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Judging by the way Jay Cutler’s(notes) passes traveled from his right hand to his intended receivers, almost as if connected by a clothesline, the Bears’ new quarterback is already getting in sync with his targets, but that’s just part of his role as the new field general.

“A quarterback’s got to be a coach on the field,” Cutler said after his first OTA practice Wednesday (May 20) at Halas Hall. “And you’ve got to get the best out of every single player. It’s a delicate process. I can yell at some guys, and you can lightly push other guys. It’s a tiptoe act. I’ve got to feel out the guys and kind of see what their pressure points are and how much you can push them, and that’s going to come in time. I’ve tried to do as much on the field and hang out off the field with these offensive guys and just get a feel for what makes them tick.”

The on-the-field stuff doesn’t figure to be a concern. Of Cutler’s first 40 or so passes, only one ball hit the ground, and that was a drop by Rashied Davis(notes), his only one of the day. Most of the routes were being run against air, but even on throws to the far sideline or 50 yards downfield, receivers rarely had to break stride, and they never had to wait very long for the ball.

“His arm strength is incredible,” Devin Hester(notes) said. “The first couple days (during voluntary workouts) everybody’s eyes were wide open and saying, ‘Wow.’ We’re getting used to it.”

Even on the deep balls, Cutler doesn’t need to put much air under his throws to get them there, like the one he flipped 60 yards in the air to Hester behind the secondary in seven-on-seven drills.

“He’s got a lot of velocity on it, and there’s not a lot of trajectory,” offensive coordinator Ron Turner said. “The ball gets there in a hurry. Just his arm strength, I’ve never been around anything like that before, and he’s shown very good accuracy the little bit I’ve been around him.”

That’s the idea, and that’s why the Bears gave up their own starting quarterback, Kyle Orton(notes), two first-round draft picks and a third-rounder to get Cutler. Bears receivers have already learned that his passes arrive with plenty of giddy-up on them.

“It takes a little time to adjust,” Turner said. “They know they better get their head around and get their hands up because that ball’s going to be there. Receivers want that, coaches want that, everybody wants that.”

And they all expect Cutler to provide it, which is fine with him. The 26-year-old has been making the rounds of the city’s hot sports spots and maintaining a busy social schedule, so he’s aware of the great expectations that arrived with him from Denver.

“I knew coming into it,” he said. “Anytime a team wants to make a trade like that and give up what they gave up, it’s going to be a lot of pressure, a lot of high expectations, and I welcome it. It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be a good challenge. I’ve got a lot of time to work with the guys and get ready for Game 1.”

Leading the Bears to a victory in that one would shoot Cutler’s popularity through the roof. The opener is a Sunday night against the Packers in Green Bay.

Former Chicago Bears defensive lineman Refrigerator Perry was released from the hospital after a month long stay.

He was being treated for the rare nervous system disorder Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

Fans will always remember The Fridge for his 9 year NFL career which included becoming a Super Bowl XX Champion with the 1985 Bears

To leartn more about William Perry click here.

GO BEARS!

For all you football fans the preseason isn’t too far away. One game I can’t wait to see in preseason is the Bears vs Broncos.

For many reasons this will be a good game but the biggest thing I think everyone will have on their mind is Jay Cutler playing his old Broncos. The Bears have made some significant changes this year such as adding Pro-bowl QB Jay Cutler. They have also expanded their receivers line up and are very confident in the promising young wide receivers, not to mention Hester and Cutler will make a great duo.

Cutler received a rousing ovation at his introduction at the annual Bears Expo, but Lovie still insists the Bears will still rely on thier defense and special teams just as they have the last few years.

With everything shaping up for the Bears this could turn out to be a great season for Bears fans.

For a look at the Bears full schedule for 2009 click here.

May 11, 2009
Bears agree to terms with tight end Michael Gaines
By: Larry Mayer

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The Bears on Monday agreed to terms on a one-year contract with tight end Michael Gaines.

The 6-4, 277-pounder has appeared in 73 games with 41 starts in five NFL seasons with the Carolina Panthers (2004-06), Buffalo Bills (2007) and Detroit Lions (2008).

