a few bucks after signing Julius Peppers and it came down to choosing between Brown and former Pro Bowler Tommie Harris.

Peppers will command $20 million this season alone and that forced the Bears into a decision on the line: Get rid of fellow defensive end Alex Brown or tackle Tommie Harris.

This is sure to prove a colossal blunder for Lovie Smith and the Bears.  May Papa Bear strike me down for even thinking this, but if Peppers gets hurt, who is playing defensive end for you?  Think about it…

Breakfast with Lovie

Lovie Smith chatted up the media at the NFL Owner’s Meeting and touched on a variety of topics including how he envisions Devin Hester’s role on the offense.  There’s only one  little problem – it’s Mike Martz’s offense and what Lovie said conflicts directly with what Martz said when he rolled into town.  I know, I know – Lovie is still the head coach.  Fine.  Here’s my suggestion – fix your defense and let Mad Martz do his thing.  Keep an eye on this relationship Bears fans.  It could be very interesting.

Smith also sees the Bears using four tight end next season.  This from Sean Jensen’s piece in the Sun Times:

He said his top four tight ends — Olsen, Manumaleuna, Kellen Davis and Desmond Clark — will all have roles.

”We need ‘em all,” he said. ”They all have a strength.”

What else is he supposed to say?  We would really like to trade Greg Olsen for another draft pick?  I don’t expect four tight ends make the final 53-man roster.

Lovie Knows a thing or three about Defense Too

Lovie is excited to get Brian Urlacher and Tommie Harris back next season to help bring the defense back and called out #91:

Smith conceded that “production hasn’t been there as much as we want with Tommie. He has dealt with injuries, and I’m going to say that’s been a big part of it. We still see special plays, but not enough of them.

“Part of us getting back as a defense is Tommie getting back. He went into the offseason as healthy as he’s been in a long time. Tommie has been working out almost daily up there since the end of the season. You get in position to have a great year. And we need him to. He’s been disappointed in his play and I think he’s ready to do something about it.”

Ball is in your court, Tommie.   (more…)

Let’s get all the cards on the table.  First and foremost, with as little disrespect as possible to our opponents, the Browns are awful.  Their offense makes the Jonathan Quinn era here in Chicago look like the old Run and Shoot.  I don’t know what’s worse, Derek Anderson or the fact that Brady Quinncan’t outplay this guy to get the nod as the starter.  Anderson’s QB rating for the first half – 0.0.  Anderson is walking among bumbling quarterback legends like Cade McNown and Rex Grossman to post such numbers at Soldier Field.

With that said, the Bears defense got to beat up on a weaker kid on Sunday, notching 5 takeaways.  Actually, it was probably more like 5 giveaways by the Browns.  Danieal Manning had himself a heck of a nice ballgame with a great diving interception and also pouncing on a loose ball.  Peanut Tillman scored a defensive touchdown with an interception return for a touchdown too.  I’m left to wonder if the defense was that sharp or if the Browns were that bad.  (more…)