Captain of the Tailgate: Bears at Bills Pregame Open Thread

by Dane Noble on Nov 7, 2010 6:00 AM CDT in Captain of the Tailgate

Folks are always looking for some simple ideas for tailgating food, and today we're bringing you something a little different: Grilled Pizza. Chicago folks love themselves some pizza, so why not bring the pie to the tailgating party?

Start with your dough... roll it in olive oil, and throw in your favorite herbs. Flatten it out to your desired size... depending on the grill, 8-10" is probably ideal. Coat your grill grate with olive oil, then throw your pizza dough right down, without foil. Cooking with medium heat, leave the dough on for about 2-3 minutes, until the bottom looks good and brown. Next, flip it over, and add your favorite pizza sauce to the cooked side, along with your cheese and desired toppings. This will cook quickly, so it will be a good idea to have your toppings (meats and veggies) grilled ahead of time.

Once you've got your pie loaded down with toppings, close the grill and let it cook for a good 4-5 minutes, until the cheese is brown and the bottom of the pizza is fully cooked. What you'll end up with is a nice hot pizza, with a charred crispy crust. Depending on the thickness of your pizza, you will adjust the grilling time and temperature.

I've made grilled pizza no fewer than a dozen times, and it has never failed to impress... one might say it has helped me become the Captain of the Tailgate (see what I did there?). Try it out, and let us know what you think!

Now, on to some Bears links:

John 'Moon' Mullin says that Lovie Smith is likely to return in 2011.

Jim Miller calls for more accountability regarding our players.

Zygi Wilf contemplated firing Brad Childress and keeping Randy Moss.

Matt Bowen breaks down what the Bears could do versus the Bills.

Dan Pompei talks about the OL and the need for continuity.

Featured article: DJ Moore trying to help his addict mom.

Sean Jensen talks with Johhny Knox about WRs becoming DBs.

Another story mentioning getting the running game going with Forte/Taylor.

Brad Biggs has three Bears: Too hot, too cold, and just right.

Biggs also has four things to watch for today at the game.

Michael C. Wright has a very thorough game preview.

The Sun-Times writers make their picks for today's game.

And lastly... with the Holidays right around the corner, we've got the perfect gift idea: A Ditka Sweater Vest. Go ahead, you deserve one

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Official game thread coming up in a few hours... Happy Sunday dadgummit!

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Jim Miller is an idiot...

Didn’t he notice that Todd Collins is our official #2 this weekend? Does he REALLY want that show to come on again? Seriously? Biggest piece of turd I’ve ever seen written in this Chicago media…

by Doshi on Nov 7, 2010 7:50 AM CST reply actions

Yeah he's gotten on my nerves this year

Nothing bugs me more than ex players that weren’t that good running there mouths about present players. If I didn’t like Gale Sayers doing it, I definitely don’t want to hear it from this guy. He sounds so sure of himself on the postgame and radio and he acts like everyone was born in 2002 and not aware of his career mistakes.

This dude could barely beat out Shane Matthews nor could he stay in one piece. He rolled up his achilles one year and was gone for the season. Hugh Douglas sneezed on him in a playoff game and he was knocked out of that one. He perfected the art of throwing passes to receivers already on the ground. He was such a great teammate that he let his team down because he was to dumb to figure out what vitamins and drugs he couldn’t take and got himself suspended for the rest of the season. So I do not want to hear a sermon from him about what Cutler needs to do and shouldn’t be doing. At least have been a great player before running your mouth.

Yeah but it worked!

by Dils on Nov 7, 2010 9:28 AM CST up reply actions

So I gather you don't really like Jim Miller all that much?

If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny.
I remain a pessimistically hopeful Bears fan.

by Just Dave on Nov 7, 2010 9:39 AM CST up reply actions

Jim Miller was a beast.

He doesn’t get hurt vs Philly we might have won that game. I’ll listen to what Ditka says and the great white hope Tom Waddle.

David Taylor's personal hype man. Check out his website unless you're a loser. http://www.cheekymonkeyart.com/

by Ditkavsworld on Nov 7, 2010 10:04 AM CST up reply actions

I grew up watching Waddle

People make fun of him and stuff on that show but he was one tough S.O.B.

