Come to Think of It: Top 10 NFL Quarterbacks

Selecting the top QBs in football is a lot like picking your nose. A part of you is dying to do it, yet you hope that nobody sees you. For you just know that everyone isn’t going to agree with you and see it your way. Still, this is the path that I’ve chosen and dammit, I am right! Unless I’m wrong, of course.

Either way, check this out and let me know what you think. Oh, and by the way, as for the picture, um, well, she is wearing a Tony Romo thong, come to think of it.

Begin Slideshow

Come to Think of It: Bring Back Mike Ditka!

All right, now that I have your attention, let me say that I realize that Da Coach isn’t coming back to coach the Bears again (or any other team for that matter).

I also don’t necessarily believe a coach needs to be fiery to be successful. One recent example would be Tony Dungy, and a much older example would be Tom Landry.

But let me say this: I do believe it’s time for Lovie Smith and his coaching staff to hit the road.

Dave Taub can stay; he’s done a wonderful job coaching special teams. Perhaps we should consider retaining Rod Marinelli too. Though the results haven’t been there, all indications point to his being a solid position coach.

But everyone else can go as far as I’m concerned. I know the Bears are too cheap to replace Lovie now, and his contract extension may play a role in his staying on for at least another season as head coach.

But ultimately it should not be about what he is paid; it should be about results and whether he is a good fit for the Chicago Bears.

They say you ultimately judge a leader by the quality of people he brings in to work around him. Well, if that’s true, then Lovie has failed miserably.

He effectively fired Ron Rivera over philosophical differences and perhaps even fear that he was aiming for his job. He brought in inexperienced coaches all around him, which seems to indicate that Lovie is more concerned with getting along with his coaches than having an environment of healthy debate.

Bob Babich was not an effective defensive coordinator, and in all fairness to him, he never should have been put in that position. Likewise, Ron Turner, while experienced, seems to lack creativity. That lack of creativity and imagination seems to be a hallmark of the Lovie regime.

Slow to react and adjust; stubborn to a fault; loyal to players re: “Rex Grossman is our quarterback” that don’t deserve it; seemingly even somewhat paranoid—those are not traits that make a head coach successful in the NFL.

Sure, Lovie took us to a Super Bowl in 2006. We thank him for that and will send him on his way with millions of dollars in parting gifts. But how has that defense looked since then? I mean, since Lovie took control of the defense with “his guys?”

This year, the defense has been mostly effective, except for the Cincinnati debacle. It is true that we lost Brian Urlacher. But teams have injuries; it’s part of the deal in the NFL. Good teams like the Packers, Falcons, and Bengals have been able to pick us apart at key situations (or, in the case of the Bengals, the entire game!).

Meanwhile, that offense…ugh.

It is clear that, for better or worse, Jay Cutler is the piece the entire offense is built around, and it will be that way for a long time. So it’s important that we have an offensive coach who can get the most out of his new toy. That coach is not Ron Turner.

Still, as I’ve pointed out before, firing Turner won’t help that awful offensive line.

Yes, GM Jerry Angelo certainly has to share the blame in all this. He signed or traded for the players, and many of his first round draft picks have not panned out here under his watch. 

With no early draft picks on the horizon, the brain trust of this team will have to make effective decisions in the free agent market and in the draft in order to improve in 2010.

There is little margin for error now. Do we trust Angelo to continue to make those decisions? I wouldn’t, but I don’t think he is going anywhere right now. So any change at the head coach position will likely be Angelo’s last.

Speaking of that, will Angelo be man enough to admit his mistakes in firing Lovie? Or will he be as stubborn as Lovie has been?

Look, I’m not one who necessarily believes that the temperament of the head coach drives the way the team plays. But does Lovie hold his players accountable? Or is he too soft?

Maybe that’s one reason the players like playing for him. In a recent Chicago Tribune article, Desmond Clark mentioned that players relate to Lovie’s laid-back approach. Gee, what a surprise. Remember, they said a lot of the same things about Dick Jauron until he was gone.

Perhaps no greater indictment of Lovie Smith is his love affair with the Tampa-2. I purposely didn’t say the cover-2 because there is a difference. 

The cover-2 is basically a form of prevent defense that almost every team employs. Truthfully, the Bears only use it about one third of the time.

But it’s the Tampa-2 that is the base package of the Bears defense under Lovie Smith. Only a couple teams continue to use that as their base package after finding out that other teams have adjusted to it.

