If you've come anywhere near a television, computer, newspaper, or Union member any time in the past week, you're probably aware that the great state of Wisconsin has recently voted to disallow collective bargaining for public employees. This is not going to be a political rant, nor a statement on the legality of such a move, so please feel free to follow the jump.

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We've all known her; the angry, jilted lover who carries the grudge far too long. All the while, she insists that she's over him. For the sake of this post, lets call her oh, I don't know, how about Miley? Miley High. That seems like a good, random name.

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   I was not intending to post anything, but the comments being made are starting to get to me. Hearing the stupidity coming from regular fans, particularly fans of other teams, is one thing, but coming from players and former players is just too much.

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via bearshibernation.com

WARNING: The following post pretty much confirms what you already know. At least I think it does. You should read it anyways, though. It also had nothing to do with this picture, but it's a nice picture nonetheless.

    With all the discussion of the maligned turf at Soldier Field, I wanted to see if there were any noticable trends. While our home/road win/loss total was fairly close (5-3 at home, 6-2 away), our sack totals were skewed considerably more.

 Considering the Tampa Two is predicated on speed, specifically on creating a strong pass rush, I wanted to see how much of a difference there was between home and away sack totals. The numbers were pretty drastic. For all 16 regular season games, we had a total of 34 sacks (stats per ProFootballWeekly). Only 12 of those came while playing on our home turf.

   Our interception totals for the year were not impacted by this as much as I would have thought. The Bears managed to rack up 21 picks throughout the regular season, with 9 of them coming at home. This continues on with the same trend, though not quite as sharply as with the sack numbers (Sack rate 35%, INT rate 43% for home games).

   Obviously, the teams we played could have an effect on the numbers, so I took a look at those numbers as well. We definitely had some tough teams at home. After dropping the records of Carolina (away) and New England (home), as they were the two outliers, the teams we played on the road had a combined record of 27-37 for a 42% win rate, while the teams we played at home had a record of 34-30 for a 53% win rate.

   This shows a possible reason for the split differential favoring the away games, but I took it a step further and looked at the O-lines as well. Of the teams we played at home, three had offensive lines ranked in the top half of the league against the pass rush (numbers per Football Outsiders), while four of our road opponents fell into that category. So while our home opponents had a better combined record, our road opponents featured one more top-16 Pass Protect unit.

   So what does all this prove? Well, I think it kind of shows that the turf at Soldier Field sucks. Of course, I was already pretty sure that it sucked long before I went and did a bunch of stupid math at 3 AM, so I'm not sure this was the best use of my time. Or of yours, for the three of you who might actually make it through this nonsense. Sorry. Go Bears.  

     An article about how the Bears are just a fluke? How clever and unique. My apologies to Fridgeman81, as I just realized he has posted a link to this story. However, I wanted to take a closer look at this column, and utilize the also non-unique style of article breakdown favored by numerous blogs.  

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 For those of you wanting some Bears and/or Ditka merch for the holidays, but who just aren't the sweater vest type, I found this bit of t-shirt awesomeness on Ebay. Ditka reference? Check. Chicago reference? Check. Entertaining, though highly romanticized fake biker gang reference? Check.

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Hello all. I was contacted this week by a man by the name of Raoul Duke-Grabowski. Apparently he has a journalist cousin who has covered motorcycle races in Vegas, a couple Super Bowls, and spent some unpleasant time in Chicago in the summer of '68, amongst other things. He's not fond of computers, so he asked me to post this for him after sending it across the Mojo wire (Just go with it. Please don't tug at the strings.) Follow the jump for his strange little tale.

"I feel the same way about the Packers as I do about disco and herpes." --- Raoul Duke-Grabowski

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   Displaying the class we've come to expect from him, LaDainian Tomlinson opted to sign with the Jets, snubbing Minnesota as any decent person would. He signed a two year deal and will serve as a back-up to Shonn Greene. He is expected to be a new target to whom Mark Sanchez can throw weak-armed, ill-advised incomplete passes. With this signing, the versatile back has kept himself on many Bears fans' "players I respect" list, and off of their "players I use to respect and now despise" list.

