Newly signed Bears quarterback Jay Cutler was introduced to the Chicago media today. Alongside Bears GM Jerry Angelo and head coach Lovie Smith, it was the obligatory intro presser, but it seemed to be met with a greater sense of excitement and anticipation than any other I’ve seen this offseason.

And even though Jay says he’s not a savior for the franchise (and I agree with him), I think a lot of Bears fans are looking to him as exactly that. Yesterday, I referred to him as the team’s first franchise quarterback since Jim McMahon, so I was probably laying …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
The Chicago Bears have suspended defensive tackle Tommie Harris for one game (a game he wouldn’t have played in anyway) because he was late for a scheduled rehab on his injured knee and a meeting. Head coach Lovie Smith was naturally displeased:
“It’s always disappointing when you have to suspend one of your players, but nothing’s bigger than the team, so we’ll kind of move on from there ….. He’ll continue to rehab but won’t practice with the football team this week. Monday he’ll be back with the team, hopefully ready to go and I’ll kind …read more

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast
Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith today announced that quarterback Kyle Orton will be the team’s starter when their season opens September 7 against the Indianapolis Colts. Kyle will also start this Thursday’s third preseason game with the San Francisco 49ers. It was an open competition when training camp began, but Kyle beat out QB Rex Grossman for the starting job. Coach Smith said:
“To come to a decision like that we’ve taken a lot of things into consideration: Last year, how (Kyle) finished the season … training camp, preseason games. In the end, it comes …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
The NFL Scouting Combine signage around Indianapolis states: “The 2008 NFL Season Begins Now.” Thus, just three weeks removed from my trip to Arizona for Super Bowl XLII, here I am in Indy for a fresh start to a new football season.
There used to be an offseason in the NFL, but that’s a thing of the past. Almost immediately after the Super Bowl you’ve got the Combine, the Draft, mini camps and OTAs. It never ends. This is my 4th straight year working the Combine and each season has been bigger in terms …read more

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL
After a dismal 1-2 start to this 2007 season, the Chicago Bears are going to make a change at quarterback. Rex Grossman’s poor play has finally cost him his starting job. Rex’s history of on-the-field conduct detrimental to the team is nearly legendary. Most recently, he threw three interceptions as the Bears lost to the Dallas Cowboys 34-10 on SNF. But the decision to change QBs is really simple arithmatic. This year alone, Rex ranks 23rd in the league with 500 yards, has a 45.2 passer rating and is 47-of-89 (52.8 percent) with …read more

I don’t usually like to deal with the negative when there is so much positive to talk about, but this story has been all over the national news today, so I felt it was my responsibility to at least give my take on the situation.
Chicago Bears DT Tank Johnson was sentenced to 120 days in jail for violating his probation in a weapon’s case from two years ago where it was discovered he had in his possession guns, bullets and marijuana. Supposedly the pot belonged to someone else, but that’s always the case, isn’t it? Today at his hearing, he …read more

Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith talks with the media.
(photo David Kindervater)
It was another beautiful day here in Indianapolis. Cold, for sure. But not a cloud in the sky. I spent most of my day inside as the action picked up considerably from yesterday with more than 15 head coaches speaking with the media and an endless stream of QBs, WRs and RBs.
I arrived early and set up shop in Media Work Room 105 here at the Indiana Convention Center and RCA Dome. This is one of several “overflow” rooms for the media, but I prefer it because …read more