Bears
- While answering a fan’s question, Neil Hayes at the Chicago Sun-Times surprised me with this revelation:
“As for offensive line prospects, it’s too early in the process for me to give you an educated answer. I did think it was interesting that a veteran scout whose sole job is evaluating offensive linemen told me that he thinks Frank Omiyale, Chris Williams and J’Marcus Webb can be long-term answers.”
That’s not going to make some of the fans who think the line needs a major overhaul in the draft very happy.
- Brad Maynard‘s contract is up after this season and the Bears have been looking at punters. But its obvious that if Maynard is let loose, it won’t be the decision special teams coach Dave Toub wanted. Via Brad Biggs at the Chicago Tribune:
“‘He has a lot more left,’ Toub said. ‘He probably didn’t have the kind of year he would love to have, that’s for sure, but you have to consider his value.'”
- I’ve raved about how gutsy the Packers have been this year as they’ve fought through injuries. But there is still some doubt about whether they know how to win. Rob Reischel, writing for the Chicago Tribune, notes that the Packers are 2-6 in games decided by four points or less and 2-14 since 2008:
“‘When I look at the Packers in the fourth quarter, it is awful,’ ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer said earlier this season. ‘You can’t be a good team and choke in the biggest moments.'”
Elsewhere
- Jack Betcha at the National Football Post gives an inside look at how misleading agents can be when trying to recruit rookie clients. I’m not sure there’s a dirtier legal business outside of politics.
- We are led to believe that its best for Bears players to be held out of a “meaningless” game in order to stay healthy. But the Patriots’ Wes Welker, injured in a similar situation, tells Ian Rapaport at the Boston Globe that he wouldn’t have had it any other way.
- For those outside of St. Louis and Seattle who are looking for a reason to watch Sunday night, Matt Bowen at The National Football Post suggests you take a good look at Rams quarterback Sam Bradford and how he handles the situation. I was on the record as saying that I thought Jimmy Clausen was the better pick. Certainly for this year it looks like the scouts were right and I was wrong.
- Judd Zulgad at the Minneapolis Star Tribune is reporting that the Vikings are in serious negotiations with Leslie Frazier which will result in the removal of the “interim” tag from his head coach title. Stay tuned.
- Am I the only one who still thinks that Jets ticket holders have a legal case against the Patriots for Spy-Gate?
One Final Thought
R.J. Bell at pregame.com computes the chance that the Bears will obtain the number one seed in the NFC playoffs Sunday from the Vegas odds (via Joe Fortenbaugh at The National Football Post): “Scenario: Bears win (21%) AND both Falcons and Saints lose (2%)”. The bottom line? There is a 98% chance the Bears will have nothing to play for against the Packers and there is a 0.5% chance that they will actually have home field throughout the playoffs.
Don’t expect to see a lot of the Bears starters Sunday.