Try NFL Sport Channel Seach:
Selected searches:
NFL Football Players Draft Injuries Rookies Season Superbowl
Items by
Chicago Bears: QB Jay Cutler Comes Out Firing
Published: July 31, 2009
No Comments
It’s difficult to measure success and failure when it comes to football players running around in shorts and helmets without tackling or blocking.
When the Bears debuted new quarterback Jay Cutler in Thursday’s first training camp practice in Bourbonnais, however, no one could have interpreted it as anything but a resounding success.
“I thought it was a good first day,” coach Lovie Smith said. “We have a long ways to go; our entire team does. But you need to get that first day under your belt. He was able to do that and hopefully we can just continue to make progress from here.”
It was more than the laser-like precision Cutler showed by hitting on nine of his first 12 passes in seven-on-seven drills, before going on to hit Devin Hester and Greg Olsen for gains of 35 to 40 yards on sideline routes in full squad work.
Cutler’s ability to handle the offense and command the huddle both spoke volumes about why general manager Jerry Angelo traded for him.
“I think he’s in total control,” Smith said. “He has a track record. Guys realize that, so they’re going to listen to what he tells them. He has a way about telling them.”
“You won’t see him scream or yelling at guys, but he’ll get his point across, and with his personality, it allows the guys to really gravitate to him.”
The man who made the trade for Cutler was equally impressed.
“He’s got talent,” Angelo said. “We saw that in the (June organized workouts). He looked good.
“Just working with the receivers and working within the framework of the offense it will take a little time before everything starts really clicking like we like. Right now was a good day.”
Cutler had about a dozen team activities in June to work with receivers and also said he worked with them on his own to help him get ready for training camp. He still couldn’t wait to start.
“I was anxious if anything,” he said.
The two big plays along the sidelines stood out, in addition to a bullet Cutler drilled over the middle to Rashied Davis, who had slipped but had the presence of mind to get back up and make the catch.
“Yeah, you know, Greg looked good,” Cutler said. “Devin looked good, fell down a few times but we’re getting there.
“It’s a good sign to be hitting some of those early that we did, some of those big plays, because those are hard to come by.”
Even Bears defenders who tried to stop Cutler were impressed.
“He’s giving the wide receiver just enough room to maneuver and it’s good to see out of our offense,” cornerback Nate Vasher said.
A crowd estimated at 7,000 by Olivet Nazarene University school officials roared with every completion. Fans started lining up three hours before practice to be part of Cutler’s first workout.
The crowd fueled Cutler, too—except possibly the man who stood up and screamed during a lull: “marry me Jay Cutler!”
“I think it’s a fun atmosphere,” Cutler said. “It adds to the practice a little bit.
“But once we get locked in I don’t hear them at all.”
Fat farm for Harrison
The news wasn’t all good. Second-year defensive tackle Marcus Harrison weighed in Thursday around 325 pounds and because he failed to make weight, he went on the non-football injury list. The Bears athletic trainers put him through individual paces on the sidelines to try and get him in shape.
“Disappointed that Marcus isn’t out there with his teammates right now, but don’t know exactly how long,” Smith said.
“This wasn’t a part of the plan for him to be on the sideline, but he’ll do his work, and as you can see, he’s working hard to get back in shape. I know he’ll do it.
“But in the meantime our team has to move on. (Defensive tackles) Anthony Adams, Dusty Dvoracek are good football players, and when he comes we’ll welcome him back then.”
Injury front
Danieal Manning had the only real injury of the first day. He said he suffered from calf cramps and had a tender hamstring, so Craig Steltz played free safety with starters and Kevin Payne strong safety.
Also on Day 1
Free agent acquisition Pisa Tinoisamoa took most of the snaps with the first team at strong side linebacker, with Nick Roach getting some, as well. Veteran Hunter Hillenmeyer was limited to backup duties at the spot and also a backup middle linebacker role.
Free agent acquisition Frank Omiyale did not play with starters at left guard. Instead, Josh Beekman did. Last year Beekman was the starter at that spot.
Backup quarterback Caleb Hanie had a miserable first day of practice. He fumbled his first snap from backup center Tyler Reed. Then he threw well behind running back Kevin Jones in the flat on a short pass.
