Reality hits quickly for Bears

July 20, 2008

Savor Tuesday, Chicago. The Cubs and Sox still likely will be in first place in their respective baseball divisions and the undefeated Bears report for training camp. It would be hard to find a day on the 2008 calendar packed with more civic sports optimism.

Recent columns

• Reality hits quickly

  July 20, 2008

  Savor Tuesday, Chicago. The Cubs and Sox still likely will be in first place in their respective baseball divisions and the undefeated Bears report for training camp. It would be hard to find a day on the 2008 calendar packed with more civic sports optimism.

• Bears can't pass up shot at Brett Favre

  July 18, 2008

  As long as Brett Favre wants to come back and the Green Bay Packers prefer he stays away, the Bears owe it to every player, coach, season ticket-holder and distant McCaskey relative to have The Conversation. The one that addresses how the Bears can turn a historically dumb decision by their division rivals into a potential Super Bowl run.

• Bears can't pass up shot at Brett Favre

  July 17, 2008

  As long as Brett Favre wants to come back and the Green Bay Packers prefer he stays away, the Bears owe it to every player, coach, season ticket-holder and distant McCaskey relative to have The Conversation. The one that addresses how the Bears can turn a historically dumb decision by their division rivals into a potential Super Bowl run.

• Born leader Harris earns keys to Bears' kingdom

  June 21, 2008

  When Tommie Harris showed up Friday at Halas Hall in a light blue pinstriped suit he now easily could afford, the occasion involved much more than just the exchange of money. In many ways, it also marked a changing of the guard for the franchise.

• Bears the Celtics of the NFL? Not even close

  June 18, 2008

  Before sending the Bears off Wednesday after their final organized activity to enjoy a final month of freedom, coach Lovie Smith invoked the worst-to-first, newly crowned NBA champion Boston Celtics for inspiration.

• 10 things to know about the Bears

  June 15, 2008

  After concluding that the most memorable drive involving Cedric Benson as a Bear was the one in his BMW that got him arrested, here are 10 other things I know 38 days before training camp begins.

• Benson, Bears just a bad fit from start

  June 10, 2008

  He wasn't crying because he was overcome with joy or pride.

• This time, it's no joke for Benson

  June 8, 2008

  Why is this man smiling?

• Just can't count out Bears' Brown

  June 2, 2008

  You want to keep walking.

• Looking at big picture, Grossman starting small

  June 1, 2008

  Rex Grossman is dragging a blocking dummy.

• Happy camper can really prove worth

  May 30, 2008

  By surprising everybody and deciding to report Friday for a three-day mandatory mini-camp, Brian Urlacher has shown he is more serious about his contract demands, not less.

• Cedric Benson a changed man for Bears?

  May 21, 2008

  Though clearly 10 pounds lighter after changing his diet, Cedric Benson still needs to prove in training camp that his leaner body and repaired ankle will make him a different runner.

• Bears' Devin Hester big loser after NFL owners' decision

  May 20, 2008

  Devin Hester, this is ridiculous.

• Bears' Jerry Angelo too quick to scold Cedric Benson

  May 13, 2008

  From Robbie Gould's rich contract to Cedric Benson's poor excuse (according to Jerry Angelo), here are 10 things I know about the Bears.

• Adversity could spur Cedric Benson

  May 11, 2008

  Once Cedric Benson reflects on how his life has changed since the night of May 3 on Lake Travis outside Austin, Texas, he may conclude he has had better weeks as a Chicago Bear.

• Options running out for Benson, Bears

  May 5, 2008

  It is understandable to think that whether it was on May 3 or on third-and-1, Cedric Benson was bound to disappoint the Bears again.

• Bears rookie carrying weight from one mistake

  May 4, 2008

  By the time Marcus Harrison got up from the spot on the street curb where a Fayetteville policeman had ordered him to sit that night last August, he knew what direction he was headed.

• A knowing (early) assessment of Bears' draft

  April 29, 2008

  It generally takes three years to assess the impact of an NFL draft accurately. But after three days, here are 10 things I know now about the Bears that I didn't know before last weekend's draft.

• Hey Bears, meet your competition

  April 28, 2008

  Of the 10 unfamiliar names the Bears added to their roster Sunday on the second day of the NFL draft, a day chock full of contradictions at Halas Hall, worry about learning only these three by September:

• Bears go for complete, not cute

  April 27, 2008

  The Bears had a good day passing.

• Jerry Angelo's Bears legacy may be on line in NFL Draft

  April 24, 2008

  There was the day he fired Dick Jauron and the day he hired Lovie Smith.

• Drafting a quarterback would be a waste for Bears

  April 24, 2008

  Chances are any quarterback the Bears draft this year will start a game in 2008. That has more to do with good odds and bad history than Rex Grossman or Kyle Orton.

• Angelo won't budge on Urlacher's demands

  April 23, 2008

  It's hard to argue with Jerry Angelo's characterization Tuesday of the contract extension offered Brian Urlacher as fair.

• 'Midget' remark may loom large

  September 12, 2007

  Rubbing his upper right arm as if it still hurt, Rex Grossman recalled the jolt his body felt when Chargers linebacker Shaun Phillips sacked him Sunday on the Bears' second offensive play.