NFL FanHouse

Mike Martz to Chicago Rumors Swirling

Matt Snyder — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:45:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Bears, NFC North, NFL Coaching

With the Chicago Bears struggling through a season which began with such lofty expectations, many names are bound to be connected to the Bears. Most notably, people will start speculating about head coaches, defensive coordinators (to take pressure off Lovie Smith) and offensive coordinators who could replace the maligned Ron Turner.

A name that would make sense is Mike Martz -- who was head coach when Smith was the defensive coordinator in St. Louis for three seasons earlier this decade. Martz presently works as an analyst for the NFL Network, but -- according to the Chicago Sun-Times -- he would welcome being hired as the Bears' offensive coordinator.

"Martz would love to work with Jay Cutler," said the source, who cited the close relationship between Smith and Martz in sharing the information.

Martz didn't find much success in his last job as a coordinator, last season with the 49ers, but he has enough pedigree in the role that he could represent an upgrade to Turner and generate some creativity into a rather bland offensive plan.

Martz, 58, has expressed his desire to get back into coaching on the air several times this season. He has a 53-32 record as a head coach and took the Rams to the 2001 Super Bowl. He was the offensive coordinator for the Rams' 1999 Super Bowl championship.

Mike Martz to Chicago Rumors Swirling originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Packers Face Defensive Disaster: Harris, Kampman Both Injured

Bruce Ciskie — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:15:00 EST

Filed under: Packers, NFC North, NFL Injuries

With a 30-24 win over San Francisco Sunday at Lambeau Field, the Green Bay Packers thrust themselves into the thick of the NFC playoff race. At 6-4, Green Bay kept pace with the New York Giants, who also won, and jumped ahead of the team the Giants beat (Atlanta).

However, it was a costly win for the Packers.

The defense may have suffered a couple of major blows with potentially serious knee injuries to outside linebacker Aaron Kampman and cornerback Al Harris.

More: Check Box Score | Lions Get Dramatic Win | Jags Rally Late

"Hopefully, these two injuries aren't as serious as we may think,'' Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported Sunday night that both Kampman and Harris had suffered torn ACLs and would be lost for the season. McCarthy told reporters that the team would know more Monday.

Kampman's left knee appeared to buckle while he was fighting off a block in the third quarter. He was helped off the field, then put on a cart and taken into the locker room.

Harris was running in coverage with San Francisco rookie Michael Crabtree near the Packers' end zone in the fourth quarter. According to Fox's Chris Myers, Harris planted his leg and "keeled over." He was placed on a cart and taken off for X-rays.

After the game, head coach Mike McCarthy didn't offer any specifics on either player, but said the injuries "don't look good."

On his Twitter page, linebacker Nick Barnett didn't get specific, either, but he asked fans to "pray for Kamp and Harris. The knee is serious!!"

The long-term loss of either -- or both -- could be disastrous for Green Bay. Kampman is slowly starting to look more comfortable in the Packers' 3-4 defense, while Harris is having another strong season covering top receivers. There is no question he has slipped a bit from the elite level, but as teams try to stay away from surefire Pro Bowler Charles Woodson, Harris has been getting picked on a little bit.

Now, if Harris is out for any length of time, it will be youngster Tramon Williams getting picked on. If the way Alex Smith and the 49ers picked apart the Green Bay secondary after Harris went down is any indication, it is not going to go well for the Packers.

Packers Face Defensive Disaster: Harris, Kampman Both Injured originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bears Shun NBC for Sunday Night Game

Matt Snyder — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Bears, NFC North, NFL Media Watch

As the Chicago Bears look to break a skid which has found them losing four of their last five games, they are apparently not in a very outgoing mood. As NBC gears up for Sunday Night football this week -- which pits the Bears against the Philadelphia Eagles -- they requested "access" to Bears general manager Jerry Angelo, head coach Lovie Smith and quarterback Jay Cutler. The Bears declined.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the reason a Bears spokesman gave for the denial is that the team needs to focus on winning games instead of talking to the media.

Refusing to be made available to the weekly NBC broadcast is not without precedent. Reportedly New England quarterback Tom Brady did the same thing last week.

It's a bit odd the Bears would decide to do this, because they aren't normally tight-lipped about talking to the media in general and they haven't been silent this week. Cutler and Smith have had normal press conferences and interviews.

I can say this, though: NBC is not missing anything in not getting sound bites from Smith. He's vanilla from a can. We'd hear some rendition of, "we're not where we want to be right now, but there are seven games left and we're still in the thick of the playoff race. We just need to move forward and keep playing hard. We'll keep working to get where we need to be."

Not that there's anything wrong with it, it's just that he's not exactly Jim Mora Sr. or Herm Edwards in terms of soundbites. He's bland.

Whether or not the Bears seemingly generic excuse as to the snub of NBC is true, we can't be sure. Maybe they are upset with how they've been playing and simply don't feel like talking about it? Regardless of the reason, they have the right. Now let's see if it translates into different results on the field. Jay Cutler has been pathetic in prime time this season (0-3, three touchdowns, 11 interceptions) and it all starts with the signal-caller.

Bears Shun NBC for Sunday Night Game originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Winfield Can Afford to Take His Time Coming Back

JJ Cooper — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:31:00 EST

Filed under: Vikings, NFC North, NFL Injuries

When you're 8-1, you can afford to be picky.

Antoine Winfield is starting to return to practice after missing three games with a foot injury. But since the Vikings right now have a three-game lead in the NFC North, Winfield can head into the weekend knowing that he doesn't have to rush back before he's ready.

The Vikings have survived WInfield's absence better than could have been expected when he injured his foot against the Ravens. If there can be good news in an injury, it's that Karl Paymah, Benny Sapp and Asher Allen are better cornerbacks now than they were before Winfield's injury--it's forced them to take on larger roles. But when he does return, Winfield will once again immediately be the Vikings' best corner.

Winfield said that he's 85 percent certain that he'll be able to play this weekend against the Bears. But if he's not 100 percent certain he's ready to return, he should take it easy and spend another week on the inactive list. MInnesota has shown it can win regular season games without him, but it needs its Pro Bowl cornerback to be fully healthy when the playoffs arrive.

Winfield Can Afford to Take His Time Coming Back originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:31:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bozo the Coach, Andy Reid and the Belichick Precedent

Dave Goldberg — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:57:00 EST

Filed under: Chargers, Colts, Cowboys, Eagles, Patriots, AFC East, AFC South, NFC East, NFC North, NFL Coaching, NFL Analysis

What Bill Belichick did Sunday night has happened before. It justifiably earned Barry Switzer the nickname "Bozo The Coach'' for failing TWICE on fourth down in the late stages of a tie game. And the Eagles' Andy Reid did the opposite of the New England coach on Sunday, eschewing fourth-and-short twice to kick field goals in what turned out to be an eight-point loss.

Switzer's mistake didn't prevent Dallas from winning its third Super Bowl in four seasons in the early '90s, but it left Switzer at the top of the oft-debated list of worst coaches to win a title.

