Bearing Down for a Harsh NFL in January From A Team No One Respects
“I've taken my bows
And my curtain calls
You've bought me fame and fortune
And everything that goes with it
I thank you all
But it's been no bed of roses no pleasure cruise
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race
And I ain't gonna lose
And I need to go on and on and on and on
We are the champions, my friend
And we'll keep on fighting till the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
Because we are the champions of the world…”
We Will Rock You/We are the Champions--Freddie Mercury of Queen
The Chicago Bears have five members of the team going to the Pro-Bowl. That is fine, and not meaning to complain, BUT…
There should be SIX!
Brian Urlacher is a perennial Pro Bowl player, and in my opinion (biased as it is), he deserves it. He delivers tough hits, he has the speed of a cat against an unsuspecting prey, and he has football savvy. Enjoy Maui or wherever they play, Brian. Good for you. He controlled the Falcon game, the Panther game, and the first Packer game.
Lance Briggs—also a linebacker—is going for the first time. No problem here because the NFC has a drop-off concerning outside linebackers and with that aside, he hits hard. He has a nose around the football, he knocks the living hell out of the opponents and he is consistently following the action. He reminds me of Wilbur Marshall of old and the Bears would not be successful without him.
Another perennial Pro Bow player is Olin Kruetz. He is quick, blocks hard, is willing to smack a teammate if need be, and he is probably the best fighter on the team. You need an Olin Kruetz to give a nod to the old days. He plays hard, he is the anchor of a vastly improved offensive line, and he has secured a position for years. Opponents actually draw up defenses around him, so more power to him and the respect he deserves.
Mike Brown has deserved this spot for years as a safety, but injuries have kept him out of contention. He is the heart and soul of the Bears and let’s face it, they play so much better with him in the game. He will knock people out; opponents are afraid to throw downfield because if he does not intercept the pass; he certainly will clean the clock, the snot, and the crap out of anyone who catches it. I would argue, and “safely” (pun intended), that he is the best pure player on the team.
Nathan Vasher deserves to go because as a cornerback, he has more interceptions than some teams have. His 108 yard runback for a touchdown (NFL RECORD) also is relatively tough to ignore. That position has been a thorn in the side of the Bears since the LA Mike Richardson days, so more power to the Bears for making people think about throwing the ball downfield. He was brilliant in so many games this season.
Tommie Harris—nice to see the newcomer get a chance. He is a force and has been a force for disrupting plays. He does not receive a great deal of press, but Harris is a kid who plays the position right and causes others to look better. The average NFL fan perhaps does not recognize his contributions, but the players and coaches do and I think this was a vote from his colleagues. Good for Harris and after he won the Pro Bowl berth, it was altogether logical to see why.
And now who should have gone—Alex Brown. He has dominated the defensive line like no one’s business. He plays injured, he controls games, and he has made many a quarterback feel pain. I doubt he was snubbed as much as I think he is less of a household name with the fans. Besides, other defensive linemen on other teams have more press, but the man will now play like a demon possessed through the playoffs as if to say, “I told you so.”
And I hope Thomas Jones, Charles “Peanut” Tillman, John Tait, and “Wally” (spelled completely by nickname because there is no way I can spell it correctly) have the same attitude as I suspect Brown will have.
I promised one of my students, who is a huge Bear fan and her father is one as well who runs a local bar—which they owe me a steak by the way, that I would not mention the “SB” words until the NFC Championship is won, but watch The Bears in January. This could be fun.
And my curtain calls
You've bought me fame and fortune
And everything that goes with it
I thank you all
But it's been no bed of roses no pleasure cruise
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race
And I ain't gonna lose
And I need to go on and on and on and on
We are the champions, my friend
And we'll keep on fighting till the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
Because we are the champions of the world…”
We Will Rock You/We are the Champions--Freddie Mercury of Queen
The Chicago Bears have five members of the team going to the Pro-Bowl. That is fine, and not meaning to complain, BUT…
There should be SIX!
Brian Urlacher is a perennial Pro Bowl player, and in my opinion (biased as it is), he deserves it. He delivers tough hits, he has the speed of a cat against an unsuspecting prey, and he has football savvy. Enjoy Maui or wherever they play, Brian. Good for you. He controlled the Falcon game, the Panther game, and the first Packer game.
