Come to Think of It: The NFC North Is Now the QB Division

Whether it was called the NFC Central or the North, as it is today, this has traditionally been known as the “black and blue” division, primarily dominated by defensive-oriented teams throughout the years.

While defense still wins championships, the QB position has surprisingly become the dominant feature of the North.

Sure, the Packers had a fellow by the name of Brett Favre for many years, but even his Hall of Fame presence couldn’t alter the perception of this division as an up the gut, in your face, collection of ballbusters.

Until now.

Ironically, while Favre is still in the division, wearing purple instead of green and gold, it’s the younger QBs who have transformed the North into an honest-to-goodness modern day offense.

Even the Bears, of all teams, have gotten into the act. GM Jerry Angelo stunned Chicago fans with his uncharacteristically bold acquisition of Jay Cutler. Following a nightmare of a debut against Green Bay, Cutler has seemingly found his way.

As the Bears hibernate this weekend, they sleep comfortably with the knowledge that they have a true game-changer at a position that has seen more bodies come and go than Madonna’s bedroom.

But is Cutler the best QB in the division? Well, his physical skills are the best. He has the strongest arm and is mobile and durable. But let’s take a look at the other candidates and see.

 

Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay Packers

Bears fans, of course, like to compliment Packers players about as often as they like a sharp stick jabbed in their eye. Yet if one is honest, one has to admit that this Rodgers kid is one pretty damn fine QB.

The Packers QB ranks fifth in the NFL in QB rating, at 101.1, behind only Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Favre, and Eli Manning.  What, is that the same Favre that now plays for the Minnesota Vikings? Yes, the same one. But we’ll get to him in a minute.

Despite a loss to the Vikings on Monday night, Rodgers played well at times. While he completed 26-of-37 passes for a career-high 384 yards and two touchdowns, he also threw an interception and lost a fumble. Oh, he also took a safety.

But his pass protection is terrible and he will be prone to sacks and mistakes unless Green Bay can do a better job of blocking up front.  If he can get some time to throw, however, there is no denying the potential of this 25-year-old QB.

 

Brett Favre – Minnesota Vikings

I told you we’d get to him. Despite being 102 years old, he is playing well for a Vikings team that looks like the team to beat in the NFC this season. Yes, he has arguably the best running back in the game in Adrian Peterson.

Yet it’s been his decision-making that has allowed Favre to enjoy success thus far. The gunslinger has thrown just one pick so far, against eight TDs. Meanwhile, he is banged up right now, though he is listed as probable for Sunday’s game against the miserable Rams.

Staying within himself, and not trying to do too much, such as forcing the ball downfield, is the key to Favre’s continued success.  If he can do that, he just may be the best QB in the division for this one season, though he is nearing the end, of course, and so would be the last QB to be selected if you were building a team.

 

Matthew Stafford – Detroit Lions

Stafford is obviously the most raw of the QBs in the North. Although prone to the rookie mistakes that plague most young, inexperienced players, Stafford has flashed the skills that made him the No. 1 overall pick of April’s draft.

Based on numbers alone, the 21-year-old doesn’t belong in this discussion right now. He has thrown six interceptions against just three TDs this season. But it’s his potential that intrigues everyone so much.

He has a right knee injury, so he probably won’t play against the Steelers on Sunday. But having a guy like Daunte Culpepper as a backup isn’t the worst thing in the world.

Besides, the Lions have already accomplished their first goal for this season, ending their long losing skid against the Redskins.

Stafford may be trailing the pack now, but he just may end up the best of the lot in the long run.

 

Jay Cutler – Chicago Bears

Now we come to the man who has almost single-handedly sparked renewed enthusiasm in Chicago, Jay Cutler. But before we go anointing him as the next Sid Luckman (yes, that’s how long it has been since we’ve had a franchise QB), consider the following.

Cutler tends to fall in love with his arm too much, at times. When he’s throwing across his body, off balance and on the run, he throws picks.

In that regard, he’s very much like a young Brett Favre. But it’s his ability to rally a team that makes this young man so damn exciting to Bears fans.

Though we haven’t seen enough of this yet, Cutler finally gives the Bears the ability to throw deep. He stretches the defense. Teams have to respect his arm, and can’t simply stack the box against the run.

No more “game managers” for this team, oh no. True, Cutler will make mistakes, as we saw against the Packers, but he also is the most physically gifted of the QBs in the division.

 

So there you have it. Four teams, four impressive QBs. Who else can boast the same thing, come to think of it?

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Come To Think Of It: Bears Need to Get Off The Bus Running Versus Seahawks

Lost in the euphoria of the Bears impressive victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers is this stark fact: the Bears averaged just 2.4 yards per carry in 18 rushing attempts.

 

Sure, QB Jay Cutler looked a whole lot better, completing 27/38 for 236 yards, two TDs and, most importantly NO INTERCEPTIONS.

 

Still, for a team that claims to come off the bus running the ball, the rushing attack so far this season has been unimpressive to say the least.

 

Matt Forte, who had an outstanding rookie season last year, rushed the ball 13 times for a total of 29 yards last Sunday. In the week one loss to the Packers, Forte wasn’t any better, carrying the ball 25 times for a net gain of only 55 yards.

 

For the season, Forte is averaging just 2.2 yards per carry.

 

He has also caught just five balls this season, after leading the team in receptions last year. In short, we need to get the ball in his hands more often and the line has to do a better job of run blocking for the Bears to be successful.

 

Yes, we have a real QB now, but you still have to run to be successful in the NFL. Plus, the Bears receiving corps is not the best, so depending solely on the passing game is risky business.

 

The Bears have three new additions to the line this year in Frank Omiyale, Orlando Pace and Chris Williams. Omiyale, in particular, has played poorly, and Pace has been unimpressive so far.

 

Fortunately for Chicago, their next opponent is a team that you can run effectively against. In week one, despite a 28-0 thrashing of the Rams, St. Louis did manage to average 4.3 yards per carry.

 

Last week, Frank Gore and the 49ers ran at will against the Seahawks, totaling 256 yards rushing for an 8.8 average and two TDs.

 

Another lucky “break” for the Bears is the fractured rib that Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck suffered against San Francisco last week. While he hopes to play, Seattle coach Jim Mora is preparing to play without him.

 

According to the Associated Press, when asked if he had to plan to face the Bears without Hasselbeck, Mora said, “Right now, we’ll probably do that—unless we get word otherwise.”

Mora did say Hasselbeck “seems to be doing a lot better today.”

 

Meanwhile, the real story may be the woeful Bears running attack versus the woeful Seahawks run defense on Sunday. Something has to give.

 

Here’s hoping its Seattle that gives to the Bears, come to think of it.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Come To Think of It: Exploring the Walter Payton Statue Controversy

Joseph Stalin once said, “The death of one man is a tragedy. The death of millions is a statistic.”

While that may be true to some, Soldier Field was erected, in part, so that the memory of those men and women who fought for our country and shed their blood and their lives would have a place to be remembered.

It is with this thought in mind that the Chicago park district and some military veterans oppose the attempts by the “Friends of Walter Payton” committee to have a statue in his honor out in front of Solider Field.

The bronze statue, being constructed in Wasilla, AK, with a foundry in Utah, will be slightly larger than 6’0″ tall and life size. The base will be about five to six feet tall. The sculptor is Stan Watts, who specializes in life-size bronzes.

While it’s the home of the Chicago Bears, Soldier Field serves as a memorial to American soldiers who died in wars.

If one is to put up a statue of a football player, it is argued, then where are the statues of the real heroes, the fallen war soldiers?

It was media mogul Ted Turner who said, “Sports is like a war without the killing.” But does such sentiment demean the memory of those who defended their country so bravely?

Look, this isn’t a debate over whether Payton deserves a statue in this town. Of course he does. There is a statue for Michael Jordan and Ernie Banks. Heck, there are even statues for Irv Kupcinet, Harry Caray and Jack Brickhouse, among others.

Rather, this argument centers around the placement of the statue.

