Nov 27, 2011; Oakland, CA, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Johnny Knox (13) on the field after a touchdown was scored by the Oakland Raiders during the fourth quarter at O.co Coliseum. Oakland defeated Chicago 25-20. Mandatory Credit: Jason O. Watson-USA TODAY Sports

The Sun Times’ Sean Jensen had a sitdown with recently released Johnny Knox and the former Chicago Bear is calling it quits on a comeback bid.  Just reading the opener of Jensen’s piece brings a reality to the situation:

Johnny Knox looks like he’s in game-shape when he appears in the dimly-lit entrance of a Chicago hotel restaurant Wednesday morning.

Except the always lean receiver walks with a limp, and he struggles to sit or stand comfortably, the lingering effects of a devastating hit he endured at Soldier Field 13 ½ months ago.

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Dec 18, 2011; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Johnny Knox returns a kick during the first quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bears made a surprising move today by terminating the contract of Johnny Knox. Knox who suffered a vertebra injury in the 2011 season against the Seattle Seahawks has not seen the playing field since. Knox was a pro bowler in his rookie season for his kick returning which he totalled 927 yards and a touchdown.

Knox came closest to recording a 1,000 yard receiving season by a Bear, before the great season Brandon Marshall recorded in 2012, when he had 960 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2010. Knox was having a disappointing season in 2011 with 37 catches and 727 yards and 2 touchdowns before his horrific injury against the Seahawks.

Knox showed up at training camp and all reports were how much weight he had lost and all the experts stating that it would be impossible for Knox to make it back to the playing field in 2012.  Knox did end up on the PUP list for the remainder of the 2012 season, while all reports were that Knox was working extremely hard to recover from his vertebra surgery and get back to the playing field.

I’m sure that all Bears fans hope Knox fully recovers and makes it back to the playing field even if it isn’t in a Bears uniform which makes todays announcement a bit unexpected.

Get Back to the field soon Johnny!!

The Seahawks come to Soldier Field, but they have struggled on the road.  Experts around the interwebs can’t think of a way that the Bears can lose this game.  Well, let’s see what our Madden 11 Simulator thinks.

It seems like the Bears and the Seahawks square off just about every year.  Last season, the Bears made the trek to the Emerald City and brought home a come-from-behind victory.  This year new head coach Pete Carroll brings his band of merry men to Soldier Field.  It starts off well enough in Jay Cutler’s return to action as Robbie Gould gets the Bears on the board with a 41-yard field goal.  The Seahawks bounce back with a short Matt Hasslebeck TD pass to give Seattle a 7-3 first quarter lead.

Matt Forte picks up where he left off in Carolina, busting off a 36-yard TD run to give the Bears a 10-7 lead:

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So what if they're not playing at Soldier Field, this pic is too good to pass up. BEAR DOWN!!!

The Bears and Giants face off in a Sunday night showdown in the Giants shiny new stadium in front of a national audience.  The Bears are coming off a prime-time win on Monday night against a Packers team that seemed to have the edge everywhere except the scoreboard.  Jay Cutler hasn’t performed especially well under the lights while the Giants have struggled so far this season.  Here are my keys to the game.

Gimme Fewell Gimme Fire

Does the name Perry Fewell ring a bell?  He’s a former Bears assistant who turned down the Bears Defensive Coordinator job to take the same position in New York.  He is a Cover-2 disciple, so there shouldn’t be anything that he’s doing that Jay Cutler hasn’t seen in practice.  Giants would love to get pressure on Cutler with their front four, but injuries have left the line in shambles.  Look for lots of blitzes and lots of hot routes by Cutler.

Tommie Can you Hear Me?

Julius Pepper has been a beast, but he’s been going to battle alone along the defensive front for the Bears.  Last week, Tommie Harris was a healthy scratch.  Will he come out motivated?  The coaches have issued the challenge.  Does Harris hear them?  Will he respond?  Now is the time to step it up.

It’s Johnny’s Turn

The Giants Special Teams are brutal.  Giants head coach Tom Coughlin has promised that his punter will be kicking away from the resurrected Devin Hester.  What does that mean?  It means it’s Johnny Knox’s turn to bring one back on a kick return.
That should cover all three phases.

My prediction?  Bears 26-23.