On Nov. 15, 1995, the Cowboys were playing in Philadelphia and faced a fourth down and 1 on their own 29 with the game tied 17-17 and just over two minutes left. Switzer decided to go for it and sent Emmitt Smith left over the massive Nate Newton.

Jay Mariotti: Spygate to Stupidgate: Belichick Blunders

He was stopped but it didn't count. The officials blew the whistle for the two-minute warning. No problem. The Cowboys tried again. Same play. Stuffed again. Three plays later, Gary Anderson kicked a 42-yard field goal that gave the Eagles a 20-17 win.

Headline in the New York Post the next day: "Bozo The Coach.''

The result brought the Eagles to within a game of the Cowboys in the NFC East with two games to play. But Dallas won its next two games, won the division, won both its playoff games and beat Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl -- the one in which Larry Brown ended up as the MVP on a team that featured Smith, Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and Deion Sanders.

But it was the end of an era. The Cowboys beat the Vikings in a wild-card game the next season, then lost next week to second-year expansion team Carolina. That win over Minnesota was the last postseason victory they've had.

Reid?

In Sunday's 31-23 loss in San Diego, the Philadelphia coach decided to kick a field goal trailing 14-0 in the second quarter with the ball perhaps six inches away from the Chargers' goal. In the third quarter, trailing 21-6, he had fourth and one at the San Diego 7 and had David Akers kick again. The Eagles lost, 31-23.

"There was too much time," Reid said of his decision on the first, the most obvious. "I thought it was important to come out of there with points."

That was four points. The second fourth-and-one kick was four points.

The Eagles lost by eight.

Bozo the Coach, Andy Reid and the Belichick Precedent originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:57:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brett Favre Breaks Record for Most Wins By 40-Plus Quarterback

JJ Cooper — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:22:00 EST

Filed under: Vikings, NFC North, NFL Analysis

I'll admit, I was wrong. During the offseason, I wrote here at FanHouse that the Vikings' pursuit of Brett Favre was foolhardy. Between his age and the poor finish to his 2008 season in New York, it seemed too risky to put the Vikings' season in the hands of a 40-year-old quarterback.

Brad Childress' gamble has paid off big-time. Favre is one of the key reasons that Minnesota is battling New Orleans for home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs, and he is the reason Childress is talking contract extension instead of worrying about his job security.

Obviously, Brett Favre isn't the average 40-year-old quarterback. He's having the best season a 40-year-old QB has ever had in the NFL and it's not even close.

In NFL history, there have only been 13 seasons where a quarterback 40 or older has thrown 100 attempts. Among those, Favre's 2009 season stands out as easily the best ever.

Just nine games into the season, Favre already has won more games this season than any 40-year-old has ever won (he's got two more than Warren Moon's seven wins in 1997). His 17 touchdowns are tied for the second most for a quarterback 40 years or older (and he'll catch Moon's record of 25 shortly). But most importantly, barring a collapse that would set records, he'll become the first starting quarterback to lead a team to the playoffs after his 40th birthday.

And considering how we'll he's playing, it's hard to believe he couldn't play as a 41-year-old as well, which means we're likely looking at another offseason of wall-to-wall coverage of Favre's will-he-or-won't-he waffling. While most NFL fans may cringe at the idea of another offseason of Rachel Nichols reporting daily from Mississippi, Vikings fans won't complain.

Brett Favre Breaks Record for Most Wins By 40-Plus Quarterback originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:22:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cutler Haters, Apologists: Meet Halfway

Matt Snyder — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:45:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Bears, NFC North, NFL Quarterbacks

As with any polarizing figure, Jay Cutler brings about strong emotions on both sides of the fence. Many people believe he's the worst thing that ever happened to professional quarterbacking, someone who sucks so bad he'll be in the UFL in a few years. Others believe his golden arm will carry him to the Hall of Fame eventually and every mistake he's ever made has been someone else's fault.

As with most extreme arguments, the best answer lies exactly in the middle. Cutler has tons of talent, but he has very large strides to make before he can be considered the franchise quarterback many believe him to be.

In a Thursday night 10-6 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, we saw a wide variety of failures on his part in addition to things happening to him that weren't his fault.

His first interception was one of the worst passes I've ever seen a quarterback make. And I officiate elementary football. How in the world Cutler thought he could throw a football, literally, through three defenders and get it to Kellen Davis in the end zone is beyond anything I can comprehend. I can't even use the proper language to describe what an egregiously brutal decision that was. Throw it away and take the three points -- especially in a game that was scoreless and already into the second quarter. Cutler's last interception was ill-advised and equally bad in his physical placement. He could have placed it high and to the left of Greg Olsen and possibly completed the game-winning touchdown. Instead, he threw right to Michael Lewis for a loss-clinching interception.

On the flip-side, the offensive line was pathetic, as usual. Cutler rarely had even three seconds to throw the football and constantly had to quickly dump it off into the flats. The run game was, once again, non-existent as the sorry line couldn't give Matt Forte any running room -- and if you doubt Forte's running ability, watch him on the screen passes. Cutler did check down well, which is a step in the right direction. His second interception was clearly not his fault, as Devin Hester fell down after the pass had already been released. You could make a case the third and fourth interceptions weren't his fault if you wanted, too. I'm not going to bother, because -- even if you make the case -- his first and last interceptions were ultimately what cost the Bears the game.

The amazing thing is Cutler's ineptitude in the red zone. He drove the Bears down the field with ease, after getting a very generous illegal contact penalty to extend the drive, and had them in position to win the game. He worked beautifully on the drive, pre-pick, hitting eight consecutive (excluding the two spikes to stop the clock) passes and moving the Bears 70 yards in just over two minutes. Then he fell apart when the team needed him most.

It's the way things have gone thus far in his career. This is where the haters proclaim he's not a winner and he sucks. Which is where they lose my backing.

He's 26, not 36. This wasn't a one (or two) year rental like the Vikings are doing with Brett Favre. The team acquired Cutler to make him the long-term answer and build an offense around him, not to be a quick fix. Sure, many thought he catapulted the Bears to the Super Bowl discussion, but that doesn't mean he needs to be dumped after one sub-par season. Let the Bears find him a line, let the young receivers grow rapport with Cutler and -- most of all -- please get someone to coach Cutler.

The errant red zone passes have to stop. Someone needs to teach him to throw the ball away. Someone needs to tell him his attitude is not acceptable (seriously, what the hell was with taking the helmet off to scratch his head and put it back on? That was embarrassing). Someone needs to coach him to shut the hell up instead of screaming at officials after he throws a pick (he was even called for unsportsmanlike conduct against Arizona). Someone needs to make him accountable for all his mistakes, not just blame them all on someone else. And being accountable -- by the way, Cutler did personally apologize to the defense in the post-game press conference -- isn't enough. He has to learn from his mistakes and change the way he plays.