Plus, you have to have the right players if you’re going to be successful using that scheme. You need pressure from your front four and solid safety help.

So while most teams have moved away from the Tampa-2, our Bears have not. No sir. And that won’t ever change under Lovie since he cut his teeth using that scheme.

The real problem here is that the longer this staff is in place, the longer we waste Cutler’s talent and the longer the defensive players stay here in a failed defensive scheme, come to think of it.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Come To Think of It: Jay Cutler and the Bears’ Red Zone Efficiency a Red Flag

The inept Bears finally met an offense worse than theirs in the Cleveland Browns, who literally turned the game over to the Chicago on Sunday.

But don’t let one win against the worst offense in the NFL, and one of the worst teams in football, make you think the Bears don’t have serious problems on offense. The Bears may have won by a wide margin, but the final score should have been a lot more lopsided.

Jay Cutler came to Chicago with a reputation as a QB who couldn’t get it done in the red zone. And though I’m still glad we have him, I’m beginning to see why that reputation is deserved.

Cutler’s tendency to force the ball into coverage has resulted in 11 interceptions already this season. While the horrible play of the offensive line has certainly had something to do with this, it can’t be blamed entirely on the line play.

For even in Denver, where the line play is much better (just watch Kyle Orton do his laundry while waiting to throw the ball), Cutler often threw interceptions at critical moments.

Key mistakes, such as offensive linemen jumping offsides, or running back Matt Forte’s fumbling in Atlanta, have combined with the constant pressure in Cutler’s face to create a tough situation for any QB to be successful.

Still, Cutler is just learning that he needs to throw the ball away, or take off and run instead of throwing recklessly when no one is open. His pocket awareness needs to improve too. He often will move to avoid the rush, but doesn’t keep moving and the defender ends up hitting him anyway, sometimes resulting in a fumble.

Cutler was damn lucky that the fumble call in the third quarter was overturned by replay, because one could argue that was a fumble. It’s as if Cutler thought that stepping one foot to his right meant that the defender was going to give up. 

Look, I’m definitely not trying to put all of the blame of the bad Bears offense on Cutler’s shoulders. Forte is good, but he will never be a special back. He’s not running like he did last year, although on Sunday he got some good runs against a Cleveland defense that ranks dead last against the rush.

Any discussion of how inept the Bears are at scoring in the red zone has to go back to the offensive line. Orlando Pace may have had a Hall-of-Fame career, but he looks to be just about done now.

And the Frank Omiyale Experiment has run its course. He still can’t play guard, despite having had sufficient time to adjust by now. Likewise, Chris Williams is just learning to play and doesn’t appear to be a quick learner.

Even center Olin Kreutz isn’t performing at a Pro-Bowl caliber level any longer. Maybe a change of scenery is the main reason, but getting better blocking in Cincinnati has to have helped Cedric Benson.

Meanwhile, the Bears rank near the bottom of the league in red zone efficiency. Whether you personally believe that there is a red zone, or even if you think it is just random chance, teams historically perform less efficiently inside the 20 yard line.

The compressed field and added pressure may be a factor, but I don’t believe there is really anything that happens inside the red zone that isn’t symptomatic of problems that are occurring within the other 80 yards.

However, mistakes are magnified when they happen inside the 20, and the Bears came away with field goals in their first three trips there on Sunday. Field goals are certainly better than not scoring at all, but you have to score at least one touchdown in three tries if you’re going to be competitive with the better teams in the league.

Speaking of better teams, the next four games will be much more of a test for the Bears than what they faced today. Hopefully, they will score when they have the opportunity, come to think of it.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Come To Think Of It, Bob’s Fearless Forecast: Bears Win Big Vs. Cleveland

Okay, I admit that when it comes to prognostication, picking the Bears to beat the Browns on Sunday in Soldier Field doesn’t exactly rank among the most provocative. In fact, I understand that many feel it is a downright slam dunk.

Still, given the way the team failed to show up in Cincinnati last week, predicting a Bears blowout is anything but a certainty. Yet, don’t worry Bears fans. This week you will be smiling.

Yes, the offensive line is not blocking well. The defensive front is getting little pressure on the QB. And that secondary…well, let’s just say that free safety remains a huge concern, especially in a cover-2 defensive scheme.