Yeah but it worked!

by Dils on Nov 7, 2010 11:07 AM CST up reply actions

Yeah I kinda vented huh? lol

Funny thing is I actually thought he was a decent QB for us. He had some monster games. But he was just a tease and it was always something with him. It’s so easy for him to say what Cutler needs to do but he couldn’t sniff Cutler’s jockstrap. It’s like Jiggs complaining about the O-line. I heard Jiggs sucked! lol.

Yeah but it worked!

by Dils on Nov 7, 2010 11:06 AM CST up reply actions

He was better than what we got now, sad to say

by 62bearsthe best on Nov 7, 2010 11:11 AM CST up reply actions

+1 Dils

by 62bearsthe best on Nov 7, 2010 10:03 AM CST up reply actions

I'd rather hear from Jimmy Mac.

If you don't ask, you don't get. So get on with it already.

by Suffering from Chicago Sports on Nov 7, 2010 10:17 AM CST up reply actions

Bowen pulled out a play I've been WAITING to see.

Heck, a CONCEPT I’ve been waiting to see. A moving pocket. What an idea! The strength of this line isn’t inline blocking. It’s moving blocking. Pulls and crap like that. MOVE THE DAMN POCKET, and you’ll see the passing game simply open up. Plus, Cutler always seems much more comfortable when he’s mobile rather than a statue.

by Doshi on Nov 7, 2010 7:56 AM CST reply actions

Big ups to DJ for sharing that story

That has to be difficult to deal with and share but it’s inspiring. I’ll admit that I’ll be rooting for DJ a little bit more now than before to be a success story.

Yeah but it worked!

by Dils on Nov 7, 2010 9:18 AM CST reply actions

Skins fan

I have a question for you guys about Detroits blog PoD. Last week there was a lot of smack talk going on between Detroit fans & Redskin fans over at Hogs Haven. After the game, which Detroit won, a handful of Detroit fans came over & started being real A-holes by rubbing it in that they had won. Is this typical for those guys??

by ENsDad27 on Nov 7, 2010 9:39 AM CST reply actions

I wouldn't say typical since they rarely win.

I’m willing to bet the ones that came over to your site were not POD regulars happens on every site unfortunately.

David Taylor's personal hype man. Check out his website unless you're a loser. http://www.cheekymonkeyart.com/

by Ditkavsworld on Nov 7, 2010 10:06 AM CST up reply actions

Thanx

& you are probably right, good luck today with the Bills

by ENsDad27 on Nov 7, 2010 10:30 AM CST up reply actions

Thanks. And thanks for stopping by.

David Taylor's personal hype man. Check out his website unless you're a loser. http://www.cheekymonkeyart.com/

by Ditkavsworld on Nov 7, 2010 10:38 AM CST up reply actions

Time to deliver an ass kicking

I hope…

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan [I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team(s), throughout the good and the bad. And don't switch to whichever team wins the Super Bowl each year.

by JoeCB1991 on Nov 7, 2010 10:05 AM CST reply actions

On a plane right now using their wifi

What is the chance that the live feed will work from here? Anyone know??

"We were freaking robbed!! Our defense totally dominated all day! What? we gave up nearly 500 yards on defense? Yeah but we stopped them on the 1 yrd line! Our D is awesome!!"

- Entire kool aid drinkin' Pride of Detroit site-

by tfrabotta on Nov 7, 2010 10:12 AM CST reply actions

No better or worse than any other WiFi connection

Aircraft WiFi tends to be spotty, so you’ll have lots of stops and starts.

If you don't ask, you don't get. So get on with it already.

by Suffering from Chicago Sports on Nov 7, 2010 10:20 AM CST up reply actions

I have no idea but I think if it does work you might be the first on this site

To watch on a plane. Where ya headed?

David Taylor's personal hype man. Check out his website unless you're a loser. http://www.cheekymonkeyart.com/

by Ditkavsworld on Nov 7, 2010 10:21 AM CST up reply actions

Coming back from golfing in Naples for a long weekend

Hope to catch the first qtr on the plane

"We were freaking robbed!! Our defense totally dominated all day! What? we gave up nearly 500 yards on defense? Yeah but we stopped them on the 1 yrd line! Our D is awesome!!"

