Forte Optimistic That New Deal Will Come
By Gayle Saunders
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Now that Jerry Angelo is gone, it might mean one thing for Chicago Bears Matt Forte…A new contract. Right now Matt Forte is pretty optimistic about getting a new deal in the off season Angelo firing or not.
“I’m pretty optimistic even if nothing did happen,” Forte told Comcast SportsNet. “It’s a long offseason, and I was hopeful that we’d get a long-term deal done in the offseason. I think with the offseason being here we can get something done.”
At the moment both sides are’nt talking a new deal but with a new GM in the works, you’d have to think that a deal should be on the way.
Bears CEO Ted Phillips announced that the Bears organization would like Forte to be in the fold “long term,” but also added that the franchise tag could also be in the game plan.
“The Bears as an organization have a lot of decisions to make right now,” Forte said. “I guess we’re getting new players in and coaches and managers.
“I’m looking forward to hopefully being back with the team and hopefully sign a long-term deal.”
Forte who was fifty percent of the Bears offense missed the last four games of the season due to knee injury, however he also made it to his Pro Bowl.
Lance Briggs blows up Calvin Johnson!
By Gayle Saunders
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Never thought I would see someone blow up Megatron aka Calvin Johnson but it happened. Thanks to Lance Briggs Bears fans got to see him lay the hammer down on Johnson. Remember boys and girls NFL Rule #1080…catching balls over the middle is shady!
Donovan McNabb Will Be Released By His Request
By Gayle Saunders
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Donovan McNabb will be the new Kyle Orton this week as he’s the latest veteran that’s asked to be released. With teams like Chicago and Texans in need of a veteran starter, I could probably see him playing in the city he grew up in.
McNabb has been granted his release, the only problem he faces is which team will pull the trigger on signing him. Lets just call it the one million dollar gamble here. By asking to be released the Vikings won’t have to pay the leftovers on his current contract.
In this day and age, when he’s been beat out by Rex Grossman, John Beck and rookie Christian Ponder the grass doesn’t look so green. Or does it? While it hasn’t been the best year for McNabb, he’s a pretty positive guy which you gotta admire about him. Others would probably see McNabb’s situation as another stain on his resume, but I’m sure he sees it as an opportunity to live out his childhood dreams if he plays for the Bears.
The most promising part of “Donovan McNabb, The Free Agent QB” is his attractive pro-rated salary which is just under 1.6 million. When you’re a playoff bound team, having a QB under center with playoff experience is beneficial. I don’t think that price should hold back playoff bound teams from pulling the trigger on the savvy veteran.
Walter Payton:Best Running Back Ever
There have been many great running backs in NFL history, and you could make a case with any number of them. Jim Brown comes to mind, along with such greats as Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, and LaDainian Tomlinson. But for sheer physical ability and the list of accomplishments achieved, there can be only one that can be called the greatest: Walter Payton.
Jay Cutler: Out for the Regular Season
By Gayle Saunders
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Head Coach Lovie Smith confirmed Bears’ worst nightmare, Jay Cutler has a fractured his thumb on his throwing hand.
The injury happened, when Cutler tried to make a tackle after he threw an interception to Antoine Cason. Cutler got hurt with less than 10 minutes left in the game, however he remained in the game after all was said and done. The gunslinger even completed two passes on the team’s final drive.
“Jay does have a right thumb fracture,” Smith said on WBBM radio in Chicago. “He hurt it on the tackle, on the interception.
“Of course we took X-rays last night and he’ll be seeing specialists this morning and we’ll be able to tell you a little bit more after that.”
Lovie Smith wouldn’t really say how long Cutler will be out. People on the inside are reporting that the injury will require surgery and will keep Cutler out of the last six games of the season.
“I’m not going to play doctor right now,” Smith said when asked how long Cutler will be sidelined. “We’re going through the process. We will be able to tell you a little bit more. That’s all we can tell you right now. That’s all we know right now.”
The last time Cutler was injured was in the NFC championship, and his back up, Caleb Hanie played phenomenal versus the Green Bay Packers. Hanie was 13 for 20 for 153 yards a touchdown and two interceptions, not bad for a guy coming off the bench.