Of course, the masses also need to realize the problems on the Bears are much more complicated than simply blaming their favorite whipping boy.

Is it Cutler's fault that the defensive line can't line up properly (four off-sides penalties, including one that nullified an interception in San Fran territory)? Is it Cutler's fault that the Bears decided to leave Greg Olsen on the sideline and instead use their third-string tight end and a tackle-eligible on a pivotal goal line third down (which resulted in the aforementioned first interception)? Is it Cutler's fault that a lineman was downfield illegally, which nullified a 40-yard completion to Earl Bennett? Is it Cutler's fault that Chris Williams drew a foolish unnecessary roughness penalty on the last drive, taking them backward 15 yards when time and yardage were at a premium? Was it Cutler's fault last week when the defense couldn't stop Arizona, even on the ground?

Blame Cutler for his ills, just not for the entire team's ills -- including coaching. Thursday night, we witnessed an undisciplined mess of a team on offense, defense and special teams (a delay of game on a field goal attempt? Seriously?). There's plenty of blame to go around right now, so place it properly.

While you're at it, remember this is Year One of the Cutler era in Chicago, not the one year of it.

Cutler Haters, Apologists: Meet Halfway originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Awful Bears, Packers Making NFC North Title Easy for Minnesota

Matt Snyder — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Bears, Packers, Vikings, NFC North

Though most had the Minnesota Vikings as the favorites to win the NFC North heading into the season, nearly everyone agreed that either the Chicago Bears or Green Bay Packers -- or both -- would at least pose a challenge to the Vikes' second straight division crown. Instead, we're taking this division race off life support and putting it to rest after Week 9. The 2009 NFC North champions will be the Vikings. They can now focus on securing home-field advantage in the playoffs.

The reason for the above sentiment is that both the Bears and Packers were abysmal, in different circumstances, Sunday afternoon. The Pack went into Tampa Bay and lost to the formerly winless Buccaneers, while the Bears were absolutely manhandled for the majority of the afternoon by a fickle Arizona squad.

More: Week 9 Scoreboard | Updated Standings

With both Green Bay and Chicago falling to 4-4, the 7-1 Vikings, who were idle in Week 9, have a cushy three-game lead atop the division, but the gap is much larger than three games -- that much was evident Sunday.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw three interceptions and completed less than half of his passes. The combination of his penchant for holding the ball too long and Green Bay's lackluster offensive line just proved to be too much, as the Bucs' six sacks were easily a season high (they only had 11 in their previous seven games). The Packers also allowed a punt to be blocked, while their defense gave up three touchdown passes to rookie Josh Freeman, who was making his first NFL start. The Bucs' 38 points were, by far, another season high for a team that came into the game averaging 13.7 points a game.

After a certain period of time, it's almost not even worth asking if Packers coach Mike McCarthy is in over his head anymore. He was out-prepared by a rookie head coach, Raheem Morris, who had never won an NFL game. I don't care about the extra week of preparation, either, because McCarthy's team is infinitely more talented than the crew Morris won with. Worst of all for the Pack, it just seemed like the Bucs -- who, again, were 0-7 before the game started -- wanted it more. The game's last interception was pretty indicative of the whole game.

The Bucs' defender who took it to the house, Tenard Jackson, definitely should have just fallen to the ground instead of chancing a fumble. Instead, he refused to be tackled and the Packers just played like bullfighters ushering him to the end zone. It was a good illustration of how the entire fourth quarter played out.

Speaking of a team wanting it more, I'm surprised the Bears even took the field for the second half. The first half was as miserable an attempt at playing football as I've seen in a long time from them. Oh, wait, they just did that two games ago in an embarrassing loss at Cincinnati. Apparently the Bears don't care, period. It's easy for the masses to pick on Jay Cutler -- after all, the quarterback is the only player who helps his team win or lose, right? -- but the story here was the sieve that was masquerading as a defense.

The Arizona Cardinals set a season-high in rushing yards before halftime. Steve Breaston took a second-man-through reverse 25 yards, and about half the Bears defense gave up on the play after less than five yards. Tim Hightower entered the game averaging 3.3 yards per carry, but the Bears made him look like a Pro Bowler every time he touched the ball -- Beanie Wells also had his way. Larry Fitzgerald is always a man among boys, but he looked like he was facing high school competition in his dominance over Charles Tillman -- before Tillman retreated with injury, and I wouldn't be surprised if the injury was a bruised ego. Kurt Warner appeared to be yawning through much of his five-touchdown effort, not missing injured Pro-Bowl receiver Anquan Boldin for one second. And, of course, you have Tommie Harris getting ejected for a disgraceful action -- blatantly punching an Arizona offensive lineman a mere two minutes into the game. I'm not sure what was more despicable: Harris' punch or the Bears' attempt at defense.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Carnell Williams (24) is hit by Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Barnett (56) as Packers' Nick Collins (36) moves in during the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

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Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew, right, catches a fourth-quarter pass from quarterback David Garrard, left, during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, in Jacksonville, Fla. Jacksonville won 24-21.(AP Photo/Phil Coale)

Washington Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell is attended to by members of the training staff after being injured in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, in Atlanta. Atlanta won 31-17. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Washington Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell, center, wide receiver Antwaan Randle (82) and wide receiver Santana Moss (89) wait on the sidelines as their NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons nears an end, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, in Atlanta. Atlanta won 31-17. (AP Photo/John Amis)

Chicago Bears defensive ends Adewale Ogunleye (93) and Alex Brown (96) force Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner (13) to fumble in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. The Cardinals recovered the fumble. The Cardinals won 41-21. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry (15) grimaces after injuring his left forearm in the first half of an NFL football game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)

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Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel, right, avoids a sack from Jacksonville Jaguars' Bryan Smith, left, in fourth-quarter action during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)

Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub (8) lays on the ground after being sacked by Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney in the first quarter of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

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Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe (82) catches a fourth-quarter pass in front of Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Rashean Mathis during an NFL football game on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, in Jacksonville, Fla. Jacksonville won 24-21. (AP Photo/Phil Coale)

Houston Texans' Kris Brown reacts after missing a 42-yard field goal as time expires in an NFL Football game against the Indianapolis Colts in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. Indianapolis won 20-17. (AP Photo/Tom Strattman)

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Kansas City head coach Todd Haley, right, shakes hands with offensive guard Brian Waters after a late touchdown in fourth-quarter action during an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)

Of course, the defense wasn't supposed to be a concern this year, because Lovie Smith was taking over as the play-caller, and the Bears brought Rod Marinelli onto the staff. If this was Lovie's way of holding himself to a higher standard of accountability, he should be given his walking papers quite soon.

Also, the offensive play-calling was very suspect -- the Bears passed the ball 47 times compared to just 12 rushing plays. Obviously, once they fell behind by a large margin, they were forced to start chucking it, but they didn't run the ball until the eighth play from scrimmage. The entire first drive went without a rushing attempt. Sure, the Bears scored a touchdown in six plays, but there's something to be said for taking some time off the clock and keeping Warner and company off the field. I wonder if Smith will try to reiterate this week, again, that the Bears are a "running team?"

