NFL 2011

[Dan Michler]

Does anybody have a clue what the Bears' strategy is this offseason?  I'm assuming they are aware that the offensive line is by far our #1 deficiency.  We have a lot of money to spend.  Yet we've signed nobody significant so far and we just traded Greg Olsen for a 3rd round pick?  All I hear is talk of them signing receivers like Roy Williams and Mike Sims-Walker.  We certainly need receives (especially now that Olsen was tossed aside), but without an offensive line the offense will be just as bad as last year....you know, when the Bears yielded a league high 56 sacks and ranked 30th in total offense.

[CEValkyrie]

I hope it's not true. Roy Williams sucks. I've been wanting a premier WR for quite some time and this isn't the guy. It amazes me the Bears can't stumple upon a top WR in my lifetime.

I'm not sue what Olsen was owed. I liked Olsen. Every time they had a workout he was there this summer. Last year he only had 400 yds and 5 TD's. #21 in yards & 8th in TD's at his position. If he's not worth being on your roster that's another mismanaged 1st Round Draft Pick.

[Tom McManus]

Bears Management comes through again:  Adding to the disappointment of the evening was the timing of the cancellation. Fans, many of whom endured rush-hour traffic and Grant Park congestion from Lollapalooza, were waiting outside Soldier Field at 5:45 p.m. — 15 minutes past the scheduled 5:30 opening — when it was announced that the event was cancelled. Many of them found out from safety Chris Harris' Twitter feed.

Well at least it isn't a hassle to get to and from Soldier Field on a summer Friday night.

[Jon Brakel]

I find it hard to believe that Kreutz wouldn't take a $4 million one year deal. I wish him all the best.

[Tom McManus]

Starting to get excited about the upcoming season. I don't there has ever been less talk about a Super Bowl Champion than the Packers this past season. The lockout pretty much made their victory a nonfactor in football discussions.

[Dan Michler]

Starting to get excited about the upcoming season. I don't there has ever been less talk about a Super Bowl Champion than the Packers this past season. The lockout pretty much made their victory a nonfactor in football discussions.

Only a Packers fan (and Illinois resident, the worst kind of Packers fan) could possibly think there hasn't been enough Packers talk during the non-football season.

Here is a guarantee for you Tom.  The Packers are going to repeat as Super Bowl champions in 2012.  It looks like the line on them varies from +500 to +700.  Put down a couple hundo and enjoy a free Charlotte 2012 Worlds trip courtesy of my good advice. 

They were absolutely hammered by injuries last year and were still the dominant team at the end of the year.  They gave up the second fewest points and should probably be even better this year considering the youth they have on defense.  Offensively they have Aaron Rodgers and thats all that matters.  I can't imagine their running game being worse this year, so I'd expect things to be better on that side of the ball as well.

Expect the Bears to again have a terrible offense after spending most of their resources on washed up guys at the skill positions and ignoring the real problem that exists on the offensive line.  Gabe Carimi alone is not going to take this group from horrendous to respectable.

In the AFC I like the Ravens to do what they were picked to do last year.  I'm sure the Pats and Steelers will be tough as well.  I predict the Eagles and Jets leave alot of fans disappointed.  My sleeper team is the Chiefs.

[Jon Brakel]

I predict that my Bears flag will be flying at "half mast" after at least 9 games this year.

[airspuds]

da bears !

seems like the CBA / lockout just caused more players
to be in transition from team to team

i say more injuries

Look for St. Rita high schook to be represented this year.

Philly back up qb (northwestern )  and lions back punter (iowa )

[pdga#7648]

Starting to get excited about the upcoming season. I don't there has ever been less talk about a Super Bowl Champion than the Packers this past season. The lockout pretty much made their victory a nonfactor in football discussions.

Only a Packers fan (and Illinois resident, the worst kind of Packers fan) could possibly think there hasn't been enough Packers talk during the non-football season.

Here is a guarantee for you Tom.  The Packers are going to repeat as Super Bowl champions in 2012.  It looks like the line on them varies from +500 to +700.  Put down a couple hundo and enjoy a free Charlotte 2012 Worlds trip courtesy of my good advice. 

They were absolutely hammered by injuries last year and were still the dominant team at the end of the year.  They gave up the second fewest points and should probably be even better this year considering the youth they have on defense.  Offensively they have Aaron Rodgers and thats all that matters.  I can't imagine their running game being worse this year, so I'd expect things to be better on that side of the ball as well.

Expect the Bears to again have a terrible offense after spending most of their resources on washed up guys at the skill positions and ignoring the real problem that exists on the offensive line.  Gabe Carimi alone is not going to take this group from horrendous to respectable.

In the AFC I like the Ravens to do what they were picked to do last year.  I'm sure the Pats and Steelers will be tough as well.  I predict the Eagles and Jets leave alot of fans disappointed.  My sleeper team is the Chiefs.

Flacco can't get that team to the Superbowl.

And how can the Chiefs be a sleeper Dan? didn't they win their division last year? They wont be a sleeper.


But the Detroit Lions will suprise alot of teams this year, and they are my sleeper team. If their QB stays healthy!?

[CEValkyrie]

This kickoff rule is stupid. I'm going to try to make a roster and get on the kickoff team. I believe there were 10 kickoff attempts last night. 6 of them were touchbacks *1 was a penalty and replayed*. 1 was an onside kick. Of 10 kicks 3 were returned. Lame.

