Devin Hester, the next president of the United States of America

With a notable exception or two, the Bears looked like shit against the Broncos. Probably most alarming was the great gaps in the defense. Seven yard run here, 65 yard pass there, 432 yard run everywhere. The offense looked anemic as well- until the end. When Rex lost a fumble in the fourth with the Bears down 14, it surely looked over. Sometimes a team can hang around for an entire game even being outplayed, and deservedly win it in the end. I really can't say that in this game.

A clear chain of impossible events conspired to keep this season alive- for another week at least. Hall of Fames two kick returns for TD's were obvious points of divine intervention. The blocked punt. Adrian Peterson was stopped short of the goal line- but then the Bears' lines push wasn't whistled dead until the ball was in the end zone. And the final drive was kept alive with a ' very lucky to be called ' penalty on fourth down and one of the most spectacular and clutch touchdown catches in N.F.L. history by Bernard Berrian. And: nice pass, Rex- is this not a sign of God's help ??

And what are we to make of Hall of Fame? He had an NFL record six returns last year, plus another TD on the longest play in NFL history -the 108 yard missed field goal run back- and the KO return in the Super Bowl- the fastest points ever scored in the Super Bowl. That's eight last year - and four this year. He has more TD returns than Billie "White Shoes" Johnson and Gale Sayers. And his rate of TD/returns is the highest in NFL history. I believe that if he retired today, he should immediately be enshrined in Canton. What- there's ever been better??

More than anything, it was Hall of Fame that kept the patient alive. The Bears wanted to let it get away, but he brought them back. He didn't allow the Broncos get away. On the Tillman punt block, I thought right away that that ' fear of a Hester planet ' somehow made the block possible- later views on the Sunday nite recap shows shows that to be correct. It was way more than just him, but a supreme player elevates those around him. What time is Sunday's kickoff??

And the playoffs are still in reach. Waited forever for the Sox this past season, and am waiting still for the Bulls. But maybe just maybe they can stay alive this season and turn a corner. As it is, they are tied with six other teams at one game out of the wild card position. Many have said the Bears will have to win out, but It's possible nine wins will do.

The Giants are next. They are 7-4, but were just beaten by the Vikings. The Bears mite be able to do it next week. The Bears also have to play Green bay, who has only one loss (to the Bears) this year. The other games are winnable- but only if the Bears can start to win. They haven't won two games in a row this year, and nothing (other than miracles) suggests they can again. But there is still life.

Bears Future: Mediocre in the Midway?

As if yesterday's horrible loss to the lowly Liedowns isn't bad enough, lost in the Urlacher nonsense and Griese's 4 INTs is that this team's future is starting to look very grim for the Mediocres of the Midway. The Bears have dominated the bumbling NFC North for several years. That reign does not look like it is going to continue.

The rest of the division had no choice but to get better. While Detroit has no defense, they have some really talented skill players. Same with the Vikings. Adrian Peterson is going to be a force in the NFC North for a decade if he stays healthy. Green Bay has a solid, very young defense. Now let's look at the beloved in several key areas.

Quarterback: What can you say. Watching the Patriots last night I fantasized about what it must be like to have a legit pro quarterback. The Bears quarterback woes are legendary. Rex is, well Rex. He won't be here next year. Griese is clearly not the answer. If he is the starting quarterback at the beginning of camp next year expect no better than 8-8. Angelo needs to take the heat for Rex, he is definitely a 1st round bust. Speaking of busts, let's move on the running back position.

Running Back: Lovie Gump almost incoherently repeats that the Bears get off the bus as a running team. Forget that they just don't give Benson enough carries or that they bench him in the fourth quarter. This guy does nothing well. He can't pass block, he can't catch the ball, he has no burst, he can't hold onto the ball. Can someone please tell me what Benson can do? He is another 1st round bust.

Receiver: What can you say about this group? Dropped passes, bad routes, not one receiver that would be starting on a contending team. Another place where Angelo must be faulted. It's hard to pin all the offensive woes on the quarterback when the skills position players are so woeful.

Offensive Line: Old, creaky and no young players in the pipeline. The entire offensive basically needs a total reboot. You just can't do that in a year or two. This could be a 4 or 5 year rebuilding effort. And that assumes Angelo can hit on some offensive players. A skill he hasn't shown he possesses.

Defense: Let' start with Urlacher. Is his time as a dominant player coming to an end? Whatever this back injury is, he does not look like the same player. Brian has been the glue in the this defense, with him at less than full strength, this punctures the core of the defense. Even the national media can tell that this is not same defense that helped Kyle Orton win 10 games. They just aren't getting the takeaways anymore. They aren't dominating teams like they have in the past 3 years. The window is closing on the defense.

There you go. Last year might just have been the beginning of the end. The Bears had a dominating defense for several years and an anemic offensive. Amazingly, Angelo has made the offense even worse while the defense is inevitably starting to decline.

Where is the ray of light for this team? Where are tomorrow's stars waiting in the wings? Simply put, they don't exist. The pantry is bare. It might be for a very long time indeed.

Media Day

Media day full tilt today. Both teams at the big show speaking endlessly to the media. Quite a few observations stuck out today amid all of the dribble and drool. Apart from far too many ex-jocks interviewing far to many obscure players, the Bears are definitely in the shadows.

I haven't heard any talking head say that the Bears defense is great. We couldn't stop hearing it earlier in the year when it wasn't quite true. Perhaps the media has done a 360 now that the d doesn't get any respect.

So both coaches are Christians, buddies, family, mentor-student, and in love with each other and now they are going to try to beat the shit out of each other.

Urlacher can speak.


It's Peyton's game to lose, he has all of the pressure on him since his induction into the hall of fame.

No insight from any player during any interview today.

Hate to agree with the disrespect line, but the Bears are correct and it is entirely to their benifit. 7 pt dogs is an insult for a game of this magnitude. I really think that the Colts have to play a perfect game in order to win. Rex has nothing to fear from the Colts D.

Lets see what tomorrow holds for the Da Bears.