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   According to Bears GM Jerry Angelo, Lovie's job may not be as safe as we thought. Prior to today's game, the Bear's GM refuted the Comcast Sports article claiming that the decision to retain Smith for next year had already been made, and stated no decision will be made until the season has concluded.

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There's been a lot of argument that we are built for the Tampa Two defense, so we shouldn't consider changing it. It's also been a factor in the keep Lovie/fire Lovie debate. I'm not necessarily calling for the scrapping of our defense or coaches (though I wouldn't be heartbroken if it happened). I just want to show why it's a bogus argument.

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Due to last week's overwhelming response, I thought I'd go ahead and continue on this week. I had to work all weekend, so this is the first chance I've had to watch the game. Stupid firewalls. I considered just adding on to GB's post, but I've got a little too much for the comment section. Half-ass analysis to begin in 4...3...2..

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Why only the first half? Because it took long enough to dissuade me from doing the second half.

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Alcorn State alum and former NFL MVP Steve McNair was found shot to death in his Nashville home, along with a female victim. The police have not revealed much in the way of details and have not released the identity of the woman. McNair spent his career with the Oilers, Titans, and Ravens, and was Co-MVP along with Peyton Manning in 2003. He was 36 years old.

[Note by WCG, 07/04/09 6:51 PM EDT ]If you would like to read more in the coming days, I'm sure Music City Miracles will be keeping everybody updated.

 

    After spending some time in GB's Pro Bowl post, it got my wheels turning on how much I hate the voting process for the Pro Bowl, as well as for all-star games in general. Since they're moving the game out of Hawaii (bad idea) and moving it in front of the Super Bowl (bad idea #2), I figure maybe they can change the selection process as well.

Poll

Do you feel the voting process for the Pro Bowl should be changed, or should it be left alone?

70%

Yes, it should be changed

21 votes

30%

No, leave it as it is

9 votes

30 votes | Poll has closed

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According to an AP story, former Bears 2002 draft pick Marc Colombo has signed a recording contract along with current Cowboy's teammates Leonard Davis and Cory Procter. They have a metal band called The Screaming ACL's of Death Free Reign, and have signed with an Australian label, Riot Entertainment. Congratulations to him on finding something he's good at besides hanging out on the trainer's table. Here's the link, just to prove that I'm not making this up. 

In separate interviews yesterday, Michael Vick and Orenthal "O.J." Simpson called into question the maturity and decision making of newly acquired Bears QB Jay Cutler. Cutler's reputation has come under attack in recent months since demanding a trade from the Denver Broncos after problems arose between new coach Josh McDaniels and himself.

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  Can someone explain to me why any NFL franchise would want Favre on their team at this point? He's obviously not capable of being a starting QB anymore, or at least not a competent one. Even if someone thought he had something left in the tank, last season with the Jets should have made it clear that he just doesn't have it anymore. He had a solid offense around him, so the stand-by excuse of "he doesn't have a line/running game/anyone to throw to" no longer applies. 

  Considering what an absolute prick he's been to young QB's under him, they can't possibly expect him to be the kindly veteran mentoring and grooming a young prospect. Not to mention that his horrible decision making and refusal to take any sort of criticism is not exactly something you want to pass on to a future player.

    The only reason I can come up with is to help sell tickets, but even that will only last so long. And you know damn well it will get ugly when he starts hearing the boos from fans. Although his ego is so out of hand that he may not even realize it's him that they're booing. Can someone tell me what the attraction is with this guy?

Yahoo! Sports is reporting that former Detroit, St Louis, Indianpolis, and Arena League WR/DB Mike Furrey has signed with Cleveland. That would be one more marginal receiver who is way better than Rashied Davis that is no longer available. I'll post the link below for anyone who's interested, but I somehow doubt anyone cares that much. It is Mike Furrey after all...

