Rookie receiver Johnny Knox gave fans something to cheer about Thursday.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reiterated Thursday his support for an expansion of the regular-season schedule to 17 or 18 games, eliminating two preseason snooze-fests. That has to be welcome news for fans who later that night were forced to pay full regular-season prices for tickets to watch the Bears beat the Browns 26-23 in their preseason finale.
Fans who fought their way through rush-hour gridlock to reach Soldier Field, plunked down $20 for parking and then shelled out for overpriced concessions probably did so with the expectation of getting to see star quarterback Jay Cutler show off his cannon arm at least once. Sorry, but this wasn't real NFL football on display.
The fourth and final preseason game is nothing more than a glorified scrimmage, with most of the teams' starters either sitting out entirely or, as in Cutler's case, making a brief cameo appearance. Cutler played only the first series and his entire night consisted of six handoffs to reserve running back Kevin Jones.
Of course, you can't blame the Bears or any team for resting the regulars in these meaningless games. Jones showed why that's the case, sustaining a left-ankle injury on a first-quarter run. He left the stadium in a walking boot. Imagine if Matt Forte (who sat out this game, as did Devin Hester and Olin Kreutz, among others) had been injured instead. Or, even more unthinkable, imagine Cutler suffering the fate that befell Rex Grossman, who broke his ankle in a 2005 preseason game against the Rams.
Expanding the regular season to 17 or 18 games would give fans their money's worth and reduce the chances of losing key players in games that don't count. Yes, the risk of injury always exists when players take the field, and you could argue that expanding the regular season will only increase that risk because it will boost the number of full-tilt games that a team's starters have to play.
Still, if you are going to lose a player to injury, better it should come in a game that means something. There's nothing worse than losing a star player for an extended period before the regular season even kicks off. And then there is the league's obligation to its fans, who deserve to see top-tier talent if they are required to pay top-tier prices.
So while diehard Bears fans may have enjoyed a delightful evening at Soldier Field watching the exploits of backup QB Caleb Hanie and rookie receiver Johnny Knox (who hooked up on a 43-yard pass play), I'm backing Goodell's proposal to give us two more games that matter and two fewer of these full-priced exercises in boredom.
Have a fun and relaxing Labor Day weekend, Full-Court Pressers!
Well my only problem with that Stu is the next step will be let's add a few more expansion teams, dilute the talent pool, add another bye week, make it an even 20 games and that just might put Super Bowl week-end just before opening day of baseball and the NBA and NHL play-offs. With a scenario like that I'm afraid Keith will never find time between seasons to recover and he'll constantly get his kool aids mixed up.
Right there with you Stu! But alas, the Bears really NEEDED this game. They needed it to help them know who to cut. And they desperately needed it to see if they needed an emergency back-up plan if Cutler gets hurt. Was it me or did Bassinet look better than Hanie? Doesn't matter because they both were not clearly ready, and how could they be? Bears have made MAJOR changes in the offense. And if they haven't something is definitely wrong. Normally I would say don't run your real plays, but with Ron calling the plays - maybe he needed to audition also.
Bears have a real shot if Cutler is the real deal. If these other guys let him down I am going to be angry. Yall can fall back on Hockey. I have to watch the Bulls!!!
So, if they get hurt in the first game,with 17 left to go-it is alright? As long as it is not preseason? People who get injured,
are prone to getting injured. They are not focused and aware
of their surroundings, then suffer a concentration slip. They are the
ones who need the extra practice. Sitting them out, only prolongs
the inevitable. I have never had much tolerance for people who get injured. There is no reason for it. Proper technique, concentration,and health prevents injuries. If the NFL had more
'football players trying to be athletes',than 'athletes trying to be
football players', then there wouldn't be so much injury phobia.
The people who get injured the most(besides the juiced ones), are the ones furthest from being
actual 'football players'-Qbs,dbs, and receivers. Slips,injuries, and excuses. A sure sign of losers.
YES
Another tough issue with much to be said on both sides, as the comments indicate.I think I'll weigh in with increasing the number of regular season games to 18. stuckinminnesota's comment makes sense though. Injuries can happen any time, and of course the management wants to avoid them. I always thought when I was playing that the time I got hurt was when I let up to keep from getting hurt. To me, a related issue that is really annoying is resting players for the play-offs when a team has already assured itself a play-off berth. That seems to me to really cheat the fans and the teams still hoping to make the play-offs if the losses break just right.