Chicago was provided a glimmer of hope when Arizona head coach Ken Whisenhunt inexplicably pulled Warner far too early in the fourth quarter. A Matt Leinart interception then set up the third Cutler-to-Greg Olsen touchdown of the game, and the Bears trailed 34-21 with more than nine minutes left. Of course, the next drive ended prematurely when Cutler tossed a pick -- it appeared Earl Bennett cut off his route early, but Cutler was still throwing into double coverage.

All in all, it was a dreadful day for the pair of teams who would be challengers to the Vikings in the North. Minnesota fans can start buying tickets for at least one home playoff game. The team can start playing for the right to host more, because this division "race" is, for all intents and purposes, over. In fact, the Bears and Packers are probably better suited to avoid falling behind the Lions. The gap between those two and the last-place Lions is much closer than it is between the struggling duo and the top.

Awful Bears, Packers Making NFC North Title Easy for Minnesota originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bears Love Lovie, Even if Fans Don't

Matt Snyder — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:25:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Bears, NFC North, NFL Coaching

Lovie Smith has a 49-38 record as the head coach of the Chicago Bears. In his first five seasons, he guided the Bears to two division titles and one Super Bowl. The Bears are currently in the 2009 playoff race at 4-3. Yet, among fans and Chicago-area media, Lovie is just as maligned as the pathetic offensive line.

The complaints range from Lovie's penchant to avoid showing any emotion on the sideline to his not properly preparing players for games to his almost scripted non-answer answers in press conferences. Regardless of the reason, Lovie is not particularly loved, at present, in Chicago ... except by his Bears.

"I was here when coach Smith wasn't here," veteran defensive end Alex Brown said. "So, I remember how it was. Not to say anything bad about coach (Dick) Jauron, but it's a lot different now.

I agree with that, but is it really a great vote of confidence to say someone is a better coach than Jauron? The only winning record of Jauron's career came in the fluky 2001 season where the Bears received more gifts than a spoiled toddler at Christmas. If you toss out that season, Jauron is an abysmal 31 games under .500 ... in nine seasons! That's some futility. Anyway, I digress. There is more support for Lovie Smith in the locker room from Desmond Clark and Charles Tillman.

"Lovie, as a coach, is what this team needs," Clark said. "We need that steadying force. ... To have that steadying voice with the same message coming every week is good for this team."

"The thing about coach Smith is that I trust him," Tillman said. "I trust his decisions. I have faith in him, I have confidence in him."

I don't doubt that one bit. You can tell the players all have the utmost respect for Smith as a coach and as a man. And that's important, because -- in theory, at least -- it should mean the players will always do whatever it takes to win for their coach. Look at the Browns with Eric Mangini as the antithesis of this theory.

But the Bears didn't appear to play hard in Cincinnati. They've made tons of mental mistakes in losses to the Packers and Falcons. They weren't sharp at home against the hapless Browns, in a game following the embarrassing loss to the Bengals. The Lions played with them, in Solider Field, mind you, for a half.

This is why many of the fans are clamoring for someone who shows a little fire on the sidelines. To some, Lovie Smith just seems too nice to be a great football coach. These are fans who haven't seen real fire from their head coach since Mike Ditka (Dave Wannstedt and Jauron were the others between Ditka and Smith), a man still legendary in Chicago for his leadership of the 1985 Super Bowl Shufflin' Crew.

Smith doesn't have to behave on the sidelines like "Iron Mike" would have (I mean, could you ever picture Lovie doing this?), but he does need to win. No one was calling for his job following the 2006 season, after he led the Bears to two straight NFC North titles and their first Super Bowl since Ditka's '85 crew. Since then, though, the Bears are only one game above .500 and haven't really capitalized on all the expectations for the new Jay Cutler-era.

As far as the fans are concerned, you can't rest on the laurels of the 2005-2006 seasons. There is no time like the present for Lovie Smith, for as much as his players might love him, the only thing the fans -- and management -- love are wins. A few more important losses and the cries of fans begin to become much more intriguing to the front office, especially with such a talented crop of head coaches waiting in the wings for 2010.

If the players love Lovie so much, they'll start playing better, because missing the playoffs for the third straight season just won't cut it. Not for fans, not for the media, not for Jerry Angelo and most certainly not for Lovie Smith.

Bears Love Lovie, Even if Fans Don't originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:25:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Case Against Mike McCarthy

Bruce Ciskie — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Packers, NFC North, NFL Coaching

Editor's Note: Bruce Ciskie, a lifelong Packers fan, opines about the state of his beloved team.

High expectations greeted the Green Bay Packers in August, as the team arrived at training camp. Practices -- held across the street from Lambeau Field -- were very physical, as the Packers tried to show they wouldn't be bullied around like they were far too often in 2008.

That 6-10 season, we all were told, was a memory. It was a fluke. It wasn't how things would be conducted in Green Bay. Bad tackling, soft defense, poor special teams play, and stupid penalties were going to be a thing of the past.

Or not.

As much as fans would like to warm up to fourth-year head coach Mike McCarthy, it's becoming difficult. The team he is leading couldn't possibly be more insanely inconsistent. They've shown time and time again that they have character, that they won't quit, and they play to the whistle.

Unfortunately for them, those traits aren't enough to win games.

General manager Ted Thompson has given McCarthy talented players to work with. Receiver Donald Driver is one of the top veterans in the game, and youngsters Greg Jennings, James Jones, and Jordy Nelson are all high draft picks. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has done what so many before him have failed at, in that he has stepped in to a position once held by a future Hall of Famer, and he's played exceptionally well.

On defense, Al Harris and Charles Woodson are still top one-on-one cornerbacks who are useful in run support. Linebackers A.J. Hawk and Nick Barnett are former first-round picks, and lineman Aaron Kampman has been to multiple Pro Bowls.

The talent is there. What's gone wrong?

For starters, the Packers can't run the ball. McCarthy leans on Ryan Grant at times, but tends to give up on the run way too quickly, sometimes at the first sign of trouble. It allows defenses to tee off on Rodgers, which only makes his job all the more difficult.

McCarthy has preached the importance of running the ball better, but his words ring hollow, because for every game like the easy win over Cleveland in Week 7, where the Packers ran it 41 times for over 200 yards, there are multiple games like Sunday, where Grant spends more time on the sideline or on pass routes than he does carrying the rock.

The Packers used screen passes with great efficiency in the earlier game against Minnesota. Against the same team Sunday, the Packers didn't run any, outside of an attempted screen pass on a two-point play that was batted down.

In the end, however, the biggest issue with McCarthy -- and one that could cost him his job come January if he's not careful -- is discipline.

