Here is the deal: We don’t have time, nor always the will, to make a post out of every semi-significant Bears-related tidbit that hits the InterWeb. But, to satisfy you readers and make sure that we keep on top of everything, we’re bringing you short and precise annotated Bears highlights every Monday and Thursday. This is our link-dumpish effort. (more…)

Here is the deal: We don’t have time, nor always the will, to make a post out of every semi-significant Bears-related tidbit that hits the InterWeb. But, to satisfy you readers and make sure that we keep on top of everything, we’re bringing you short and precise annotated Bears highlights every Monday and Thursday. Except today is Tuesday. This is our link-dumpish effort. (more…)

After 27 years of up and downs, Bears board chairman Michael McCaskey is calling it quits after this coming season. “As to why Michael McCaskey had picked this time, he said an orderly transition was needed, given that no one’s future is known.” (more…)

John Tait turned away $4.8 million and the final year of his six-year contract, signed in 2004, to retire before this season started. Sigh. Apparently, the ankles could take no more. Double sigh. Now, filed under one-who-would-know, Tait offers his (overly?) optimistic opinion of the Bears struggling offensive line. Translation: Okay, I’ve got Coldplay tickets so … good luck with that.

As news broke today that Dusty Dvoracek will, indeed, miss the entire 2009 season with a torn ACL, The Football Outsiders make an interesting observation: Dvoracek is the most injured player of the decade. Hmm, well that certainly makes sense.

Derrick Brooks is 36, in the obvious twilight of his stellar career, and after getting released by Tampa Bay more than four months ago, still looking for a home. One of the fastest linebackers of this generation is best in the Tampa 2 and has ties to Lovie Smith, but why feed the rich while the poor starve?

In other words, the Bears are stacked at linebacker, and Brooks would have to compete/share time with Pisa Tinoisamoa, Hunter Hillenmeyer, Nick Roach and Jamar Williams–all worthy candidates. Still, Gary Shelton of the St. Petersburg Times thinks Brooks’ agent should call the Bears first.

When the Bears signed tackle John St. Clair in 2006, it was to add competition and depth to a then solid offensive line. John Tait and Fred Miller were the aging, but stellar, bookends and St. Clair was brought in to be, along with Terrence Metcalf, an insurance policy.

Boy, how times have changed. Now, Miller is gone, Tait just retired, and the Bears currently have only last year’s first-round draft pick Chris Williams and Cody Balogh — who? — available to play tackle.

Re-signing St. Clair is a must and with the necessity comes added extra dollar value for the nine-year veteran. Miami T Vernon Carey just inked a six-year deal worth $42 million, and if that is any indication, the Bears will have to pull together something around the $4-5 million per year mark — the supposed low-side, going rate for starting tackles –to bring St. Clair back.

Do you think Jerry Angelo is willing to make a six-year, $33 million offer for St. Clair? Then why aren’t they getting close yet?! By all accounts, the Bears haven’t made any significant movement in talks with St. Clair although he’s made it clear he would like to come back.

In a letter brought to our attention by Salt Lake Tribune writer Nate Carlisle, Jim McMahon, Sr. spills his heart juices and thus gives reasonable argument to why his son Jim McMahon deserves to be in the BYU Hall of Fame.

At one point in the letter — coincidentally sent to, and published by, the Salt Lake Tribune – McMahon, Sr. calls the whole ordeal a “miscarriage of justice” and subsequentially shames the Mormon church.

Awww, Senior. Regardless whatever happens with this, you’re still the World’s Greatest Solicitator Over 70 of Entry Into An Exclusive Club or Prestige.

Through two games, the Bears have committed a low two turnovers — both by tight end Greg Olsen.

It’s clear the man loves the fumbleruski. He’s all about it. He wants to romance it and take it to the back seat of his 1978 TransAm. Yeah, that’s right. And he won’t stop until the early dawn.

Fumbleruski, you don’t have a chance. Once you’ve had Olsen, you can never go back. He’ll make you feel like you’re the only one in the room stadium and isn’t afraid to say “I love you” when other people are watching — whether it be from home or in the flesh. (more…)

Well, okay. No, not really. As a matter of fact, in Tuesday’s Sun-Times, recently resigned columnist Jay Mariotti writes of a note Bears general manager Jerry Angelo left for him divulging quite the opposite.

Mariotti says the note emphasizes Angelo is not one of his biggest fans, but isn’t clear if the note actually said that. It most likely did, though. In Chicago, you can buy pre-addressed notes to Jay Mariotti that read “I’m not one of your biggest fans. From (blank)” at just about any cornerstore or 7-eleven.

The unfriendly gesture by Angelo leaves me to wonder why everybody hates Mariotti. So what if he looks like the 17th president of a shitty country you’ve never heard of. The man put in some odd amount of years at a well-established newspaper playing the role of the adorable Mr. GrumpyPants. Doesn’t that count for something?

Angelo would do well to make up with Mariotti, anyhow. When his tenure as GM is over, “Jay & Jerry” is going to make one hell of a buddy sitcom.

Jay exits stage left.