The Saints play calling was ridiculous. How do you go for it 4th and 1 the first time instead of taking the 3 points? That final play was an embarassment. Brees had his way the entire game and you take the ball out of his hands. They line up in a power formation taking the pass out of the picture. That was a Ron Turner play call!

[Dan Michler]

Doug, the Chiefs went 10-6 last year.  They have the 17th highest odds on winning the title this year, ranging from 35:1 to 80:1 depending on where you gamble.  So, yeah, they would definitely be a sleeper pick to make it to the Super Bowl.

If you are picking anybody other than Packers, Patriots, Eagles, Jets, Steelers, Chargers, Falcons, Ravens, Saints; its a sleeper pick.

[pdga#7648]

my bad. I didn't know you meant sleeper to get to the superbowl. I thought you meant non playoff teams making the playoffs.

But yea, the Chiefs to the superbowl, would be a huge sleeper! 

[Tom McManus]

Bears, Lions, and Packers all looked pretty good this weekend.  Has anyone checked on Doug?  The Steelers took a major beating yesterday.

Hard to tell much by one game, but the losers of the Super Bowl don't typically make it back to the playoffs.

[Dan Michler]

I'm not sure what to take away from that 1st Bears game.  We totally dominated the Falcons who had the #1 NFC seed last year, that is for certain.  I think it shows our defense is still strong this year and can keep us in games.  I think we learned Cutler is healthy and is still a great passer when he gets a little time and has somebody to throw to.  I'd still like to see what Cutler can do if we had a legit #1 WR.  I'm certainly not convinced the offense has turned a 180.  We kept settling for FG's in the 1st half.  At the end of the year we might look back and say this game was more about how bad the Falcons are than how good the Bears are.  I thought the Bears offensive line was supposed to be bad, but the Falcons offensive line was flat-out embarrassing!  And what was with the tackling on the Forte TD?  Falcons fans are very very worried right now...

[pdga#7648]

Im still here Tom. and yes, that was a hard ass whoopin to swallow. but when you turn the ball over 7 times, you should get your ass handed to ya!

[pdga#7648]

All joking aside guys.

Condolences to Brian Urlacher and his family. He lost his mother at the young age of 51.
I respect this guy alot. He plays the game like it should be played every down. He plays like Butkus and Ditka did, ALL OUT!

[CEValkyrie]

I did not expect the Bears to win at New Orleans. I actually thought they'd be 0-3 to start the year. The Bears offensive line and WR's are some of the worst in the league. I do like Knox but he's not a #1 WR in this league. The Bears need to decide what they want to do. Cutler is a pretty darn good QB when he gets a little time. Either build this offesnive line or get this guy a weapon at the WR spot that can catch the ball. How about both. Not like we didn't see this coming.

[Dan Michler]

I did not expect the Bears to win at New Orleans. I actually thought they'd be 0-3 to start the year. The Bears offensive line and WR's are some of the worst in the league. I do like Knox but he's not a #1 WR in this league. The Bears need to decide what they want to do. Cutler is a pretty darn good QB when he gets a little time. Either build this offesnive line or get this guy a weapon at the WR spot that can catch the ball. How about both. Not like we didn't see this coming.

I fulll agree.  Tom Brady would look like a D-Bag if he had this offensive line and these receivers.  Embarrassing!  Get prepared for another year of very little offense.  So glad we took our $30M under the cap and spent none of it on the offensive line, but managed to acquire Roy Williams and Marion Barber.  Great!  Oh, and Devin Hester is an AWESOME #1 WR!!!

I feel bad for Jay Cutler.  Put him on half the other teams and he's a pro bowler.  On this team he looks worthless.  We should do him a favor and trade him, because its clear that our team management puts no emphasis on having a good offense.

[Tom McManus]

I did not expect the Bears to win at New Orleans. I actually thought they'd be 0-3 to start the year. The Bears offensive line and WR's are some of the worst in the league. I do like Knox but he's not a #1 WR in this league. The Bears need to decide what they want to do. Cutler is a pretty darn good QB when he gets a little time. Either build this offesnive line or get this guy a weapon at the WR spot that can catch the ball. How about both. Not like we didn't see this coming.

I fulll agree.  Tom Brady would look like a D-Bag if he had this offensive line and these receivers.  Embarrassing!  Get prepared for another year of very little offense.  So glad we took our $30M under the cap and spent none of it on the offensive line, but managed to acquire Roy Williams and Marion Barber.  Great!  Oh, and Devin Hester is an AWESOME #1 WR!!!

I feel bad for Jay Cutler.  Put him on half the other teams and he's a pro bowler.  On this team he looks worthless.  We should do him a favor and trade him, because its clear that our team management puts no emphasis on having a good offense.

Since the Packers have been giving up over 400 yards passing per game,  I expect Cutler to be pretty solid this week.

[Dan Michler]

The Packers defense does look pretty abysmal.  Fortunately for you, you guys have an offense.  I expect next week to be a close game in Chicago.  The Bears will probably have more urgency after the showing in New Orleans and they always play with more energy in Chicago.  Still, it would be crazy not to expect Aaron Rodgers to pull out another win.