NFL Schedule (repost)

Hello, I just thought I would post the NFL schedule.

Slim Tim.


Aug. 28 -- Roster cutdown to 75 players.

Sept. 1 -- Roster cutdown to 53 players.

Sept. 6 -- Regular season opener.

Oct. 16 -- Trading deadline.

Oct. 22-24 -- Fall meeting, Dallas.

Dec. 29-30 -- Regular season ends. ^2008=

Jan. 5-6 -- Wild-card playoffs.

Jan. 12-13 -- Divisional playoffs.

Jan. 20 -- Conference championships.

Feb. 3 -- Super Bowl at Glendale, Ariz.

Feb. 10 -- Pro Bowl at Honolulu.

Feb. 20-26 -- NFL scouting combine, Indianapolis.

March 30-April 3 -- NFL annual meeting, Palm Beach, Fla.

April 26-27 -- NFL draft, New York.

May 19-21 -- NFL spring meeting, Atlanta.

Slim Tim's Preseason Bears comments....

So, as the Bears are commencing training camp, I have a few thoughts on the upcoming season...

In my mind, here are the keys to success in '07-'08 in order of importance.

1) It is imperative to keep the Offensive Line intact and healthy - Kreutz, Tait, Miller, Garza and Brown - all of them need to stay healthy.

2) Mike Brown needs to have a complete, healthy season. Without him on the field, they are a completely different defense.

3) It's obvious, I know, but after #1 and #2 above, it's all Rex after that. It's nice to talk about the dual-TE sets that Olsen will bring, the X-factor in Devin Hester, and Cedric Benson needs to stay healthy, yada yada yada - on offense, it's all about the Rex.

Slim Tim

Bears rated Number 6 in USATODAY preseason poll

So, the Bears are the second rated NFC team behind the Saints (number 4) with the Bears at number 6. I remember the Saints game in the playoffs last year with just as many people picking the Saints as picked the Colts. Hopefully the Bear will be back in the SuperBowl this year as well.

Go Bears.

Slim Tim

2007 Draft...

So my buddy Bob tells me that the DE was a reach in the 2nd round, but the TE that they took in the first looks to be the TE that I have been begging for for a while now. There has been some news that has come out that the Bears may be shopping Alex Brown, and if those rumors are true, it would make sense to get a young DE to groom into the system. Also, it would make sense to get rid of one of the three DEs on the roster who are impact players... Alex Brown, A. Oguleye and the phenom Mark Anderson. So, if Alex Brown is the odd man out and Ogunleye doesn't have much time left, why not take the best DE available in the 2nd round - even if he is a stretch... I also like that they picked up OL help late in the draft... So, put Slim Tim down for the 2007 draft as a solid B rating. Sorry it took so long Jim C...

- Slim Tim

Bears Draft...

Slim Tim will be OK with any pick this year as long as said pick has "lineman" in the job description. Offensive lineman, defensive lineman... 300Lbs or more, Beef.

ST

Bears and Lovie Get-R-Done!!!

Finally! The Bears and Lovie agree on a 4-year contract extension. In other news, Jerry Angelo signs a contract extension as well. But LOVIE WILL BE BACK!!! Woo Hoo!!! Chalk Slim Tim up as one happy camper with this news!!!

Slim Tim.

Superbowl Thoughts...

So, it would have been great to have won the Superbowl. The Bears lost and got beat pretty bad. I pin the loss on coaching, they were just plain outcoached. And by outcoached, I mean Ron Turner got outcoached, just like last season in the playoff game against Carolina, the Bears went away from the run and got burned.

Just to overstate it... RUN THE BALL!!!

Some good notes:

Mark Anderson, Devin Hester and Daniel Manning were good.

Tommie Harris and Mike Brown are coming back next year.

GO BEARS, do it again next year!!!

Offseason Schedule

JANUARY

January 27: Senior Bowl, Mobile, AL

February 8: First day clubs can designate Franchise or Transition players.

February 10: AFC-NFC Pro Bowl in Honolulu, HI

February 12: Waiver system begins for 2007. Players with at least four previous pension-credited seasons whom clubs desire to terminate are not subject to the waiver system until after the trading deadline in October.