BEAR DOWN!!!

Through the month of October, my usual BEAR DOWN signoff will be in pink to raise awareness for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

If Jay Cutler can cut down on his INT's, he'll be a factor in fantasy leagues.

Jay Cutler – Let’s start at the top, because the fortunes of the Beloved are firmly tied to the right arm of our QB.  JC will likely go overlooked in many fantasy drafts primarily due to his proclivity to throw the ball to the wrong team and because he is learning the ultracomplicated Martzian offense behind an offensive line that had a lot of problems keeping him upright last season.  Personally, I have high hopes for JC and I think he will end up somewhere in the 30-35 TD pass range and have a chance at 4,000 yds passing.  Stats like these would merit a 3rd or 4th round selection in most PPR leagues and maybe even higher, but we know JC will not be considered that high in most leagues, so you have a chance to wait on him if you think I am right.  I will not comment on INTs, because frankly if you lose a point or 2 for INTs, that won’t kill you on a week to week basis, provided JC can avoid the 3+ INT games, which is where the risk comes in.  I think it is a risk worth taking.

Matt Forte – Following an outstanding rookie campaign, Forte broke many owners’ hearts last season, including mine, with a subpar (I am being nice) sophomore season.  Forte’s play last year probably wouldn’t warrant consideration until the 3rd or 4th round, but I believe he will bounce back and give you solid 2nd round production.  I think Forte is good for 1,000+ yds rushing and 8-10 TDs.  The wildcard with Forte is how he will be utilized in the passing game, which could greatly increase his value.

More after the jump…

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On the Bears offense:

Overall, I’d say Bowen likes the look of the Bears receivers.  He thinks Hester looks sharp on his routes and Johnny Knox has speed to burn.  Most interesting for me was his assessment of Devin Aromashodu:

WR Devin Aromashodu has great top end speed and once he gets past press coverage at the line of scrimmage, he can separate down the field. Stiff in the hips and not the type of receiver who can run multiple breaking routes, but the ideal player for the 9 route (go route) 8 route (deep post) and the 7 route (flag route) in this offense. Should be the vertical player for Cutler.

You got that Fantasy Footballers out there?

Bowen agrees with some early reports out of camp that the TE’s and Greg Olsen in particular will play a major role in Mike Martz’s offense.  On the ground, Bowen seems to like Forte a little more running inside while he gives a big thumbs up to Chester Taylor’s lateral quickness and getting to the outside.

Let’s face it, the offense will sink or swim on the arm of Jay Cutler.  Here’s what Bowen thinks about Cutler’s progress:

The Bears QB can sling the football. In the 3-step game, the ball comes out quickly and has some heat on it. And, just like last season, he will challenge the defense down the field—because he has the arm to do it. At times, I saw the same QB who will throw into coverage and can get carless with the football. But, there were also situations in practice when Cutler would fit the ball between two defenders and put the throw on the up-field shoulder away from the defender. Martz is going to push the envelope on offense and Cutler is the right QB for this system because he will take chances. Enormous talent, now he just has to learn how to produce and limit the turnovers in this system.

Like I’ve been saying, it’s going to be boom or bust.  Some insight on the defense after the jump.

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So, how do the Bears rate???  In a word…SHITTY!!!  I guess the Bears will have some work to do to improve their ratings when updated rosters and ratings are released during the season.  Here are some highlights after the jump:

Jay Cutler contols the huddle in this screenshot from Madden '11.

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Meet Pro Bowler Johnny Knox at Dick's Sporting Goods in Schaumburg on June 5th.

Chicago Bears’ Pro Bowl return man and rising receiving star Johnny Knox will be appearing at the Dick’s Sporting Goods in Schaumburg, IL this Saturday, June 5th from 12 – 2 PM as a part of Gatorade’s Signing Day.

Knox joins fellow players Maurice Jones-Drew and Jason Witten, who will be appearing in El Segundo, CA (why not Jacksonville?) and Dallas, TX respectively to help launch Gatorade’s new G Series Pro line of products.

If you can get out to Schaumburg, you’ll get to rub elbows with his Johnny, mug for some pictures and get an autographed picture (while supplies last of course), all while sampling Gatorade’s new G2 Pro.

BEAR DOWN!!!