UPDATE: As expected, Tinoisamoa and Bears agree to 1-year deal.

The Patriots are apparently close to a deal with free agent linebacker and former Detroit Lion Paris Lenon, and NOT Pisa Tinoisamoa. So now, the most ardent fan of some other team will inevitably become the proud owner of “I Want To Do Pisa Tinoisamoas Wife dot blogspot dot com.”

The Pats were expected to be the Bears’ biggest competitors for the services of the ex-Rams linebacker, assuming both teams wanted the 28-year old; New England obviously did not, the Bears do. Expect Tinoisamoa and his lovely bride to make their introductions into Halas Hall by early next week.

The last post of the week: something to ponder as you await the certain couch slouch and booze binge of this weekend.

Maybe it’s his ability to play both tackle and end relatively well or his topnotch Air Golf game, but the Bears have felt it necessary to extend the contract of Israel Idonije by two years.

Per ESPN, the deal gives Izzy $7 million in new money with $3 million guaranteed.

Idonije is a steady veteran; not overly impressive, but durable, versatile and a solid contributor on special teams.

I’m starting to get good feelings about the front four again, stirred by the quality of depth the Bears have put together. I can say now that part of decline of the defense in the last two years had as much to do with the departures of guys like Ian Scott, Alfonso Boone and Tank Johnson, as it did Ron Rivera.

Oh yeah, and then there’s always that one Rod Marinelli fellow and what he did in Tampa Bay…

It appears that his grossly increased role on offense wasn’t what thwarted Devin Hester’s kick returning prowess last season after all. No, according to Bears special teams coach Dave Toub, it was just that the special teams were young and bad. Oh…

The good news is that because of an improved, more experienced special teams, Toub fully expects Hester to revert to his old form in 2009, even if it is only on punt returns (Danieal Manning is expected to see work on kickoffs). If Toub is right, you should expect more videos like this.

Whoa, whoa, wait a minute; Hold the phone. Brian Urlacher, who has often unwarrantably been linked with the term “overrated” while in his prime, is now being called the best inside linebacker in pro football. It’s important to note that his prime was two years ago.

The Sporting News has Urlacher ranked numero uno in their list of the top 20 NFL inside linebackers, citing the lackluster play of the defensive line last season as to why he made fewer impact plays than usual. True, but I also don’t recall him being engulfed by the opponent’s O-line as much as I do his inability to run sideline to sideline with his previous effectiveness. (more…)

ESPN has the Madden 2010 ratings for the top 10 at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end and defense. Not surprisingly, Jay Cutler was the only Bear to make the list; tied for eighth with Carson Palmer and Tony Romo at 87 overall.

Greg Olsen is an American football player. He is also Jay Cutler’s new BFF and proud proprietor of his very own blog. Here is a leaden summary of his latest post:

Greg Olsen, although newly married, still likes to go out on the town every once in a while. What, I could have swore marriage ends all that. Olsen was kind enough to let us in on the places he likes to frequent the most. Stalkers, pay attention… (more…)

As voted by you, Fake Lance Briggs’ Baby Mama would make the most awesome fake Twitter name. It narrowly defeated Fake Mike Ditka and Fake Jay Cutler, so thank you to the 46 people who voted.

Next logical question: Who is going to make it and entertain hundreds for years months weeks to come?

The last post of the week: something to ponder as you await the certain couch slouch and booze binge of this weekend.

He is 6-3, 198 pounds; easily making him the Bears’ lankiest receiver. And while his skills have emerged only in preseasons before, Brandon Rideau clearly has an opportunity this year to distinguish himself as the literal and figurative big man.

So far, Rideau’s already gotten snaps with the first team and–gasp!–Cutler even went as far as to mention him by name.

In December of 2007, comedian Lisa Lampanelli told unsullied listeners of Howard Stern’s Sirius radio show that she had sex with a player from the Chicago Bears.

Lampanelli went into morbid detail about the encounter and even more-than-hinted at who the player was, but to this day his identity has never been substantiated. And while I deserve hell for making us all relive this horrid event, I feel compelled to close the book on this train wreck of a chapter. (more…)

Corey Graham recently moved from cornerback to free safety, and it bear outs what I’ve thought all along: The Bears are content to go all “makeshift” when it comes to assembling their secondary. (more…)

If you’re an original Bears season ticket holder, go you. But, if you’re a Bears season ticket holder who received said tickets via a transfer from an original owner–eh, not so much.

And not like it’s your fault or anything, but you’re being charged a nine percent amusement tax by the city of Chicago, despite the fact the tax is already included in the face value of the tickets.

Double-jeopardy? Some fans think so, and the Bears are prepared to take it up with Richard M. Daley.

Until Jay Cutler has his first multi-interception game and it’s forgotten that just four years ago, Craig Krenzel was the starting quarterback, Bears fans will continue to coddle Cutler and treat him with the same partiality of their firstborn child.

At OTA’s Wednesday, Cutler threw his first passes as a member of the greatest football organization ever; Tonight, he plays the part of the tree in the school play (video after the jump).

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