February 21: NFL Combine Timing and Testing Sessions at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, IN

February 22: Deadline for designation of Franchise/Transition players.
MARCH

March 1: Deadline for club to exercise options for 2007 on all players who have option clauses in their 2006 contracts. Expiration date of all player contracts due to expire after 2006 season. Deadline for clubs to submit Qualifying Offers to Restricted Free Agents whose contracts are expiring. Deadline for clubs to submit minimum salary offers to Exclusive Rights Free Agents (players with less than three years of free agency credit).

March 2: Free Agency period begins. Trading period begins for 2007

March 19: Clubs may begin voluntary off-season workout programs

March 25: NFL Owners Meeting at Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix, AZ

APRIL

April 20: Deadline for signing and submission of Offer Sheets by Restricted Free Agents

April 27: Deadline for Old Clubs to match Offer Sheets submitted by Restricted Free Agents

April 28-29: NFL Draft in New York City, NY

JUNE

June 1: Deadline for old club to send tender to its unsigned Restricted Free Agents or to extend Qualifying Offer, whichever is greater, in order to retain rights. Also, deadline for old club to send tender to its unsigned Unrestricted Free Agents to retain rights if player is not signed by another club by July 22 or beginning of veteran training camp, whichever is earlier.

June 15: Deadline for Restricted Free Agent to accept Qualifying Offer (if higher than 110% of previous year’s salary).

June 24: NFL/NFLPA Rookie Symposium – PGA National Resort and Spa, Palm Beach Gardens, FL

JULY

July 14: Any club designating a Franchise Player shall have until 4 pm EDT to sign the player to a multi-year contract or extension. After July 14 the player may sign only a one-year Player Contract with his Prior Club, and such Player Contract may not be extended until after the club’s last regular season game.

Mid-July: Training Camps open. Veteran players cannot be required to report earlier than 15 days prior to club’s first pre-season game or July 15, whichever is later. The July 15 date is not applicable to clubs playing five pre-season games.

July 22: Signing period ends at 4:00 pm EDT for Unrestricted Free Agents to whom June 1 tender was made by old club and for Transition Players and Franchise Players who

Superbowl Quote...

I read this and I just loved it and had to share:

Let's face it, the Colts are pretty sterile. The quarterback is a finely-calibrated, laser-throwing robot, the coach is rarely emotional and they play in a dome. They seem like they were designed in a lab. The Bears, on the other hand, look like they were designed in Upton Sinclair's meatpacking district. The Bears are rough and ready. Black and blue. Smash-mouth. They play at Soldier Field. It's man vs. machine. The machine is a 7-point favorite. But so was the steam-powered drill against John Henry.

Found here: http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6399350?MSNHPHCP>1=9012

- Slim Tim

Slim Tim's Super Thoughts...

Bring on the Honey Bears for the Super Bowl!
Let the Bears wear their Orange jerseys for the Super Bowl! (if not orange, how about the Navy jersey with navy pants...)
Devin Hester is one fast exciting dude!
Anyone going to Miami?
Isn't Good Rex just fantastic?
Were you as surpised as I was that the Bears are underdogs for the Super Bowl?

Super Bears.

So, I just opened up the blog to additional authors... It could get interesting.

Go Bears...

Slim Tim

Slim Tim Breaks down Film

Slim Tim Breaks down Film on Mark Anderson against Detroit Lions on 12/24/3006. Acutally, it is just some highlight clips of his best plays...

Bears Stuff

So, before the regular season comes to an end, I would like to offer some thoughts...

Mark Anderson has to find a way on the starting roster (update: I hear he might get some starting time)
John St. Clair might not be all that reliable of a backup
John Tait might be the most indispensable member of the playoff-bound Bears
Devin Hester is one fast exciting dude
Rex Grossman in the SuperBowl quarterback
Can the Bears choose to play in their Orange jerseys throughout the playoffs including the SuperBowl?
Is Philadelphia or New Orleans good enough to beat the Bears?
Isn't it great to not be talking about draft picks in December?
I would really like to see the Bears draft some offensive line talent (now that I have started thinking about the draft)
The best part about these Bears is that most of them have been drafted by the Bears and are "our own guys"
Lance Briggs and the two cornerbacks should be signed to long term deals.
I would like to see Cedric Benson get 30 carries in one game.
I was glad to hear that the Bears are giving Tank Johnson another chance, he appears to realize finally that he needs to change and only because of the "family" type of team that the Bears are do I feel like they are helping him out...

