Pompei Fights for Dent

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is set to vote on who will make the final cut for the Class of 2009, and Chicago Tribune writer Dan Pompei holds the important job of convincing the Board of Selectors to choose former Bears defensive end Richard Dent as part of that class. Dent is the franchise’s all-time sack leader and was part of the legendary 1985 team that brought the Chicago a championship. Pompei has been the Chicago representative since 2007, and his presentation has the backing of some of Chicago’s greats.

Pompei said, “Dan Hampton has been as supportive of Richard as you could be. He’s been proactive. He called me last year and this year asking what he can do. I would say he’s the biggest guy in Richard’s corner. But it’s not like there’s been anyone who has said, ‘That guy can’t play.’ I’ve talked to a lot of people who really gave him strong endorsements, from John Madden to Bill Parcells to Mike Ditka to [former Packers offensive lineman] Ken Ruettgers. I could go on and on.”

If Dent is selected into the Hall of Fame, he will join former teammates Walter Payton, Mike Singletary and Dan Hampton. Get your Chicago Bears tickets from StubHub.com.

Permalink - Posted in General on January 30, 2009 - Post a comment

Simms Comments on Son Coming to Chicago

More speculation is swirling about the possibility of the Chicago Bears taking a quarterback in free agency after comments made by general manager Jerry Angelo. One of the possibilities is quarterback Chris Simms. Although Simms himself hasn’t said much about a possible move, his father, Phil Simms, was recently asked about the possibility of his son coming to the Windy City. Papa Phil didn’t seem to know much, but he did weigh in on current Bears quarterback Kyle Orton.

Simms said, “I was on the record all year, I know Kyle Orton, I followed him through college, I saw him early with the Bears and I thought he grew up. He was a different-looking guy this year. He has a moxie to him. There is a little something he has that I like. Whatever the Bears do, whoever goes in there, it’d be awfully tough to think you’re going to take Kyle Orton’s job. I know that.”

With other free agent options like Kurt Warner and Byron Leftwich, Orton will inevitably to fighting for the starting position like Angelo said. Orton, however, is no stranger to having to prove himself and will likely step up even more during the 2009 season. Reserve your Chicago Bears tickets at StubHub.com.

Permalink - Posted in General on January 29, 2009 - Post a comment

Williams Not Best Pick for WR

The Chicago Bears may be looking toward adding some youth to their defense in the first round of the draft, which would mean the need for a top wide receiver could get pushed to their second round pick. Luckily for the Bears, there will likely be some top receivers still left in the second round. A player who is likely to be picked around the second round is wide receiver Derrick Williams.  Some analysts are already picking Williams as a perfect fit for the Bears, but he may not add the depth the Bears need at that position.

Williams has speed, a fact that is undeniable. He doesn’t, however, have height. At 6 feet tall and 194 pounds he is strikingly similar to another Bears receiver, Devin Hester, who comes in at 5 feet 11 inches and 190 pounds. Compare that to Arizona Cardinals standout Larry Fitzgerald, who stands at 6 feet 3 inches and 220 pounds. Williams could be a good backup if the Bears didn’t already have Hester, but with the current situation, the Bears need to add something new to a position that is so obviously lacking on the roster. Get your Chicago Bears tickets from StubHub.com.

Permalink - Posted in General on January 28, 2009 - Post a comment

Warner Could Be a Bear in 2009

If the comments by Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, are any indication, there is a chance that the Chicago Bears could add Warner to their roster for next season. Warner, of course, is currently in the process of leading his team to the Super Bowl on Sunday, but after that game his status with the Cardinals is unclear. Bartelstein said, “The Bears obviously have to figure out which direction they want to go with the quarterback thing. It has, obviously, been a point of contention for quite a while. We have to wait and see what they decide they want to do.”

He also said that he and the Bears general manager Jerry Angelo have talked about Warner coming to Chicago, but no decisions have been made. The next move for Warner also depends on what the Cardinals plan to do. Although he did an incredible job this season, the Cardinals also have a first-round draft pick, Matt Leinart, waiting for playing time. At 37 years old, Warner may not be the best plan for any team long term. Any team that adds him will likely be hoping he has a few more years like 2008 still left in him. Get your Chicago Bears tickets from StubHub.com.

Permalink - Posted in General on January 27, 2009 - Post a comment

Jackson Possible First Round Selection

As the 2009 NFL Draft draws closer, the speculation for each team’s first round draft pick starts to grow. Getting a standout wide receiver is a definite need for the Chicago bears, but this year’s draft class is so deep with wide receivers, the Bears may be able to hold off until the second round. If they don’t draft a receiver in the first round, they will likely look to bolster their pass rush with a top defensive end. A top name in that position is LSU’s Tyson Jackson. Jackson will likely be a first round draft pick and a top addition to any defense that he joins.

After redshirting his first year, Jackson tallied 12 tackles and one sack in 2005. The next year, he had 37 tackles, eight sacks and one interception. In 2007, he had 36 tackles and three sacks. This season, he finished with 36 tackles and four sacks. The 6-foot 5-inch 292 pound defensive end inevitably has the bulk to hold his own in the NFL. He is considered a very versatile player in his position, which could possibly be just what the Bears need to revive their pass rush. Be there to see the new rookie class with Chicago Bears tickets from StubHub.com.

