As the bye week wraps up, I’m not going to bore you with more talk about Jay Cutler wishes and Randy Moss dreams.   I want to talk about the lack of something flashy and excitable on the sidelines during Chicago Bears’ games.  No, not Mike Martz spouting out running plays in a bright orange unitard (that’s a picture that will haunt your dreams.)  I’m talking about the former Chicago Bear cheerleaders, the Honey Bears.  It’s just un-American that our football team has no cheerleaders at all.

(more…)

I say, “why not?”  Could he really do more harm to this offense?  Bringing him here has many possible benefits:

1. A proven receiver like Moss commands a double team; no other Bears receiver does.  Some don’t even need to be covered at all.  A double team on Moss opens things up elsewhere.  Heck, maybe it even means one less guy to blitz Cutler.
2. Moving Moss into a starting WR spot should move Devin Hester back to full time duty doing what he does best – returning kicks.  Hester has shown that he’s back, so it’s time to strike while the iron is hot and get him as many touches as possible on special teams.
3. It gives Jay Cutler that big target that he loves.  Plus, it gives someone else for Jay to complain about running the wrong route, cutting off a route or missing an assignment.
4. Moss in the hands of an offensive Mad Scientist like Mike Martz is like handing Doc Brown and stolen shipment of plutonium.
5. Peanut Tillman can re-live the greatest moment of his career – stealing the ball from an in-his-prime-Randy-Moss in the end zone – over and over again in practice.
6. If all else fails, you’ve got quotes like this for the next nine weeks:

(H/T to my sister, who proves she knows more than celebrity gossip and to Shutdown Corner for the video clip.)

Straight cash, homey!

Randy Moss's second tenure with the Vikings ended today after less than a month.

NFL Network has just reported that the Minnesota Vikings have waived WR Randy Moss.  This is following a lackluster performance on Sunday against the New England Patriots where he only had 1 catch for 8 yards.  He has been vocal about missing his former team since the trade.  However, his effort could have been in response to being fined $25,000 last week for not cooperating with the media.  It was obvious he wasn’t happy about the fine when, after the game this Sunday, he told the media that “I’ll ask my own questions.”  Whatever that means.

(more…)

The Minnesota Vikings appear set to pull out all of the stops in an effort to send Brett Favre off with a bang, a playoff bang to be exact.  The Vikings and Patriots are closing in on a deal that would bring Moss back to Minnesota.  The addition of Moss represents the Vikings’ “all-in” for the 2010 season and a last gasp to save their season after a shaky 1-2 start.

In Monday’s night’s 41-14 beatdown of the Dolphins, Moss did not figure into the stat sheet with zero catches for the first time in his New England career.  Here’s what Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer had to say about Moss:

Moss, 33, was a first-round pick of the Vikings in 1998 and shined for several years before being shipped to Oakland in 2005. The four-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl selection was traded from the Raiders to the Patriots on Day 1 of the 2007 NFL draft in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the ’07 draft.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter just tweeted that the deal is all but done:

Said one source familiar with Moss-to-Minnesota trade talks: “I’d be shocked if it doesn’t happen.” Expect it to happen Wednesday.

If the deal gets done in the next day or so as expected, Moss would make his return to the Vikings on Monday Night Football against the Jets.  Geez, you think ESPN is subsidizing this deal?