Hanie will have much more time to be prepared for his next opponent, and the Bears feel comfortable going forward.
“[I expect] the same play from our quarterback position,” Smith said. “Caleb has played a lot for us around here. We feel comfortable with him being our quarterback. It’s always next guy up. We’ve had injuries at other positions, and that’s what it will be.
“We’re a good football team, and we still plan on winning”
With the Bears winning five straight and having a 7-3 record, the idea is to make the playoffs, so Cutler has a chance to be healthy by then. Sometimes thats easier said then done.
Devin Hester 82 Yard Punt Return TD vs Detroit Lions
Willie Gault’s 1985 Superbowl ring gets stolen!
By Gayle Saunders
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When you play in the NFL, you play for an opportunity to win a Superbowl. When you achieve that monumental moment in your football career, you’re awarded with one of the most honorable things in all of sports…a Superbowl ring. Read more
Bears are Bennett to Win it
By Gayle Saunders
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The Bears got their playmaker, Receiver Earl Bennett, back just in time for Monday night’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Bennett was only targeted 5 times during the game, but he turned each one of those targets into 5 catches for 95 yards and a touchdown. Bennett’s catches helped his Bears come from behind in the 4th quarter and eventually to a 30-24 victory over the Eagles.
Bennett has had some epic performances against the Eagles throughout his career. He has caught 14 passes for 208 yards and 3 touchdowns during his two starts vs. the Eagles. In last years matchup, Bennett pulled in 9 grabs for 113 yards and 2 TD in a 31-26 win over Philadelphia.
“He’s just a steady player that can do a lot of things for you,” Bears coach Lovie Smith said. “He made a lot of big plays. For a guy like Earl, when you haven’t played in a long time, you’re anxious to come back and get out there on the football field and show people what we’ve been missing. He gave us a boost.”
Bennett biggest grab of the night came on a goaline TD grab from 5 yards out on CB Asante Samuel which put the Bears up 27-24.
The Bears look to move forward at 5-3, especially now that they have Bennett back in the mix. And Bennett is glad to be back after missing the previous five games due to a chest injury.
“It was very frustrating not to be able to be out there with your teammates to help them out and win games with them,” Bennett, a fourth-year player said. “But you’ve just got to put that behind you and move forward. It was a lot of fun to be back out there making plays.”
Before the game Bennett speaks on being back
Urlacher Deals with Family Emergency
By Gayle Saunders
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Brian Urlacher status for this weekend against the Saints could be up in the air, as he has left the team to deal with family matters. The family emergency involves his mother Lavoyda Urlacher, according to a league source.
The Bears will give as much time as Urlacher needs. Lavoyda Urlacher raised Brian, his brother, Casey, and his older sister, Sheri, in Lovington, N.M., and has remained close to the family ever since Urlacher’s career has blossomed in the nfl.
Marion Barber: A No Go vs. the Falcons
By Gayle Saunders
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We have good news for the Atlanta Falcons and bad news for the Bears. Espn.com is reporting that backup running back Marion Barber will be held out of Sunday’s opener with a calf injury
Bears Head coach Lovie Smith spoke on Marion
“Marion Barber is getting better,” . “He won’t play this week.”
Recently the Bears kept Barber out of Friday’s practice. Barber hasn’t practiced with the team since he injured his calf against the Titans on Aug. 27
In the first two preseason games he had 20 carries for 94 yards. 45 of those yards came against the opener against the Bills. He sustained an injury on a short yardage run in the 1st quarter against the Titans.
According to offensive coordinator Mike Martz, the team will miss Barber’s skills as “a violent runner.”
“He’s a guy who can certainly jump cut and do all those things,” Martz said. “But he’ll take a defender on, too, and break tackles. He’s kind of a complete back in that way.”
With Barber a no go Bears will look to Kahlil Bell. During the preseason he’s averaged 4.5 yards per carry.
“Great opportunity [for Bell], you have to be ready,” Smith said. “Kahlil has been in [this] position before. He’s a pro. He’s had a good camp. There’s a reason why he’s on our football team right now, and if you’re a backup, this is the time that you want. If your number is called, the team expects us to have a running back in that position that can get the job done.”