After that, Nate Vasher and Zack Bowman both intercepted Hanie passes. Hanie did get a measure of revenge with one touchdown bomb to Brandon Rideau.
Chicago Bears: Brian Urlacher, Jay Cutler Deny Rift
Published: July 30, 2009
No Comments
At least Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher kept his sense of humor.
In a rare lengthy interview session with the media at the outset of Bears camp in Bourbonnais, IL, Urlacher on Thursday not only denied having a disagreement with quarterback Jay Cutler, but joked about it.
Vikings receiver Bobby Wade said Urlacher called Cutler a five-letter word referring to cats. Urlacher said when Cutler heard talk about their supposed rift for the first time, the quarterback phoned the middle linebacker.
“He (Cutler) called me and I said, ‘what’s up (short for pussycat), what are you doing?’”
Bears players were bewildered over the situation.
“I got a couple calls from my teammates saying ‘what happened, did you guys get into a fight?’ ” Urlacher said. “I said ‘I don’t think we got in a fight.’
“Obviously it blew up so fast that everybody was just kind of taken aback. And some guys thought it really did happen that we had a fight this summer. It’s really crazy to me.”
After media laughter subsided, Urlacher rolled his eyes and added, “It’s so dumb to me that this even got to this point but it did and then here we are.”
Coach Lovie Smith, Cutler, and Urlacher all denied any bad feelings going on between their offensive and defensive leaders, and all blamed it on the imagination of Wade, a former Bear and friend of Urlacher’s.
“Yeah, Bobby is a friend of mine; I mean, he still is a friend of mine,” Urlacher said. “He’s just trying to throw something out before training camp and I don’t think it worked. What do you think?
“Bobby is still my friend. We’ll still have a good time on Sundays when we play him twice a year.”
So why would Wade invent such rumors if there’s nothing to it? Urlacher saw an opportunity to get in a dig at the Vikings, and at the same time kind of summed up the Bears’ own struggles at the position in the Kyle Orton-Rex Grossman era.
“I don’t know,” Urlacher said. “Maybe he’s jealous because we have a good quarterback now. I have no idea.”
Whether nothing at all happened will probably never be known, but the Bears’ attempt to get their stories straight before they met with the media failed.
First Cutler said Urlacher phoned him to straighten out the mess. Then Urlacher said Cutler phoned him to straighten out the mess.
Rumors about Urlacher and Cutler spanned the entire spectrum from an all-out fistfight in the locker room or a nightclub to the two having harsh words for each other at Halas Hall.
Cutler called it a case of rumors gone wild.
“It got legs and it started running a little bit,” he said. “But we’re excited for camp and we’re not going to put any more time or effort into this issue.”
When players reported for camp, Smith addressed actual football issues:
- Michael Vick is not someone the Bears are interested in even though their own backup QB, Caleb Hanie, hasn’t played in a regular-season game.
- Danieal Manning will be with starters at free safety in the first practice while Kevin Payne and Craig Steltz will battle for the starting strong safety spot.
- Zack Bowman will be with starters at cornerback while Charles Tillman recovers from back surgery.
- Bears receivers have come under criticism, but Smith likes his inexperienced group and sees no need to pursue a free agent like Plaxico Burress. “We have some guys who are eager to kind of squash some of this talk that has been going on about the receivers. We have confidence in them. I think after 10 days you’re going to like them a lot more than you do now.”
Chicago Bears: Did Brian Urlacher Really Rip Jay Cutler?
Published: July 29, 2009
No Comments
It seems Brian Urlacher usually winds up in the midst of some controversy at Bears training camp, but recently it’s been about custody proceedings and his personal life.
As players report Thursday to Bourbonnais training camp, Urlacher’s relationship with new Bears quarterback Jay Cutler has been called into question according to an interview done by Paul Allen, the voice of the Minnesota Vikings, with former Bears wide receiver Bobby Wade, who led the Vikings in catches the last two seasons.
The whole controversy started when Wade revealed that Urlacher doesn’t think much of Cutler.
Urlacher has denied it all now to the Chicago Tribune in what was one of the most blatant non-denial denials ever published.
In my 15 years covering the team on a daily basis, Wade was always one of the most forthcoming and honest Bears while Urlacher speaks to only Jay Glazer and a few glad-handers and usually then only in platitudes.