The Packers have become a penalty-plagued team during his time. In 2005, the final year under Mike Sherman, Green Bay was in the middle of the pack in penalties assessed. McCarthy's first year actually saw them improve, as they were near the upper third of the league in fewest penalties. However, the 2007 team -- one that finished 13-3 -- was fourth in the NFL in penalties, finishing second in penalty yards. The Packers were second in penalties and first in yards marked off in 2008. 2009 isn't looking too much better. So far, they're second in total penalties and third in yards.

Virtually every Monday when he addresses the media, McCarthy talks about how they're going to fix the penalty problem, and the special teams problem. Then, almost on cue, the same issues plague this team every Sunday.

Yes, it can be pinned on the players. Surely, McCarthy isn't telling them to commit dumb penalties, and he and his special teams coaches aren't telling guys to forget about their lanes and blow even the simplest kick coverages. The players aren't doing what they're told.

However, there comes a point where the problem comes back to the coach. When the head man talks a good game about improvement in certain areas, and nothing improves, it has to fall back at his feet. Why can't this team avoid taking dumb penalties, like the one on defensive lineman Johnny Jolly that prolonged a Vikings drive Sunday and turned a likely field goal into a touchdown?

How is it that even players good enough to start on defense can't practice the simple concept of lane discipline when covering a kickoff? Virtually any decent kick returner just has to make one cut against the grain against the Packers, and he's got 35 yards easily.

While the Vikings are clearly better than Green Bay, the most stunning difference between the two teams is the quality of their coaching. The Vikings make mistakes (everyone does), but they rarely make the same error twice in a game. They don't beat themselves with bad penalties, and they are able to make big plays in every phase of the game.

When the 2007 season ended, there wasn't a Packer fan alive who would have traded McCarthy for Brad Childress, and there wasn't a Viking fan around who would turn that same trade down. Childress was about as popular in Minnesota as Favre was. Oh, how things change over time.

Now Childress has to be close to getting his coveted contract extension with the Vikings, and Packer fans are asking serious (and valid) questions about the coach they have in McCarthy.

Blame Thompson for the Brett Favre fiasco all you want, but it wasn't all his fault. Not only that, but no team worth anything is going to fire a general manager who hasn't had a chance to make at least one coaching change. Even Matt Millen got to make coaching changes before being shown the door. Thompson might be the problem, but there should be more fingers pointing at McCarthy at this point. There is still a lot of football to be played.

McCarthy has talked before about constant improvement. While you can't argue that his 4-3 team is much better than they were at the start of the year, there are still nine games left. If this team improves and becomes a true playoff contender, much of this will be forgiven and/or forgotten.

The Case Against Mike McCarthy originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Win Hides Bears' Offensive Line Woes

Matt Snyder — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Bears, NFC North

It would be easy to look at the 30-6 final score in the Bears' victory over the hapless Cleveland Browns and think everything went well for the home team. It would be easy to see Matt Forte's 90 yards and two touchdowns rushing and think the running game is back. Let's not do things the easy way and fool ourselves into thinking there wasn't something problematic on display Sunday in the Windy City, because the offensive line is flat-out horrible.

The pass protection was porous. Jay Cutler was sacked four times. He was hurried all day and had to scramble five additional times. The Browns entered the game with just 12 sacks in seven games.

They also couldn't open up any holes. Forte averaged just 3.5 yards per carry against a team that entered the game allowing 170.6 yards per game and 4.9 yards per carry on the ground. He did get two touchdowns, but failed on two tries to punch the ball in from the one-yard line late in the game. The line push was nonexistent on both of those attempts.

So, yes, the Bears got a win Sunday. What they also got was an illustration of how badly the front five-some needs to be fixed. Orlando Pace used to be a good player and is likely headed to the Hall of Fame when he's eventually eligible. Unfortunately, he's terrible now. He's not overly old, as he turns 34 this week, but he's certainly broken down and washed up. Olin Kreutz is also a shell of his former self and Frank Omiyale isn't doing much to earn the contract he was given in the offseason. Meanwhile, Josh Beekman -- who was serviceable last season -- was sitting on the bench and finally regained his starting job this past Sunday over Omiyale. It didn't seem to make much difference.

While the Bears should definitely enjoy the win -- which was mostly due to the offensive ineptitude of the bumbling Browns -- they need to continue to work on finding a way to fix the offensive line. At 4-3, they're in the playoff mix, but that offensive line isn't getting them more than three more wins playing like this.

Win Hides Bears' Offensive Line Woes originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Favre's Return to Lambeau Highlights Mistakes Made in Packer Divorce

Bruce Ciskie — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:40:00 EST

Filed under: Packers, Vikings, NFC North, NFL Fans, NFL Quarterbacks

Outside of Sunday being a day many Packer fans have dreaded for months, it's just another football Sunday in Green Bay.

The hype surrounding this regular-season battle of NFC North rivals surpasses anything most fans will see in their lifetimes. The reality is that football fans in Wisconsin are stuck in the middle of the tension that developed between Brett Favre and the Packers. It was this way in August of 2008, when the whole thing blew up, and it isn't going to change for some time.

Both sides talk about respect. Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said this week he felt the organization did well in not disrespecting Favre in that summer drama last year. Of course, the trade to the New York Jets simply put off the inevitable.

Was that a mistake? Should general manager Ted Thompson have traded Favre to the Vikings all along?

Absolutely not.

Thompson might have been criticized -- and rightfully so, for the most part -- for his handling of the Favre saga, but he would have been digging his own grave as an executive by trading Favre to a division rival. You're bound to read comments from alleged Packer fans on message boards, blogs, and newspaper sites that say Thompson is ruining the Packers. However, the team has only had one bad season since Thompson began overhauling the organization after the firing of head coach Mike Sherman.

Through all the hoopla surrounding Favre's presence in Minnesota, it's easy to forget that Green Bay is 4-2, and they're coming off back-to-back dominating wins. Yes, those wins came over bad teams, but you can only beat the teams the league puts in front of you, and the Packers have shown throughout the first part of the 2009 season that they're far from a bad team.

As pointed out in the Green Bay Press Gazette, Thompson's biggest mistake may have been reacting to Favre's push to return with virtually no action at all.

In an ideal world, Thompson wouldn't have to treat Favre like anything more than another player on the team. However, he gave 16 wonderful years to the Packers, and he was revered by fans and players alike. Covert attempts to paint Favre as a bad teammate or a disingenuous fellow were simply not going to work. Fans knew he was not a great decision-maker when it came to his retirement, but they weren't going to hold it against him.

While Thompson was right not to "beg" Favre to return, and the organization was right not to hold Favre's job open for him until he had fully made up his mind, Thompson's mechanical reactions and overall lack of outgoing compassion made him an easy target for Favre faithful.

Meanwhile, Favre likely overestimated his value to the Packer organization at the age of 38. While he may act now like he didn't have a problem with the Packers moving on to Aaron Rodgers, that was not the case in 2008. He felt like that job was his, and he was angry the Packers would be willing to move on without him. Of course, when you retire in March, and wait until June to inform the team that maybe you don't want to be retired anymore, it's hard to reasonably expect that the team is going to open their arms and welcome you back unconditionally.