Guys I Like this Week

1. Beanie Wells @ St. Louis – I have never been a huge fan of Beanie, dating back to his days at THE Ohio State University, but he is quickly taking over the load in the AZ and when AZ is up 3 TDs at the end of the 1st Q, I expect them to sit on it and run Beanie for what he’s worth to see if they can rely on him in the playoffs.
2. Bernard Scott @ Oakland – Surprisingly, Scott is still available in some leagues.  Maybe people thought Ced Benson would man up and play, but it looks likely that he won’t and if he doesn’t, Scott is the next in line.  This is a juicy match-up and I like Scott to run all day.  Hell, even Jamal Charles put 100 yds on the Raiders and the Cincy O-line is WAAAAYYY better than the Chiefs O-line.
3. LaDanian Tomlinson @ Denver - I think LT is making one last push to show he isn’t washed up just yet.  Perhaps the fact that his significant other recently told him, she is expecting his child has added some extra mojo for him.  Whatever it is, the Denver D has begun to break down and LT is starting to peak.
4. Matt Hasselbeck @ Minnesota - I know this might seem like a reach, but Hasselbeck has thrown for over 300 yds in his last 2 games and Minnesota’s D ranks 23rd against the pass.  I expect the ViQueens to beat the Hawks up pretty soundly, but I would also expect Hasselbeck to chuck it up close to 50 times.

Guys I Don’t Like this Week

1. Jay Cutler vs Philadelphia – Perhaps this will be the kick in the pants JC needs, but he is starting to really make me angry and you won’t like me when I’m angry!!!  Further, 11 of JC’s league leading INTs have come under the lights of prime time and JC is 4-9 in his career under the bright lights.  And here I thought Jim McMahon was the Bears QB who stuck a fork in his eye and couldn’t stand the bright lights???
2. Frank Gore @ GB – Hard to sit Gore and you prbably can’t, but the GB defense has looked decent against the run as of late and they completely dismantled the Cowboys running game (and team in general) last week.  Expect Gore to struggle in Lambeau.
3. Randy Moss vs NY Jets - Another player that is hard to ever bench, but Moss has 72 yds receiving in his last 3 games against the Jets…that is 72 yds in 3 GAMES.  Apparently he doesn’t like facing Darelle Revis and this week might not be any different, so beware an un-Mosslike performance this week.
4. Brandon Marshall vs San Diego - B-Marsh will probably suffer the most if Ole Neckbeard doesn’t play this week and it is looking more and more like he won’t so look another way if you have a viable WR option on your bench.  Could be tough sledding for B-Marsh until Orton returns.

Other Nuggets

With only 3 weeks until most of your fantasy playoffs, this is not the time to make bold moves with your lineups if you are a bubble team.  You have to use your head and maximize your points.  It always pains me to leave points on my bench and I would rather lose knowing I played the best lineup possible as opposed to knowing I sat a stud, because I “had a feeling.”  Use your brains, not your heart or gut as you come down the stretch.  And if you can make a trade for the 2 best guys off of someone’s roster who’s playoff future might not be so bright…well, that never hurts either…

GOOD LUCK THIS WEEK!!!

Can I get an “Amen?”

The DeCon has spoken…so let it be written, so let it be done…

I’ll hear your fantasy football confessions at beargoggles.decon@gmail.com.

Guys I Like this Week

1. Devin Hester @ San Fran – Devin had a good week last week in terms of receptions and yards, but Olsen got all the TDs (I am sure glad I started Olsen).  Against the 24th ranked passing D in San Fran, I like Devin’s chances to be the beneficiary of at least 1 JC TD pass.
2. Thomas Jones vs Jacksonville – J-Ville trots out the 22nd ranked D against the run and TJ no longer has to lose carries to Leon Washington.  Shonn Greene may steal some, but not before TJ gets a couple plunges…”How ’bout dem Jag-warz!!!”
3. Ray Rice @ Cleveland - Even the Bears were able to run on Cleveland…the Ravens run the ball better and Rice is the bestest (I know bestest isn’t a word) of the bunch.  He was the Ravens best performer last week in a tough loss to the Bengals and he should be even better this week.
4. Dewayne Bowe @ Oakland - With the Larry Johnson fiasco over, Bowe is one of the few weapons the Chiefs have on their roster.  I like him to have a big day and begin to re-emerge as a reliable starter this season.
5. Randy Moss @ Indy – The Texans couldn’t figure out how to take advantage of a ravaged Indy secondary last week, but you can rest assured Belacheat will find a way to expose them.  Oh and Brady is getting his Mojo back, so the Colts could get their first L of the season.  (more…)

There hasn’t been a Pro Bowl wide receiver in Chicago since Marty Booker did his first tour here and that was a long time ago.  It’s hard for any receiver to establish themselves in a town with so much quarterback controversy.  Joey Galloway would be probably be more of a household name if not for all the quarterback issues in Tampa Bay. 

