Inside the Bears

It's been a little too long since our last entry, but two red eye trips back from the West Coast and a holiday in between has shortened our weeks. We'll get back on schedule for the stretch run, so keep the inquiries coming.

Q: Where is Corey Dillon? Isn’t he available? Tiki Barber might come out of retirement for a real chance to win a title.

Tyree T., Chicago

Tyree: I’d assume Dillon is kicking back with the phone nearby waiting to hear from the New England Patriots. While Dillon’s agent Steve Feldman told the Sun-Times in September that his client would be interested in joining the Bears, the team wasn’t seeking any help at the time. When I checked with Feldman earlier this month, he said Dillon no longer had an interest in the Bears.

And that change of heart has nothing to do with the changing weather. Dillon would gladly return to the undefeated New England Patriots for another run at a Super Bowl ring. They might not need him, though. As far as Barber goes, his agent also told the Sun-Times back in September that Tiki was quite happy as a talking head these days.

The Bears may still bring a running back in with Cedric Benson lost for the season, but they were in no rush to make that move Monday, and it’s almost a guarantee anyone they do bring in will not be a household name. Many teams operate with only four backs and that’s what the Bears have now with backup fullback Lousaka Polite expected to dress for Sunday’s game vs. the Giants for the first time this season.

Continue reading "Mailbag, Vol. VI" »

Posted by Brad Biggs at 03:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

After a bye weekend for everyone, we jump back into the blog. Send your questions and we’ll have another round out in no time.

Q: Brian Griese has thrown more picks than TDs; fumbled three snaps in five games called out Mark Bradley for not picking up his signal against Detroit that led to, according to Griese, the free safety knowing where the ball was going, notwithstanding that his arm could not get it there; underthrew a fly to Devin Hester, who had two steps on the corner at Philly; took credit for calling the plays in the Philly game; blamed his coach for not opening up the playbook, even though he typically dumps the ball off before the receivers have broken on their routes; is a Green Bay collapse and Ed Hochuli call away from being 0-5; has said that he has never seen a team lacking leadership (shot at the captains, coaches, Rex Grossman?); and slid instead of diving for the first down against Detroit, when all needed was one more yard to the get the first down and keeping the defense on the sideline?

Not sure when you and the other media members will wake up to these facts, but this is why Mike Shanahan ran him out of Denver. It's time for you to stop trying to justify the change to Griese and report on his unique way of disrupting team chemistry and otherwise playing like a poor man's Shane Matthews.

Timothy C., Chicago

Timothy: Can you tell us how you really feel about Griese? I understand he’s played very poorly at times, there’s no other way to describe how the Detroit Lions intercept you seven times inside their own 40-yard line in two games. Take away the bulk of those and it’s probably two wins for the Bears and they’re not currently delirious in Motown with a 4-4 club.

But where would you have the Bears and Lovie Smith turn? Most of the people clamoring for Griese to go are forgetting how bad Rex Grossman was in his three starts. One touchdown. Six picks. Nine sacks. The deeper we go into the season the more apparent it is that Jerry Angelo will once again be on a quarterback of the future hunt. It’s a tired storyline in this town.

Continue reading "Mailbag Vol. V -- answers" »

Posted by Brad Biggs at 08:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

Rolling through a handful of questions before we head out to see who’s on the field and who’s not at the Friday practice. Send in your queries and we’ll do our best to get them answered next week during the bye.

Q: Kyle Orton played well two years ago, only to be benched. I think he’d make a more viable option than Brian Griese. What do you think from seeing the team every day?

Adam D., Parts Unknown

Adam: After watching Griese lead the Bears back in the fourth quarter at Philadelphia, I think it’s fair to say he’s the best option for the Bears right now. As far as Orton’s development, that is the great unknown. He didn’t get a lot of chances in the preseason, and how can you really judge the guy playing with third-teamers? He’s got little talent to work with and he’s going against guys with little talent. We don’t get to digest much of practice each day, in fact just a little bit more than stretching. I can tell you this: Orton has gotten more serious about his career in the last year and has handled everything like a pro. His contract runs through next season and he’s anxious for a chance somewhere, here or elsewhere. With Rex Grossman expected to depart following the season, Orton could go into 2008 as the No. 2 with an eye toward free agency.

Continue reading "Mailbag Vol. IV -- answers" »

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The referee has thrown the flag and I’ve been whistled for a five-yard penalty—delay of game. More like delay of Q&A. So without putting this task off any further, we’ll jump into the questions and comments that were selected. Keep them coming.

It’s been since before the Green Bay game that we came with answers, so here we go:

Continue reading "Mailbag Vol. III -- answers" »

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Send in your questions and we'll post answers this weekend.

Posted by Brad Biggs at 08:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

E-mail in your questions for this week and I will have answers up later in the week.

Posted by Brad Biggs at 06:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

We sorted through a collection of e-mail inquiries and did our best to pick out a few Rex Grossman questions to answer. There were many. But we'll start with the new quarterback. Keep the questions coming and we'll get to another installment next week.

Q: I believe that Brian Griese is underrated. He was 5-1 and playing at a Pro Bowl level in 2005 as the starter in Tampa Bay before he suffered a season-ending knee injury. Do you believe it's possible that Brian is more than just a Band-Aid?

Mark, Parts Unknown

Mark: There is no question Griese has displayed the talent in the past to be a steady and productive quarterback over the long haul. I don't know that he was playing at a Pro Bowl level before his knee injury in 2005, but he played very well for the Buccaneers in 2004 and was a Pro Bowl choice with the Broncos in 2000.

Griese is 32 so unless he comes out and plays lights out, I think Jerry Angelo is going to be hesitant to annoint him the quarterback of the future. The Bears need Griese to be the quarterback of the now for a team that hopes to heal up on defense and get back into the thick of the NFC race.

Barring a major acquisition, I don't see how you're not looking at Griese as the starter entering 2008, though. Obviously, he's got to stay healthy, but this regime and this coaching staff is unlikely to draft a quarterback in the first round and then make him the starter from Day 1. I'm glad someone wants to see the quarterback stay in place for a while before the QB turnstile clicks again.

Continue reading "Mailbag, Vol. 1 -- Answers" »

Posted by Brad Biggs at 10:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

E-mail your Bears questions with first name and hometown and we'll get as many ones answered -- as best we can -- soon.

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