Interesting Signings by the Bears.

So, what message are the Bears sending to Thomas Jones and Lance Briggs (or their collective agent Drew Rosenhaus) by signing their backups to long term contract extensions??? The Bears signed Adrian Peterson to a 3 year deal and Hunter Hillenmeyer to a 5 year deal.

I'm just saying...

- Slim Tim

Rashied Davis - WR?

In an interview, Rex Grossman is quoted as saying that Rashied Davis is the most improved of all players. Improved as Wide Receiver, though... Yes, he was drafted as a CB. So, now you are asking yourself why Jerry Azumah was never given the opportunity on offense. I know I asked the same question....

- Slim Tim

Pete Prisco, you are a moron.

The Bears are better than 20th in the league:

I have to say I was surprised when I was looking down the list of teams to not see the Bears in the top 10. But when I did not see the Bears until 20th, I could not believe it. The Bears are better than last year in two areas: QB and RB. The QB position improvement will take the Bears farther than they went last year. There is a healthy Rex Grossman, a very viable backup in Brian Griese and best of all their third string QB is Kyle Orton who won quite a few games for the Bear last year. Their RB position will be improved with a healthy Cedric Benson as well. When you factor in the Bears defense, and the fact that you just cannot score against them, you would have to conclude that they are a much better team than would be rated in the bottom half of the NFL. All that being said, I will say the same thing I told Dr. Z when he came out with his infamous preseason prediction (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/
nfl/specials/preview/2005/scout.report/) of the Bears at number 32 in the league last year. You are a moron. Go Bears.

Monday's Transactions (Day after Draft)

CHICAGO BEARS-- Agreed to terms with TE Tim Day, TE Cooper Wallace, G Nate Bunce, CB Dion Byrum, K Josh Huston, G Travis Leffew, OT Mark LeVoir, S Donnie McCleskey, G Tyler McMeans, WR Mark Philmore, RB P.J. Pope, S Dwayne Slay and P Joel Stelly.

WOO HOO!!! We finally got our Tight End!!!! Just like Jerry said we would!!!!

- Slim Tim

Bears Draft - Phoooey...

As the Draft is coming to a close... I am wondering if the bears had such a good offense (ranking in the top 5 in most offensive categories), then why did they decide to draft exclusively on the offensive side of the ball. They have a pro bowl Tight end in Desmond Clark, so why did they pick up Marcedes Lewis in the first round? It seems that with the wealth of talent in the Wide Receiver position, that they did not need to draft Derek Hagan with their second round pick.... I thought for sure that with their defense being as horrendous as it was last year, they should have concentrated exclusively on defensive draft picks... And then I woke up.

It seems to me that the draft should have played out something like this:

Round 1: Offense
Round 2: Offense
Round 4: Offense
Round 5: Offense
Round 6: Offense
Round 7: Offense

But that is not what we got, now is it... Man what a frustrating weekend. Every single pick was on defense. EVERY STINKING ONE SO FAR. And with only two remaining picks in rounds 6 and 7, I have no reason to think otherwise. Share your thoughts if you care...

- Slim Tim

Where are the Honey Bears?

This is just soooo wrong...

Where are the Honey Bears? The Bears are not the only team w/o cheerleaders...



NFL teams and cheerleaders

January 31, 2006

NFL teams that have cheerleaders or dance teams:

Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans, Washington Redskins.

NFL teams that don't have cheerleaders or dance teams:

Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers.

'If the Bears win the NFC North, I'll eat my laptop...

Charles Robinson vows to eat his laptop if the Bears win the NFC North, watch as he makes good (?) on his promise.

Doesn't seem right, seems he should have had his laptop ground up and mixed in a latte or something...

- Slim Tim

Chicago Bears Draft Needs.

We love our own guys. Guys that we draft, who sign before camp opens and who work hard once they get here. Let that be a lesson to new draftees: that is the formula for success. If you do those 3 basic things, you will always be beloved by Chicago Bears fans forever. I mean it, forever. Lately these type of guys have only been defensive players (save for O. Kreutz and R. Grossman). I would like that to change in this draft.

Examples of current Bears:
B. Urlacher
L. Briggs
M. Brown
P. Tillman (he's not as bad as he looked)
N. Vasher
T. Johnson
T. Harris
A. Brown
Basically the whole defense. Yes, Angelo knows how to draft defensive talent, we get it already. Now if he could only assess offensive talent just as well, let's put together our wish list...

In the 2006 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears select:
1. Leonard Pope, TE out of Georgia (Or any other big pass catching TE)
2. True Wide Receiver - Small, speedy with good hands (A. Randle El, S. Smith, E. Kennison type)
3. Big Run-Stuffing Safety (backup to M. Brown)
4. HammerHead of a fullback (L. Neal clone from San Diego)
5. Backup Offensive Guard. (No more Terrance Metcalf)

- Slim Tim

Miami shaping up coaching staff nicely...

Report: Dolphins to name Capers defensive coordinator - NFL - Yahoo! Sports: "Report: Dolphins to name Capers defensive coordinator"

So, I don't normally care about other coaching staffs but... With the signing of Dom Capers as Miami's defensive coordinator and Mike Mularkey as offensive coordinator, they are building one heck of a coaching staff. I'm just saying with the season that they had under new coach Nick Saban, look out for Miami next year. Not to mention that Terrell Owens was reported as heading to Miami's offense next year... I'm just saying... Look out.