Gaines is a strong inline blocker who’s athletic enough to also line up at fullback. He is similar in playing style to ex-Bears tight end John Gilmore and could fill the same type of role.

“It’s an unreal moment for me right now, just because of who the Bears are, what the organization is and the winning tradition,” Gaines said. “It feels good in that aspect.”

Gaines has caught 79 career passes for 810 yards and 5 touchdowns. Last season he had 23 receptions for a career-high 260 yards and 1 TD in 16 games with six starts for the winless Lions.

Gaines, who entered the NFL in 2004 as a seventh-round pick (232nd overall) with the Panthers, was also drawing free-agent interest from the New York Jets. But he chose to sign with the Bears, even though he will be behind Desmond Clark and Greg Olsen on the depth chart.

“I never thought I’d be playing for Chicago because of the situation they have,” said Gaines, a 29-year-old Central Florida product. “But this is a privilege that they see me in so many different ways.

“The Bears had a plan for me. You can’t beat that when people have a goal and a plan mapped out for you at your position. If you put both [the Bears and Jets] together and looked at them on paper, the Jets made sense. But like I said, the Bears had a plan for me and there was just something about Chicago.”

Teams looking for intangible that can’t be measured by drills
By Steve Wyche  |  NFL.com
Senior Writer

INDIANAPOLIS — The prospective NFL offensive linemen moved about the media circuit at the combine Thursday at Lucas Oil Stadium following extensive medical workups. Most looked the part, strolling around in black sweats, meeting media that probed which teams the players will be meeting with before going through a multitude of drills in the coming days.

Yet, this whole circuit might not dictate much of what teams — especially those in desperate need — are looking for in an offensive lineman.

“Toughness,” Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said about the main trait he wants in an offensive lineman.

Can’t measure that in a 40-yard dash or in drills where guys go at it in non-padded Under Armour gear. You can measure it, though, but it might take the insight of an offensive line coach, by nature, like Sparano.

“It’s OK to watch them against the best player, but I kind of like to watch them against people they should play well against and see maybe what they’re about,” Sparano said.

Manhandling the vulnerable measures a player’s focus, will and, maybe, his nasty streak — requirements that are mandatory in the NFL, where there are no patsies eager to make their mark by racking up quarterback sacks and tackles for lost yardage.

Sparano, along with members of Miami’s personnel staff, saw what he liked in Michigan tackle Jake Long and used the NFL draft’s No. 1 pick on him last season. Though a lot of other things fell in place, Long’s development at left tackle factored into the Dolphins advancing to the playoffs after winning just one game the season before he was drafted.

As a result, Miami will select 25th overall in April’s draft, long after most of the top offensive line prospects have been snatched up.

Tackles Andre Smith (Alabama), Eugene Monroe (Virginia), Jason Smith (Baylor) and Michael Oher (Mississippi) and centers Alex Mack (California) and Max Unger (Oregon) lead an offensive line group that is highly regarded for its depth and top-end talent, especially at tackle. The guard group isn’t viewed as spectacular, but solid players can be found (isn’t that what is always said about guards?).

“We coached in the Senior Bowl last year, and you had a pretty good idea about both (teams’) lines,” Raiders coach Tom Cable said about the offensive line prospects in the 2008 draft class. “This year, just going to the Senior Bowl and watching, I thought all these guys are going to be NFL players. I wasn’t sure about all those guys last year.”

Most of the teams in the top 10 of the draft need to upgrade their offensive lines with top-level players (St. Louis, Cincinnati and Jacksonville, especially), and some of them will. The run on tackles could start much earlier than last season, when six went in the top 19 picks. There might not be as many tackles selected, but the top four could be gone before the 15th selection.

The projected first-round picks among the offensive linemen have the size, footwork, strength and athleticism to be anchors for years. Yet, do they have that extra bit of heart that will let them overcome being whipped by Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison on the previous play? Do they possess that extra toughness to move Albert Haynesworth back a yard at money time after being hammered for the better part of four quarters?

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For those of you who don’t know, the Combine is like a job fair for players who want to be in the NFL. Players go through a series of drills, tests and interviews with more than 600 NFL personnel including head coaches, general managers and scouts.

The Combine started today and will go on over the next six days.

For more information go to www.nfl.com/combine

Watch the Combine Online here

The NFC proved superior this weekend with a 30 - 21 win over the AFC.

It was a good game and the Manning brothers made history, not only were they the first brothers to play in a Pro Bowl they were on opposite sidelines. Little brother Eli ended up with the bragging rights for the game over his older brother Peyton.

An obvious list of all stars led to a day of fun under the sun for the top player sin the league.

For more info and highlights check out NFL.com.

Well the Super Bowl is over, and what a great super bowl it was, I was pulling for the Cards but I am not disappointed by any means as it was a great game.

The NFL draft is only 79 days away.

There are lots of hot prospects on the list and we should see some amazing rookie talents show through next year.

Here are some of the first round prospects and the draft order.

1. Detroit Lions - Matt Stafford, QB, Georgia

2. St. Louis Rams - Andre Smith, OT, Alabama

3. Kansas City Chiefs - Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss

4. Seattle Seahawks - Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech

5. Cleveland Browns - Rey Maualuga, ILB, USC

6. Cincinnati Bengals - Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas

7. Oakland Raiders - Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech

8. Jacksonville Jaguars - Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest

9. Green Bay Packers - Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State

10. San Francisco 49ers - Mark Sanchez, QB, 49ers

11. Buffalo Bills - Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia

12. Denver Broncos - James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio State

13. Washington Redskins - B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College

14. New Orleans Saints - Brian Cushing, OLB, USC

15. Houston Texans - Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois

16. San Diego Chargers - Chris "Beanie" Wells, RB, Ohio State

17. New York Jets - Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia

18. Chicago Bears - Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss

20. Detroit Lions (from Cowboys) - Everette Brown, DE, Florida State

21. Philadelphia Eagles - Jason Smith, OT, Baylor

22. Minnesota Vikings - Alex Mack, C, California

23. New England Patriots - D.J. Moore, CB, Vanderbilt

24. Atlanta Falcons - Mike Mickens, CB, Cincinnati

25. Miami Dolphins - William Moore, FS, Missouri

26. Baltimore Ravens - Percy Harvin, WR, Florida

27. Indianapolis Colts - Sen’Derrick Marks, DT, Auburn

28. Philadelphia Eagles (from Panthers) - Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State

29. New York Giants - Fili Moala, DT, USC

30. Tennessee Titans - Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri

31. Arizona Cardinals - LeSean McCoy, RB, Pitt

32. Pittsburgh Steelers - Duke Robinson, OG, Oklahoma

Being a Bears fan I am excited to see a WR on the list but I still hope that some day Chicago can find A QB.

The Steelers and the Cardinals put on a great show and the nation noticed. Nielsen Media Research reports that 98.7 million people were watching this years Super Bowl on average.

Last Super Bowl held the record of 97.5 million viewers, but with such an impressive showing by both teams the Steelers and Cards stole the show.

For those few who didn’t see the game it was a great game and the Steelers pulled off a 27 - 23 victory.

This year Bodybuilding.com joined in on the festivities of the Super Bowl, see Bob as he hosts  
an all-star cast of celebrities including Kevin Dillon, the Kardashians, Vida Guerra and much more at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Tampa, Florida.  

Check out photos from the red carpet here.

The list for the Draft is in (depending on who wins the Super Bowl) and here are some of the 1^st round picks that are being speculated.