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=Au24zTGbf5VoKufde2PRZcdDubYF?slug=ap-browns-furrey&prov=ap&type=lgns

  The recent Lance Louis discussion kinda got my brain running. While we may not need three pass-catching tight ends, it occurs to me that paying a 7th rounder and a 5th rounder (Kellen Davis) costs a lot less than paying Desmond Clark.

 

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   This is something I was kicking around the other day. This is NOT a rumor, it is purely speculation on my part. Just want to see what people think.

  I know it's kind of heresy to even suggest it, but what about the possibility of a Urlacher for Anquan Boldin trade? While I don't relish the idea of trading our franchise player for the last 8 years, it makes for an interesting idea.

    I think there's a good chance we've already seen the best part of Urlacher's career. While he stayed healthy for the first 6 or 7 years, he's now starting to have some real issues. Neck and back issues are not something that can just be written off. This would let him move to a team that is desparate for defensive help, but is still a team in contention. It's also a lot closer to his home in New Mexico. I think we could shift Briggs into the middle, and look at signing Derrick Brooks to a short term deal, somewhere around two years to let us have a chance to draft a replacement. He obviously knows the system, and I think he'd jump at the chance to play for Lovie. Brooks isn't what he once was, but he's still more than capable of filling in for a couple seasons. And of course we instantly upgrade our offense with a stud receiver who's still in his 20's.

   The only arguments I can think of against it are that 1) it's freaking Urlacher, and 2) Boldin can be kind of a dick some times. But I've got to say, a line-up of Boldin/Hester/Bennett looks an awful lot better than Hester/Bennett/Davis. I'd like to see some opinions on this, however please refrain from MF'ing me for suggesting we trade #54.

   Yahoo Sports is reporting that Braylon Edwards is expected to be traded to the Giants by draft day. Reportedly the Browns are asking for NY's 2nd and 5th round picks and also Steve Smith (no, not the good one). NY has declined and made a counter offer.

   I know Edwards had a down year, but I'm thinking we need to take a shot at this. I'm not thrilled with giving away our whole draft, but we need a WR, and he's better than anyone we've got by a mile. Probably better than anyone we're going to get in the draft too. Since we've got higher picks than the giants, we can offer our 2nd and 5th, or maybe even 2nd and 4th. If they balk, we can also offer to not send them Rashied Davis. That should sweeten the deal.

I just read that Cutler has contacted Plaxico "self-inflicted" Burress. According to a report attributed to Zaidman of The Score, Cutler texted Burress that they could use him in Chicago. I'm not able to find the original story to verify it.

  I realize how talented Burress is, but I really don't think they will consider bringing him in. At least I hope not. He has been an absolute headache since his days in Pittsburgh. Even ignoring the criminal issues, he's never been a team guy. After the issues with Tank Johnson, I just can't imagine they would sign a guy facing gun charges, even if he pleads out. I realize the potential of a Cutler/Burress threat, but I just don't think it's worth it.

Now that the adrenaline and dopamine have come back to normal levels following Thursday's moves, I'd like to move beyond the euphoric, girlish shrieks that I'm sure erupted from every one of us after hearing/reading the Cutler/Pace news.

 

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Denver Broncos owner Pat Bowlen has issued a statement confirming that the team plans to trade Jay Cutler. The statement was posted on the Broncos' official web site. According to the statement, Cutler has cut off all contact with team officials for the last ten days. Bowlen has spoken only with Cutler's agent, and has apparently decided the troubles between Cutler and Denvers rookie head coach Josh McDaniels are too great to overcome.

Probably not the greatest start for a rookie head coach, although Cutler's attitude has certainly not helped the situation. Regardless, let me be the first to say "Hey Jerry, pick up the damn phone!!!"

Helmet Tip along with JerBear50: gridiron_assassin