No Time to Mention Giving Lovie a Bears Extension

December 10, 2012 @ admin → No Comments

Monday meanderings: The biggest challenge facing Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery — other than obtaining personnel that allows the team to score more points than it allows each game — is to figure out why coach Lovie Smith deserves a contract extension with one year left on his contract. A reason other than ownership is fond of him. Is it fair to judge Smith after a 21-14 loss Sunday (Dec. 9) to the Minnesota Vikings dropped the Bears to 8-5? Probably not. Just as it wouldn’t have been to assess him at midseason when the Bears were 7-1 and seemingly assured of a postseason berth.

This is Vikings cheerleader Alissa. A reminder the Bears don’t have cheerleaders. As if anyone needs a reminder.

* Gee, if the Bears aren’t going to score defensive and/or special-teams touchdowns, how is the team supposed to win? Other than by holding opponents scoreless.

* If it’s any consolation to Bears fans (and the guess here is that it is not), the Bears bettered the Vikings 57.0-53.8 — in quarterback ratings for Jay Cutler and Minnesota’s Christian Ponder.

* Still in the world of consolation for Bears fans (who tend to be inconsolable after losses), Adrian Peterson rushed for 104 first-quarter yards — a franchise record — but fell well short of 416 yards. Which is the pace he was on after the first 15 minutes. Yeah, he added only 50 yards the rest of the game. So let’s get this straight. The Bears need to do away with the first quarter, and Lovie Smith needs to do away with the last quarter — of the season, during which he is 5-9 the last four years.

* If it’s any consolation to Bears fans (and the guess here is … you know the drill), Matt Forte averaged 6.5 yards per carry to Peterson’s 5.0. Of course, Forte had only 18 rushes to Peterson’s 31.

Another Minnesota Vikings cheerleader — Missy — to take your mind off another Bears loss.

* You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to think Forte should run more and Cutler should pass less. How about an assistant football coach for a Chicago NFL team? Problem is somebone ought to inform offensive coordinator Mike Tice. Cutler went 22-of-44. Granted it’s a small sample size, but since 2009 when Cutler became a Bear, the team is 0-6 in games when he has thrown 40 or more passes. Of course, stats like that aren’t always accurate — much like several of Cutler’s throws vs. the Vikings.

* If it’s any consolation to Bears fans (fill in the parenthetical refrain here), Brandon Marshall was open on the interception return for the Vikings’ third touchdown.

* Speaking of Marshall, he set a team record with his 101st reception of the season. He surpassed Marty Booker’s 100 in 2001. Marshall, of course, would trade any statistical achievements for victories. Until, of course, contract negotiations.

* On the bright side, the Bears do play the Arizona Cardinals, who lost to the Seattle Seahawks 58-0 Sunday. Which means the Bears will have a chance to triumph, provided that they allow as many points to the Cardinals as Seattle did.

* You know the injuries that the Bears are encountering from Brian Urlacher’s hamstring to Cutler’s stiff neck? Every team — including NFL North-leading Green Bay (9-4), which visits Soldier Field on Dec. 16 — has them. So anyone rationalizing the Bears’ recent slide should find another excuse.

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For those who need a diversion from the Bears’ recent failures, this video with model Stephy C might be able to provide a welcome change:

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Exercise is supposed to be one way to help work off some of the negative emotions — such as ones that might come with a Bears defeat. Which has to be the reason the editorial staff at elliottharris.com thought the following video might be beneficial for therapeutic purposes: