....where Jay Cutler ended all negative connotations of the name 'Jay' (looking at you, Mariotti).
In The Den
ChicagoBears.com
Larry Mayer runs through the offensive line preview.
Chicago Sun Times
Brad Biggs discusses KC Joyner's chat regarding Cutler and Matt Forte. Be prepared to lose some brain cells.
Brad Biggs also discusses Football Outsiders' projection of the Bears winning the NFC crown.
Chicago Tribune
Devin Hester held a camp on Saturday afternoon and it looks to be a huge success. There's a couple videos attached to this article, so check it out.
Clark Judge listed the top ten best backup QB's in the NFL and Rex Grossman made the cut.
Keith Moreland, a University of Texas alum and current color commentator for the Longhorns, gives us the really late scoop on Henry Melton.
Greg Olsen went on ESPN's First Take on Friday morning and scouted the team.
Examiner.com
Sean Cassidy believe Cutler's biggest problem is his interceptions.
PFT
Steve McNair went out of his way to help Cutler prepare for the NFL.
PFW
Jay Cutler has been doing all the right things on and off the field. Thanks for the update, Dan Arkush.
Quad City Times
Gale Sayers has an great message for kids pursuing their dreams.
RotoRob
The fantasy football preview of the 2009 Chicago Bears.
USA Players
The preview of the 2009 Chicago Bears, the Bears schedule, the NFC North in 2009, and, strangely enough, the Week 11 previews for the 2009 season.
Comments
awesome
So when FO pick the rams to go to 8-8, it gets its own post about being outlandish, but pick the Bears to win the NFC and there’s no argument.
Now that you’ve read about their DVOA system, do you understand a bit more about how they project records, ChiFan?
By EricEmpire on 07.13.09 7:00am
Duh
I’m going to give you a little lesson in being a writer for a sports blog.
There are three (give or take) types of posts we have on here: Commenting on stories or thoughts, link dumps, and game threads. This (Bears Den) is considered a link dump. Some people like to add their opinions on every story; I prefer to add my opinion when I feel like it. Just because I post a link DOES NOT, I repeat, DOES NOT mean that I endorse it. Minus a few sites, I will post a link to anything Bear-related I can get my hands on.
Now, as to your argument, yes, I understand. The real question is: Do I care? No, not really. Preseason rankings and projections = worthless across the board.
By ChiFan13 on 07.13.09 11:14am
I'll add
Strength of schedule is kind of BS as well.
By propheteer on 07.13.09 3:54pm
Yeah, way too much parody to judge on the previous year.
And judging a team’s improvement by their draft is nonsense as well.
By JerBear50 on 07.14.09 4:32am
Fans of Joyner know that they should expect the same analysis from me...
1. I communicate in English.
2. I was born in the western hemisphere.
3. I breathe air and walk on 2 legs.
4. When I am drunk/high, I often say things I should (but don’t) regret later.
Yes, a Ferrari is “like” a Subaru Forester, but there is a reason the Ferrari costs more, and it ain’t the floor mats!
If Joyner is correct in his analysis, then why is Rex struggling to make it as a back-up?
By LostInSTL on 07.13.09 7:37am
KC Joyner's chat
This was my response for that chat. What I was upset/emotional about wasn’t the fact that Cutler does take chances, but KC’s ignorance on Bear’s fans and his comparison to Rexy. He basically assumed all Bear fans would accept Cutler no matter what happened. In another post, I also mentioned he needed to grow and improve for the trade to truly succeed.
Furthermore, on his comparison to Grossman he completely ignored the discrepancies between passing rating, percentage, height, mobility, and pocket presence. I also assured him he’s in the minority amongst his peers when it comes to his analysis of Cutler.
In another post he posted, I told him he did a fantastic job alienating an entire fanbase. This was his response…
He’s obviously has it out for Cutler, and refuses to look at other statistical data besides poor-decision making. Him and his elitist attitude need a reality check. What a complete ass. I mean a nice guy.
By propheteer on 07.13.09 10:42am
Well deserved!
By rdent4hof on 07.13.09 10:55am
Another follow-up from Joyner.
Link pops of course.
By Dane Noble on 07.13.09 10:55am
Good grief.
Admittedly, being on the wrong side of the Atlantic, I lack the depth of knowledge of most gridiron fans but, to my mind, it all comes down to one simple question:
Are we a better team with Cutler?
Anyone who argues that we aren’t is, in all likelihood, a bitter Denver fan. I don’t know about you lot, but I’m still on a bit of a buzz that we have a franchise QB. We could put that in as a Bear’s Den subtitle every day until the season kicks off and it’d still be true for the majority of Bears fans.
By Spongie on 07.13.09 11:20am
The second comment in GB’s link (from a Giants fan) is particularly good. Highlights:
By Spongie on 07.13.09 11:32am
Yup...
I know that guy… he’s the one who pointed today’s link out to me. He’s also the guy who wrote the Ultimate Guide for Winning in the NFL article.
By Dane Noble on 07.13.09 11:43am
Here's mine
Fifth down blogs
By propheteer on 07.13.09 12:30pm
Nice reply
He has already lost what little credibiility he has with me. It’s plain to see that he has a personal issue with Cutler, and refuses to budge on his irrational stance. I mean seriously, when has a young QB in the history of the NFL ever matured or got better? It’s absolutely absurd!
By propheteer on 07.13.09 12:11pm
Good on ya, mate.
I’m with you, propheteer. It’s one thing for Joyner to have his opinion about Cutler; he’s welcome to it, he’s welcome to write all about it. But I take issue with him painting all Bears fans who don’t happen to subscribe to his singular viewpoint as starry-eyed, self-deluded idolators of Jay.
I think I – and most other Bears fans – can, will, and do give a fair assessment of Cutler based on his play. Furthermore, though not everyone did, many fans did give a fair assessment of Grossman based on his play.
By rsong on 07.13.09 12:35pm
I'm with you rsong
“Furthermore, though not everyone did, many fans did give a fair assessment of Grossman based on his play.”
Yup!
By rdent4hof on 07.13.09 1:51pm
Great retort
You, like many fans supported Grossman for far too long, even after the SB debacle. He had a gazillion chances to “win over” Bear fans, but failed almost every time.
By propheteer on 07.13.09 1:54pm
Just another hack taking a barely defensible contrarian stance
hoping to get noticed. And god only knows there’s enough of ‘em writing in Chicago. Speaking of which, have they announced the leader of the packs triumphant return yet (I’m speaking of Mariotti, of course)? Then he and Joyner, Kaplan, and Wittenmeyer can all get together and, well, I’ll leave that to your (horrified) imagination…
By JerBear50 on 07.14.09 4:31am
Bottle of brandy and see what develops.
By rdent4hof on 07.14.09 8:44am
Wow!
that DVOA system is godly. i would have bought into it just as much had they picked The 49ers to win the NFC. You just cant argue that Data.
By Staleystan595455 on 07.13.09 3:21pm
yup
sayin’
By EricEmpire on 07.13.09 3:37pm
What’s up Bear fans! okay, I read that story about the observer and the so called behavior thing. This person needs to understand that Jay is trying his best to talk to everyone and it’s hard at times. He probably needs a break and how many times can one person answer the question about how do you like the city? He’s still growing as a person and a player and it takes time and if he doesn’t speak-fine! We’ll catch the next comment. As a cowboys fan, I’ve seen how the media will try to tear a piece out of a qb and I was hoping that it wouldn’t plague him like it had done my qbs. Attitude, attitude, attitude! He seems fine and we’re all entitled to a bad day if we choose.
By Loveforjoy! on 07.14.09 3:23am