The Packers were upset, as Andrew Brandt wrote on National Football Post, when the NFL cleared the Vikings of tampering charges last year. Favre claimed he was just chatting with his friends, who happened to be Minnesota head coach Brad Childress and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell. It was clear Minnesota was his desired destination, and it turns out his desire to play there was so great that he was willing to play a full season with the unfamiliar New York Jets just to make it happen.

This all brings us to a day Packer fans probably thought they'd never see. Brett Favre dresses in the visitors' locker room at Lambeau Field, and he will face a hostile crowd in his former home for the first time. People have been asking about the potential reception at Lambeau for a long time, but there's really only one answer that makes sense.

During the summer of 2009, former Steelers safety Rod Woodson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In his speech, Woodson referenced Pittsburgh fans, who booed him mercilessly when he returned to Pittsburgh as a rival Baltimore Raven.

I want to say thank you for giving me ten wonderful years there. To the Steeler nation thank you for accepting me. For cheering me on. And after I left, for booing me. No, I'm serious for booing me. Because you know, if you cheered me when I put on a Raiders uniform or a Ravens uniform, I think I would have lost a little respect for the Steeler nation. So I'm glad you booed me, because you should.

This is what Favre should expect today. It's not about blaming Favre for his departure, or absolving Thompson and McCarthy of their responsibility for what happened.

Favre is the enemy now. There would be no greater respect Packer fans could show than to boo him. Respect for the game and the traditions created by rivalries is greater than respect for individual players, and this fanbase is one that understands and respects history. There is a time and a place to cheer Brett Favre. Sunday afternoon is not it.

Favre's Return to Lambeau Highlights Mistakes Made in Packer Divorce originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 11:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Brutal Effort by Bears in 45-10 Thrashing

Matt Snyder — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:40:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Bears, Bengals, AFC North, NFC North

Bengals 45, Bears 10. It was 45-3 before the Bears finally got into the end zone, but the game had long been over at that point. It was one of those games that makes you wonder -- were the Bengals that good or the Bears that bad? As is usually the case when you ask that question, it was a combination of both. You have to give the Bengals credit, especially Carson Palmer for his precision passing. Well, really, the entire team deserves loads of credit.

Still, this game was more about how pathetic the Bears played. For a team with Super Bowl aspirations, that was a simply despicable attempt at playing football on nearly every front. More games like that, and the playoffs won't even be a possibility come late November.

More: Check Box Score | Saints Rally, Stay Unbeaten | 'Boys Pound Falcons

The offensive line is awful, just downright atrocious. Jay Cutler has about two seconds to throw before being hit, and this was against a team who just lost its best pass rusher. Matt Forte has maybe six inches of running room on any given play. And make no mistake about it, Cutler made some awful passes, while Forte is running like he's planning on living off his rookie reputation for the rest of his career. Receivers are playing volleyball (Cutler's second pick was batted upward by his intended receiver before being intercepted) and losing fumbles (Devin Hester, though he otherwise had a nice stat-line).

The defense was an absolute sieve. Palmer had more touchdown passes (five) than incompletions (four), which sounds like a video game stat. Chad Ochocinco schooled Charles Tillman, just like he said he would. Cedric Benson proved his point, I guess (don't even get me started on him, he's still a joke of a man -- even if he's a good running back now). The defense as a whole misses tackles with alarming frequency, mostly due to trying to rip out the football instead of simply making the tackle (which is Lovie-ball -- he wants takeaways, after all). There was no pass rush.

The stats look pretty bad as well, not surprisingly. The Bears were outgained by 169 yards, earned only half as many first downs as Cincy did and turned it over four times. They allowed the Bengals to convert on eight of 12 third downs. And they can't run, rushing for just 35 yards.

Did the team not know they had a game Sunday? Were they unprepared? Were they satisfied with only losing to the Falcons by seven the previous week?

Whatever the reason, that wasn't a playoff-caliber team Sunday. Lovie Smith was outcoached, the offense sucked and the defense sucked. That wasn't even the work of a six-win team. Beating the Browns at home next week won't mean things are all of a sudden better, either. The Bears have some serious work to do in order to live up to expectations.

Brutal Effort by Bears in 45-10 Thrashing originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 20:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Vikings' Winfield Has Broken Foot, Out 4-6 Weeks

Bruce Ciskie — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 12:15:00 EST

Filed under: Vikings, NFC North, NFL Injuries

Not much has gone wrong for the Minnesota Vikings in their 6-0 start. Brett Favre has been playing superbly, Adrian Peterson is still a stud, Sidney Rice has become one, and the defense continues to impress.

However, if there's a hole on this Vikings team right about now, it's been their pass defense. They were largely shredded by Aaron Rodgers earlier in October, then were absolutely torched by Joe Flacco and the Ravens last weekend. As the Vikings set off on a two-game road swing starting Sunday, there is bad news on the injury front.

Cornerback Antoine Winfield was injured last Sunday during the win over Baltimore. The veteran Pro Bowler's departure seemed to coincide nicely with the Vikings' defensive meltdown that almost cost them a game they seemed to have in the bag.

Now, word has leaked that the team will have to deal without Winfield for up to six weeks. ESPN's Chris Mortensen cited sources in saying Winfield would be out for some time. The St. Paul Pioneer Press says Winfield has a broken foot and could miss three games (the Vikings have their bye week during the time Winfield would be out).

While Karl Paymah played in Winfield's spot last week, and didn't look good, it will be Benny Sapp starting Sunday in Pittsburgh. This is the Vikings' weakness -- depth in the secondary -- and it will be interesting to see how coordinator Leslie Frazier calls the game now that his most versatile (and likely best) player is on the sidelines.

Report: Vikings' Winfield Has Broken Foot, Out 4-6 Weeks originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 12:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cedric Benson Says Bears Tried to 'Blackball' Him From NFL

Matt Snyder — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:03:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Bears, Bengals, AFC North, NFC North

Cedric Benson's time in Chicago was a tumultuous one. He was drafted by the Bears in the first round -- the fourth overall pick -- of the 2005 draft and proceeded to hold out for 36 days. After arriving, he constantly complained about being mistreated by teammates. That may have been true, as the incumbent starting running back, Thomas Jones, was well-liked by teammates. Maybe it was because Jones worked hard, cared about the team and didn't have a sense of entitlement -- all opposite traits displayed by Benson in Chicago.

Now, Benson is becoming the player many thought he could coming out of college, due to -- in my opinion -- having received a wake-up call when the Bears cut him. Although, if you hear it from him, that isn't the case at all. In fact, he claims the Bears attempted to blackball him from the NFL.

Blackball? Wow, so the Bears went to the trouble of calling every other team and telling them specifically not to sign Cedric Benson?

''No doubt,'' Benson said. ''I heard all the rumors that were said coming out of Chicago. Even the Bengals told me that they would call and inquire about me and get nothing but negative things.''

Such as?