I think expanding 2 extra regular season games are fine, but cutting down preseason games in half is too much. Get rid of 1 preseason game and leaving preseason to 3 games works for me, but having only 2 preseason games I don't think are enough games for a team trying to iron out an entire 53-man roster and auditioning all those undrafted fa's and drafted players trying to make a team.
I say go to 17 games and throw in another bye week, giving teams needed healing time; or expand the playoffs, giving those teams with early injuries a chance to parlay their fast finish.
Two preseason games is all they need; shoot, guys are ready to smack anything in their way in June. Why wait!
P.S. Kevin Jones, you're a knucklehead! What the heck are you doing jumping in a professional football game in the first place? My head shook even before I saw the injury replay.
I have to agree with Tim Little on this one. I can see the league diluted with very marginal players or with expansion teams with not very good players at all.
If the regular season is expanded, how much quality football will the fans receive for their money?
After what the Detroit Lions did last season, I do not think I want to read about a team going zero and eighteen or zero and twenty.
Stu, what you say sounds good in theory, but maybe it would be better to get rid of one or two exhibition games. This way NFL teams can simply get on to the regular season.
Stu responds: Yes, I agree with Anthony ... go to 17 games with another bye week to allow for healing time (but still eliminate two preseason games, and stop making fans pay regular-season prices for scrimmages).
Who is Henry Knox and why haven't I heard about him all off season? Is he any relation to Johnny Knox?
Stu responds: Fixed .... thanks for the catch. Henry Knox was a Revolutionary War hero (that's what I get for posting so late at night).
The headline on the front page of sports leading into this was "More Preseason Games?"
Yet the blog entry is about FEWER preseason games.
No wonder the Sun-Times will soon be the second newspaper in a one-newspaper market. Could SOMEBODY edit something over there correctly? Is there an 8th-grader on the website desk now?
Stu responds: Man ... tough crowd. Thanks for pointing out the error.
Oh definitely, slash the ticket prices on preseason exhibition games for sure, but only 2 preseason games against an actual opposing team to prepare for the regular season? Wow, I know people are so football-starved to watch regular season action as soon as possible, but we're talking about running an actual NFL Football team camp which involves teaching and development to the younger and more inexperienced players looking for a chance to make a roster somewhere. Some of these guys need more simulation-type games against a real opposing teams than each other in training camp practices. Now some of you guys are really acting like selfish football fans. I'd like to see a random poll of NFL coaches and see if a majority of them would agree that only 2 preseason games are enough to prepare for the regular season grind.
Stu responds: Edgar, you're right in that it would pose a challenge to coaches trying to evaluate new talent. Right now, the first and fourth preseason games are devoted to that purpose, while the middle two are about getting the starters ready to go. If there are only two games, the starters will still need their preparation time, meaning new players will have to be evaluated in other ways. I could see teams doing more scrimmaging with opposing teams during training camp, which is now done on a limited basis. There are ways of putting players in "game" situations without actually playing preseason games and charging fans full price to come watch.
I remember when there were six preseason games!
First off season ticket holders should be getting pre-season games included in their package if they aren't already and all other tickets should be no more than 60% of regular season tickets. The whole argument about more regular games vs. pre-season is no more than a veiled attempt to extend the season, then expand the league. Why? MONEY! Why do you think they added the wild card play-off concept? Extend the season and MONEY! At least MLB made the wild card look necessary by having an odd number of divisions within each league. Meanwhile the average fan is priced right out of being able to go to a game, conned into believing he/she NEEDS to see every out of market game on TV and God help you if you're not watching it in HD 'cause you're not getting the feel of the game. To a point I can understand why people here in North Carolina can be so crazy about their college hoops yet the Bobcats can't fill the house for a play-off game. When the Panthers are playing well the seats are full, if not oh well. Once the college hoops season begins NFL scores and highlights take a back seat in sports casts. Don't get me wrong I love sports and Chicago teams but at some point someone has to say enough already. The season hasn't started for real yet and people are wanting more games and another bye week which would then put the Super Bowl into March. Let's see now I already have 2 computers in this room both have dual monitors and split screen capability so I can monitor four things at once, I have the 54 inch flat screen in the living room with 4 screen picture in picture now all I need is to hire a girl to bring me my beer and toss a couple burgers on the grill.