- Slim Tim

Rex Grossman vs. Kyle Orton Part IV (Postseason Edition)

If Kyle Orton would have started the playoff game against Carolina, the Bears would have won.

Here is my support, it is very simple, if Kyle Orton would have started, then the Bears would have actually ran the ball, like they are set up to do. When the Bears run the ball, they control the clock, have a better offense, and would have kept the defense off of the field. Instead, they started Rex Grossman and passed the ball much more than they should have. That of course got them involved in a shootout, which the Bears are not setup to win - clearly. So, if Kyle would have started, they would have won.

There will be more postseason thoughts coming soon...

- Slim Tim

2005 Chicago Bears Tribute Slideshow/Vid

Awesome Video combination of song/picture collage. The lyrics to this song as set to Chicago Bears pictures is incredible. Go BEARS!

[From video.google.com]
2005 Chicago Bears Tribute Slideshow/Vid
JW
4 min 53 sec - Dec 23, 2005
www.villesports.com

Super Bowl Shuffle Video

Anyone need that Super Bowl Suffle Fix?

Who will Win, Bears or Panthers?

I would formally like to declare my guess for the upcoming Bears/Panthers playoff game outcome.

Slim Tim officially declares that he picks: Bears - 27, Panthers -14.

Feel free to publish your own guesses for this weekend's game here.

- Slim Tim.

If the Bears win the NFC North, I'll eat my laptop

Read and React: Last call - NFL - Yahoo! Sports: "If the Bears win the NFC North, I'll eat my laptop"

I love the predictions against the Bears that come true, since the Bears actually won the NFC North, the reporter goes on to answer lots of email regarding the very subject of eating his laptop.

- Slim Tim

Rex Grossman vs. Kyle Orton Part III

Now that Rex G. has been named the starter, I have started thinking about the most recent game that was played. Since Kyle Orton started the game and Rex Grossman finished the game, I think that Rex Grossman should be credited with the win. If you apply the baseball analogy to the game, Kyle started but only pitched 4.5 innings and not the required 5 innings to get the win. In that case, since Rex took over in the middle of the 5th inning and the team won, Rex should get the win and Kyle a no decision. As I have always said, I LIKE Kyle Orton, with more experience he will do well and he will definitely get a chance to start again (as Rex will inevitably get injured again) but right now, this team needs Rex.

- Slim Tim.

Open Call to Moose Muhammad

I think with Rex as QB, Moose Muhammad needs to step up and keep up his end of the bargain. If for some reason Moose doesn't step up his game, maybe he needs to get a kick in the pants himself.

This is an open call to Muhsin Muhammad to step up now. From a previous Pro Bowler, we as Bears fans do not want to see any more dropped balls that my Momma can catch. You got your QB, now we want our WR. Signed - Slim Tim

Rex Grossman vs. Kyle Orton Part II

As demonstrated by this weekend's performance against Atlanta, Rex Grossman proved why he deserves to be the starting quearterback of the Chicago Bears (as previously reported here at Slim Tim Speaks). Unless you were watching a different game, you too saw the offense run at a completely different tempo with Rex at QB. You too also heard the crowd go crazy when Rex came in. Lastly, he showed his quick release of the ball like I had mentioned. Last lastly he showed his quick decision making ability that I had indicated. Now that he has game experience in 2005, he makes the Bears as good as their record indicates that they are. With a healthy Rex Grossman, the Bears now stack up against any NFC opponent. Unfortunately, a healthy Rex is hard to find for very long. That being said, the Bears now have a proven number 2 quarterback in Kyle Orton. Let's put the over under on Rex Grossman's healthy games at 6. But, a healthy Rex Grossman, a healthy Rex Grossman, a healthy Rex Grossman (if I say it enough times, maybe it will come true: say it with me A HEALTHY REX GROSSMAN!!!!) where was I... a healthy Rex Grossman can make a real offense out of Ron Turner's system.

- Slim Tim

Addition by subtraction Part II - Bears waive punt returner Wade

Bears waive punt returner Wade - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

I like the guy, but he lost way too many fumbles for a team that needs to win the turnover battle each and every game.

- Slim Tim

Chicago Bears Media Only Website...

This is just for the readers of the Slim Tim Speaks loyal reader base.

The Chicago Bears have a media only website:

http://media.chicagobears.com/media/, the team's new media-only website. Using the UserName: media and Password: media, members of the media (and now you) will have access to a PDF version of nearly every document that is produced and disseminated by the Chicago Bears Media Relations department. Such documents include press releases, game books, daily news clips, rosters, statistics and etc. During the season the site will be the first place that media members will be able to access the weekly game release and injury report.

- Slim Tim

Follow the Bears in the rankings...

To follow the Bears as they ascend the rankings:

ESPN's NFL Power Ranking: Bears at Number 7

CBS Sportsline NFL Power Ranking: Bears at Number 5

Fox Sports - Aaron Schatz NFL Power Ranking for Week 14: Bears at Number 11

Dr. Z's Power Ranking: Bears are listed at number 3!!!

Aikman Efficiency Rating: (not available at this time)

- Slim Tim