September 21, 2007
Urlacher's back acting up
Chicago MLB Brian Urlacher sat out practice today with a sore back, according to the Bears' official injury report. Urlacher is listed as probable for Sunday night.
Posted by Tim MacMahon at 2:55 PM
Will Berrian blow up?
SportsDay fantasy guru Ladd Biro picked the Bears' deep threat as a must-start this weekend.
Bernard Berrian, WR, Chicago vs. Dallas: He has not reached the end zone this season, but that should change against a secondary that has yielded six passing touchdown passes to date. Berrian has the speed to exploit soft coverage and is clearly Rex Grossman's go-to receiver.
Posted by Tim MacMahon at 2:39 PM
Can't get enough T.O. talk?
You can listen to his radio show on 790 The Ticket in Miami at 4 p.m.
The host is Miami Herald columnist Dan Le Batard, and his listeners were the ones who originally thought of the Spygate-mocking TD celebration. So you might get a sneak preview of T.O.'s antics in the Soldier Field end zone if you listen this afternoon.
Posted by Tim MacMahon at 2:16 PM
Cricket can't wait to hit Hester
Rookie FB Deon "Cricket" Anderson didn't sleep last night, staying up to study film to make sure he knows what he's doing if he has to start.
FB Oliver Hoyte aggravated a pinched nerve, which he originally suffered during the preseason, in last week's game. Hoyte said he would be a gametime decision.
Cricket is going to great lengths to make sure he's prepared to play fullback, but he said he's not sweating the possibility that he'll start. He's more fired up about getting a shot at Devin Hester.
"I don't even care as long as I'm on kickoff coverage and get to hit Hester," Cricket said. "That's what I live for."
Cricket said he feels like the linebacker from the cinematic classic The Program that drilled a dude and screamed something like, "I've been looking for you my whole life!"
Posted by Tim MacMahon at 1:43 PM
Newman skips media chat session
Terence Newman waited until Friday the last two weeks to talk to the media. He was a no-show in the locker room today.
You shouldn't read too much into Newman opting not to chat with his media pals. He said several times during last week's session that he was sick of discussing his partially torn right plantar fascia.
He'll be a gametime decision again, but Wade Phillips sound more optimistic about Newman's status than the last two weeks. Phillips said this morning that Newman has been ruled out of punt returns for the time being, but Newman has seen significantly more practice time than last week.
"If he plays this week, I'd like to get him in the game and start playing just his regular position," Phillips said. "Then we'll work from there. It may be nickel first. We’ll see."
Posted by Tim MacMahon at 1:30 PM
Will T.O. get some exercise in the end zone?
T.O.'s last trip to Chicago was highlighted by him doing sit-ups in the Soldier Field end zone after scoring a TD in an Eagles' win.
T.O. said Wednesday that he's considering cutting down on his post-TD antics after Sheriff Goodell taxed him $7,500 for mocking Spygate in Miami.
Since T.O. struggles with interpretation of the celebration rules, I'll try to help. It's my understanding that the sit-ups would be OK if he's already on the ground, but he can't go from standing up to doing sit-ups. Jumping jacks would be fine under any circumstances.
Posted by Tim MacMahon at 10:48 AM
Soldier Field
This is my 11th year of covering the NFL, but Sunday will be my first visit to Soldier Field. I'm looking forward to it, although the re-design of the stadium has been described as someone taking a space ship and placing it on top of the old stadium.
Older stadiums are a dying breed. Lambeau Field has the mystique. I was glad to cover a game at Mile High, but missed out on old Cleveland Stadium.
Bradie James is also looking forward to Sunday's game because it's where Mike Singletary and Dick Butkus played.
"It's one of those big deals, you getting the chance to play at Soldier Field with all the history and tradition that is applied there," James said, adding, "but I don't get caught up in that stuff. It's just 53 yards wide and 100 yards deep like every other one."
Posted by Todd Archer at 10:21 AM
Some money matters
When the Cowboys re-signed Nate Jones on Wednesday, they actually saved some money. Jones was on the books originally for $850,000 as a restricted free agent, but when he was brought back he was re-signed at the four-year minimum of $510,000, according to NFLPA figures.
Jones went from making $50,000 per week ($850,000/17 weeks) to $30,000 per week ($510,000/17 weeks). If Jones sticks around for the rest of the year, he'll make $450,000. UPDATE: The great AdamJT strikes. He's correct. I forgot the bye week. Jones will make $450,000, not $420,000 as I first said. Sorry for the error.
Also, whenever Tank Johnson is allowed to play, he will make $30,000 a game. If it's eight games, then he will make $240,000 for the season, but he might be paid for the bye week as well, which would up that total to $270,000.
Posted by Todd Archer at 10:21 AM
) is just resting the key defensive guys