Edgar I agree that the Bears need the pre-season games. But call us whatever you want - we earned the right to be excited about Cutler. Sid Luckman to Cutler. Come on man. And with the current disappointments of the Cubs and Sox and the EXPECTED disappointment of the Bulls, we need something to wash the taste of loser out of our mouths. I ususally don't like selfishness, but there are times when its warranted.
Edgar..good call. from that standpoint, i think a minimum of 3 games would be necessary. Why not make them in College Towns, with small cult followings though....Like the NBA does it. Not at the stadium. I know its all about revenue, but still, that would really win over the hearts and minds of the people...if they would do something like that.
two pre season games are plenty...especially if the UFL can be used as a feeder system....which I think they can...more talent around than in the USFL days...
and it will take care of that expansion team business I grazed over as I scrolled down...
LA should get a team, tho
Tim - you are living the highlife my brother!
I have one computer and I still have that old monitor that takes up half the desk. All of my Tv's are old! No DVR, No plasma or flatscreen. Nothing but expanded basic cable. I have one tv with picture in picture and don't know how to really use it. No blue Ray, no ipod, nothing.
Keith my man what can i say I'm a high tech red-neck. Both computers are old Dells that I up-dated and up-graded myself. added an additional gig of RAM to both and another 400 gigs of hard drive. A video card that allows not only 2 additional monitors but any TV with S-Video plug in. Also added a DVD burner to both and networked them so I can copy a DVD from computer burning it to the other. Can also hook my old VCR up by S-Video and and transfer movies from VHS to DVD. When I was using one of the computers to DJ karaoke I installed a professional recording program on both and had a few people come to the house and I had a small studio set up to record them singing with karaoke disc background and burned it on disc for them. By getting the parts in computer stores and istalling them myself I spent much less to do both computers than it would have cost me to buy one with the same capabilities.The upgrades cost me less than $600 total.
Keith you have about the same thing that Gilligan and his cohorts had on that island. The professor would've at least invented a big screen in this day and age. Dude you are living la vida poor poor. Just kidding. My ex-wife used to think that all those things were unnecessary when we were together. But when we split up she wanted to keep my flat screen. She didn't get it. She kept the kid though. And the house. And the van. With football season upon us... that's a fair trade. Just kidding.
I just read that Favre got fined $10,000 for his crack-back block. Since it was Favre, that gives a whole new meaning to the term "chump change." I can't even conceive of the amount of money these guys make for as little as they contribute to the good of society. Some are pretty generous, although "charity without pain" comes to mind. If it is easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle ( a narrow entryway in the wall of a city for you uninformeed ) than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven,then where are all these professional sport players going?
Im still saving up for your big Arizona trip Keith...gimme a few more years to make it big and then..its gonna be an all expenses paid FCP awards dinner at the Scottsdale Hyatt @ Gainey!
Maybe we can get some corporate sponsors...oops...never mind Keith..you would want to take any of the blood money.
WRD the Gilligan's island thing was hilarious and the ex-wife comment understandable. I veiw my divorce somewhat like a commercial,.....giving her the house $50,000....child support and college expenses for 3 kids $250,000....keeping her away from my pension and regaining my sanity..PRICELESS.
No disrespect to McBride, but I think the special teams is more than capable right now, so I hope the Bears pick up an Eric Green. We need another veteran, cut from a loaded secondary, to help out for a while.
Some awfully big, tough, sure handed receivers out there in college ball right now.
Play Ball!!!
Don't get me wrong Tim. I accept not being married anymore. Because I accept that I married the wrong woman. I've moved along and don't harbor any bitterness. It's been exactly a year that I moved out and Feb is a year for the divorce. If you saw the disagreements we had over the two years we were married you'd see it was a great month for some couples. It was a waste of time. Wrong person. We get along fine,now, because if I carried the time with me I would be a jock strap. And Oh Anthony you better believe that Mcbride is on a week to week lease. I'd bet my last dollar that he won't last a month. Once Tillman is back to being himself and Vasher is better than last year he is on the scrap heap. You guys have to remember that the last guy on the roster is the first guy gone. People are upset that Mcbride and Vasher made the team but I wonder why it's okay for Steltz and Wolfe to still be around. They both suck to me. One plays special teams well and one plays a turnstile equally as well. I guess special teams play is secondary to being a back-up. They both do enough on special teams to keep that roster spot I guess.