''That I didn't work hard, that I was, I guess, a prima donna, just wasn't focused,'' he said. ''Just anything negative that they could say was said. I'm sure that contributed largely to me not getting picked up right away.''

Um, Cedric ... that's not attempting to blackball a player. That's a former employer giving an honest assessment of what you were (and, for the record, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis has said Bears coach Lovie Smith "vouched for" Benson when the two discussed the Bengals possibly bringing him in).

Look, the Bears ran Jones out of town for Benson -- and, by the way, Jones is still better here in 2009. Benson rewarded them with poor work ethic, a sense of entitlement and obvious apathy. He mocked disgruntled fans in the front row behind the Bears bench during the incredibly disappointing 2007 campaign, at times shrugging his shoulders and laughing when people accused him of not caring about the team. He got arrested twice within a matter of weeks in the 2008 offseason. At that point, there wasn't a person in the world who thought the Bears should have kept Benson around. They turned the page.

Benson needs to do the same.

He is third in the NFL in rushing. He's playing for a really solid team. He's running hard, his teammates like him and he appears to care. Good for him. He's changed -- just not near as much as he needs to. You see, when I was in my early 20s, I didn't work hard at my job. If my current employers called my employers from those years to ask about me, I'm sure they'd hear I wasn't committed to the job, because I wasn't. In my current gig, I am. There are people all over the world with a similar circumstance. People can change. It's apparent Benson has morphed into a hard-working No. 1 NFL running back. It's a shame he can't just be accountable for his past indiscretions instead of levying ridiculous accusations (seriously, does he even know what "blackball" means?) against the team who did everything they could to give him a chance. You can't come full circle as a changed human being without a little accountability.

Instead, all you hear from Benson is excuse-city. He's better for the Bengals because they cleared a path for him instead of having him come in and compete, he has recently said. What a joke. If you want to compete for a job, how about not holding out for more than a month? How about just going out on the field and proving you are better than the other back? You have to earn respect, it's not a God-given right. It's just sad he still can't look back and realize his myriad mistakes during his stint in Chicago.

And has he ever done anything wrong in his life, in his own eyes? If he's sincerely apologized for any past indiscretions or admitted he could have done something even a tad bit better, I've never seen it. It's always what someone else is doing to him or who is trying to keep him down. How about being truthful with himself and trying to better himself as a person?

Of course, it still doesn't appear he's being fully truthful with himself. He claims this weekend's game against the Bears isn't about revenge or showing them what mistake they made to let him go. It's just another game. I'm not going to call him a liar, because he may be telling the truth. But, if he really doesn't care about this game more than any other, what's with all the whining and negativity toward the Bears? If it's just another game, go play it without the accusation-hurling. People don't complain about things if they don't care. Benson's grown as a player and now it's time he grew as a man.

The Bears turned the page, now it's time for Cedric to do the same.

Cedric Benson Says Bears Tried to 'Blackball' Him From NFL originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:03:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adrian Peterson Joins Antoine Winfield On Vikings' Injured List

JJ Cooper — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:30:00 EST

Filed under: Steelers, Vikings, NFC North, NFL Injuries

Whether you win or lose against the Ravens, they are physical enough that you suffer for a couple of weeks afterward.

The Vikings got the win on Sunday, but they also got the bruises that come with it.

The biggest problem for the Vikings is cornerback Antoine Winfield's foot injury. When Winfield left the game on Sunday the Ravens' pass offense suddenly became a world-beater as backup Karl Paymah quickly proved he's not really ready for a starting job. The Vikings are not ruling out Winfield playing on Sunday, but everyone else is.

Now the news is out that Adrian Peterson was limited in practice on Wednesday with a sprained ankle. Unlike Winfield, it's highly likely that Peterson will play on Sunday, but an ankle sprain is not the news the Vikings want to hear as they get ready to face the Steelers. If Peterson is healthy, he's the perfect weapon to attack a Steelers' run defense that is trying to recover from the loss of defensive end Aaron Smith. But if Peterson is limited in any way, it makes Steelers' coordinator Dick LeBeau's job much easier.

While the Vikings are limping, Pittsburgh (with the exception of Smith) is healthier than it has been in any game since the season opener.

Adrian Peterson Joins Antoine Winfield On Vikings' Injured List originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jay Cutler Signs Two-Year Extension

Matt Snyder — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:52:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Bears, NFC North

After paying a hefty price, in terms of draft picks and Kyle Orton, to acquire quarterback Jay Cutler this past offseason, the Chicago Bears have now likely ponied up a hefty monetary price as well. Exact terms of the deal have not been disclosed just yet, but the Bears have announced, via press release, they have come to terms on a two-year contract extension with their quarterback. He's now locked up in Chicago through the 2013 season.

Considering some of the contracts quarterbacks with similar stat-lines have signed recently, it's not very likely Cutler would agree to a cheap extension. You can argue whether or not he's a "franchise quarterback," but it seems pretty likely he'd be asking for franchise quarterback money. Then again, you never know, because two years is a pretty modest extension in terms of length. Cutler will only be 30 when the contract expires.

Cutler has been pretty solid for the Bears after an abysmal start on Sunday Night Football -- when he threw four interceptions in a loss to Green Bay. In the four games since then, the Bears have won three as Cutler's thrown nine touchdowns -- and run for one -- compared to three interceptions. His completion percentage has been solid and the team has had good success driving the football, even without the presence of a respectable running game.

The Bears face the Bengals in Cincinnati this Sunday.

Update: John Clayton of ESPN.com is reporting the extension will add $30 million to Cutler's deal, meaning he'll likely make around $50 million over the course of the next five seasons.

Jay Cutler Signs Two-Year Extension originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:52:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Four Keys to a Falcons' Win

Knox Bardeen — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:06:00 EST

Filed under: Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, NFC North, NFC South, FanHouse Previews

ATLANTA, Ga. -- Sunday Night, the Chicago Bears are in town visiting the Atlanta Falcons and fireworks could be in order inside the Georgia Dome. Both offenses can be prolific and they will be throwing against weaker defensive secondaries.

So expect the scoreboard operators to get a workout. When all is said and done, if the result is going to favor the Falcons, here's what they'll need to do.

o. The Bears rank 4th in the NFL with 14 sacks. Adewale Ogunleye has 4.5 and Alex Brown has 2.5 to lead the pass rush, but seven other players each have a sack. The bring the heat well and frustrate the best of opposing quarterbacks. The Falcons, on the other hand, have the best offensive line in the league when it comes to protecting the quarterback as Matt Ryan has only been sacked twice this season. The offensive line must continue to protect Ryan on Sunday night, giving him time to find any of his plethora of receiving targets.