- Not so Slim Tim (Ate too much during the holidays)

Change of Schedule

So, the Bears are the "victim" of the NFL flexible schedule. I just wonder if it is because this may be Brett Favre's last game, or if it is because the Bears are America's team again?

Devin Hester - Rookie of the Year!!!

I just needed to share with you the coolest FAN SIGN that I have seen all year...

Devin Hester's record-breaking return for touchdown.

Bob Nelson's Football College Allstars

This is for my bro. I am just seeing if he is following the 'blog... For those of you familiar with this, this is the clip with Billy Bob Rubrick, Peppe Loueppe ("I kick the ball"), Appie Appiman (Cleveland University)...

Follow the Bears through the rankings...

To follow the Bears as they ascend the rankings:

ESPN's NFL Power Ranking: Bears at Number 4: The bad news is Rex Grossman's QB rating against the Vikings was 1.3. The good news is that was up from his 0.0 rating at the end of the third quarter

CBS Sportsline NFL Power Ranking: Bears at Number 1: The quarterback play is awful, which has to be a concern heading to the playoffs. At some point, Rex Grossman has to make plays.

Fox Sports NFL Power Bears at Number 6: Chicago -- Sunday's 23-13 victory over Minnesota wasn't pretty--but a win is a win, and Lovie Smith will take them any way they come. Rex Grossman had a passer rating of 1.3--0.0 after the first quarter--in the win, going a putrid 6-19 for 34 yards. The former Heisman Trophy candidate struggled again, tossing 3 interceptions. FOXSports.com's homepage headline on Monday afternoon said it all: "Just Gross, Man". Luckily for the Bears, there's no such thing as "style points" in the NFL. That said, the Bears defensive unit played a beautiful game. Despite giving up 307 yards of offense on Sunday, Chicago forced five turnovers, including four Brad Johnson interceptions. Coach Smith responded sternly to questions over a potential quarterback controversy, telling reporters after the game: "There's a difference between perception and reality. The reality is we're 10-2 right now. We just won the division with Rex at quarterback, so that's what I go on."

Dr. Z's Power Ranking: Bears are at number 4More dysfunction. With boos still ringing through Soldier Field after their QB stunk it up against the Vikings, Lovie Smith faced a hostile press and gave his "perception vs. reality" speech ... you know how it goes, "the reality is that we're 10-2," and the rest of the accompanying nonsense. But in another area, offensive coordinator Ron Turner was calmly and professionally addressing the major problem on this team, Rex Grossman. "He's thinking too much," Turner said. "but seeing things that aren't there. You just have to react, and that's what I talked to him about. React. Go back to what you were doing early in the year; you were just playing football." What worries me about this scenario is an upcoming announcement from the head coach that from now on all assistants will be off limits to the press.

- Slim Tim

Stick with Rex.

As having previously written, I am firmly on the Rex side of the fence. I wanted Rex back last year because of what he can do and not what Kyle could not do. Rex is the better quarterback as he has shown the first few games this year. He has had a few bad games and in those games, he has looked bad. I like Rex's upside, I think he can work out his problems on the field and the special teams and defense can hold him up while he does just that. What other teams in the league can afford to let their quarterbacks struggle while learning and still win games? The Bears will be better in the long run for letting him work out his problems on the field, and he gives them the best chance to win in the playoffs and beyond this year.

- Slim Tim

Rex is the Superbowl Quarterback.

Rex is our superbowl quarterback. Rex is the best quarterback that the Bears have had on their team for quite some time. Not since Erik Kramer has a quarterback shown the skills that Rex has this year. As he is still growing as a QB, he needs to get better at making decisions. In my mind the way that he gets better is by playing through adversity. He is still the same QB that was lights out the first half of this season and he will get back to form. We now have four remaining games for him to work out the kinks to get ready for the playoffs.

I invite all comments.

Go Bears and Go REX!! - Slim Tim