But I do think that returning to the comforts of home will be a welcome respite for our Bears. After two miserable games on the road, they will be happy to be playing in front of a friendly crowd and eating home cooking again.

Of course, that crowd won’t remain so friendly if the Bears start slowly. I wrote a piece recently that said that one of the biggest problems the Bears face are the expectations they’ve created with the Jay Cutler acquisition. Many delusional Bears fans actually thought that alone would make us a lock for the Super Bowl.

Smarter fans like you and I knew better. Not that we weren’t hoping that the team could make the playoffs, and in fact they still could, but we understand that one man can’t do it all.

Especially when that one man is making mistakes like Cutler has. No, this 3-3 season is not his fault, despite the interceptions. But even if Cutler was playing like Peyton Manning, Drew Brees or Tom Brady, they would still need more weapons around him.

How the Bears are going to obtain those weapons while fixing the offensive and defensive line is a subject for another day. Right now, let’s focus on the upcoming opponent.

Ah yes, the Cleveland Browns. They are 1-6 and rank near the bottom of the NFL in most categories.

The offense is averaging the second-fewest number of yards per game and the defense is allowing the most yards in the league. Things have gotten so bad that fans are planning a protest prior to their Monday night game on November 16.

The offense has scored four touchdowns in seven games. Meanwhile, I’m sure they are licking their chops with the thought of facing a Bears defense that looked like a sieve against the Bengals last weekend.

But trust me, it isn’t going to happen. The Browns will not only lose this game, they will get blown out. Expect Cutler to throw for 400 yards and the offense to break some big plays. Think 44-14.

For as bad as things are for the Browns, they won’t get any sympathy from our team. The Bears win this game or the season is over. It’s as simple as that, come to think of it.

 

 

 

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Come To Think Of It: Bears Growing Weary Of Excuses From Tommie Harris

I don’t know about you, but I was surprised to learn that Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris was benched against Cincinnati—”coach’s decision”—not because he was playing well but because Lovie Smith & Co. rarely make this kind of admission about one of their “name” players.

We all remember, ad nauseam, the constant “Rex is our quarterback” refrain from Lovie. Frank Omiyale was signed to a relatively big contract this offseason and even though he’s brutal, the Bears have no plans to sit him down.

To be fair, Omiyale is learning a new position, but for crying out loud, he’s been starting there from mini-camp, through training camp, all through the preseason and now six games into the regular season. People have learned to speak fluent French faster than this.

Look, there wasn’t a single player or unit on that Bears team that played well in Sunday’s debacle against the Bengals. But to admit that Harris is no longer good enough to start speaks volumes about just how far his star has fallen.

Tommie believes he is injured. The Bears think he ought to get out there and practice. Lovie is basically saying that he is healthy enough to play but isn’t good enough to play.

Sure, he will be back against Cleveland this weekend, but we may never see the pro-bowl caliber of play that once made Harris one of the brightest young defensemen in the NFL.

You might get the occasional good play, but you won’t ever see consistently high level of performance from him, for whatever reason. Maybe his body has just shut down after all the injuries. Maybe the fat contract has made him lose his fire.

Whatever the reason, it is apparent, even to a Bears head coach who never calls one of his players out in public, that Harris needs to improve if he’s going to be on the field on a regular basis.

It has become common for Harris to miss one or two practices a week because of lingering knee soreness. However, last week he missed every practice.

Smith made it clear that in the future Harris can get back into the lineup by practicing.

“For a player to really prove he’s ready to go, it would help for him to be able to practice throughout the week and we think Tommie will be ready to go all week,” Smith said.

So is he hurt or not? Last Thursday, GM Jerry Angelo said Harris ”is healthy.” Even Harris said that injury wasn’t the reason for his benching.

”It wasn’t true,” Harris said when asked why his knee kept him out of the game. ”You talk to them. If you came here earlier, you saw, I worked out before the game.”

The only thing that seems to be a certainty is that Harris just isn’t the disruptive force he once was. While he was suspended for a game last season due to detrimental conduct, that doesn’t appear to be the case this time.

It is sad indeed that a 26 year-old player, who once flashed so much promise, seems to be nearing the end. If this situation doesn’t get better, the team may not pick up his $2.5 million roster bonus for next season.

Meanwhile, Lovie Smith ought to not accept excuses from himself. Since he started calling the defensive plays, there has been chaos and disorganization. Players don’t seem to know their assignments.

