Countdown to Kickoff… 74 Days Until Chicago Bears Season Opener

Jermon Bushrod goes against Henry Melton during the offseason program. (Photo courtesy of Chicago Tribune)

I decided to do a countdown to the Chicago Bears season opener on September 8th versus the Cincinnati Bengals.  Thanks to one of my Twitter followers, I decided to combine the countdown with a roster preview of sorts.

We’re Jermon Bushrod days away from kickoff!  Bushrod is arguably the centerpiece of the Chicago Bears’ offseason pickups.  By adding Bushrod from the Saints, the Bears expect to solve the left tackle position that has baffled them and befuddled Jay Cutler since he arrived in 2009.

After the Bears hired Marc Trestman to replace Lovie Smith and he selected former Saints offensive line coach Aaron Kromer to be the Bears’ next offensive coordinator, Bushrod speculation began.  Who better to bring in to anchor the Bears offensive line than one of his top pupils, a Pro Bowl left tackle?  Phil Emery was able to work some salary cap magic and ink Bushrod and tight end Martellus Bennett within hours of the opening of free agency.

The pressure will be on Bushrod to live up to the richest contract that the Bears have ever given an offensive lineman.  Bushrod critics will say the Saints let him walk because he’s overrated and benefited from Drew Brees’ quick release and elusiveness in the pocket.

I’d say if Kromer had any doubts about Bushrod, why bring that baggage here and start on the wrong foot?  If there were issues with his game, wouldn’t Kromer try to avoid setting himself up for failure?  I am confident that there won’t be any pushing incidents between Bushrod and Cutler, like Cutler had with Webb.

We’re 74 days from kickoff.  Are you ready???