Keith, bring chuck taylors, cut off jean shorts, floating cooler... and spf 627 to Phx with ya...make culzie take ya tubin
3 hr drunken love session for you two...then you two get to fight at the end....yelling turns to panting.....hauling your tubes to the bus will keep you from fighting..
good times
LOL..I think about you sometimes Culzie
gethimKeith
"I accept not being married anymore. Because I accept that I married the wrong woman. I've moved along and don't harbor any bitterness."
____________________________
Don't feel bad William, I married a slew of wrong women, and lived to tell the tale.
The things we do in our never ending quest for happiness, huh?
Truth be told ... I've had just about all the "happiness" I can stand. I'm all happied out.
Mark, you got me picturing Mickey Rooney numbers when you said "slew of wrong women". I did it once and they haven't built a shotgun big enough to get me to do it again. People just do not know how to work through things. It's not 'for better or worse' it's 'until somebody better comes along'. Still, I'm not bitter. I just don't think a lot of people have it in them to do right by anyone but theirselves. I'm happy with my F.W.B. coming by every other day and "benefitting" on my terms.
If the Professor was so damn smart and could build a car out of bamboo and a radio out of coconuts then why couldn't he fix the hole in the boat?
And why was he the only one who had his own hut?
What was he doing in there… or what was the rest of the castaways doing in their huts?
And how did Mary Ann make coconut cream pies without any milk?
Ok… I admit that the thought of Mary Ann and Ginger sharing a hut may explain the milk thing.
And how come everyone wore the same clothes year after year but the Howe's were always dressing up like they were going to play golf with Judge Smails in Caddyshack?
If the Howe’s were really that rich why would they be on that crappy little boat instead of their own yacht in the first place?
They could have spent their entire lives on that island and still not missed a Cubs World Series.
Good Grief, guys, let's get back to football and leave the castaways to the Nielson ratings. Today Neil Hayes had a really good article on the Bears. I had a hard time disagreeing with anything he wrote. What are some of your reactions?
By the way, any work of fiction requires what Coleridge called "A willing suspension of disbelief." If we don't have that, we nit-pick everything. Twain said we should remember that "fiction" means it never really happened, in other words, "lies." Thus he reasoned that the most honest kind of fiction was a lie that drew attention to itself as a lie. So he wrote a lot of tall tales and is considered a "realist."
If ... I was you guyz..I'd be celebrating the Bears being undefeated this fine labor day
the last time your bbq will taste so good...
Sleepless by Seattle....
Paul, I agree with Samuel Coleridge and you about what fiction requires. However, I think the amount of belief required for "Gilligan's Island" is about on the same level of that required for the Easter Bunny. By the way, for a brief moment, I thought your "castaways" term was being used for our beloved baseball teams. It sort of works!
O.K., let's get ready for football! Paul, I agree with Neil Hayes. I am one who has been a bit giddy about finally having a franchise QB while having enough other pieces in place to make the offense formidable. It is rather ironic that we now have to hope even to the extent of "false hope" or blind faith towards our defense. Marinelli should help, but Harris' knees are still the anchor to this defense's success. Peanut's return should also help mask what we've seen in preseason.
Here's to some "false hope" that I believe has some legs (or knees):
Bearssssss: 12-4 my friend...my kool-aid cup overfloweth!
It feels like were all buckling up for a really crazy roller coaster/ off road adventure. I have a feeling, its gonna be more like a rocket ship take off. So, Im gonna go ahead and add this custom built (by Tim) Harness (that can also copy DVD to DVR and back).
3-2-1....BLAST OFF!!!!!!!
Hitman, If I were you I'd do the same for them Raider's cuz they're gonna get worked on next monday.
WRD, special teams is to a football team, as a link is to a chain. Nuf said!
ben, I expect the Raiders to show up and take the Tila Tequila Bowl
not so sure about Jane Seymour, tho...DaRaidahs could use him
Culzie - won't let it go huh??? Um taking money from every corporate joker that offers! Especially if I do business with them! I turn down nothing but my collar! Unless it comes with a string attached. I reap and sow my brother. I will get to Cali or Florida if the Lord says the same. Until then its yeah and Amen.