But you know what?  The last time I checked, football is a team sport.  Receivers want to pad their stats and look good so they can get endorsement deals and be famous.  Not every receiver has that opportunity and more often than not, every receiver trying to be that guy ends up hurting the team.  Sometimes being a great receiver means making great blocks downfield so your running back can get longer runs.  Sometimes being a great receiver means breaking off your route and getting a four yard catch when your quarterback is in trouble.  Sometimes being a great receiver means catching the ball over the middle and taking the hit from the linebacker so your team can get a first down.

I’ve been talking to people for a while now how the receiver position in dying in the NFL.  The age of Jerry Rice and the unstoppable receivers of his time appears to be in the decline, if not almost dead.  There are only a handful of elite receivers left in the NFL and some of their egos are proving disasterous to their teams.  After Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, and Chad Johnson, there is a big drop off of talent.  Marvin Harrison used to be the best but he’s starting to look old.  There are a few young guys like Reggie Wayne and Braylon Edwards to carry the torch, but each passing year there are fewer big time receivers in the NFL.  So is it really the Bears fault?  Look around the NFL, there are a lot of good receivers, but the number of great ones is dropping off. 

The modern NFL is leaning towards offenses that feature a two-back system and have at least one huge tight end that can run just as fast as a receiver.  It’s actually the evolution of the tight end that’s killing the receiver.  Every team had that hard ass receiver that would go over the middle for six or eight catches a game, get killed by the linebacker, and the sick bastard loved it.  Now everyone wants to be on the cover of a video game and can’t afford to hurt their pretty face. 

As the saying goes, the more things change, the more things stay the same.  The game of football demands for someone to take the open space defenses usually create over the middle to catch the ball and move the offense.  Since receivers are no longer willing to do it, coaches have evolved ultra-tight ends that are big as houses but move like receivers.  Their bodies allow them to take on linebackers and their talent allows them to make plays for the end zone.  All over the country, coaches are finding these huge kids that are fast and good with their hands.  Up until a few years ago they were probably put at fullback, defensive end, or linebacker.  If he was drafted today, Mike Alstott probably would have been a tight end for Tampa Bay.  Meanwhile the prima dona receivers sit on the sideline and watch their job dimish to a minimal role. 

The evolution of the game has created faster linebackers and the old end around plays don’t have the effectiveness they used to.  More offenses are using running backs with good hands to slide to the sidelines and give a place for the quarterback to dump the ball.  Quarterbacks used to scramble around looking for receivers to break their route and make an amazing play.  Those highlights are reserved for runnings backs now as they swing along the sidelines making dashing cuts for the endzone. 

The dynamics of the game are changing and big play wide receivers are a dying breed.  There will always be a select few that will collect the big money and get on the magazine covers.  The sad part is their rarity will only drive up their value and force teams to dump money at a position they know will only have minimal impact.  What good does a big contract for Bernard Berrian have for Minnesota if Tarvaris Jackson can’t even get him the ball?  The Bears went with an approach that may become more common in the NFL.  A rotating core of slot receivers that block downfield and make key third down plays to keep the drive going.  The big plays are no reserved for running backs and tight ends, with receivers running a distant third. 

Anyway you look at it, Muhsin Muhammad is right.  Chicago is the place where receivers go to die, and so is every other city in the NFL. 

I had assumed that if the Bears were willing to let players like Berrian and Lance Briggs go, then they would spend the money to shore up running back and offensive line. There have been on reports about running back, but I have heard the Bears are dismissing the idea of signing Alan Faneca as too expensive an investment for a guard. Forget the fact that he is a Pro Bowl offensive guard that could sign a long term contract and return the Bears offensive line to dominance.