Lance Briggs—also a linebacker—is going for the first time. No problem here because the NFC has a drop-off concerning outside linebackers and with that aside, he hits hard. He has a nose around the football, he knocks the living hell out of the opponents and he is consistently following the action. He reminds me of Wilbur Marshall of old and the Bears would not be successful without him.
Another perennial Pro Bow player is Olin Kruetz. He is quick, blocks hard, is willing to smack a teammate if need be, and he is probably the best fighter on the team. You need an Olin Kruetz to give a nod to the old days. He plays hard, he is the anchor of a vastly improved offensive line, and he has secured a position for years. Opponents actually draw up defenses around him, so more power to him and the respect he deserves.
Mike Brown has deserved this spot for years as a safety, but injuries have kept him out of contention. He is the heart and soul of the Bears and let’s face it, they play so much better with him in the game. He will knock people out; opponents are afraid to throw downfield because if he does not intercept the pass; he certainly will clean the clock, the snot, and the crap out of anyone who catches it. I would argue, and “safely” (pun intended), that he is the best pure player on the team.
Nathan Vasher deserves to go because as a cornerback, he has more interceptions than some teams have. His 108 yard runback for a touchdown (NFL RECORD) also is relatively tough to ignore. That position has been a thorn in the side of the Bears since the LA Mike Richardson days, so more power to the Bears for making people think about throwing the ball downfield. He was brilliant in so many games this season.
Tommie Harris—nice to see the newcomer get a chance. He is a force and has been a force for disrupting plays. He does not receive a great deal of press, but Harris is a kid who plays the position right and causes others to look better. The average NFL fan perhaps does not recognize his contributions, but the players and coaches do and I think this was a vote from his colleagues. Good for Harris and after he won the Pro Bowl berth, it was altogether logical to see why.
And now who should have gone—Alex Brown. He has dominated the defensive line like no one’s business. He plays injured, he controls games, and he has made many a quarterback feel pain. I doubt he was snubbed as much as I think he is less of a household name with the fans. Besides, other defensive linemen on other teams have more press, but the man will now play like a demon possessed through the playoffs as if to say, “I told you so.”
And I hope Thomas Jones, Charles “Peanut” Tillman, John Tait, and “Wally” (spelled completely by nickname because there is no way I can spell it correctly) have the same attitude as I suspect Brown will have.
I promised one of my students, who is a huge Bear fan and her father is one as well who runs a local bar—which they owe me a steak by the way, that I would not mention the “SB” words until the NFC Championship is won, but watch The Bears in January. This could be fun.
posted by Eric Sweetwood at 7:13 AM
3 Comments:
Eric:
Thoroughly enjoyed the Bears-Packers game Sunday except for the injuries. It felt good to win and clinch the Division.
January will be rough but hey, isn't it true that the things you want the most are the hardest to get?
Let's do our best, Bears, and then give it another 10%.
I'm hopeful about the SB. That would be a fantastic way to finish the season.
Lou
My Christmas Day was truly complete . . . almost. The kids, the gifts, the food, the Bears clinching at Lambeau by beating the Packers. Twas, truly a Christmas miracle.
My Christmas Day (Some five days later at this point) will be complete when I transfer the game to DVD and send a copy off to my oldest friend; who is and has been a Packers fan since we first met in the late 70's. My joy in giving of the Bears victory on the holiest of days knows no bounds (and apparently no tact).
As for the playoffs, I'll revert back to normal and pray for the best, knowing that the worst can lurk behind any corner.
Once football is over, you think Lovie could spare a couple of guys to help out the Blackhawks on the blueline? Just a thought.
Bear down, Chicago Bears!!!
Dan
Lou,
No mentioning of the SB until its a reality. No jinxing here! I never mention WS to Cub fans. Oh and Sox fans, there you go--let's spread some of that charm up to the North Side.
Dan (I assume),
Maybe Olin will join Da Hawk's and "bust some people in da' chops fer ya!" I think if Olin could skate, he'd be a hell of a wing-man!
The Blackhawks do not look good thus far. Sigh--oh well. Detroit ALWAYS wins it all anyway. That town needs "something" to cheer for--no Tigers, no Lions, and no hope for Millan.
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