I am reading through these emails after the weekend and I am cracking up. I wish you all well with love. Especially Villy. That "happied out" comment touched my heart. One lady for 16 happy years!
What I don't like about expanding to 18 games is that you might as well throw out the record book, because every one of them is going to get broken.
Oh I understand the concept that special teams is a third of a team's facet so I really do go along with keeping guys for special teams. I just don't like when fans act like a person should be kept around who has an inability to play special teams. For example, over at Biggs' asylum guys are openly upset that Rideau isn't around to suck up space on the bench. When you mention that he doesn't play special teams they act like it shouldn't matter. I accept Rashied Davis as a 6th WR since I know that he is very good on special teams so we won't have to rely on him being anything special. But Wolfe has to be more than just a special teamer now. He is actually a back up who I don't think is half the player that Forte is. Hence my apprehension to keep him around another year under those circumstances. Same with Steltz who seems to be getting worse. Vasher isn't looking great but he hasn't been tested enough to be an absolute failure. Even Basanez has redeemed himself somewhat with his last couple of games and I can see keeping him around. But Wolfe, Mcbride and Steltz are not worth the roster spots as backups.
Haloneous drinks urine....ever since 14 games went to 16....asterisks everywhere...
sentimentally salty? ...First name Orenthal?..James the Middle?
I got your roooooooooooookie card...I got yo roooooooookie card....
By Keith Lifetime Southsider on September 5, 2009 9:07 AM
But call us whatever you want - we earned the right to be excited about Cutler. Sid Luckman to Cutler.
Come on Keith, give Jim McMahon his due. Bears football was exciting when he was back there. And I am not simply referring to the Super Bowl team. No, Jim didn't break records but he was a winner! And darn-it, I wasn't born when Sid Luckman was playing.
All you guys venting about ex-wives, GOD IS WATCHING! I got one too and I ain't saying nothing bad about her. SHE WAS THE MOST LOVELIEST WOMAN I EVER MET! Cough, Cough, Cough!
Hey Guys, you never know who might have to take you to the doctor when you get seventy or eighty years old!
I agree with WRD about Rideau, Davis, and Wolfe.
Rideau may well develop into a top flight receiver, but he's not there yet, and the Bears can't afford to reserve a roster spot based upon potential.
Likewise, Wolfe brings little else to the table aside from his role on special teams. He's not a viable alternative as a running back, and is far too small to be an effective blocker. This is where AP wins the battle. He might not be the best at any one thing, but his versatility cannot be overlooked. He can run, block, catch passes, and play on special teams, so keeping him is a "Hitman" (read: No-Brainer).
What surprises me is that Keith hasn't ragged on the Bears for not signing Ben Gordon. They could sure use his 20 points per game, and he wouldn't have to play any defense!
Villy - that was over the top. But umma let it slide - I understand now.
WRD - You are right! Don't have a single luxury - Ginger is going to have to do!
ANON - Right you are I liked the Punky QB, but he was carried like a new born baby. Loved how he went off script though!
WRD, don't confuse worth with need and availability.
I actually preferred Mary Ann over Ginger. I know that's probably not the popular vote, but that's that.
Holy crap 09/09 posters...this is almost a week old. What are you still doing here???????????
No Gig. You are right.
Mary Ann was always the better pick.
Ginger dressed like a drag queen.
I used to dream about having a menage a' trois with Mary Ann and Ginger.
My dream usually ended with me paying alimony to both of them.
Mary Ann was the best by far. Gilligan ran from Ginger too much for me to see her as anything special. And I am very cool with my ex-wife. She's usually the first person I call when I have something to talk about. Her problem was she wasn't used to having a guy around 24/7. Independent women can do A LOT all by herself. She was a neat freak and also didn't take too kindly to my over-the-top appreciation of watching the Bears. It was irritating to her to have a grown man scream at a tv and call other grown men names that I called the Bears when they played like kitties. Hey did you see how Bobby Wade is looking for a job? Now that he isn't in Minnesota can we stop with the saying how so many guys who used to play WR for us are starting for other teams. I only see Gage and like I said he had a QB throwing to him with the Titans.