Fred Mitchell of the Chicago Tribune reports that, “According to a Payton family spokeswoman, park district officials explained that Soldier Field and the area surrounding it is to be preserved strictly as a memorial to war veterans. There also is concern a Payton statue outside of Soldier Field might diminish the stature of other former Bears Hall of Famers.”

That last part is interesting. For while Payton was certainly one of the greatest players of all time, there have been plenty of Hall of Fame Chicago Bears and none of them have a statue.

The last time I checked, there were no statues for “Da Coach” Mike Ditka, Bill George, Red Grange, Bronco Nagurski, Sid Luckman, Dick Butkus, or Gale Sayers, among other Bear greats.

Several years ago, however, the Bears unveiled a 26.5-foot tall granite sculpture, depicting a timeline describing Halas’ contribution to professional football and the history of the Bears. It is located inside Soldier Field’s Bear Den, in the west concourse.

Walter Payton, who set the record for career rushing yards before he retired, a mark since broken, died on Nov. 1, 1999, from complications of liver cancer.

I don’t believe that many people would have a problem with a statue in Payton’s honor. According to the Tribune report, the park district offered to have the statue placed in any other Chicago park.  But Connie Payton, wife of the late great Bear running back, hopes a compromise can be reached.

To me, all of this discussion is trumped by the fact that the Bears decided to put a space ship atop of the stadium in 2003. If Soldier Field is such a legendary memorial, why were they allowed to do that?

So go ahead and place that statue there, I say. Walter was not only a great football player, he was a warrior. Not to be confused, in any way, with those who fought in wars, but a warrior nonetheless.

Yes, sports is just sports while war is truly life and death. But the lines of distinction have been blurred before, come to think of it.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Breaking News: Brian Urlacher Likely Done For Season

The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Chicago Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher is likely out for the season after injuring his wrist in Sunday night’s loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Although there has been no official confirmation from the Bears, Lovie Smith is expected to address the issue during hsi afternoon news conference today.

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/huddleup/2009/09/brian-urlacher-out-for-the-season-with-wrist-injury.html

Urlacher’s right wrist is said to be dislocated. According to the Tribune, Urlacher said in a text message that his “season is over.” Urlacher had been scheduled to undergo surgery Monday morning, and it is possible that more extensive damage was revealed at that time.

Pisa Tinoisamoa will also be out at least one game, and maybe more, after spraining the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Come To Think Of It… Chicago Sports Fans Thank God It’s Football Season

We Chicago sports fans are nuts. Crazy about our teams, passionate about winning, but appreciate hard work and a blue collar attitude most of all. So football appeals to many of us because it’s a tough sport played by tough men and there are no guaranteed contracts, or players sitting out with a broken fingernail.

Not that we don’t love our baseball teams. Oh hell yes, we certainly do. But after having the thrill of both the Cubs and Sox being in the playoffs last year (though they both laid an egg there), this season has been particularly rough.

It sure doesn’t look like either team will play postseason ball, so I say “bring on the Bears!”

Of course, it helps that we finally have an honest-to-goodness real NFL QB in Jay Cutler. But even if our defense lets us down and we don’t win the NFC North, at least we have hope right now. And, after this baseball season, it sure feels good to start with a clean slate once again.

Look, I recognize the Blackhawks had a terrific season last year and we’re excited about their chances again this year. And even the Bulls made some noise against the Celtics in one of the most evenly matched series I have ever witnessed.

But there’s something about the start of a new football season to make one’s juices start flowing again. And, judging by all the hype this preseason, if our juices were flowing any more, we’d drown in them.

Now, you can’t count on this optimism lasting forever. If we lose to the Packers Sunday night, we might be stewing in our own juices.

And that, unfortunately, is a distinct possibility. For the dreaded Packers have a mighty damn fine QB of their own in Aaron Rodgers. My heart screams Bears, but my head whispers Packers in this matchup. I hope I’m wrong.

But no matter. Right now, anything is possible and everything is right in front of us. Unlike our baseball teams, come to think of it.

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Come to Think of It: NFL Assistant Coaching Changes Dominate Preseason

So they say that the NFL preseason is meaningless? Try telling that to players on the bubble. And, in a recent trend, to assistant offensive coaches who are being let go before a regular season pass is ever thrown.

The latest casualty is Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Turk Schonert, who was fired on Friday following a weak offensive performance in the preseason.

I don’t know the stats, but all these early changes strike me as unprecedented—I can’t recall a preseason where so many coaches were let go.

Maybe one change has opened the door to others, who knows?

Put aside, for a moment, whether the dismissals were warranted or not. I mean, the absence of T.O. may have had something to do with the Bills anemic showing. After all, Schonert installed the no-huddle offense due to Owens.

The point is, three coordinators in one week?—Before the darn season has even started?

In addition to Schonert, Kansas City fired Chan Gailey on Monday and Tampa Bay said sayonara to Jeff Jagodzinski on Thursday.

If a team is making decisions based on pre-season performance, allow me to remind them that the Detroit Lions had a great pre-season last year, only to go winless in the regular season.

You see, pre-season performance has no correlation with regular season results. Yet teams are firing coaches based on what is happening in these exhibition games?

The first thought that comes to mind is there must be more to it. There must have been underlying issues between these coaches and their head coach or the front office.

And, in the Bills case, though the timing of the move may be in question, it certainly isn’t based solely on this year. The Bills offense finished 25th in total yards in the NFL last season, the sixth straight year the unit finished 25th or worse.

Can the firing of Dick Jauran be far behind?

Likewise, the dismissal of Gailey wasn’t necessarily a surprise. Head coach Todd Haley served as Cardinals offensive coordinator last season, and he enjoyed being the playcaller and didn’t appreciate Chan’s style.

ESPN’s John Clayton surmises that the rash of coaching changes may have more to do with teams going with younger, cheaper head coaches who have little knowledge of, and no alliance to, assistant coaches around the league.

As Clayton puts it, some coaches view assistants as “…more of a name than an acquaintance…and their philosophies obviously didn’t mesh.”

I feel that when that happens, they are quick to pull the trigger because they don’t have extensive resumes to fall back on and therefore, can’t afford to wait around. Plus, it’s not like these guys are their buddies, so it’s no skin off of their back.

These young coaches need immediate results.

In all, there were 11 head coaching changes this offseason. Except for Tom Cable and Mike Singletary, none of these coaches had been head coaches for their respective teams in 2008, so wanting to bring in your own guys is a natural reaction.

The epidemic of preseason assistant coaching changes is, however, a bit hard to keep track of, come to think of it. 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Come To Think Of It: Bears Matt Forte May Benefit Most From Jay Cutler

There has been much talk in Chicago Bears camp about how the acquisition of strong-armed Jay Cutler will make the receivers better. And how players such as tight end Greg Olsen and wide receiver Earl Bennett will benefit most from Cutler’s arrival.

While all that may be true, I say that the guy who will benefit the most from the Bears having a real, honest-to-goodness QB may be running back Matt Forte.

Sure, the fact that Cutler played college ball with Bennett, who couldn’t even get on the field as a rookie last season, is sure to help Earl become more of a factor for the Bears this coming season.

And yes, Cutler has seemed to develop a friendship and connection with Olson that may result in Cutler looking his way more often than Kyle Orton did last year.

But you cannot ignore the impact of a solid QB to a running game in the NFL. While it’s a bit of a “chicken or the egg” kind of argument, let’s face it, you can’t stack the box against a QB that can beat you with his arm.

Look at Brett Favre with the Jets last season. His arrival resulted in former Bear Thomas Jones having his best season in the NFL. His 1,312 yards was just slightly lower than the 1,335 yards he gained with the Bears in 2005, and his 13 touchdowns easily eclipsed his career high (and were 12 more than he had his previous year!). Plus, Jones had a higher rushing average and more total yards that he did in 2005.

Look, with Orton as the Bears QB, teams could cheat the safety up and put more men on the line, basically daring the Bears former QB to throw the ball. But with Cutler, team defenses will have to respect his arm.

And this should help the running game. If future Hall of Famer Orlando Pace has anything left in the tank, and 2008’s high draft pick Chris Williams is healthy and productive, the line improvements and the addition of Cutler should combine for a big year for the second-year rusher from Tulane.

And hey, it’s not like Forte didn’t have a fine season as a rookie in 2008. He led the Bears in receptions with 63, and he had 1,238 yards and eight touchdowns.

Forte seemed to tire at times last year, so the addition of Cutler should decrease his workload, another positive. His 316 rushing attempts ranked fourth in the NFL last season.

Jay Cutler has had such a positive impression in Chicago that it’s hard to pinpoint where his impact his most likely to be felt. He has excited the fans, and increased the expectations for the Bears, which is a good thing.

Meanwhile, Matt Forte is licking his chops, come to think of it.

Come to Think of It: Another Angle to the Brian Urlacher-Jay Cutler Silliness

Cue the Cats soundtrack.

For this catfighting between Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher and quarterback Jay Cutler, which either truly exists or is being invented by a former Bears player trying to stir up trouble, is causing the media to swarm like vultures to a fresh kill.

Yet my take on this whole “did he call Cutler a (sissy) or not” story is, WHO CARES? In fact, they can openly roll around the Bourbonnais practice field and scratch each other’s eyes out if they want, for all I care.

Personally, my money would be on Urlacher, but that’s another matter entirely.

So why am I writing this article then, if I say I don’t care?

Well, I have an angle to the story that I haven’t heard anyone talk about.

That is, what if he’s right?

I mean, up until now, all I’ve heard spewing from talk radio has been debate over whether or not Urlacher called Cutler this expletive-deleted, and concern over two teammates possibly not getting along.

For his part, Urlacher denies ever having said that about Cutler.

But no one has addressed the 800-pound bear in the room. Namely, what if Urlacher’s right, and our new franchise QB and savior truly is a wimp?

So what, you say? As long as he throws touchdown passes and leads the team to victory, you don’t care?

Fair enough.

But at least to me, it does matter, for many reasons. First, your QB is supposed to be the leader of the team. Leaders need respect. It’s hard enough to walk into a new locker room and lead a bunch of guys you don’t know.

But it’s damn near impossible if you are a wimpy guy who lacks toughness and leadership skills. Players will see right through you as if you were translucent.

Then there is the delicate issue of a QB’s psyche. We all recognize that QBs are kind of like left-handed pitchers in that they are different. That is a kind way of saying that they are really out there and require special attention.

Further, there is the not-so-transparent negative reputation that Cutler is trying to shed like a defensive end on his back.

Denver fans, media, and even the coaching staff have taken Cutler to task for various issues over the years, the most recent of which is because he wanted to leave the Broncos and get away from coaching genius Josh McDaniels.

Though young, Cutler’s public persona is already steeped in a legacy of selfishness and prima donna status. Whether that’s fair or not, it is what it is. And controversy like the one that Minnesota’s Bobby Wade (seriously, dude, what grown man still wants to be called “Bobby”?) is generating, intentional or not, is something Cutler needs like a sore arm.

My first inclination was to tell Wade to shut up and grow up. You were never any good as a Bear, and your statements to the media border on insulting. It’s abusing the privilege of a friendship, at the very least.

My next thought is that, while a great player, Urlacher can be somewhat of an idiot, so why should we care what he thinks? After all, he routinely shuns the media and fans alike and has a history of surliness that has resulted in his Brian “Surlacher” nickname by the local press.

Yet another impression is that what we may be experiencing here, if Urlacher did indeed express that opinion of Cutler, is a power struggle.

Urlacher has long been the face of the team. He has truly been an awesome linebacker. So along comes Cutler, and suddenly there is a new sheriff in town.

Who knows?

Again, my focus will be on Cutler’s play on the field and his actions as a leader on this football team. I will certainly give him the benefit of the doubt. I am happy as a loon in heat that he is here.

Still, there is that gnawing suspicion that I just can’t seem to rid my mind of that maybe, just maybe, the rumors are true.

As a Bears fan, I certainly hope not. But it’s an interesting question and one that only time will tell.

Hey, we love our quarterback controversy here in Chicago, come to think of it.

Come To Think Of It: Plaxico Burress To Bears Worth A “Shot”

If the case against former Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress results in another adjournment on Monday as expected, then he instantly becomes a target for teams that need a premium wideout.

And one of those teams wears blue and orange with “GSH” on their sleeves.

Currently, there are three teams that are said to be interested in Burress, including the Bears. One can expect the competition to increase if he is not facing jail time this season.

For Chicago, he could be the missing ingredient to an offense that was upgraded significantly in the offseason.

The Bears acquired a top notch QB in Jay Cutler, and signed Orlando Pace to bolster the offensive line.

With a solid running back in Matt Forte and good tight end play, the team only needs help at the wide receiver position to complete its offensive makeover.

The move would not come without serious risk.

First of all, Burress has not always been the most team-friendly player.

Perhaps more critical, however, is the very real possibility that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will suspend the wideout. He could wait until after Plaxico is signed before making that ruling.

Bears GM Jerry Angelo is suddenly a “roll the dice” risk-taker, and Plaxico Burress might be his next gamble.

Burress is very tempting if, as his attorney Benjamin Brafman confidently suggests, he will be able to play this coming season.

“As far as I’m concerned, if he wants to play this year, he’s able to play,” Brafman said, according to the New York Daily News. “We will be in and out of the court of Monday morning by 9:15.”

Meanwhile, a date for the adjournment “has yet to be determined,” Brafman told ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio. “If there is going to be a trial in this case, it will not be until 2010. That is my best guess.”

Burress, who was released by the Giants this offseason, faces felony gun charges stemming from an accidental, self-inflicted shooting last November inside a New York nightclub.

Now, there are no guarantees that the Bears are going to be Super Bowl contenders even if they upgrade the receiver position. No one knows, for example, if Chris Williams can play, or if they will have improved play from a defense seemingly on the decline.

Will Tommie Harris be healthy enough to return to form? Will the corner play improve and will there be any semblance of a pass rush? Furthermore, they need help at safety.

Still, it would be difficult for Angelo to pass on a top-10 wideout who would instantly be the Bears’ best receiver. 

Here’s hoping that Plaxico doesn’t shoot off his mouth and that Angelo doesn’t shoot himself in the foot. Or should that be stated the other way around, come to think of it?

 

Come to Think of It: You’ve Been Great, but Just Go Away Now Brett Favre

Look—he’s retiring! Wait, he’s back! Now he’s retiring again! But hold the phone, he might be coming back!

What, does this guy think he is Micheal Jordan or Roger Clemens?

On second thought, Favre wouldn’t want to be Clemens.

I don’t know about you, but I’m sick and tired of the Brett Favre soap opera. Look, it’s been a great run, you’re a Hall of Famer, but it’s time to say goodbye.

I wrote an article saying that Favre’s gunslinger mentality wouldn’t be a good fit for the Minnesota Vikings, even if you think he is better than what they currently have at QB.

Well, not only do I still believe that, I’m just tired of the uncertainty. I (know it’s hard for a professional athlete to hang up the spikes, so allow me to let Brett Favre know one thing.

Get the hell out while you can still walk.

Hey, he’s been remarkable, not only in what he has accomplished, but also in the sense that he has survived a long career in a dangerous sport without major injury. But the longer he continues to tempt fate, the longer the odds are against him.

Another comeback by Favre is a bad idea for a number of reasons.

First of all, Favre is mending from a partially torn right biceps. He’s approaching his 40th birthday. And, he was bad last season, throwing as many interceptions as touchdowns.

Furthermore, Favre would again play in a division filled with cold weather teams. Sure, the Vikings play indoors, but they do have two late December road games in cold weather cities.

To say Favre hasn’t played well in cold weather in recent seasons would be an understatement.

According to STATS Inc., Favre has played 14 games in weather under 40 degrees during the 2005-08 span. In those games, he’s thrown nine touchdown passes and 25 interceptions while compiling a 60.3 passer rating.

To stage a comeback mainly to establish some kind of vendetta against his old team, the Green Bay Packers, is silly. He wants so badly to stick it to his former team that he’s willing to risk life and limb.

It’s selfish, come to think of it. Just go away, will ya?

« 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