Yes, you might blame the injury to Brian Urlacher and yes, you can certainly blame the players for not executing. But hell, the Bengals are without their best pass rusher for the season and they seem to be getting along just fine.

Injuries are not a valid excuse, they happen to every team. It is part of the game. Look in the mirror yourself, Lovie, when evaluating players like Tommie Harris.

You may not like what you see, come to think of it.

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Come To Think Of It, Who Would You Rather Have: Jay Cutler or Kyle Orton?

It’s a debate for the ages—who is the better QB, Kyle Orton or Jay Cutler?

To me, it’s fairly cut and dry. For now, Orton is fine. You can win with him. If you are a risk averse team, you certainly like his game managing skills and ability to avoid making mistakes.

Yet, for the long term, give me Jay Cutler to build around. He has the stronger arm, the mobility, the franchise-changing ability to win games all by himself that Orton does not—and likely never will—have.

But try telling that to a Denver fan who not only hates Cutler but is enjoying an undefeated season thus far. It’s difficult to argue when faced with the choice between a QB that has thrown only one interception (a “hail mary” picked off by Randy Moss, of all people) and one who throws picks about as often as he throws TDs.

There’s also that little issue of the 6-0 season. Not that it’s all because of Orton.

Still…

I keep hearing that Cutler is a primadona; that he’s a baby, only concerned about his stats.

Meanwhile, I keep hearing how Kyle Orton is the main reason for the Broncos surprising success this season.

It’s as if Denver’s 6-0 record is because of Orton, not due to an excellent defense and an offensive line that would allow Orton to order a pizza while waiting to throw if he wanted.

The arguments go as follows: Because Orton doesn’t throw picks, the Broncos can score in the red zone.

Even the improved play of the defense is apparently due to Orton. His sustained drives are keeping the Denver defense off the field longer, resulting in fresher bodies and improved play.

Hell, I’m surprised that Orton isn’t being given credit for ending world hunger, the hyperbole is flowing so much.

And Cutler is solely responsible for global warming, right?

Look, the recipe for success in the NFL isn’t trading a franchise QB for a mediocre one. If it were that simple, the Bears would have many more Super Bowls to their credit.

And if being a gunslinger was so bad, how come the Packers and Brett Favre did so well all these years?

Don’t get me wrong, teams can win with Orton. But they don’t win because of him. He is playing as well as he can, with limited upside, while a guy like Cutler has no ceiling.

Yes, Cutler makes more mistakes. It’s because his talent allows him to take more chances.

It’s a lot like comparing defensive players in baseball based on number of errors. That is flawed logic because a player with greater range may make more errors because he gets to more balls.

You still take the player with the better range. Just like you take the QB with the stronger arm.

Denver’s turnaround has more to do with the improvement on defensive side of the ball. But give Orton his just due, he’s performing well like he did with the Bears in the first half of last season, prior to injuring his ankle.

Yet comparing the two based on their teams’ win-loss records is plain silly. Going back to a baseball analogy again, it’s like comparing pitchers based on their win-loss records. There are so many variables that go beyond his control that the W-L is not a fair indicator of performance.

As for the difference in their personalities, of course a guy like Cutler is going to be the more conceited. All the great ones, in every sport, have huge egos. If you don’t think that Joe Montana could be a real turd to his teammates, then you didn’t get the memo.

Time will tell, I suppose. But at this point in their respective careers, Cutler has made a Pro Bowl, has thrown for more yards, and throws a much better deep ball than Orton. And I imagine it will remain that way.

I don’t begrudge Denver its success. And I’m happy for Orton, he seems like a good guy.

But long term, I still think Cutler ends up being the better QB.

Of course, let’s not let facts get in the way, come to think of it.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Bears Battled Two Foes in Atlanta loss- the Falcons and Themselves.

The Bears beat the Bears on Sunday night in Atlanta.

Yes, that’s right.

Sure, give the Falcons some credit, but give the Bears mistakes in the red zone a big assist too.

Where do I begin?

First of all, Matt Forte who fumbles about as often as Tom Arnold stays sober, committed the sin twice in the same set of downs; the second of which was recovered by the Falcons.

As if that wasn’t bizarre enough, the defense looked unprepared and disheveled at times. They certainly weren’t ready for the no-huddle late in the first half. Lovie’s Bears seemed dazed and confused and out of position much of the night.