The Bears sounds optimistic that they will sign Berrian and even make an effort to sign Briggs. The entire thing disgusts me since Briggs is pretty much as good as gone to the San Francisco 49ers, who have been pursuing Briggs for a while and have a complaint filed against them by the Bears for illegally inquiring about him before free agency. Whine all they want, Briggs will likely be in a 49ers jersey next year. The Bears need to stop living in fantasyland and get their act together before they lose out.

I realize there is a game that General Manager’s play to get players for a fair price, but this offseason seems to be a make or break time for this organization to either get back to the playoffs or spend the next 10 years talking about the Super Bowl loss. If the Bears pass on Faneca, Berrian, and Briggs, then where do they plan on spending that money? I can only hope the Bears are holding their cards, waiting to cash in on a bigger pot down the line.

There have been recent revelations the past few days as teams avoid paying out the first portions of salaries on March 1st. The Kansas City Chiefs have released wide receiver Eddie Kennison, the Washington Redskins released Brandon Lloyd, the Seattle Seahawks will lose D.J. Hackett, and the New England Patriots had to let go Dante Stallworth and Randy Moss. Don’t even get your hopes up about Moss, but the remaining three names could create possibilities. Given the youth of Bradley and Hester, they could benefit from a veteran like Kennison, much the way Moose had to help last season.

In fact, the Bears have been surprisingly quiet about the possibilities of any wide receiver free agent after cleaning house a few weeks ago. It doesn’t sound like Berrian has any plans of giving a home town discount and plans to sign the largest contract available. Is it possible the Bears could pull one over on all of us and land Dante Stallworth? Surrounded by talent on the Patriots offense, Stallworth never had a chance to see the ball more than a few times a game. Is it possible the Bears could bait him to Chicago with the chance to immediately be the top receiver? Does the re-signing of Rex Grossman help or hurt the Bears chances to sign any of these receivers? We’ll have to wait and see how free agency plays out. Personally, I would like to see the Bears make a move on Brandon Lloyd, a young receiver that make some plays down in San Francisco, but was forgotten in Washington, which has become a black hole for NFL talent.

Unfortunately, the Bears look content to release three Pro Bowl players and replace them with low level free agents and draft picks. The plan will be genius or completely blow up in their faces. There really is no in between for an organization that has traded or released every offensive player with any ability to get the ball and make big plays. I’m sure Greg Olsen will become a force on the field, but he’s not ready to carry an entire offense. It looks like the Bears are going to have to use the draft to bring in an offensive tackle, guard, wide receiver, safety, and possibly running back. If the Bears are lucky, the can draft two impact players to fill those positions, but there is no way they can expect to fill them all. At least two of those positions need to be filled by free agency or this team will not even be considered a playoff contender.

Offensive tackle Flozell Adams is available from the Dallas Cowboys but even he might be too expensive for the Bears to make a move on him. Speaking of Cowboys, running back Julius Jones is a free agent and has been lying under the of radar NFL rumors. He is a durable running back that doesn’t necessarily make big plays, but neither did his brother Thomas Jones before he signed with the Bears. The Bears should put a high priority on Michael Turner, but if things turn sour or he signs quickly with another team, turning to Julius may be a good option.

The best move the Bears can make to attract free agents would be to lock up one of their own. We have seen players sign with teams for a smaller contract with the expectation of winning. I think the best move the Bears can make is locking up Tommie Harris to a long-term contract. It will show free agents the Bears are committed to winning and are willing to pay out to the right player. If the Bears are so worried about leaving cap space to sign him, then they should sign him now and figure out how much money they have left for signing free agents.

At this point, if the Bears are not willing to spend money on free agent lineman then they need to make a priority of drafting lineman in the first couple rounds and signing a free agent running back and wide receiver. You hear that Jerry Angelo??