Here is an exact transcription of what Bobby Wade said Urlacher had to say about Cutler, with the exception of one word deleted because this is a family website.
It appears to be a completely unsolicited revelation by Wade and is an interview on a podcast done before a live audience. And Urlacher-Cutler isn’t the only controversial part:
It appears to be a completely unsolicited revelation by Wade and is an interview on a podcast done before a live audience. And Urlacher-Cutler isn’t the only controversial part:
Paul Allen:
“Bobby Wade was a collegiate roommate of Lance Briggs who plays for the Chicago Bears, one of the very best linebackers in our division. I’m a Lance Briggs fan. Have you and Lance talked in the off-season about Jay Cutler becoming the quarterback for ,personally, my least favorite team?”
“Bobby Wade was a collegiate roommate of Lance Briggs who plays for the Chicago Bears, one of the very best linebackers in our division. I’m a Lance Briggs fan. Have you and Lance talked in the off-season about Jay Cutler becoming the quarterback for ,personally, my least favorite team?”
Bobby Wade:
“Yeah. We talk a lot about everything that’s going on with that program over there.”
“Yeah. We talk a lot about everything that’s going on with that program over there.”
Paul Allen:
“Did they call you at like three in the morning and Jay was like (Allen making a drunk voice), ‘Bobby we’re going to kick your ass this year!’”
“Did they call you at like three in the morning and Jay was like (Allen making a drunk voice), ‘Bobby we’re going to kick your ass this year!’”
Bobby Wade:
“Not an option. He (Cutler) better not ever call me. He’s a good player, though. You know what? Jay Cutler is a good player.”
“Not an option. He (Cutler) better not ever call me. He’s a good player, though. You know what? Jay Cutler is a good player.”
Paul Allen:
“He is.”
“He is.”
Bobby Wade:
“Obviously it’s a bunch different environment going from Denver to play in Chicago. Chicago is a tough club to play for.”
“Obviously it’s a bunch different environment going from Denver to play in Chicago. Chicago is a tough club to play for.”
Paul Allen:
“It’s a tough guy town.”
“It’s a tough guy town.”
Bobby Wade:
“Yeah. What’s so funny is I actually saw Brian Urlacher this weekend. We were in Las Vegas and we actually had a long conversation.”
“Yeah. What’s so funny is I actually saw Brian Urlacher this weekend. We were in Las Vegas and we actually had a long conversation.”
Paul Allen:
“Hmmm. Was Paris Hilton there?”
“Hmmm. Was Paris Hilton there?”
Bobby Wade:
“Uhhh, she was not there but another cute blonde was. I don’t know, I hope I don’t get you in trouble there Brian.
“Uhhh, she was not there but another cute blonde was. I don’t know, I hope I don’t get you in trouble there Brian.
He (Cutler) wasn’t…I don’t want to get him in trouble, but you know it wasn’t what they expected.”
Paul Allen:
“Who cares? He plays for the Bears and he’s broken down. Screw him.”
“Who cares? He plays for the Bears and he’s broken down. Screw him.”
Bobby Wade:
“Pretty much he said Jay Cutler was a (five-letter name for feline) for the most part.”
“Pretty much he said Jay Cutler was a (five-letter name for feline) for the most part.”
Paul Allen:
(Yelling with a lot of audience yelling too)
(Yelling with a lot of audience yelling too)
“Oh, blue (dump) button. Feline. Feline. Loves cats. Cats lover. You know, with all this Michael Vick dog killer stuff in the news, we need more cat lovers.
A round of applause for Bobby Wade.
A round of applause for the 11-year career I had at the Fan. Now it’s gone. Erasing.”
Bobby Wade: “So we have a little controversy.”
Paul Allen:
“So he (Urlacher) knocked on (Cutler) a little bit?”
“So he (Urlacher) knocked on (Cutler) a little bit?”
Bobby Wade:
“And like I said, that’s tough. If you’ve got a little bit of that going on and you’re playing in Chicago and, not only that, but in this NFC North, that’s unacceptable.”
“And like I said, that’s tough. If you’ve got a little bit of that going on and you’re playing in Chicago and, not only that, but in this NFC North, that’s unacceptable.”
Paul Allen:
“Jared Allen is just going to whup on somebody, right?”
“Jared Allen is just going to whup on somebody, right?”
Bobby Wade:
“That’s easy for him though, I mean…”
“That’s easy for him though, I mean…”
Paul Allen:
“Jared Allen, Orlando Pace. Orlando Pace, Jared Allen. I mean, Orlando Pace five years ago, I’d say, ‘Whooo, this is going to be a good battle.’ But it sounds to me like (Bears fullback) Jason McKie is going to be doing a lot of chipping (helping Pace block).”
“Jared Allen, Orlando Pace. Orlando Pace, Jared Allen. I mean, Orlando Pace five years ago, I’d say, ‘Whooo, this is going to be a good battle.’ But it sounds to me like (Bears fullback) Jason McKie is going to be doing a lot of chipping (helping Pace block).”
Bobby Wade:
“Yeah. And we saw what that looked like when E.J. hit him last year, right? You guys remember that.”
“Yeah. And we saw what that looked like when E.J. hit him last year, right? You guys remember that.”
Paul Allen:
“That’s the single, in my eight, nine, whatever it is years, doing play by play, that’s the single biggest hit that I’ve seen in a game.”
“That’s the single, in my eight, nine, whatever it is years, doing play by play, that’s the single biggest hit that I’ve seen in a game.”
It’s obvious Allen isn’t exactly the smoothest interviewer. His transition from Urlacher to Allen pass rushing against Bears left tackle Pace was brought up out of thin air. He also was obviously referring to Urlacher when he said “broken down” because he was just saying Cutler was good.
But the stuff about Hilton ought to get him some extra attention.
Either way, this is not the way for a team to start training camp. For years, the Bears’ offense and defense were divided. It can’t promote team unity to have the offense behind Cutler and the defense hating his guts—or at least one of the leaders of the defense.
Urlacher was obviously upset in some brief comments after the Bears acquired Cutler, and most likely it had to do with the trade of Orton, who was extremely popular with most of the players.
Also, on a side note, after this it will be interesting to see Wade come over the middle where Urlacher is during the Bears-Vikings games.
How friendly will they be now that Wade has spilled the beans?
That is, if Wade even makes the Vikings roster—Minneapolis newspapers speculated he might not even make it and Wade had to address this possibility later in his interview with Allen.
Camping Out: A Man To Man Talk About the Chicago Bears
Published: July 27, 2009
No Comments
It’s time to man up.
Bears training camp practices begin in Bourbonnais at Olivet Nazarene University Friday and coach Lovie Smith delivers his annual state of the Bears address to media Thursday afternoon.
Camp is always about trying to find a few good men—53 to be exact. This year the manpower problems facing the Bears are different than in any past season since the Jim McMahon era. Having a man calling signals like Jay Cutler pushes that position into the background.
Or does it?
I’ll be at this year’s training camp every day with daily reports and occasional stories here.
These are the key men as I see it as this year’s drama unfolds:
Man in the Glass Booth
Cutler has never received the kind of scrutiny he’s about to face. The Bears need him to go from whiner to winner. After complaining his way out of Denver, Cutler’s attitude will be closely watched by national and local media.
A Bears signal caller always will have his production—or lack there of—scrutinized, and Cutler has yet to show he can be a mistake-free passer. He has thrown 37 interceptions in 37 games.
Compare that to Rex Grossman’s 35 interceptions in 36 games. He makes big plays, but the Bears are going to have to live with his mistakes.
Man on the Edge
Orlando Pace, the former All-Pro left tackle from St. Louis, joins the Bears’ offensive line at age 33.
The Bears have a history of squeezing a few years out of offensive linemen at the ends of their careers. They did it with Ruben Brown and Fred Miller. Pace is critical not only because he protects Cutler’s blind side, but because he gives the Bears freedom to play other linemen in different spots.
First-round 2008 draft pick Chris Williams can play right tackle, with a little less pressure in his first season following a rookie year spoiled by what amounted to a season-ending back injury. The Bears were tinkering with the idea of Frank Omiyale at right tackle before, but now can use him at his natural guard position.
Man in Limbo
Is Devin Hester a receiver or a return man? He’d like to be both, but has admitted it’s probably not realistic to think he’ll be able to be spectacular at both.
The Bears need him to be their No. 1 receiver because he’s paid like one. It’s easier to come up with good return men, albeit not the freakishly good type that Hester was in 2006 and 2007. The Bears have one of those already in Danieal Manning on kickoffs.
Man with Ax to Grind
Adewale Ogunleye is really the contract question floating at this point, with the possible exception of a renegotiated deal for Cutler.
Ogunleye came to Chicago from the Miami Dolphins in a trade for Marty Booker and is in the final year of a $33.4 million deal. He’s had 37 sacks in a four-year Bears career with a high of 10 in 2005. Whether he gets a contract depends almost entirely on his production or the production of others at his position.
Invisible Man
Mark Anderson has had two sacks in his last 21 games after producing 12 in his rookie season.
The defensive end’s contract expires after this season and it would appear his future is linked with Ogunleye’s. Whoever produces, stays.
Strong Man
It would appear the Bears have two strong safeties but no starting free safety. Craig Steltz and Kevin Payne are both solid hitters without the deep center field experience needed to be a free safety in the cover-2 defense. How the Bears solve this manpower problem will be an issue throughout the early season.
Man Behind the Man
After waiting so long to get a starting quarterback, it might seem silly to nitpick over this, but does anyone have real confidence backup Caleb Hanie can be an adequate replacement if Cutler gets hurt?
The ideal NFL backup is someone with starting NFL experience who can be ready quickly in an emergency. Hanie hasn’t even played a game let alone started one.
Odd Man Out
With Hunter Hillenmeyer, newly acquired Pisa Tinoisamoa, and Nick Roach available to play starting strong side linebacker, it’s likely one will be walking the plank.
Hillenmeyer got a five-year, $13 million contract extension in 2006 and if he’s not completely outplaying Tinoisamoa or Roach enough to win the starting job outright, he might need a life jacket when roster cutdowns come.
Man on the Hot Seat
It’s not Lovie Smith—yet. Offensive Coordinator Ron Turner is in his fifth season and ninth season overall as a Bears offensive coordinator (he worked for Dave Wannstedt in 1993-96).
So far, Turner’s Bears offenses have finished in the top 10 once (1995) and in the top half of the league twice (‘95 and 2006). They’ve been 21st or worse six times. His contract expires after this season.
If Cutler bombs or is mediocre, they’re not crucifying GM Jerry Angelo for failing to get Cutler a wide receiver because Angelo’s contract runs through 2013. They’re not blaming Smith because he’s got his hands full as the head coach and de fact defensive coordinator.
Certainly they’re not blaming Cutler after waiting all these years for a quarterback with his kind of potential.
Turner needs a good year. Period.
Man on the Hot Seat in Waiting
Smith. His contract expires after 2011, and it’s unlikely he could do anything so quickly to get into hot water after taking the team to a Super Bowl and two division titles. But rumblings from Bear Nation about his lack of emotion and the passive cover-2 defense are always present in the background during the NFL season.
Smith has taken over defensive coordinator duties and he has to show he is the defensive genius the Bears thought he was when they hired him to replace sleepy Dick Jauron following the 2003 season.
Bears’ Hunt For Wide Receiver Continues
Published: June 17, 2009
No Comments
The Bears will be major participants in the coming NFL veteran wide receiver lottery behind the scenes.
This much was apparent after they completed organized team activities Wednesday at Halas Hall, despite comments by coach Lovie Smith and quarterback Jay Cutler that the receiving corps is fine in its current state.
“We’re good to go,” Cutler said. “We’ve got everything we need out there.” Devin Hester and Earl Bennett lined up in Wednesday’s practice as first team wide receivers, and were joined in three, and four-receiver sets by Brandon Rideau and Rashied Davis. It’s been that way throughout all the OTAs that have been conducted.
“With Devin and Earl and Brandon and Rashied and then the tight ends coming in, our running backs are doing a good job of getting out of the backfield, we’re going to be more than fine from the outset,” Cutler said.
While they were praising the current receivers, Smith also acknowledged the team’s interest in free agent wide receiver Plaxico Burress. “Plaxico Burress is a good football player,” Smith said. “Of course we all know that. We keep all of our options open. We’re constantly evaluating all the players who are out there. But I feel good about our team that we have right now and I feel good about the receivers we have right now.”