1. Detroit Lions - Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia

2. St. Louis Rams - Andre Smith, OT, Alabama

3. Kansas City Chiefs - Michael Oher, OT, Ole Miss

4. Seattle Seahawks - Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech

5. Cleveland Browns - Rey Maualuga, ILB, USC

6. Cincinnati Bengals - Brian Orakpo, DE, Texas

7. Oakland Raiders - Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech

8. Jacksonville Jaguars - Aaron Curry, OLB, Wake Forest

9. Green Bay Packers - Malcolm Jenkins, CB, Ohio State

10. San Francisco 49ers - Mark Sanchez, QB, 49ers

11. Buffalo Bills - Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia

12. Denver Broncos - James Laurinaitis, ILB, Ohio State

13. Washington Redskins - B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College

14. New Orleans Saints - Brian Cushing, OLB, USC

15. Houston Texans - Vontae Davis, CB, Illinois

16. San Diego Chargers - Chris "Beanie" Wells, RB, Ohio State

17. New York Jets - Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia

18. Chicago Bears - Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Peria Jerry, DT, Ole Miss

20. Detroit Lions (from Cowboys) - Everette Brown, DE, Florida State

21. Philadelphia Eagles - Jason Smith, OT, Baylor

22. Minnesota Vikings - Alex Mack, C, California

23. New England Patriots - D.J. Moore, CB, Vanderbilt

24. Atlanta Falcons - Mike Mickens, CB, Cincinnati

25. Miami Dolphins - William Moore, FS, Missouri

26. Baltimore Ravens - Percy Harvin, WR, Florida

27. Indianapolis Colts - Sen’Derrick Marks, DT, Auburn

28. Philadelphia Eagles (from Panthers) - Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State

29. New York Giants - Fili Moala, DT, USC

30. Tennessee Titans - Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri

31/32. Arizona Cardinals - LeSean McCoy, RB, Pitt

31/32. Pittsburgh Steelers - Duke Robinson, OG, Oklahoma

What a crazy year in the NFL! At the beginning of the season or even the playoffs there were not very many people that would have guessed it would be the  Steelers and the Cards at the Bowl. Not to say the Steelers haven’t looked great this year coming out on top of the AFC North with a 12-4 record but the Cards definitely surprised some people making it to the Super Bowl. Well the count down is on and only 10 days till the Big Game.

Even if your not a looking forward to watching the Steelers and Cards don’t miss the Lingerie Bowl for halftime.

Lets see if the Cards can pull it off, not many people thought the Giants could do it last year.

The Giants just couldn’t do it this weekend losing to the Eagles 23 - 11, in fact since Plaxico shot himself in the thigh and got suspended for the season they have lost 4 out of the last 5 games.

Before he was suspended in December the Giants were 11 - 1 and well on their way to another possible Super Bowl. Now they ended the season 12 - 5.

He might not be the brightest guy but he is definitely a great receiver and the Giants needed him to pull off a win over the Eagles to say the least, he has 5 receiving TD’s against the Eagles in his career and a another 1 or 2 would have most likely given the Giants a win against the Eagles.

But then again who shoots himself in the thigh, You get what you ask for in this life and he was asking to be suspended!

There has always been the issue of the Bears needing a QB, they have had the longest QB search in the NFL. But now there is talk about the Bears Defense lacking consistency being the reason the Bears didn’t make the Playoffs. Orton is not a bad QB but I feel he has still to show a lot more to really show he can be a solution to the QB search. Just as Jerry Angelo put it “We’ve got to get the quarterback position stabilized. We’re fixated on that I don’t want us to lose sight of that. That position has to get righted.”

Many Bears fans and even haters would have to agree the Bears need a QB if they are ever going to be the team they can be.

Last week the Eagles did what they had to to beat the Vik’s but they didn’t look up to par so to say. I am going to have to take the Giants over the Eagles on that one. The Giants pulled off the Upset last year and won the Super Bowl with a 10-6 record and played even stronger this year pulling out 12-4 to end the season.

I am also going to have to take the Panthers over the Cards, Warner is looking great and looks better on paper then Delhomme but in the end just look at these two team history. The Cards just can’t take the Panthers.

I’m putting the Giants vs the Panthers on the 18th and then I am saying the Panthers pull out ahead of the Giants in the 4th. I wouldn’t put money on this game though it’s a hard one to call!

But who really cares because as soon as the Bears get a good QB they are taking home the ring anyways!