It is much more fun to do the offseason than it is the actual season.

Who hasn’t skipped an entire season on Madden just to work the free agent market, sign the big time coach, and try dutifully to attain the ever elusive A draft class?

I found it much more entertaining to speculate about who the Bears would draft in Round 2 of the ’08 draft — I called Forte, by the way — then I did to pick apart the Bears defensive mishaps in quarter 2 of a given game. (more…)

Lance Briggs insists the big paychecks GM Jerry Angelo handed out this offseason to star defensive players has not affected their desire to win.

“‘I’ve played with the guys here for a long time, and there’s no way you can convince me that these guys are playing satisfied,” Briggs said. “Poor execution, poor play, yes. But satisfied? Not this group.”

That makes two of us.

Between Briggs, Peanut Tillman, Nathan Vasher, Alex Brown, Tommie Harris, and Brian Urlacher, the organization spent hundreds of millions of dollars in new money this offseason. Now, somebody else has to pay.  But who?

The Bears (5-4) head up to Lambeau Field to take on QB Aaron Rodgers and the Packers (4-5) in this year’s first installment of the best rivalry in football. A Bears win guarantees they’ll keep, at least, a share of the division lead.

Nathan Vasher could lose playing time in favor of Corey Graham. (Yahoo!)

I guess there is a place for philosophical talk in football. (Green Bay Gazette) (more…)

Probable. Could play. Expected. And even expected to be probable.

The speculatory words used to describe Orton’s playing status tomorrow versus Green Bay shouldn’t inspire much confidence that the scruffy signal caller will actually take the field.

Orton is recovering from an ankle injury suffered two weeks ago, originally believed to be a high-ankle sprain. When it looked as if he’d be sidelined for at least a month, Orton didn’t think he’d miss one game. Well, he did, and such is the conflict between optimism and reality. Here’s to his return tomorrow belonging to the latter.

Bears DT, Israel Idonije, seen here deeply entrenched in a game of Air Golf (no, it’s very real, and apparently, the “COOLEST NEW SPORT!“), is profiled in today’s issue of the wily Galesburg Register-Mail.

The article dictates *chuckle* that the Iz has been a worthy add-on at the tackle position thus far. Which is fine. I like Idonije. He has two sacks and five batted passes through nine games.

But, in general, the Bears pass rush has been horrific. The D-line has registered only 11.5 sacks total all year. Last week, Titans QB Kerry Collins had more time in the pocket than Jerry Angelo’s wallet. Get it? He’s cheap. (more…)

Two days after we dared to wonder why Brandon Lloyd was still inactive, and would be ballsy (or unballsy) enough to say he’s waiting to be 100 percent, the Sun-Times is putting it out there: the Bears coaching staff is displeased with Lloyd’s lengthy recovery.

Depending on how much stock you put into the word on the street, Lloyd was ready to play last Sunday versus Tennessee, but instead, was sat by the team as punishment for possessing the pain tolerance of a Laguna Beach actor cast member. (more…)

Every week we’ll be posting the Bears’ ESPN Power Ranking, along with a picture of a crowd reaction (or would-be reaction) to said ranking:

The Bears are ranked 14 in this week’s ESPN Power Rankings. Last week: 9. As the Sex Cannon descends from the rafters, women everywhere collectively wet their panties…if they’re wearing any.

Never did I ever think I’d write the following sentence:

Certainly, there are more pressing needs facing the Bears right now than the play of wide receiver. Brandon Lloyd can’t play cornerback, rush the passer, or return a kick for six for Devin Hester.

Nonetheless, through four games he looked as close to a true number one receiver as the Bears have had this year. So getting him back on the field wouldn’t hurt.

The only problem is, Lloyd wants to wait it out until he’s 100 percent. Since when did any professional footballer play at 100 percent? (more…)

Of course, it’s ridiculous. Right? RIGHT?!

As soon as Rex Grossman’s fourth down pass to Devin Hester fell incomplete, putting an end to any hope of a Bears comeback versus Tennessee, you had to know this would be coming.  

I mean, it’s no secret that when the starting quarterback is struggling, the back-up QB is the most popular man in town. Nobody knows this better than Bears fans. And when the starting QB is hurt and it’s the back-up that is struggling, well then, all of a sudden Caleb Hanie looks quite studly. (more…)

Number eight was his normal, inconsistent self and the Bears pass rush was stifled by an effective Titans offensive line as Tennessee held off a late Bears rally in rout to a 21-14 win.

Despite holding key offensive weapons, Chris Johnson and LenDale White, to just 22 combined rushing yards, the Titans found ways to beat the Bears defense through the air. Often, it was Kerry Collins finding TE Bo Scaife in critical situations, including the 10-yard gain that put the game away. (more…)

NFL’s third-ranked ground attack, meet the NFL’s sixth best against it. Something has to give. Other than the head of Andrew Gurode from the force of Albert Haynesworth’s size 14 cleat.

The Tennessee Titans, the last undefeated team in the NFL, look to keep that record clean tomorrow against the 5-3 NFC North-leading Bears.

Following the old Roman-inspired adage, the Titans, while in Chicago, will do what the Bears will do: run, run, and run some more. After all, would you want to throw it with names like Kerry Collins, Justin Gage, and Rex Grossman leading that charge? (more…)

Say hello to the moustache-for-prostate cancer movement. I have a feeling this one will catch on, unlike the short-lived, yet ambitious, Mullets for Literacy.

For the entire month of November, men and fortunate boys — and unfortunate women — are encouraged to display their support for prostate cancer research, on their face. (more…)