Let's face it for the Bears to knock off the Indianapolis Colts on the opening game of the season in their brand new stadium they have to get pressue on Peyton Manning.  But that isn't all.  They have to get that pressure with their front four.  With the arsenal of WRs and TEs, Manning has at his disposal the Bears can't afford to be coming hard too often or they will be giving up some big plays.

Colts center Jeff Saturday has a strained MCL:

...if Jeff Saturday opts to not have surgery on his strained MCL, he's back in 6 weeks, maybe. If he does opt for surgery, he's back in 11 weeks.

We know now that Peyton Manning is going to play, but there will be some effect.  Don't know how rusty or gentle he will be, but having a backup center with Tommie Harris pushing up the middle could cause some issues for the Colts.

A lot of excuses have been made for the performance of the Bears defense this past game versus the 49ers, some by this site.  Bears S Mike Brown isn't buying any of them.

"That's not an excuse," the former Pro Bowl safety said.

It didn't rank up there with Brown saying his team stinks after a 1-3 start in 2005, but the message was clear. If the defense is going to carry the Bears again, improvement is needed.

Is it me or do the Bears have more straight shooters than other teams?   That is aside from upper management.  Between Urlacher and Brown somebody is always laying it out there.

Lovie Smith is disputing reports that Danieal Manning is out at the nickel.

"Danieal has received reps at only one position this entire year, and that's nickel," Smith said earlier this week. "Once we get in a game, could he be an emergency safety? Yes, he could. But he's playing nickel and that's where he's going to be."

Game 4 is on us and it is time for some players to step up and earn their spot.

Try telling defensive end Dan Bazuin or wide receiver Mark Bradley that Thursday night's exhibition finale at Cleveland means nothing. Let on-the-bubble guard Anthony Oakley or defensive tackle Matt Toeaina in on the secret too. Think quarterback Caleb Hanie agrees?

A hat tip to Ando who first pointed this out (comment section), but the Bears seem to again not know what to do with their players.  It turns out that Ricky Manning Jr is not the only Manning being bumped.  Danieal Mannig is now out as the primary nickel corner back.

Danieal Manning is no longer the primary nickel back. and the only player with experience in the role is Brandon McGowan, so logic dictates he'll take over there, allowing Kevin Payne to step in at strong safety. That might not be the end of the moves. McGowan and Payne split time at strong safety last week against San Francisco, and coach Lovie Smith beamed when talking about the second-year player from Louisiana-Monroe. Smith was adamant the Bears draft Payne in 2007. It could be he's taking over at strong safety in the nickel as well as the base defense, and Thursday's preseason finale at Cleveland will be telling.

Maybe the reason Manning hasn't been able to fit in anywhere is becuase the Bears won't leave him anywhere!  Give him more than 2 games to get comfortable playing before you say he can't do it.  He has gone back and forth between safety and corner so much in the last few years, his helmet has to be spinning.

I haven't seen enough of Kevin Payne to pass judgement, but from what I have seen he is a big hitter and I think we all like that in the safety spot.  As I have always said I am for putting out on the field whoever the best guys are and if Payne and McGowan are those guys and Manning is not then so be it, but just make up your minds.

I don't know what the Bears plans are for Manning on defense, though he still has value as depth at both positions or when the offense dictates extra guys.  I'd also like to think the Bears plan to give him quite a bit of playing time on special teams where he looks like the guy to spell Devin Hester, be the recipeint of the ball during Hester decoy plays or just to have an extra return guy out there.

This Saturday all NFL teams need to have their roster down to 53 men.  Here is a look at what that roster will look similar to:

Wide receivers (5)

Locks: Rashied Davis, Devin Hester, Earl Bennett.

Dilemma: Cutting Bennett would make no sense for a draft-driven team, so that likely leaves two spots to split among Brandon Lloyd, Marty Booker and Mark Bradley.

Lloyd has been the most consistent of the three in the off-season but has been surprisingly quiet in games. Booker has yet to flip the switch, and it could cost him, even if he's the guy most likely not to drop the pass thrown on third-and-5. Bradley's 55-yard catch helped him with an organization that loves him.

If the Bears keep six receivers, all three can make the team. But how can they justify taking away a spot from linebacker, offensive line or defensive tackle?

Mike Hass will be better off going to an organization that finds a way to maximize his rare pass-catching ability.

 

Well, the Bears certainly made quick work of my last post.  The Bears have released CB Ricky Manning Jr.

Manning appeared in 31 games with 11 starts over the previous two seasons after the Bears signed him as a restricted free agent in 2006. The Fresno, Calif., native recorded 106 tackles, three sacks, five interceptions, six passes defensed, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and 13 special teams tackles during his time in Chicago.