Burress faces a trial for gun charges. It has currently been delayed until September and agent Drew Rosenhaus predicted the 6′ 5″, 10-year veteran would play somewhere this year, and that the trial wouldn’t occur until 2010 if there is one. Smith said the team has to take into account off-the-field problems when considering players who might be available.
“The door is never closed on anyone who’s available,” he said. “We’ve said that every time any player that’s available has been out there. We’re saying the same thing right now.
“It’s not like we’re aggressively going after him, but we evaluate everyone that we think will make our team better.”
Denver’s Brandon Marshall has asked to be traded, as has Arizona’s Anquan Boldin. Braylon Edwards is unhappy in Cleveland. So the possibility exists the Bears could acquire a veteran receiver, although they don’t have much to offer in a trade.
That’s why a free agent like Burress is probably the best choice for them at this time.
Cutler was quarterback for Denver when Marshall caught 206 passes over the past two seasons, but insisted he isn’t pushing the Bears to sign the veteran. He said he hasn’t spoken to anyone within the organization about his former teammate.
“He’s a great player, Brandon is, and I played with him for three years, put up a lot of big numbers with him, and wherever he ends up, obviously he’s going to be successful,” Cutler said. “Whether or not it’s here, that’s up to the guys upstairs (Bears general manager Jerry Angelo), but as of right now, I’m 100 percent happy with what we’ve got.”
Bears coaches and the organization cannot comment publicly about Marshall, Edwards, or Boldin because all are under contract. The Bears could be investigated for tampering charges if they started talking about those three, much the way San Francisco was investigated for talking with Lance Briggs before last season. It cost the 49ers a third-round draft pick.
Also Wednesday
- Linebacker Brian Urlacher missed practice again, but was running on the side and appeared to have no serious medical issues. Running back Matt Forte also missed, as did defensive back Danieal Manning and linebacker Nick Roach. Forte has a hamstring pull. The Bears didn’t comment on the others, but Smith said their status for training camp isn’t in jeopardy.
- Corey Graham got a lot of work as nickel back with the first team pass situation defense with Manning sidelined.
- Trumaine McBride came up with an interception of a Cutler pass that deflected off Hester’s hands over the middle of the field.
- Caleb Hanie found third-round pick Juaquin Iglesias for a deep touchdown pass at the end of practice.
- Frank Omiyale returned to starting at right guard after Josh Beekman had been with the starters last week.
- The Bears will go into training camp with Craig Steltz at starting free safety. Smith said there will be heated competition at the position and several others in camp, but was satisfied with what he saw from Steltz and strong safety Kevin Payne during OTAs and mini-camp.
- Smith specifically mentioned linebacker Jamar Williams and cornerback Zack Bowman as players who have stepped up and impressed coaches most during the OTAs.
Bears DT Harris Charging Up in OTAs for Regular Season Run
Published: June 10, 2009
No Comments
LAKE FOREST, IL—Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris has been cautious about returning from the knee injury that bothered him much of last season, but expects to be 100 percent by training camp.
“I’m on cruise right now,” Harris said after Wednesday‘s organized team activity. “I’m taking time, I’m taking advantage of the off-season and I’m getting ready for training camp. And hopefully I’ll get to help the guys when the season comes.”
The Bears’ pass rush hasn’t been the same since Harris started suffering hamstring and knee problems during their 2006 Super Bowl season. He didn’t play in Super Bowl XLI against Indianapolis, had surgery following an injury-marred 2007 season and gutted it out last year despite a painful knee problem.
However, Harris hasn’t had knee surgery this off-season and to ensure he reports for training camp 100 percent he has been avoiding voluntary organized team activities.
On Wednesday, he was on the field for some individual drills, but that’s it.
“The past couple years I rushed myself back, so I’m just taking advantage of this time that I have,” Harris said. He’s also taking advantage of picking the brain of new defensive line coach/assistant head coach Rod Marinelli.
“He’s making it (defensive line play) something where you’re just constantly doing it on an every-day basis,” Harris said. “And he makes you want to do it.
“He makes you want to come through these doors and be the best at what you do.”
“He makes you want to come through these doors and be the best at what you do.”
Harris said he wasn’t upset when the Bears drafted defensive tackle Jarron Gilbert, who signed a four-year contract on Wednesday. He didn’t view it as the team paving the way for his departure, but was upset over sports talk radio discussion that the team didn’t want to pay a roster bonus he had due and might cut him or ask for the money back. None of it proved true.
“All I have to do is play well and everything else is silent,” Harris said.
Also at Wednesday’s OTA:
- Cornerback Charles Tillman practiced for the first time and deemed himself ready following January shoulder surgery.
- Guard Dan Buenning, who was acquired last year in a trade with Tampa Bay, got an extensive look at center because Olin Kreutz was given the day off and Josh Beekman moved over to play starting left guard, with Frank Omiyale moving to second-string guard.
- Jay Cutler ran a perfect bootleg pass off play action, then threw a perfect strike for a touchdown to tight end Greg Olsen in the middle of the field.
- With Harris still not practicing full time, Israel Idonije continues to practice at defensive tackle even though he has been told he’ll be a defensive end in training camp.
- Brian Urlacher missed practice and there was no word from Bears officials on why.
- Josh Bullocks, Nick Roach, Matt Forte and Hunter Hillenmeyer joined Kreutz on the sidelines for the practice. Forte has a pulled hamstring but said he expects to be ready for the July 31 start of training camp. The Bears did not reveal the injuries to Roach and Bullocks. Hillenmeyer is still taking it easy after hernia surgery.
- With the signing of Gilbert and Juaquin Iglesias Wednesday to four-year contracts, the Bears have every draft pick under contract. There will be no holdouts, but none were expected. It doesn’t happen with sane draft picks who don’t go in the first round, and the Bears took no one in Rounds one and two. Now negotiator Cliff Stein can turn his attention to a contract extension for Adewale Ogunleye—if one is coming. There are only 30 draft picks signed league-wide at this point and nine of them are Bears.
- Pisa Tinoisamoa played with starters with Nick Roach sidelined, and the new Bear also played one of the linebacker spots in the nickel defense. That’s a role linebackers coach Bob Babich said he’d be able to fill when he was signed after being cut by the Rams.
By Gene Chamberlain
The Rating Game: Lack of Respect for Lovie
Published: June 9, 2009
No Comments
Lovie Smith may not be all that lovable, but is he the 20th best coach in the NFL?
This was the very rank given to him in a poll of “former NFL scouts” done by the Sporting News. They must have been former scouts from Detroit, Green Bay, Minnesota, and both New York and New England—the two places where they look down their noses at anyone not from New York and New England.
Sure Smith is not the best coach in the league, and he has some weaknesses as all head coaches do.
Certainly Lovie looks like he’s ready for a nap at times in games, and his decisions on accepting/declining penalties or clock management make it seem like he made them while he just woke up.
His ability to relate to fans through the media is about one on a scale of 1-to-5, and I’ve heard several reporters call him one of the most “insincere” head coaches they’ve ever dealt with in the league.
While that’s stretching it, in my opinion, they do make a good argument.
Then again, the man is paid mainly to coach the football team. So, that type of stuff probably shouldn’t even factor into this decision.
Let’s start with the most ridiculous part of this poll.
The Saints’ Sean Payton is ranked 14 spots ahead of Smith in sixth.
Yes, it’s the same Sean Payton who has been Smith’s personal doormat three straight seasons as the Bears won against the Saints 27-24, 33-25, and 39-14.
This offensive genius, who has a Pro Bowl quarterback, might want to start with a single victory over Smith before he gets a higher ranking. Payton is your typical one-trick pony coach, a guy who should have remained an offensive coordinator because he knows nothing about defense and coaching an entire team.
Dick Jauron, who was fired by the Bears and replaced by Smith, is rated better than his successor at No. 18. Dick was the nicest guy who ever walked the Bears’ sidelines in a headset, but if you really want to see a coach who knows how to mismanage the clock you’ll start with him.
Lovie looks like a Rolex manufacturer by comparison.
They must really like 7-and-9 seasons in Buffalo, because Jauron has produced three in a row since becoming head coach and is still running the show.
Get in the playoffs?
Jauron couldn’t even get in the team mess hall when he was with the Bears.
No lie.
Several of us reporters stood watching in disbelief when a security guard at the training camp dining hall refused to let him in unless he went and got his mess hall pass—even though the guy had seen Jauron going in everyday of training camp.
The nicest man in the NFL simply went back to get his pass and returned, then ate.
Mike Singletary is ranked ahead of Smith in 14th.
Come on.
He takes his pants off one leg at a time like anyone else. Singletary has coached nine NFL games and only has the job because someone entirely incompetent had it before he did.
Why not toss Todd Haley and Rex Ryan ahead of Smith, too?
Norv Turner was 13th. He’s been so bad that he’s made them talk wistfully of Marty Schottenheimer in San Diego. Great defense, good quarterback, all-time great running back, and Norv still hasn’t been in the Super Bowl like Lovie has.
Wade Phillips comes in at 15. Maybe he gets brownie points for putting up with Jerry Jones, Terrell Owens, Pacman Jones, and Tank Johnson, but the Cowboys still haven’t won a playoff game since 1996.
At some point, success counts as much as perseverance.
Brad Childress, (or is that really Burt Reynolds’ assistant coach Herman Stiles from Evening Shade?) Mike McCarthy, (one winning season in first three, 6-and-10 without Brett Favre) and Jack Del Rio (the wood chopper) all rank ahead of Smith.
So does Jim Mora Jr., whose only duty in Atlanta each week was to unleash Michael Vick and let him run around looking like a dog, searching for a bone he buried in the back yard.
In truth, Smith probably belongs about where the Bears finished last year, 13th or 14th best.
They missed the playoffs, so keeping him out of the top 12 has merit.
But, let’s not confuse him with the likes of Dick Jauron.
Lovie has never even been kept out of the mess hall in Bourbonnais.
Chicago Bears Switch Up Lineup in Second Week of OTAs
Published: June 3, 2009
No Comments
By Gene Chamberlain
LAKE FOREST, IL — The second week of Bears organized team activities saw several lineup changes as coaches looked at the hand they’ve been dealt.
Guard Frank Omiyale practiced with the first team at left guard Wednesday while Josh Beekman practiced exclusively as Olin Kreutz’s backup at center. Beekman had split time between starting guard and center in the first week of OTAs.
“That’s where he’s competing right now, with Beek at left guard,” offensive coordinator Ron Turner said about the free agent acquisition. “He’s a new player, and just like all our new players he needs a lot of reps (practice plays) with the guys, playing together. But it’s moving along for him.”
Newly acquired linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa has practiced with the team just this week since signing last week. Nick Roach continued practicing with starters this week at strong side linebacker, but Tinoisamoa is expected to challenge, if not take the job outright.
Tinoisamoa confirmed his agent fielded better offers from elsewhere in the league, but he wanted to play with the Bears under Lovie Smith and linebackers coach Bob Babich, who both coached him in St. Louis as a rookie.
“Just the chance to be on a winning team is worth it to me,” he said. “I’ve been fortunate to get paid in this league and that was good, but I still had to go home a loser.
“I’d give all the money back if I could win again.”
“I’d give all the money back if I could win again.”
Former starting strong side linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer remains sidelined after hernia surgery and his future in Chicago remains in question, although he has been at OTAs on the sidelines.
Tinoisamoa had dropped weight in St. Louis to fit into his role in the Rams system and was near 220 pounds, but said he is trying to bulk back up for the strong side spot in Chicago and is now at 225.
Also at Wednesday’s practice:
- Running back Matt Forte left the field with a member of the training staff with what was termed as “leg stiffness” by Bears officials. During OTAs, players with the slightest bit of stiffness or hint of an injury are not allowed to practice as the team tries to play it safe.
- Cornerback Zach Bowman continued to play with starters with Charles Tillman still sidelined while recovering from shoulder surgeries. Bowman made an interception of quarterback Brett Bazanez but was beaten deep by quarterback Jay Cutler on a touchdown bomb to Devin Hester.
- Safety Josh Bullocks split playing time with Kevin Payne at starting strong safety, and got most of the snaps during full-squad scrimmage. The former Saints safety had been with the second string during the first week of workouts.
- Rookie fifth-round pick Johnny Knox flashed his speed for the first time in OTAs when he caught a pass on a skinny post pattern and cut up field to break away from the third-team secondary.
- Backup middle and weak side linebacker Jamar Williams has had three interceptions in the first five OTAs.
- Kicker Robbie Gould took advantage of strong tailwind to drill a few 58-yard field goals with ease.