They say a team takes on the characteristics of its coach. Well, maybe that’s true – the defense looked about as lost as Lovie Smith does when they show him on the sidelines after a bad play. It’s like he doesn’t even know what’s going on at times.

That’s a bit too harsh, I know. And, in fairness, the Bears are on their third string signal caller on defense following the loss of Urlacher and Hillenmeyer. Still, mistakes like these were supposed to be avoided now that Lovie is calling the defensive plays.

Speaking of mistakes, what about that offensive line? I don’t care if this sounds reactionary and overdone, but I’m convinced that Frank Omiyale doesn’t belong in the NFL. He was beat more often than Tina Turner by Ike back in the day.

And why do Chicago sports teams seem to get Hall of Fame players after they are washed up? Remember Bobby Orr coming to the Blackhawks? Well, meet Orlando Pace.

Despite NBC commentator Chris Collinsworth’s protests to the contrary, Pace is not playing well. Holding and critical off-sides calls are about the only thing that stood out about Pace’s play on Sunday night.

Look, you can credit the Falcons defense for making some tough, goal line stands. You can give kudos to young Matt Ryan, from whom Jay Cutler can learn a lesson about  throwing the ball away, instead of forcing it down the field when no one is open. And yes, Atlanta’s defense created pressure in the fourth quarter without even blitzing.

All that may be true, but I still say we beat ourselves tonight.

A fumble at the one, an interception at the nine and a crucial penalty when they had fourth-and-one at the Atlanta five with less than a minute to go is enough to give a fan an ulcer.

Meanwhile, I think the Bears have had enough of prime time games on national TV. Cutler has thrown six interceptions in the two games on Sunday night football.

You can almost hear fans in Denver crying for joy watching his meltdowns. The Bears are 0-2, while they are 3-0 elsewhere.

Excuses, excuses, I know.

No excuses this time- the Bears simply ran into an opponent they couldn’t beat – themselves, come to think of it.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Come To Think Of It: The Chicago Bears’ Identity Crisis

The Chicago Bears are in the midst of an identity crisis. They want to be a running team, yet their best offensive weapon is the QB.

 

We all know that the Bears have always stated that they “come off the bus running the football.” Traditional NFL thinking has it that you need to have a strong running game to set up your passing offense.

 

But is a so-called “balanced offensive attack” overrated if your team has a solid QB? That is a question I’ve been pondering since the Bears obtained Jay Cutler.

 

On one hand, seeing as we have yet to really get the running game on track and we sit at 3-1 on the season, I think that question may already be answered.

 

Yes, Matt Forte had 121 yards rushing against the Lions in week four. But he got the bulk of that yardage on two big runs. Take those away, and Forte ran for 23 yards on 10 carries, an average of 2.3 yards per carry.

 

Meanwhile, after a very rough start to the season, Jay Cutler has been very good.

 

So do the Bears really need to continue to think of themselves as a running team or is that thinking passé now? Should they instead focus on taking advantage of our offensive strength which, for the first time in a long time, is actually the QB position?

 

It’s an interesting question for a team whose long-term identity has been running the ball. Gale Sayers, Walter Payton, Neal Anderson, Thomas Jones, et al, move over. There’s a new sheriff in town.

 

But does that sheriff have a “mayor” that can take advantage of this strength? I still have my doubts about offensive coordinator Ron Turner. Does he know how to effectively “play” with his new toy or is this a cat without claws?

 

At times, it seems the Bears are still intent on forcing the rushing game to improve, as opposed to doing what they now do best, which is throwing the ball, despite lacking a true No. 1 receiver.

 

No question, a running game helps the passing game, and vice-versa. In an ideal world, a team has both operating on all cylinders. But is the long-standing belief that a balanced attack is necessary to win still as cut and dried anymore? Or, is the proliferation of good, young QBs in the league turning that into a wives tale?

 

It is a question worth pondering for the Bears, especially if Forte is indeed running on a bad knee.

 

“I don’t know if a lot of people know that Matt is playing with a bad knee, but he’s still out there playing hard and he still broke a couple runs today,” Olin Kreutz said.

Meanwhile, back to the Turner issue. The offense did put up 48 points in their last game. While it may seem absurd to criticize such an offensive outburst, remember that it was against a bad Detroit Lions football team. Plus, the Bears squandered several scoring opportunities despite having outstanding field position most of the game.

