Chicago Sports Then and Now

Reports say that the Bears have landed the first big free agent of 2010 in Julius Peppers.

According to a number of reports, the Chicago Bears have landed the first huge fish of the NFL free agent period with the signing of former Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers to a six year contract.

Considered by many to be the brightest star in a less than stellar free agent year, Peppers should provide an immediate boost to a Bears defense that has been in decline in recent years.

The second overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft, Peppers is a five-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time first team All-Pro.

In 2009 he registered 10.5 sacks and two interceptions for the Panthers. He has reached double figures in sacks in six of his eight seasons in the NFL and has 81 for his career.

A year ago the Bears lost their leading defensive player, linebacker Brian Urlacher, to injury in the opening game of the season and never fully recovered. Read the rest of this entry →

The Bears opened the free agent period by signing Brandon Manumaleuna from the San Diego Chargers.

The Bears added a tight end today with the signing of Brandon Manumaleuna.  He signed a five-year deal almost immediately after walking through the doors of Halas Hall. Manumaleuna spent the last four years in San Diego and before that was with Mike Martz and Lovie Smith in St. Louis. The 30 year old tight end was the best available tight end and Martz values the tight end as a blocker more than a receiver.

With the addition of  Manumaleuna he can now team up Greg Olsen, Dez Clark and Kellen Davis. Clark or Davis is the odd man out. Davis is still a project and not a very good blocker, Clark is a crafty veteran who for the first time in his Bears career was injured last season. Clark is owed a $475,000 today and will see if the addition of Manumaleuna spells the end of Clark. I think the Bears should keep Clark around at least for this season because he has been the most consistent player receiving and blocking. Read the rest of this entry →

Will Brian Westbrook be running for the Bears in 2010?

We all know Brian Westbrook has been one of the most versatile running backs in the NFL in his time with the Philadelphia Eagles, but now his time with them is over and he is looking for a new team.

The eight year back missed eight games last season with an ankle injury and multiple concussions. The Eagles owed him $7.25 million this season and they simply didn’t want to give him that kind of money because of durability issues. LeSean McCoy is going to take over the number one running back position.

So here’s the question should the Bears go after a once NFL star, who has serious durability issues or should they stay put with what they have.

I think they should consider going after him because when healthy he is one of the best runners/receivers out of the backfield in this league. The current backs behind Matt Forte aren’t that great. Garrett Wolfe was a third round pick and hasn’t done anything like his college days showed. Kevin Jones got injured again and he may not be back next season. Kahlil Bell is a surprising young kid who is similar to Matt Forte and Adrian Peterson will not be resigned. A combination of Matt Forte, Kahlil Bell and Kevin Jones isn’t too bad, but I think if they added Westbrook to the backfield they would be solid. Forte, Westbrook and Bell could be the best trio in the league.

New offensive coordinator Mike Martz doesn’t use the running game very much, but Matt Forte and Brian Westbrook could be a lethal tandem out of the backfield.

So, if the Bears could get Brian Westbrook for a cheap deal and he proves to stay healthy their offense could be set. When Brian Westbrook is right he is one of the best and don’t forget he is only 30 years old.

The Bears should at least consider the signing of Westbrook because it can only strengthen their team.

Jake Perper covers the Chicago Bears for Sports Then and Now. You can also check out his popular blog Bears Backer.

Mike Martz will look to regain the magic of his days running the "Greatest Show on Turf."

Mike Martz is an offensive guru. He coached one of the most prolific offensives of all time in St. Louis, “The Greatest Show on Turf.” But he failed with San Francisco and Detroit, but it might have been because the players didn’t fit his scheme.

The key to his offense is the receivers and the offensive line. The Bears have some solid receivers in Devin Hester, Johnny Knox, Devin Aromashodu and Earl Bennett. I think with the right coaching and play calling they could be the best group in the league.

The offensive line could be the downfall for this team next season. With Chris Williams, Frank Omiyale, Olin Kreutz, Roberto Garza and Kevin Shaffer as the projected starters, I think they could be in trouble. When Williams was put into the lineup the line was much better, but the right side of the line is the real problem to me. Garza and Shaffer might not be worthy starters in the NFL anymore. Josh Beekman might be an option for the right guard position, but I think the Bears should look at the NFL Draft or free agency to find a solid lineman.

Mike Martz has the smarts and Jay Cutler has the arm, I really think it’s a good mix. Cutler needs the protection and time to get the ball down the field, but most importantly he needs to learn to throw the ball away.

Will the Bears be a much improved offense next season? The answer is most likely, but I don’t know if they will be a great offense. Mike Martz is the key to the success of not only Jay Cutler but also Lovie Smith’s job security. In the meantime Mike Martz should be very excited to work with this young group of up and coming stars mainly the quarterback Jay Cutler.

Jake Perper covers the Chicago Bears for Sports Then and Now. You can also check out his popular blog Bears Backer.

The outcome of Super Bowl XX was never really in doubt as Walter Payton and the Bears dominated the Patriots.

Wow, has it really been 24 years? Jan 26, 1986. Super Bowl XX, at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. Tony Eason and the New England Patriots, against Jim McMahon and the Chicago Bears.

After watching the Super Bowl on TV as a kid, I couldn’t believe I was actually there to cover the big game in person. It was just my second year in television so I was still a little wet behind the ears.

At the time, I was working for Channel 9, WMUR TV in Manchester, N.H. and was in the Big Easy as part of the media contingent covering the Patriots.

That year the Pats were actually a surprise Super Bowl suitor given the teams they had the beat to get there. After finishing the regular season with a record of 11-5 and in third place behind the Dolphins and Jets in the AFC East, New England’s ticket to New Orleans consisted of three wildcard road wins against the Jets (26-14), Raiders (27-20) and Dolphins (31-14).

Ironically, Miami was the only team that season to beat the Bears, who arrived on Bourbon Street with a gaudy record of 18-1, following play-off wins over the Giants (21-0) and the Los Angeles Rams (24-0).

Yep, back to back play-off shutouts, but no surprise really when you consider at the time the Bears where in the record books as one of the best defenses ever in league history.

That year, the Bears, “46 Zone” defense, allowed the fewest points (198), total yards (4,135), and fewest yards rushing (1,319). They also led the league with thirty-four interceptions. Read the rest of this entry →

Chicago Bears defensive end Gaines Adams was pronounced dead after being found unconscious.

In shocking news out of South Carolina, ESPN News has reported that Chicago Bears defensive end Gaines Adams has passed away at the age of 26.

Greenwood County Coroner James T. Coursey told ESPN that Adams was taken to the emergency room at Self Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9:00 a.m. ET Sunday morning.

No cause of death was immediately available and an autopsy will be performed Sunday by the Anderson County forensic pathologist.

A native of Greenwood and former star at Clemson University, Adams was the fourth player taken in the 2007 NFL draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was traded by the Buccaneers to the Chicago Bears in October 2009.

As a rookie, Adams played in all 16 games with eight starts. He registered six sacks and 27 tackles. The following season, he started all 16 games with 6.5 sacks and two interceptions, including one he returned 45 yards for a touchdown.

In 2009, Adams played five games for the Buccaneers before being traded to the Chicago Bears for a second round pick in the 2010 NFL draft. He played 10 games in Chicago and finished the season with 17 tackles, three pass defenses and one sack.