Julius Peppers hasn't even taken a snap with the Bears, yet he's among Fox Sports' Top 10 Most Overpaid Players.

Julius Peppers hasn’t even played a single down with the Chicago Bears, but he’s already ranked in the Fox Sports’ Top Ten… Most Overpaid Players.  That’s a bit rough, don’t you think?  Couldn’t Fox wait a season – like they did with Jay Cutler and his 26 INT’s – before adding him to this list?

Peppers ranked the #7 most overpaid player in Fox Sports’ estimation.  Here’s what Fox Sports’ John Czarnecki had to say:

Julius Peppers, Bears DE

Yes, “Pep” can really look dominating at times, but his value of $20 million this season is truly a product of the system. He played under the franchise tag last season and produced 10 ½ sacks and 35 quarterback pressures for the Panthers while finishing ninth overall in tackles. Is he a very good player? Yes. Is he better than Jared Allen or Kevin Williams or DeMarcus Ware? Hell, no.

Hell no?  I think the answer to that question is marginal at best and certainly not an emphatic “hell no”.

Jay Cutler doesn't have much room to complain after 26 INT's and a monster extension last season.

(more…)

The Super Bowl XX winning 1985 Chicago Bears were named the greatest Super Bowl team ever by Fox Sports’ Adrian Hasenmayer.  He says it, so it must be true.

The 1985 Bears encompassed all you could want in a Super Bowl champion — a dominant team that finished the regular season 15-1, smashing defensive records in the process. Plus they had plenty of flavor, as judged by their classic “Super Bowl Shuffle” rap video that became a trend-setter among 1980s sports teams. Throw in wild personalities like Jim McMahon, William “Refrigerator” Perry plus head coach “Iron” Mike Ditka and even defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan, and it’s no wonder Chicago couldn’t sustain its invincibility. But for one 1985 season and 46-10 blowout of New England on Super Sunday, no team was ever better.

Check out the rest of the best.   There are some impressive teams on the list, but as we all know,  the ’85 Bears stand alone as the greatest Super Bowl team of all time.

(more…)

Honors

Congrats to Lance Briggs, the Bears’ lone Pro Bowl selection.  This makes the fourth straight trip to Hawaii for Lance, who has taken over as the leader of the Defense.  Tommie Harris makes it as a first alternate, while Olin Kreutz, Greg Olsen and Brad Maynard get the nod as second alternates.  In the “things that make you go ‘huh?’” selections, Brian Urlacher (pictured above being blocked by Maurice Jones-Drew) and Devin Hester join as third alternates.  Really?  Devin Hester can’t crack the starting lineup as kick returner on his own team.  I guess it shows how slowly news travels around the NFL.  Click here for the 2009 NFL Pro Bowl Rosters.

Speaking of kick returners, Danieal Manning earns NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after his 83-yard opening kick return against the Saints.  It was the first opening kickoff return since Devin Hester’s opening kickoff return in Super Bowl XLI.  Ahh, remember when?  Manning leads the NFL in kick returns this season with a 29.5 yard average. Nice work Danieal!

Power Rankings Around the Web

Bears are ranked smack dab in the middle of the Power Rankings on both ESPN , CBS Sportsline and Sports Illustrated. FoxSports is a little more generous, with a ranking of 13, ahead of the streaking Eagles and the playoff-bound Cardinals. 

What Vegas Thinks

The Bears have been installed as a 4.5 point favorite on Monday night against the rival Packers, who slapped the Beloved around at Lambeau earlier this year.  It’s payback time!  The total for the regular season home finale is 42.  With temperatures expected in the single digits with below-zero wind chills, those points might be tough to come by.  Not that I advocate going to the window.  But if I did, I would go under.