Never a frown with(out) golden Brown?
I knew it was coming, I just didn't know when or who. But there's always somebody on every team that is indespensible, and if they go down all the team's the pieces are left in pieces, scattered all over the dusty ground. Then come those tense days in the aftermath of the dreadful news that find fans pouring over team rosters and begging media experts for insight into the unknown quantities charged with picking them up and making sense of it all.
I'm well-versed in days like this, having grown up rooting for the perpetually hobbled Andre Dawson and Patrick Ewing and fretting away into adulthood with the likes of perrenial party poopers Kerry Wood and Mark Prior.
Here I go again.
Mike Brown's possibly season-ending foot injury certainly knocks the Bears defense down a peg. It always does. 2002, 2004 and 2005 all inevitably sucked when the team's emotional leader was sidelined with severe injuries to his lower extremeties. Their record since the start of 2004 is 6-12. With him they're 16-4.
But that 6-12 record contains the last 12 games of 2004 which didn't include a healthy Rex Grossman or even a semi-competent Kyle Orton so you have to figure that a secondary of Mike Brown, Ronnie Lott, Rod Woodson and Deion Sanders would have had little effect on the proceedings. The kick return game would've been pretty good though, wouldn't it? Jeez.
But anyway, the Bears will trot out a parade of youngsters including Todd Johnson (who can hit a ton and has been rumored to be the next John Lynch for at least three years now), Chris Harris (who can hit a ton but is currently injured) Brandon McGowan (who can hit a ton but is currently suspended) and Cameron Worrell (who can hit a ton but I know almost nothing about).
None of them will bring Mike's leadership, intelligence or strategism. They may have the big-play ability that has been Brown's calling card since his rookie year in 2000, we just don't know which one will make the most plays and win the job. But one thing we know though is that they'll all hit a ton. So there's that anyway.
But my enthusiasm for this season just lost a little bit of wind as it appears that especially given the Monday night crapfest on offense, that the Bears will be a team that has to battle and scrap for victories just like every Bears team I've ever watched since, well, you know when.
One reason for optimism though (and I really need one today) is this list right here:
DE Alex Brown
DE Mark Anderson
DT Tank Johnson
DT Ian Scott
LB Lance Briggs
CB Charles Tillman
CB Nathan Vasher
WR Bernard Berrian
KR Devin Hester
These players have a few things in common. One obvious thing that stands out when you look at them is that they are African-American. That's not what I'm talking about though. Each of these players is a certified baddass as evidenced by their outstanding play so far this season and parts of the last two or three.
And they are all draft picks of Bears GM and architect Jerry Angelo. Not much was expected of any of these players yet they have all performed magnificently when given their chance to shine. I'll add to this list the names, Tommie Harris, Rex Grossman and Cedric Benson. These are first round draft picks of Angelo from whom a lot has been expected and in the case of Harris, a lot more has been produced. Grossman looks very capable of being a winning NFL quarterback if not a soup can pimping superstar. Benson has had his issues with injuries and contract squabbles but many believe he's a better runner (though not a better player) than incumbant running back Thomas Jones.
So from this I grasp at the security that comes from knowing that your team's general manager is a true genius. And if he tells me that a player is the balls, then I have absolutely no reason but to believe him. So when he drafted safety Danneal Manning at the end of the first round this year prompting the whole world and God almighty to rip him for not adding to last year's anemic offense, I said, "Chill." The man knows how to build a defense and in Chicago, that's what matters after all. And besides, what if Mike Brown gets hurt again?
What if indeed. Well, the Bears will replace him and win some games anyway. The coaches are good enough to adjust the gameplan like they did with Orton last year.
And hell, we still have Urlacher. That's something too, right? Damn skippy. Just ask Edgerrin James. Heh heh heh...
Edit: 2:40 p.m. Chicago Tribune is reporting that Brown is officiall out for the season after being placed on Injured Reserve.
I'm well-versed in days like this, having grown up rooting for the perpetually hobbled Andre Dawson and Patrick Ewing and fretting away into adulthood with the likes of perrenial party poopers Kerry Wood and Mark Prior.
Here I go again.
Mike Brown's possibly season-ending foot injury certainly knocks the Bears defense down a peg. It always does. 2002, 2004 and 2005 all inevitably sucked when the team's emotional leader was sidelined with severe injuries to his lower extremeties. Their record since the start of 2004 is 6-12. With him they're 16-4.
But that 6-12 record contains the last 12 games of 2004 which didn't include a healthy Rex Grossman or even a semi-competent Kyle Orton so you have to figure that a secondary of Mike Brown, Ronnie Lott, Rod Woodson and Deion Sanders would have had little effect on the proceedings. The kick return game would've been pretty good though, wouldn't it? Jeez.
But anyway, the Bears will trot out a parade of youngsters including Todd Johnson (who can hit a ton and has been rumored to be the next John Lynch for at least three years now), Chris Harris (who can hit a ton but is currently injured) Brandon McGowan (who can hit a ton but is currently suspended) and Cameron Worrell (who can hit a ton but I know almost nothing about).
None of them will bring Mike's leadership, intelligence or strategism. They may have the big-play ability that has been Brown's calling card since his rookie year in 2000, we just don't know which one will make the most plays and win the job. But one thing we know though is that they'll all hit a ton. So there's that anyway.
But my enthusiasm for this season just lost a little bit of wind as it appears that especially given the Monday night crapfest on offense, that the Bears will be a team that has to battle and scrap for victories just like every Bears team I've ever watched since, well, you know when.
One reason for optimism though (and I really need one today) is this list right here:
DE Alex Brown
DE Mark Anderson
DT Tank Johnson
DT Ian Scott
LB Lance Briggs
CB Charles Tillman
CB Nathan Vasher
WR Bernard Berrian
KR Devin Hester
These players have a few things in common. One obvious thing that stands out when you look at them is that they are African-American. That's not what I'm talking about though. Each of these players is a certified baddass as evidenced by their outstanding play so far this season and parts of the last two or three.
And they are all draft picks of Bears GM and architect Jerry Angelo. Not much was expected of any of these players yet they have all performed magnificently when given their chance to shine. I'll add to this list the names, Tommie Harris, Rex Grossman and Cedric Benson. These are first round draft picks of Angelo from whom a lot has been expected and in the case of Harris, a lot more has been produced. Grossman looks very capable of being a winning NFL quarterback if not a soup can pimping superstar. Benson has had his issues with injuries and contract squabbles but many believe he's a better runner (though not a better player) than incumbant running back Thomas Jones.
So from this I grasp at the security that comes from knowing that your team's general manager is a true genius. And if he tells me that a player is the balls, then I have absolutely no reason but to believe him. So when he drafted safety Danneal Manning at the end of the first round this year prompting the whole world and God almighty to rip him for not adding to last year's anemic offense, I said, "Chill." The man knows how to build a defense and in Chicago, that's what matters after all. And besides, what if Mike Brown gets hurt again?
What if indeed. Well, the Bears will replace him and win some games anyway. The coaches are good enough to adjust the gameplan like they did with Orton last year.
And hell, we still have Urlacher. That's something too, right? Damn skippy. Just ask Edgerrin James. Heh heh heh...
Edit: 2:40 p.m. Chicago Tribune is reporting that Brown is officiall out for the season after being placed on Injured Reserve.
Within the story, is a quote manufactured for saps like myself:
But head coach Lovie Smith said Brown will continue to contribute to the
2006 season.
"He'll be Coach Brown now," Smith said. "Mike can give quite a bit of
leadership, he has a lot of knowledge that he can lend to the rest of the guys
in that [defensive back film room]."
posted by Apex at 8:54 AM
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