adam

When is a rental considered 3 to 5 years? You are basically getting that length out of a rookie contract on an unknown in the draft, yet Mankins has a proven track record. You can't underestimate the value of a great O-Line. The Bears should be willing to do almost anything to protect their Franchise QB.

2006 47 Punt Returns - 3 TD, 0 Receptions - 0 TD 2007 42 Punt Returns - 4 TD, 20 Receptions - 2 TD 2008 32 Punt Returns - 0 TD, 51 Receptions - 3 TD 2009 24 Punt Returns - 0 TD, 57 Receptions - 3 TD 2010 9 Punt Returns - 1 TD, 6 Receptions - 1 TD He is much more explosive and valuable to the team as a returner first and WR second. In 2008 and 2009 when he was a WR first, all those extra touches resulted in less scores than when he was a PR first. This year is the same, more punt returns than receptions, and 2 TDs in 3 games total. Also, I am not even taking into account KRs. I don't know if this is something they are doing with him but vs GB it looked like he was going to break it every time he got the ball. I foresee good field position for us in the future again.

The Giants defense is allowing 28 pts a game (only Bills and 49ers have allowed more) and will be without Kiwanuka who has been huge for them. I would think we would at least score that much and can get our running game going. Eli has been sacked 7 times with 6 INTs in 3 games. I don't see them scoring more than what Dallas did vs us (20). Peppers get a couple of sacks, Bears lead throughout and cruise 31-17.

I just don't like the formations. We should spread them out and even go into the shotgun to open up the draw. How about some misdirection or fake the handoff up the middle and have the other back sweep to the outside, or even a bootleg. Something other than Forte running into the backs of our O-Line would be great.

The Bears had 463 yards, which is the most since 1997? The 168 yards allowed was the best since 2006? So I believe the difference of 295 yards was the most in decades. Yards don't equate to wins, but it is promising to see on both sides of the ball. The defense also held the Lions to 10 drives with 10 yards or less. That is silly. Again yards don't mean much, but at least we showed we can move the ball. People say it is only Detroit, but they are much improved and have some good players at many skill positions. Any time you hold Johnson to 4 catches and 45 yards, you are doing pretty good. We also did something that we rarely do, win a game where we lose the TO battle. Detroit was lucky to be even in the game in the 4th. Based on some of the errors we could have been up by 20+ heading into the final frame. So if we can clean up the drops, limit the TOs and penalties, I think we have a chance to surprise some people. After the train wreck of a preseason I was actually pleasantly surprised overall. Also, a bunch of teams on our schedule did not look too good, which is nice to see. Next up Dallas, who scored 7 pts against the Redskins.

110 yards allowed and we lose? Unfreakin real.

I am just waiting for the 1-hour ESPN special "The Announcement" where he says his ankle has healed and that he is coming back for 1 more season. This almost seems like a huge marketing ploy, otherwise, he would just come out and tell everyone himself.

Minnesota is a completely different team without Favre. This is great news for the Bears. They go from Super Bowl contenders to a borderline playoff team. I figure they are now a 9-10 win team at the most. Rice was a completely different WR with Favre at QB. I can't see Jackson making those same throws. Also, morale had to take a huge hit as well.

Surprise: Steltz, he seems to have figured it out and is playing at a high level. Hopefully it will translate into pads and we go from a Secondary as a weakness to a Secondary as a strength. As nfo said, not many people are talking about him, and with the Secondary still a question mark, he definitely has a chance to surprise. Disappointment: Forte. I don't know if he is fully recovered from whatever nagging injuries he had, but it still looks like he is missing that initial burst from his rookie year. Again very early so hopefully he will prove me wrong. With Forte, it is also expectations, hopefully he can live up to them, but I think with Taylor here, Forte will not get as many carries, so he has to take advantage of the ones he gets. I don't think Peppers is going to disappoint. I could see him doing that in the next couple of years, especially if the Bears start losing, but this year I think he dominates, especially with the other players on the defensive front seven. Even if his numbers are down, but he is constantly getting double-teamed and freeing up other pass rushers, that is still success in my book. I think with him on the DLine, Harris and Anderson will both have solid if not great seasons as well. Urlacher will also be Comeback Player of the Year.

Minny still doesn't know who their QB is, and it is either going to be a 50 year old Favre or Jackson? That is a significant difference. There are a bunch of 3rd place teams in the top 20 (Bengals, Dolphins, Texans, Giants, Panthers). Also, most people forget the fact that we could've easily been 9-7 with some luck last year. I believe we lost 4 games when we had the lead or were tied entering the 4th quarter. If we won half of those, we would've been 9-7. That was without Urlacher, Pisa, Peppers, Harris, Taylor, etc. Also, we actually have a premier OC compared to what we had last year. Either we are going to improve and win 10 games or this whole thing will implode and we will win 4-5.

Damn the Bears are getting hammered in the preseason rankings, not that they mean much, but what are these "experts" seeing that we are not? All indications point to at least some improvement from last year. I was figuring 9-7 or 10-6 was completely reasonable. Don Banks from SI.com has us at #26, behind the likes of Washington, Seattle, and Oakland. He is basically saying we are a 5-6 win team. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writ...mp.3/index.html ESPN has us at #21 which is a little better, but that is basically saying we are the same team as last year. Don't they realize we essentially upgraded 3 spots on the Defense with potential Pro Bowlers (Urlacher, Peppers, and Harris)? The offense, even though in a new scheme has had a year to gel (mainly Cutler and WR's). The media has really turned on Cutler since the trade. They loved him in Denver, and now hate him in Chicago. http://espn.go.com/nfl/powerrankings?year=2010&week=0

I love this line:

Willis Tower, I always think of Different Strokes when I hear the name. Whatcha talking about Willis Tower?

I love how his main point about Cutler was that the team lost 2 more than it did without him. Wow thanks for that deep analysis. Then he compares Peppers to Haynesworth? Seriously? Wow what a comparison. Most posters on here would be better suited to provide some detailed insight about the upcoming season than he does.

A vid of Unga:

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/38265242/ns/...ts-player_news/

I thought it was hilarious and sad at the same time. Next Ryan Leaf will be caught crushing Sudafed tablets.

I was thinking the same thing Mad, dark horse vs disappointment, but some didn't fit that bill either. So I just went with who on that team should you pick.

Stay classy Cedric.

Olsen not Olson. I would say Rodgers over Finley in GB as a stud. Finley had 5 less catches and 3 less TD's than Olsen last year. I think he will put up similar numbers but nothing special. I would say Reggie Bush as the dud in NO and Brees as the stud, and Kellen Winslow over Benn for TB.

I agree. Hester should be in the slot, and it will be nice to have at least one of those three getting a nickelback covering them instead of one of the starting corners.

From ESPN Blog: http://espn.go.com/blog/chicagobears/post/...ed-as-a-starter So if Knox is firmly entrenched as a starter, and the Bears have eluded to giving Hester some plays off to be more effective in the return game, you would have to think the primary WRs will be DA and Knox. Also, I assume Martz will use a bunch of 3 WR sets as well, making the top 3 basically starters anyway.

http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/...tler-olsen.html There ya go. and here: http://twitter.com/terrellowens

Chris posted on the Windy City Gridiron Blog: http://www.windycitygridiron.com/2010/5/24...trade#storyjump I really like Chris Harris and glad he is back with us.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=Au2D...p-bears-manning