November 3, 2012; Gainesville FL, USA; Florida Gators linebacker Jon Bostic (1) high fives defensive lineman Dominique Easley (2) prior to the game against the Missouri Tigers at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

For too many years have I watched draft after draft only to wonder why so many top candidates fell to the Bears only to be passed up by too many GM’s. This draft has an eerily similar feel to past drafts I have watched, though I am reminded by my inner-self that it is way too early to do anything but offer critiques, grades and hollow judgements.  Kyle Long, Jon Bostic, Khaseem Greene, Jordan Mills, Cornelius Washington, and Marquess Wilson are now Chicago Bears and their legacy will be defined by their actions, not by the written words of sports writers.

This is Phil Emery’s second draft. And for the second time, I believe he drafted a player in the first round that could have been had in the second. For the second year, his #2 pick seems to be a better pick than his first round. Certainly last year’s pick, Shea McClellin played well…about what I would expect a second round pick to play like while the second round pick, Alshon Jeffery had moments that I would say were more impactful in a good way for the Bears.
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Some of the offseason pieces have started to fall into place and the Chicago Bears roster is starting to take shape.  Of course, there could be a few more free agent pickups, but they’re unlikely to be the big name, impact type of players.  The draft is also less than a month away and Bears fans hope that Phil Emery can add a few vital pieces but for the most part, I think there are enough of the key cogs in place to project the Chicago Bears 2013 starters.  Let’s start with the offense: (more…)

JC + MM 4ever? The way they gush over each other in training camp, it sure seems like it's a love affair. (Photo courtesy of ChicagoBreakingSports.com)

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Some local media are calling it a bro-mance.  You know, the syrupy, gushing that Jay Cutler and Mike Martz are heaping on one another.  It almost makes you think that it’s phony.  Almost.  As for me, I think it’s the real thing; love at first INT.

As Brad Biggs notes, there was a lot of apprehension from Cutler ahead of the Martz hire:

To hear two different sources who were tied directly to the situation tell it, Jay Cutler either wanted to get together with Mike Martz like he wanted to reunite with Broncos coach Josh McDaniels, or he had some well-balanced apprehension about the partnership.

But the deal wasn’t official until after Martz traveled from Chicago to Nashville to meet with Cutler in a session both described as excellent.

“If he didn’t have apprehension,” one source said, “then why the heck did Martz go to Nashville? One and one equals two.”

But to hear Martz and Jay throw bouquets at each other, you’d never know there was any apprehension as the Bears offense continues to develop under Cutler and Martz’s leadership.

“Oh, gosh no,” Martz protested. “No, no, no. If you knew really, and I don’t mean any disrespect, but if you knew how silly that was and how easy things are between he and I.

“I thoroughly enjoy his company, just enjoy being around him outside the football part of it too. He has a great sense of humor. He’s a little screwed up in his sense of humor like I am, so we kind of fit pretty good I think.”

And then you hear Jay’s side of it:

“Relationships are different with everybody,” Cutler said. “You never know how it is going to work out on the dynamics. Sometimes you get along really well, sometimes it takes some time. Me and Mike have clicked very quickly. We have the same goals in mind. I think we have the same thought process on and off the field.”

“I’ve heard that sometimes he is going to put a lot of pressure on you, sometimes he is going to yell at you, sometimes he is going to scream at you, but he does it for a reason,” Cutler said. “You have to see the big picture with Mike. You have to realize that he wants to get the best out of you and he knows how to get the best out of you.”

“When Mike walks into the room he has that aura about him that I think commands respect,” Cutler said.

Check out a video of Martz talking about the offense after the jump and hang with it til the end when he praises Jay:

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Click on the picture above to go to see the NFL Networks 32 in 32 preview of the Bears.

The NFL Network is doing their 32 teams in 32 days segment to preview all 32 teams in 32 days leading up to the start of training camp.  Clever title, right?

Their 22nd ranked team?  You guessed it – your Chicago Bears!  They don’t like sharing their video, so you’ll have to settle for clicking this link or the image above to see the video.  See you back here in a few minutes for my analysis after the jump.

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