Are Willie Young and Lamar Houston Still Recovering?

Brad Biggs at the Chicago Tribune answers more your questions:

“Now that the trade deadline has passed do you see the Bears parting ways with Willie Young or Lamarr Houston and giving their reps elsewhere? — @sly034

“There aren’t any exciting outside linebackers on the street right [now]. As unproductive as Sam Acho has been as a starter opposite Pernell McPhee, is shows you what the coaching staff thinks of Young and Houston at this point. But getting rid of them right now doesn’t necessarily improve the roster and it also doesn’t save the Bears any money.”

I would add that both Young and Houston are recovering injuries. These frequently take more than a year to completely heal, particularly knee injuries like the top Lamar Houston.  The recovery of former Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris comes to mind as a comparison.

It’s possible that the Bears are biding their time with both of these men. As Biggs points out, there’s not much out there anyway and you can always release them later if they don’t get better.

Is Hard Knocks Possible for the Bears?

Brad Biggs at the Chicago Tribune answers your questions:

“Is it too early to nominate Da Bears for next season’s edition of ‘Hard Knocks?’ — @TraderjoeyG

“You can nominate them all you want but unless there has been a dramatic reversal of thinking at Halas Hall, the Bears will do everything in their power to stay out of that spotlight come August.”

Truth. But will that be enough?

HBO and the NFL would prefer that someone volunteer for this duty. But what if no one volunteers?

The Bears are a guaranteed ratings winner and nothing demonstrates that more than the fact that they are on this Monday night – and on Thanksgiving – despite the fact that they are completely irrelevant this year.

Yes, the McCaskey’s don’t want to do Hard Knocks – nor should they. I have to believe that it would be a huge distraction no matter what anyone says to the contrary. But they are still team players and my gut tells me that HBO would crawl from New York to Chicago on their knees to get them on. If the NFL appears to be in a bind and they ask, the team might say yes.