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

This is literally the exact photograph you would find in your e-mail after spending 14 minutes talking to Matt Forte in an all-ages chat room. Of course, this is predicated on the idea that you’d be a woman and Matt Forte worked the night shift at the Golden Nugget Pancake House. (more…)

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

Because it seems like the most appropriate way to end my second day (and first week) back as editor here is with an MS Paint masterpiece: you’re welcome. And, because all the talk lately has been about the about-faces of these two running backs, it only makes sense that you should watch for them on Sunday. Duh. (more…)

Sean Sullivan was merely once just a frequent commenter before joining Blog Down. See people, dreams do come true.

Despite only converting 2 out of 10 times on third down, having the ball for only 23 minutes, and combining for less than 300 yards on offense, the Bears put up 48 and blew out the Lions Sunday. In case you were wondering, the Bears have only scored 48 or more one other time in the last decade. So, if we can light it up like that with Cutler throwing for a Kyle Orton-esque 141 yards and Forte only touching the ball 12 times on the ground, then that’s a pretty good sign. (more…)

That’s what I’m talking about! Yes, it was the Lions but a win is a win. Forte finally got into the endzone and over 100 yards. The Bears might be putting out want ads for receivers after losing Knox and Hester for the rest of the game with respective leg and shoulder injuries. But, the offense and special teams in particular looked outstanding and the defense decided to play like they were capable of in the second half. Megatron was pretty much a non-factor and they made Stafford look like he was playing in his fourth career game. I liked the fact that the game turned into a blowout so I wasn’t screaming at the TV. That allowed me to continue to sit on the couch and wallow in the hangover I was nursing all day yesterday.

Well thank goodness for another kicker who is off his game, right? That’s three games and by my count, five missed field goals from the Packers, Steelers, and Toxic Waste Seahawks. It’s scary to think that the Bears could be 0-3 had those kickers not gone all Florida St. on their teams. (more…)

So, as you may have heard, Peanut Tillman practiced for the first time with the team since his back surgery. It is still unknown whether or not he’ll play in Green Bay Sunday night. With four of their first five games against top level QB’s I’m pretty sure the Bears would welcome Tillman back. I’d rather not make Rodgers and Rothlisburger look like little Peyton Mannings out there, and with the 30th ranked pass defense last year … our secondary has nowhere to go but up. Right???????

More tidbits from over the long weekend after the jump. (more…)

National Football Post’s Michael Lombardi is getting all Nick-Nolte-and-Shaq-movie on us, and putting his finger on who, in his view, are the “blue-chip” players for every NFL team. What exactly is a “blue-chip” player, you ask? Well, Matt Forte is one, so apparently it’s another way of saying really, really good. (more…)

Second game: much better result. Matt Forte looked every bit of the “fantasy stud” he’s been anointed, carrying nine times for 58 yards and one seemingly effortless touchdown. One of the other team’s running backs did quite well, too … running through Brian Urlacher more than just once; which, understandably, is codeword for twice. (more…)

At first I bristled a bit when I started seeing press that Matt Forte was being overvalued/overrated in many fantasy circles. I thought he was good enough to be considered a top seven or eight back, but certainly he wouldn’t be considered a ‘hot item’. Right?? Wrong. (more…)

NFL.com has released their updated Top 100 fantasy player rankings for 2009 and in an ever-so-slight surprise, Matt Forte is number two.

Two opinions on Forte being anointed as the second-best fantasy option: he was mightily impressive as a rookie, and despite the presence of Jay Cutler, little confidence exists in the ability of the Bears wideouts to score touchdowns.

Speaking of Cutler, the Savior of All Men came in at 50. Only two other Bears made the list; Greg Olsen (76) and Devin Hester (94).

h/t: Bears Backer

The Bears and running back Kevin Jones have agreed to a two-year, $3.5 million deal. Jones, who had been talking to Buffalo, will come back to Chicago for a second year after the Bears matched two Bills offers.

It’s sort of surprising the Bears went after Jones as aggressively  as they did. He carried the ball just 34 times in 11 games last year, never getting the chance to find his rhythm.

Part of it could have been that he wasn’t really 100% healthy after coming off of reconstructive knee surgery in January 2008. The other part would be the break out of rookie RB Matt Forte.

Jones will go into 2009 as the primary backup behind Forte, nullifying the need for the Bears to take a RB in this year’s draft.

Expect Jones and third-year pro, Garrett Wolfe to share more carries in relief of Forte, and our Adrian Peterson to be delgated to special teams.

Bernard Berrian has 42 million reasons to be THIS happy about being a Viking. And the Bears have 25 million reasons to be excited about the prospect of shutting him down tomorrow. If only they had the cornerbacks to do so.

In case you missed it, Berrian received a six-year, $42 million deal to sign with the Vikes in the offseason and subsequently turned down a five-year $25 million offer to remain with the Bears. Oh and also, the Bears secondary is really banged up. (more…)