| ...the bears still suck” That, which for nearly a decade, has been a ‘given’, is now a bone of contention between bears apologists and their Packer antagonists. In fact many fans not involved in the greatest rivalry in major team sports have ‘jumped ship’ from the obvious to the sinking vessel which is da bearz. Truth be told, incredible as it may seem, some Packers fans now bite their tongue rather than join the chorus. That the bears won the NFC central in it’s final year of existence is undeniable, and in the eyes of bears fans, incontrovertible proof that the bears don’t suck. That the only playoff teams the bears beat last season were the lowest seeded playoff teams (they beat the 49ers by virtue of luck, luck, and a little more luck, and twice beat the Bucs, who have since been banished from the Black and Blue Division) is undeniable proof that they do. But, for better or worse, that was then and this is now. If one wished to dwell on history, one has to look no further than the bears dismal overall record since their last previous winning season in 1995. No need to go there, however, to support the proposition that the bears still suck. Simply wander over to a meeting of the bears offensive “brain trust”. Here we find head coach Dick Jauron, |
whose job was saved by a rabbit’s foot, John Shoop, in whom even bears fans can find no cause for confidence, Jim Miller, the bears starting QB (he of the 19 career starts and lifetime passer rating of 74.3 in 8 seasons) and Chris Chandler, the BIG DEAL pick up for the bears in the off season. Why, one might wonder, would the bears sign a guy who is perhaps the only QB in the NFL more fragile than Miller? Well, bears fans proclaim, he beat the Packers last season, right? More accurately, the Falcons beat the Packers... more accurately still, the Packers lost to the Falcons... and those who actually watched the game, know it was given away by the panty-laced, half-hearted, bone-headed play of a third rate wide receiver (Bill Schroeder) who the Packers cut loose with no more thought than one would give to throwing out a torn condom. In fairness, one must concede that in order to succeed in the NFL, one must attempt to get to the next level, which in the bears case means beating the Packers. After all, the Packers made the moves they deemed necessary to get to the next level, which in the Packers case means beating the Rams. But Chandler, the bears’ St. George to the dragon that is the Packers, isn’t even the bears starter!!! According to an article by Sports Illustrated’s Don Banks ( linked here ) |
there isn’t so much as a controversy. Miller and Chandler are playing kissy face over margaritas. Against the backdrop of other recent QB controversies in Chicago (McMahon/Flutie, Harbaugh/Tomzak, Kramer/Krieg) in which at least one of the contenders had something to bring to the table, the Miller/Chandler competition has the makings of a nut-kicking contest which neither contestant is anxious to pursue vigorously... and which the second kicker is likely to win by default. But, “Jimmy’s the guy, Jimmy’s the man,” says Jauron. Jimmy’s the Man??? If that doesn’t scare the bejeezus out of bears fans, credit them with courage if not brains. And to Chandler’s credit, he expresses the delusional self-confidence which has marked the bears QBs in recent years (do the names Rick Mirer and Cade McNown ring a bell?). Says Chandler, “Do I think I'm as good as anybody in the league? Hell, yeah.” And what league would that be, Chris? Certainly not the league that includes Brett Favre, Kurt Warner, Jeff Garcia, and Payton Manning. Chandler has never been nor is he now, good enough to carry the jocks of such second tier NFL QBs like Rich Gannon, Donovan McNabb, and Brian Griese. So who the heck are the bears tryin’ to fool??? Apparently, and successfully, their fan base. |