Permalink - Posted in General on January 26, 2009 - Post a comment

Daley Suggest Second Chicago Team

The residents of the city of Chicago may fight over a lot of things like best deep dish pizza place or Cubs vs. Sox, but the Chicago Bears have been a unifying force in the city for nearly 50 years. If mayor Richard M. Daley has his way, however, that time of peace could be coming to an end. On a recent “Monsters in the Morning” show on Comcast SportsNet, Daley said, “We should have a second NFL team in Chicago. If San Francisco has two, New York has two, Florida has three teams … and when you take Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia, they have three teams there in that region, we could easily support a second pro football team.”

In case Daley or others forgot, Chicago used to have two pro teams. Before 1959, the Arizona Cardinals were the Chicago Cardinals, who played at the old Comiskey Park. Although Chicago as a market may be capable of financially supporting two teams, few fans would trade the history and legacy that the Bears carry for some newcomer. Chicago football is George Halas, Red Grange, Gale Sayers and Walter Payton, and all of those names have one thing in common: they are Bears. See the Windy City’s one and only team with Chicago Bears tickets from StubHub.com.

Permalink - Posted in General on January 23, 2009 - Post a comment

Marinelli Makes Amends with Reporters

It seems that Rod Marinelli’s trouble in the Motor City isn’t quite over. When trying to blow off three male reporters at the Senior Bowl in Alabama, Marinelli reportedly said, “Good-bye, ladies.” The NFL received a complaint from the Association for Women in Sports Media about the comment, prompting Marinelli to issue this response:

“Please accept my personal apology for the words I used in response to the request of a few Detroit reporters covering the Senior Bowl. In attempting to avoid being interviewed, I understand that my comment was inappropriate and wrong. I want to assure you that this tone and this choice of words will not occur again in response to questions from reporters.”

It is no wonder that Marinelli doesn’t have a great relationship with reporters from Detroit. He left after a 0-16 record to become the Chicago Bears defensive line coach, and during his tenure at Detroit the media was less than kind. Marinelli isn’t known for his hostile relations, however, and is a well-respected defensive coach. Prior to Detroit, he coached with Lovie Smith at Tampa Bay. Be there as he transitions into the Bears staff with Chicago Bears tickets from StubHub.com.

Permalink - Posted in General on January 22, 2009 - Post a comment

Turner Eyeing Receivers Entering Draft

Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner is spending his time at this year’s Senior Bowl checking out possibilities for the Bears offense next season. His biggest hole to fill is obviously getting a dependable wide receiver, which could either come from free agency or this year’s draft.  Although the offense seemed to improve this season, they are still ranked near the bottom of the pack in overall offense. Turner believes he knows how to fix that, saying, “We did a lot of good things. But the one thing that was missing throughout the year was big plays.”

The Bears already have their top playmaker on rushing in young running back Matt Forte, who had an impressive season. The Bears tried promoting from within to fill the position of top receiver, moving special teams standout Devin Hester into that position, but Hester isn’t the top wideout the Bears need. The Bears may decide to bolster their aging defense in the first round of the draft, leaving Turner to sort through the leftovers in the second round. By then, top receivers like Michael Crabtree from Texas Tech will be long gone. See next year’s standout with Chicago Bears tickets from StubHub.com.

Permalink - Posted in General on January 21, 2009 - Post a comment

Forte Up For Another Award

Although the season is over, star rookie running back Matt Forte may have another reason to celebrate. He is one of only five candidates up for the 2008 Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year. The voting is open to fans, who can vote on the NFL website until January 27. The nomination comes as little surprise to those who watched Forte’s contributions this season.

Offensive coordinator Ron Turner said, “We had real high expectations on him. But to know that a rookie was going to come in and have the impact that he’s had in all phases, it would be tough to say that. We had a lot of confidence in him. We did anticipate him coming in here and having success. But to do everything he’s done as consistently well, I’m not sure we expected that.”

Forte tallied 1,238 yards rushing this season, the first rookie since LaDainian Tomlinson to have a season over 1,000 rushing yards. He had nearly 35% of all of the Bears’ yards from scrimmage, putting him in the upper echelon of players in the NFL. He also had 63 receptions.  Be there to cheer him on next season with Chicago Bears tickets from StubHub.com.

Permalink - Posted in General on January 20, 2009 - Post a comment

Marinelli Speaks About Job with Bears

Since former Detroit Lions coach Rod Marinelli was hired to be the new defensive line coach for the Chicago Bears, coach Lovie Smith, the Bears players and other have been speaking out about their support of Marinelli. Now, Marinelli speaks out for himself why he chose Chicago and what he sees in the team.

He said, “It starts with the head coach. To me, the most important factor is [to work for] somebody you believe in, and I believe in Lovie—what he stands for, what he does and how he does it. Second is the defensive system. I love it, and it’s something I believe in. It’s built on fundamentals and execution, and for a coach, that’s something you should embrace—embrace the ability to go out and teach every day.”

The Bears weren’t the only team looking at Marinelli for his defensive knowledge as he was also recruited by teams like the Seattle Seahawks. Marinelli showed his skill when he was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as their defensive line coach. Granted, he did fail as a head coach with the abysmal Lions, but many are pointing fingers elsewhere as to the reason for the Lions’ numerous problems. Reserve your Chicago Bears tickets at StubHub.com.

Permalink - Posted in General on January 19, 2009 - Post a comment


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