- Entire kool aid drinkin' Pride of Detroit site-

by tfrabotta on Nov 7, 2010 10:29 AM CST up reply actions

Baller!

Naples is nice my folks retired an hour north of there so i’ve been there a few times, never been golfing there though.

David Taylor's personal hype man. Check out his website unless you're a loser. http://www.cheekymonkeyart.com/

by Ditkavsworld on Nov 7, 2010 10:36 AM CST up reply actions

Fort myers??

"We were freaking robbed!! Our defense totally dominated all day! What? we gave up nearly 500 yards on defense? Yeah but we stopped them on the 1 yrd line! Our D is awesome!!"

- Entire kool aid drinkin' Pride of Detroit site-

by tfrabotta on Nov 7, 2010 11:03 AM CST up reply actions

Cape Coral, same thing.

David Taylor's personal hype man. Check out his website unless you're a loser. http://www.cheekymonkeyart.com/

by Ditkavsworld on Nov 7, 2010 11:49 AM CST up reply actions

Gameday tackles the Bears next Segment

by KyCubsFan on Nov 7, 2010 10:24 AM CST reply actions

A little bit of Mayer for your morning...

Had a great time last night at the Hockey Hall of Fame here in Toronto. (If you’re a hockey fan, it’s a must-see). The Bears rented out the place for a party for their sponsors and I tagged along. Ted Phillips and Jerry Angelo were there as well. There’s a ton of great memorabilia as you’d expect and a lot of interactive exhibits. The Hall is actually inducting its Class of 2010 Monday night.

Maybe somebody from the Bears will actually perk up and listen to the words of some true greats in a sport as physical as the NFL (if not moreso).

Dez, Wootton, and Harrison are all inactive. Who is running this Bears team? Seriously? Dez is our best TE. Wootton is the project that we NEED to get on the field. Plus, do we even HAVE a third DE? Same thing for Harrison and the DT positions. At least Wright might see some play time.

On the other side, I’ll let Mayer say it for me…

The Bills will play line up without three starters: Right tackle Cornell Green (knee) has been placed on injured reserve and will be replaced by Cordaro Howard. Akin Ayodele and Leodis McKelvin will fill in for Andra Davis (shoulder) and Terrence McGee (back) at middle linebacker and right cornerback, respectively.

I can’t be the only person screaming profanities at my screen at that news, can I? I mean, it’s good for us that their RT is done for the season. But having an LB and a CB out means that Martz might find some justification for abandoning the run game at the drop of a hat, the absolute LAST thing that can happen to this Bears team.

I’m getting a bad, bad feeling about this game…..

by Doshi on Nov 7, 2010 11:17 AM CST reply actions

Me too. I don't feel

great about this one. If win, everything is back on track for a playoff run. If they lose…

Yeah but it worked!

by Dils on Nov 7, 2010 11:28 AM CST up reply actions

Inactives

The Bears could look to get their tight ends more involved in short-yardage situations Sunday against Buffalo, but Desmond Clark won’t be part of that group.

The veteran is out for Sunday’s game against the Bills after suffering a neck stinger in practice Thursday. This is the fourth time Clark has shown up on the inactive list this season, but the first time due the injury.

Cornerback Zack Bowman is inactive with a foot sprain. Also inactive for the Bears are safety Craig Steltz, running back Kahlil Bell, guard Edwin Williams, defensive in Corey Wootton and defensive tackle Marcus Harrison.

Link…..

Not surprising that Clark is out since he I think he has slept with the entire martz family to anger martz…..

Also heard one other Bears insider that said that Lovie could return in 11 since the McCaskey family do not want to pay 2 coaches…..A couple of things that could prevent it is the lockout not coming and also a collapse of the team finishing 6 – 10 or worse…..Other wise the vibe he gets is Lovie is coming back in 11…..

That's it! See, at first I thought it was hate, too. Hate was all I knew, it built my world, it imprisoned me, taught me how to eat, how to drink, how to breathe. I thought I'd die with all my hate in my veins. But I realized it was loathing.

-Mike Martz describes his feelings on running the football

by CloudyFuture on Nov 7, 2010 11:30 AM CST reply actions