We can't call it a surprise though judging from some reactions there are those who are against it, so lets put it to a vote.

I probably should have finished the post title with an exclamation point rather than a question mark, since this was never really a question.  This was one of the givens.  Manning has been practicing with the third team and rarely has seen meaningful game time.

Per this report, sometime prior to this offseason Manning asked to be traded or released, but was denied by the Bears organazation. 

"I would have preferred a trade," he said Monday. "My agent asked them to at least seek a trade if I wasn't going to be part of the plans.

"Not being a part of their plans, that's fine with me. If that's the mistake they want to make, hey, so be it."

As it turns out the Bears did make some injuries (based on an unnamed NFL source) for a trade partner, but found no takers.  Manning is scheduled to make an estimated 8 million over the next two years (4.75 next season), so the likely hood of him staying was probably never high unless they renegotiated the deal, but just south of 3 million this season for a guy that is third on the depth chart isn't something the Bears can do.  He is expected to be released during this round of cuts when the Bears have to get down to 53 players by Saturday.

Ricky Manning Jr. made himself a ton of money based off of a big playoff performance with the Panthers if my memory serves me, but he is one of those guys that looks good coming to a new team and probably makes a few plays, but in the end he just isn't a permanent answer.

The Bears have to have their roster down to 75 to reach a league imposed limit by 3PM this Tuesday.  The have waived six.

Marcus Monk WR
Josh Gattis S
Ryan Grice-Mullen WR
Leslie Majors CB
Rod Wilson LB

The next cut back will be this Saturday when teams have to be down to 53.

Going into the pre season many positions were up for grabs.  The one thing I was pretty sure of was that Marty Booker would be a lock for a receiver spot.  Maybe not.  The Bears don't have a lot of experience, but have a lot of unproven talent and a load of speed.  Booker thinks he may not make the roster.

''I haven't gotten many plays in any of the games,'' Booker said. ''I'm trying to figure out what is going on. I've asked them and 'they have a plan.' I don't know what it is. It's secretive around here.''

If the Bears carry five receivers they could be Brandon Lloyd, Rashied Davis, Devin Hester, Earl Bennett, and Mark Bradley.

I do have to say I like Booker and would like to see him on the team, but you go with who gives you the best chance and who works best with your QB.

On the whole "we have a plan" thing, I'm tired of that way of doing business.  If they guy is on the edge, tell him maybe he turns it up. Otherwise let him go.

The 2008/09 Bear’s season is about to hit full throttle and I have a great tip on how fans can become involved with the Bears in-house charity, Bears Care.  

Millennium Garages (4 garages under Millennium and Grant Park) have recently partnered with Bears Care to donate one dollar for every parker during Chicago Bears games. They will also be donating $10 from each season long parking pass they sell.

For the past several years, Millennium Garages has been offering the best alternate parking for Bear’s games and a free shuttle to and from the garages to Soldier Field.

Parking at the garages is $25 flat fee on game days.

If you could use this info that would be great, the more parkers Millennium gets, the more money Millennium Garages gets to donate!

I thought this could prove to be a great post on your blog to alert fans to how they can help the Bear’s charity of choice – Bears Care. Love to chat more about the program if you would like.

 For more info, visit www.millenniumgarages.com.

THE GOOD

Barring injuries the Bears have a fantastic defensive line unit and most of them are pretty young.  Tommie Harris, Dusy Dvoracek, Adewale Ogunleye, Alex Brown, Mark Anderson and Israel Idonije's average age is 27.  With Anthony Adams, Dan Bazuin (assuming he makes the team) and Marcus Harrison the Bears also have depth. Now if they could just learn to stop the run.

Now that we see the potential in Kyle Orton the pressure shifts to the wide receivers.  Rashied Davis is the only guy who could start that has had anything like a good game.  Davis capped his pre season performance with a 58 yard, 2  TD performance.

Teams playing the Bears this year are going to start just giving the Bears the ball on the 50.  Devin Hester has had limited time as a returner, but you know he will get his.  Now teams have to worry about two others, Danieal Manning and Earl Bennett.  Two weeks ago Bennett took a punt back for a TD.  Last night Manning racked up 171 return yards on 2 run backs.  Could you imagine if the Bears put Hester in for the return and Manning and Bennett at the 30 and 40 yard lines?  If they wanted to could also bring in Garrett Wolfe who has been working on taking returns and Rashied Davis who also has had some return success in the past.

Roll Call.  The Game Thread comment winner for yesterday is #23 who logged 77 comments.  The next three were ChiFan13 (73), SamuraiMike50(43) and halfblindcubbiegirl(36).

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