Latest News
Monday meanderings: The Chicago Bears’ 28-10 victory Sunday (Nov. 25) over the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field, coupled with the Green Bay Packers’ loss to the New York Giants, leaves the Bears alone in first place in the NFC North. You have to like the Bears’ Super Bowl chances — as long as they don’t have to play well against a really good team.
This is Indianapolis Colts cheerleader Megan M. — not in typical team attire (not that anyone around here is complaining).
* Once again, the Bears defense played well. Meaning it’s time to remind once again that the Bears reached the Super Bowl with Rex Grossman at quarterback. And Jay Cutler would seem an upgrade over him.
* Comcast SportsNet analyst and former Bears quarter Jim Miller called Cutler’s performance “phenomenal” (23-of-31 for 188 yards, 1 TD, 1 interception). It makes one wonder what adjective Miller might be saving for when Cutler has a 200-yard game.
* If Bears running back Matt Forte had a sprained ankle and had to leave the game, why did he walk to the locker room rather than be transported in a golf cart or something?
* Speaking of Forte, would the team’s ground game suffer without him? Well, it seemed to suffer with him. The Bears’ longest run of the day was The Bears averaged 2.9 yards per carry to the Vikings’ 5.7.
* Speaking of running attacks, the way that the Vikings didn’t run the ball much until late in the game had to make some folks wondering whether Bears offensive coordinator Mike Tice wasn’t calling Minnesota’s plays, too. Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson had seven first-half attempts for 25 yards and finished with 18 for 108. THe Vikes passed up Peterson runs more than once on third-and-short to throw the ball and unsuccessfully so.
* Bears offensive tackle Lance Louis was injured when Vikings defensive lineman Jared Allen blindsided him on an interception return. It was the type of hit that fans say was dirty/illegal if their player is the one being hit and just a part of the game if their player is the one doing the hitting.
* Whenver Bears coach Lovie Smith steps to the microphone for his postgame press gatherings with such a solemn visage, you half-expect him to say something stoically of global significance rather than the same, old stuff he generally does. One of these days he might say something newsworthy and/or refreshing. Not sure what the Vegas odds on that would be.
Playing for the tie: Jay Cutler helps J’Marcus Webb with his shoelace.
Among the highlights of the Bears’ victory was Cutler’s impressive effort during the fourth quarter — when he tied
offensive tackle J’Marcus Webb’s shoe. “I loosened it and tied it,” recent new dad Cutler said. “I guess my fatherly instincts are kicking in a little bit.”
Too bad tied shoelaces don’t factor into quarterback ratings.
“[That will] probably be on SportsCenter,” said Bears receiver Brandon Marshall — Cutler’s favorite target who had 12 receptions vs. the Vikings. “I don’t know if it was Cutler-like, but it was cool and we were all cheering in the huddle.”
The bald and the beautiful: Colts cheerleaders Crystal B. and Megan M. show you don’t need hair to look good.
The feel-good story of the day — aside from Cutler and Webb’s shoelace saga — had to be the Indianapolis Colts. More specifically their cheeleaders. Two members of the Colts’ cheerleaders had the heads shaved to raise money for leukemia research.
Crystal B. and Megan M. before having their heads shaved.
Megan M. and Crystal B. raised more than $20,000 in honor of Colts coach Chuck Pagano, who was diagnosed with leukemia in September and watched the game from a suite with owner Jim Irsay.
“I’ve just had personal experiences with people who have had cancer,” Megan told 24-hour News 8’s Daniel Miller. “I’ve had mentors and family members and volunteer … and met little girls who have lost their hair and beat cancer multiple times. Just seeing struggles they went through and how they could overcome that and still have confidence and fight this fight without their hair – they are really my inspiration for doing this.”
Hat’s off — as well as the hair — to these two women and all who supported their cause.
Yes, there’s still room for some random video. Would we start the week without any? Of course not. And a friendly reminder that what some people may regard as gratuitous, others may see otherwise:
Advertising opportunities are available on ElliottHarris.com. For information and rates, contact sales@elliottharris.com.