Maybe they should quit trying to prove they are a running team, and instead admit that the worm has turned. Could it be that the Bears are…ahem…a passing team now?

 

Well, wake the neighbors and phone the kids, Jay Cutler has come to town!

 

While Papa Bear Halas may be turning over in his grave with this news, it’s high time that Turner exploits his new-found success. Try throwing the ball deep a bit more. Let’s stretch that defense. After all, Cutler’s strong arm is also his strong suit, right?

 

Look, it’s not as if the Bears run blocking has been stellar either. All of which adds up to the conclusion that the Bears need to focus on passing the ball.

 

Even if it wakes the ghosts of Soldier Field, come to think of it.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Come To Think Of It: Denver Broncos Remain Perfect Despite Butt Ugly Uniforms

They call it “throw back” night, but they could have just as easily called it “throw up” night, because those uniforms that the Denver Broncos wore in their improbable victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday made me want to puke.

Decked out in their best 1970s-era, Dave Winfield-led San Diego Padres colors, the Broncos seemed doomed in the first half, with Josh McDaniels’ idiotic decision to use his final challenge to save three yards capping an underwhelming performance.

 

Yep, their first half performance was one for the ages all right. The stone ages.

What can brown pants do for you? Well, apparently enough to score yet another come-from-behind win. The surprising Denver Broncos improved to 5-0 on the season.

Imagine what the Orange Crush uniforms could have accomplished. Why, the Patriots wouldn’t have had a chance.

McDaniels joins the Colts’ Jim Caldwell as one of only five rookie coaches in NFL history to start a season undefeated after five games. 

Kyle Orton, obtained in the Jay Cutler trade, actually outplayed Patriots QB Tom Brady, completing 35 of 48 passes for 330 yards and two TDs. This was only the second 300-yard passing game of his career.

Meanwhile, Tom Brady is now 1-5 as a starter against the Broncos for his career. Denver is the only team he does not have a winning record against.

“The guys in this locker room believe, the coaches believe, guys believe in each other and are fighting,” defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday said. As well they should.

“The electricity in the stadium was so great that we had to have it,” Orton said. “When we got to overtime, we just had to win.”

The Denver defense continued its miraculous comeback from a lousy season last year, as they held Brady to just 63 yards in the second half.

Despite an Orton interception, his first of the season, the Broncos proved to the football world that they are for real. Even if their uniforms were lacking, come to think of it.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Come To Think Of It: Is Brian Urlacher Done As a Chicago Bear?

Mike Mulligan from the Sun-Times and WSCR-AM hinted at Urlacher being out at the end of the season in a column earlier this week. Urlacher’s injury has him out for the season, and he will be 32 next year. While that’s not exactly AARP age, it is getting up there for an NFL linebacker.

But would the Bears really cut ties with their most famous player? I say no way. Urlacher is still a valuable contributor to the Bears defense, and prior to his injury, was considered to be in the best shape of his life.

There have always been critics of Urlacher’s play.

He doesn’t get many sacks or interceptions, so it’s always been difficult to determine how well he is playing. Still, the Bears defensive scheme doesn’t always favor a speedy guy like Urlacher.

True, he has difficulty shedding blocks. But he did win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2005. Some skeptics and critics, however, consider Urlacher overrated. A 2006 Sports Illustrated poll of 361 NFL players named Urlacher to be the second most overrated player in the league, behind Terrell Owens.

He is signed through 2012. Aside from possibly Lance Briggs, Urlacher is the most valuable player on the Bears defense. Another year older won’t likely change that fact.

The Bears propensity to play the Cover-two defense at least one-third of the time hurts Urlacher’s stats. He may have slowed down a bit due to age and injury, but he makes up for that with his experience.

So, for anyone who suggests that Urlacher will be playing for a different team next year, tell them that it’s un-Bearable to consider a Bears team without Brian Urlacher, come to think of it.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

« Previous Page — Next Page »

NFL Sport Channel Latest

• Just How Far Would You Go?
• Sorry Rex, But It Isn’t Happening
• Super Bowl Predictions: Five Stat-Free Reasons Why the Eagles Will Reach The Super Bowl
• Seahawks Attempt to Turn Corner With Heavy Pursuit of Pete Carroll
• Bill Cowher Unlikely to Coach in 2010