Advice for the Bears
WHEATON — The following changes would be beneficial to the Bears:
*Because Cedric Benson is neither explosive nor elusive, install the shifty Garrett Wolfe as the No. 1 running back. Wolfe’s scouting report describes him as a “nightmare in space,” and he demonstrated big-play capabilities in college. He has Gale Sayers-like moves — give him a chance.
*Because all the Bears’ quarterbacks have feet slower than Grandma Moses’, line up in a no-huddle, shotgun formation on at least 50 percent of the plays. It gives the immobile QB more time to see the field and spot the open receiver.
*Because the wide receivers cannot get separation, throw at least two long bombs to Devin Hester each quarter to show the threat of going deep is there and stop defenses from keying on the running game.
*Because Brian Urlacher is the most overrated player in Bears history, demote him to third-down-only status so his missed tackles, inability to shed blockers and tendency to overpursue don’t further hurt a regressing defense. He also can rest his ailing back.
*Because the hip-hop/rap music played at Soldier Field gives many fans (including me) a headache, please play 1950s and 1960s tunes instead.
— Jim Lentz
Missed opportunities
PLAINFIELD — The only feeling I have left for the Bears is sadness.
All the fans saw the problem with Rex Grossman last year; why does it always take so much longer for the experts to see the same thing?
The Bears are now doing the same thing with Brian Griese. He’s an adequate backup but certainly not a starting QB.
Give Kyle Orton a chance. If he’s not the answer, then start all over again. By the time the Bears find a quarterback, the defense will be too old and the offensive line will be even more offensive — they’re just not very good. The Bears have some good players, but not enough, and the ones they have are wasting their talents playing here.
I think Jerry Angelo has tried to bring a good team here. His major mistake has been some of his draft selections and the coaching staff as a whole, especially the offensive coordinator.
I’m withholding judgment on the defensive coordinator, but the defensive side has certainly changed in one year.
— Michael Bonfield
For a better Super Bowl
LOS ANGELES — The NFL powers-that-be are never capable of thinking outside the box.
This year’s Super Bowl will be another dud with the AFC champion riding roughshod over the NFC. These rivalries mean nothing anymore. The NFL vs. AFL was meaningful in the late ’60s and for a time in the early ’70s.
Each conference had a period of time when they were dominant, the NFC from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, the AFC now. Why not try to ensure the best game?
When four teams remain in the tournament, cross-seed them. Let the highest remaining AFC seed play the lower remaining NFC seed and vice versa. How exciting would a championship between the Bears and Packers or Bears and Giants be? Like old times. How about Dallas-Washington or Chargers-Raiders, etc. Rivalries make the best games.
This year we would probably get the Colts-Patriots rematch. Instead of a slopfest in the bad New England weather that we’re going to get in the AFC championship, they could be hyping Manning vs. Brady in a warm climate. What a climax to the season.
There is no rivalry between the conferences anymore. Let’s have the best game.
— Steve Orton
Don’t stop, Blackhawks
CHICAGO — Rocky Wirtz has made a good first impression with his first two moves: moving Bob Pulford to another position within the family business and putting seven home games on Comcast SportsNet.
I think he could rebuild the fan base a little more by making the following top priorities:
*Put two or three homes games on WGN; really free TV with national exposure on the superstation.
*Cut all non-alcohol concessions by $1 across the board or offer Blackhawks dollars, something that could be packaged with advance-ticket sales to ease the cost of concession prices.
*Work with NHL schedule-makers to schedule more “Original Six” teams at home.
*Bring Pat Foley and Bobby Hull back into the Blackhawks family.
*Schedule a few Rockford Icehogs games at the United Center.
*Have half-price tickets for home games against low-drawing teams;
*Retire the late Keith Magnuson’s No. 3 as a sign of appreciation for a player known for his team play, hard work and community service throughout his life.
— Walter Brzeski
Alternative to BTN
GREEN OAKS — Unlike my satellite friends, I, as a cable customer, am denied yet another insignificant Big Ten football game this week. However, this Saturday, I can watch two winning teams in a meaningful match on Comcast: Mt. Carmel and Maine South live at 1 p.m. Plus, there’s the replay of the Wheaton Warrenville South/ Morgan Park game 24 hours later.
Let’s hope it’s more interesting than the Penn State/ Iowa bingo match on BTN.
— John McHugh
Remember Prep Bowl
HOMER GLEN — What’s with the Chicago Prep Bowl playoffs? We Chicago-area high school football fans used to really get excited over the playoff games (with semifinals and final being played at Soldier Field) leading to the championship game featuring the Public League champ vs. the Catholic League champ. Indeed, more than 100,000 people jammed Soldier Field one year — the largest crowd ever to see a football game played there at any level.
Now, after losing in the IHSA playoffs, these teams suddenly jump into the ongoing Prep Bowl playoffs. The Prep Bowl simply has become anticlimactic. Decision-makers in these schools need to make a choice.
With the way they’re doing it now, the once-heralded Prep Bowl has become a shadow of what it was.
— Joel Lazar
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