Super Bowl or Bust: Urlacher and Briggs Not Shying Away From High Expectations
The Bears have set the bar pretty high for themselves. I am starting to think this is the motto for the 2012 Chicago Bears – SUPER BOWL OR BUST. Yup, this isn’t just some media creation. Bears players are not backing away from the mantra and it’s not some fringe players whose opinions don’t really matter. No these comments are coming from Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs, the leaders of the defense.
Yesterday, Lance Briggs was making the media rounds and stopped by the Mully and Hanley Show and thinks the Bears have what it take:
"“On paper, we look like a champion, but we have a lot of work to do before we can be called a champion,” Briggs told The Mully and Hanley Show."
He went on to Waddle and Silvy later in the morning and expanded on his thoughts:
"Lance Briggs envisions big things for the Chicago Bears this coming season.The Pro Bowl linebacker said it “definitely could be” the best team he’s played on after sweeping changes during the offseason that sent expectations soaring.They believe they are a contender, that they’re right there with Green Bay and Detroit in the NFC North. The word “championship” has even been bandied about.“We’ve been doing that ever since Lovie (Smith) became the head coach,” Briggs said in a telephone interview Tuesday. “It was to never forget the ultimate goal.”"
His linebacking mate Brian Urlacher is on the same page. In his hour-long “Lunch with a Legend” with Waddle and Silvy, they asked #54 about Briggs’ comments.
Silvy “So we asked Lance this yesterday, Super bowl or Bust?”
Urlacher: “No doubt. No doubt. Yeah, I mean, even Brandon Marshall said it the other day too, so that’s what we’re thinking…”
It’s rare to see this kind of public confidence by these guys. I’m sure they talk like this privately but I can’t ever recall them talking Super Bowl.
I’ll tell you one guy who can’t be excited by all this Super Bowl talk and that’s Lovie Smtih. Lovie certainly doesn’t need any more pressure. He’s already on the hot seat with new GM Phil Emery in town. With players and pundits alike saying that this is ‘one of the most talented Bears teams on paper’ if the team falters and doesn’t make the playoffs, he and his coaching staff will certainly be to blame.
What do you think? Is it Super Bowl or Bust for this Bears team? What’s your expectation to call this season a success? Do they have enough to get to the Super Bowl for the 2nd time under Lovie Smith and more importantly, do they have enough to win it?