More Coverage: Game Preview | Full Week 6 Scoreboard

o. Atlanta came out of a bye week and traveled to San Francisco -- and you saw what they did to the 49'ers. The Bears roll into Atlanta rested from their bye week and the Falcons need to focus on running their offensive game plan and not think too much about the extra time Chicago had to prepare. Ryan said it best, "They will be a little bit rested, but I never put too much stock into the bye week and coming off it. I think that everybody shows up week in and week out prepared to play. Teams do a great job in the NFL of getting ready to go regardless of whether or not they're coming of a bye week. We know Chicago is going to come in here ready and fresh and that it's going to be a tough matchup for us." Don't let bye-week get you upset."

o. Chicago has had a rough time this season containing opposing No. 1 receivers. In three of Chicago's four games they have allowed an opposing receiver to gain 100-plus yards. If Ryan gets the time to throw, he must take advantage of the Bears secondary and one of his two top targets, either Roddy White of Tony Gonzalez, needs to amass 100 yards.

o. During the Atlanta bye week the coaching staff surprised Jamaal Anderson by trying him on the interior of the defensive line instead of his normal defensive end spot. He made his first start there against San Francisco and had two tackles and got his hands on the quarterback twice as well. Anderson is enjoying his new position and needs to come up big on Sunday to help contain Matt Forte. If Forte is kept in check, the Falcons chances of winning grow.

Four Keys to a Falcons' Win originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 19:06:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Childress, Vikings Survive Ravens Scare

Matt Snyder — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:05:00 EST

Filed under: Ravens, Vikings, AFC North, NFC North

Things seemed pretty elementary for the Minnesota Vikings through much of their game Sunday afternoon. They held a 14-0 lead over the Baltimore Ravens after a quarter, a 14-3 halftime lead, and then a 27-10 margin early in the fourth quarter -- margins that likely inspired tons of confidence for the Vikes. Who would have thought they would need to be bailed out by a missed field goal as time expired in order to escape with a victory?

Yet that's exactly what happened, because the Ravens, behind explosive plays from Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton, used just 11 offensive plays in 6:24 to score three touchdowns and take a 31-30 fourth-quarter lead. The Vikings did drive down and kick a field goal with 2:00 left in the game, which made the score -- the eventual final -- 33-31.

More: Check Box Score | Saints Clobber Giants, Stay Undefeated

Flacco wasn't done, though, as he marched the Ravens right down into field-goal range. Steven Hauschka, the second-year kicker from N.C. State had a chance to win the game for the Ravens, but his 44-yard field goal sailed wide left as the Vikings prevailed.

Both teams, heading into the game, had well-deserved reputations for strong defenses. Instead of a gritty, run-and-defense battle everyone expected, we were treated to an offensive onslaught -- even if the majority of the Ravens' offense occurred during that late 11-play stretch. The two teams combined for 874 yards of total offense and averaged nearly seven yards per offensive play (Ravens 7.0, Vikings 6.8). The stat-lines show both teams with star performances on offense.

Brett Favre hit on 21-of-29 passes for 278 yards and three touchdowns. Joe Flacco connected on 28-of-43 passes for 385 yards and two touchdowns. Neither signal-caller turned it over.

Ray Rice had 194 yards from scrimmage, which includes 10 receptions, and two touchdowns. Adrian Peterson carried the ball 22 times for 143 yards, also adding 23 receiving yards.

Derrick Mason caught seven balls for 97 yards and a score, while Mark Clayton added 57 receiving yards and a touchdown. Sidney Rice, the Vikings' 6-foot-4 wideout, caught 6 passes for 176 yards and Bernard Berrian added a touchdown. Also, tight end Visanthe Shiancoe hauled in a pair of touchdowns from Favre.

This was simply an offensive explosion which, unfortunately, was decided on a missed field goal. Had Hauschka converted the field goal, Vikings coach Brad Childress would likely have had to answer for his play-calling down the stretch. Instead of trying to score a touchdown, Childress played for a field goal -- and two-point lead -- with 2:00 left on the clock. Flacco had already thrown for almost 350 yards on his defense and the Ravens had scored three touchdowns in their last 11 plays. And Childress thought two points was good enough to win with 2:00 left on the clock.

He turned out to be correct, by the skin of his teeth. All's well that ends well, apparently, and the Vikings are 6-0. They'll face another tough test in Week 7, as they travel to Pittsburgh to face the defending Super Bowl champion Steelers.

The Ravens will look to lick their wounds -- they've now lost three in a row after starting 3-0 -- on a bye next week, before facing the surprising Broncos in Week 8 at home.

Childress, Vikings Survive Ravens Scare originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rodgers Still Believes in Line

Bruce Ciskie — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:50:00 EST

Filed under: Packers, NFC North, NFL Quarterbacks

In the end, it's pretty obvious who mentored Aaron Rodgers on his way to becoming an NFL starting quarterback. Green Bay Packer fans might want to curse the name of Brett Favre these days, but between Rodgers' effort in the loss to Minnesota Oct. 5, and his recent comments about the Packers' offensive line and his own play, it has become abundantly clear that Favre had quite the impact on Rodgers.

During that loss to Minnesota, Rodgers couldn't have played more stubbornly. He held the ball too long, took sacks he didn't need to take, forced a throw into a coverage he shouldn't have been throwing into, got hit way too many times, and managed to keep getting up. No matter what they threw at him, he refused to quit or give anything to the Vikings.

Throw in some gray stubble, shorter hair, and a bit stockier body, and you have the epitome of Favre's career in Green Bay.

Frankly, this has to be considered a good thing. Rodgers has played the game with much more control than Favre ever did as a Packer, and that's the one facet of Favre's game that anyone could possibly claim the right to complain about. However, while eschewing Favre's wild style for a more controlled game, Rodgers also appears to have picked up some of Favre's better traits.

Since that game, Green Bay has been largely silent, since the team had a bye week. As they get ready to host Detroit Sunday at Lambeau Field, Rodgers has made two things very clear. For starters, he's not changing the way he plays the game.

"I watched last year's film at Minnesota, and I felt like I had gotten out too early. I passed over a guy in my progression. So I was telling myself all week, be patient, play fast but play under control. They got to me a few times, that's what happened."

Also, you're not going to goad him into throwing his offensive linemen to the wolves.

"It really doesn't do any good," Rodgers said Wednesday. "I trust those guys. I love those guys. They take care of me, I take care of them. That's the way it goes. We have a tight-knit relationship. Nothing gets done when you do something like that publicly."

Rodgers reiterated Wednesday that he has confidence in his linemen, adding that everyone on the team wants and needs to play better for the Packers (2-2) to hit the high expectations they carried into the season.

"We're all pros," Rodgers said. "We all hold ourselves to a standard of play, and I'd say myself and those guys included would probably all agree that personally, we haven't played up to our potential at all times. We all want to play better. We're going to play better."

In the end, the Packers will benefit from this. Rodgers has shown time and time again that he will continue to be a good teammate, and he won't publicly criticize people, even if their failures mean he ends up flat on his back. He's accountable and willing to improve.

And he seems to have developed some of that good ol' southern stubbornness. He may never admit it, but at least some of that has to have come from the legend he followed.

Rodgers Still Believes in Line originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:50:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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