Chicago Football Chili

One thing that became clear at Soldier Field last week is that the Bears fans will no longer give Rex Grossman any slack.  From the first snaps, the boo birds were out.  And Rex did nothing to quiet them.

I swear, that while watching the Bears on TV tonight from Cleveland, that I heard the Cleveland fans boo Grossman when he threw a pass away.  The CLEVELAND fans.

Rex did some good things for the Bears, with the drive to the Super Bowl a couple of years back being the obvious highlight.  But the goodwill is gone, both from the fans and the team itself.  And meanwhile, our undrafted free agent 3rd stringer, Caleb Hanie keeps proving his worth with every pre-season game.  Tonight was no exception.

Somewhere in the NFL is a team that needs a backup QB.  And if they will give the Bears anything for Rex, then they should take it.  And if no one will give the Bears something for Grossman, then they should just let him go.  Let him become a free agent.  Take the loss.

Make Caleb Hanie the backup.  He's earned it.  Bring in any veteran QB who doesn't have a job as a third option.  Even without the playbook knowledge, a veteran QB in the 3 spot won't hurt us.

It will be good for Rex to get a new start.  Good for Hanie to get some real-world experience.  And good for the Vinny Testaverde/Jeff George type who gets the final spot on the Bears roster.  And good for the fans, who need to reserve their booing for when it's really needed.

 CHILI DAN

Posted by dawn2 at 08:44 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

So, Dawn read my last post about Chris Williams and said that I am “So lovie-dovie.  So ‘Hands Across America’”. 

Posted by dawn2 at 04:44 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The Bears have been gaining a reputation as not being very good with their 1st round draft picks, and the drama surrounding this years 14th overall pick isn't doing much to counter that feeling.

Williams, an Offensive Tackle drafted out of Vanderbilt, is out for awhile.  Herniated disc.  And apparently, he has had a history with this herniated disc.  It was known about by the Bears, by the other NFL teams, everyone who needed to know as draft day approached.  But the Bears drafted him anyway.

The disc in question, that everyone knew about, was not a hindrance to Williams at Vandy leading up to draft day.  So the Bears took a flyer on him.  If, like other injury risks (see A. Peterson, Minnesota Vikings), he managed to play through with no issues, then all would be right in the world.  Didn't happen that way, and us fans and the press can be rather unforgiving of mishaps related to the Bears

So while it is still plenty early in Chris Williams' career, the way we've heard it play out this week makes it sound like he's a cashed check away from retirement.  I don't think that's the case, and clearly the Bears don't think so either, else they'd never have spent the cash on him.  So let's give it (and Williams, and Jerry Angelo) a rest on this one, and put our focus on the players on the field.  It's not the injuries that define your season, it's the way you handle the obstacles thrown at you.  And we have 16 regular season games to assess that, Williams or no Williams.  Let's leave it all on the field.

 CHILI DAN

Posted by dawn2 at 05:50 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

In addition to the reasons already listed on the chili website (www.chicagofootballchili.com), here is more evidence that the Cleveland Browns are confused...

The team name defies logic.  Many people believe that they are named for their first GM and head coach Paul Brown.  They are not.

Other people think it may have something to do with NFL legend and pop culture icon Jim Brown, who was the heart and soul of the Cleveland Browns from 1957-1970.  Wrong again.

No, the Browns were named after the winning entry in a "Name the Team" contest.  The winning entry was "The Brown Bombers" (not the Browns), after boxing (not football) champ Joe Louis, who naturally was from Alabama (not Ohio).

Nuff said.

 CHILI DAN

Posted by dawn2 at 01:09 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Just as Superman had Bizarro Superman, who was the opposite of all we know Superman to be, it appears as if our beloved Chicago Bears have a doppelganger as well.  The Bizarro Bears. 

These Bizarro Bears took the field last night and promptly displayed an amazing efficiency at offense, but an inability to stop anyone or anything defensively. 

Orton to Davis, touchdown!  Twice! 

Personal foul, pass interference at the goal, Peanut Tillman.  Twice!

I sat in the North End Zone with my mouth agape.  Just what is this?  We don't score touchdowns from the passing game (except with Caleb Hanie in mop-up time).  We get to the Red Zone and then either turn the ball over or settle for a field goal.  Something's not right.  And Tillman, even when the rest of the defense is napping (like they were last night) is not one to make things worse.  He's a playmaker for US - not for them.  What's going on here?

I was a bit out of sorts.  Then, in the 2nd half, Rex Grossman was the QB.  About three plays in and he's getting booed mercilessly.  Throw the ball out of bounds while under pressure - BOOOO!  Throw a pass where there are no blue jerseys, avoiding an interception only because the two 49ers who touched the ball forgot to put stick-um on their gloves - BOOOO!

I have to admit it was a bit reassuring, in a way, because this is more reflective of life as we know it.  But the defense still didn't play well, so is this still the Bizarro Bears?  Does this mean that Bizarro Rex is ineffective, so regular Rex is Superman?  Or is it just possible that inconsistency plays the same in either world?  Has Good Rex/Bad Rex infected the team so that now we have Good Bears/Bad Bears?

It's perplexing.  And confusing.  Almost Cleveland-Browns-level confusing (see the match-up notes on the chili homepage).  I await game four of the pre-season in hopes of some answers.

Coming soon: some Soldier Field notes, one way to help the QB situation, and the biggest question marks heading into the season

 CHILI DAN

Posted by dawn2 at 04:18 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

So I'm convinced it must be a conspiracy of some kind.  Evil genius somehow at work.  But nevertheless, Kyle Orton is the starting Bears quarterback.

The explanation I keep hearing is that Kyle Orton is a steady if unspectacular field general, and that his consistency makes him the choice of the highs and lows of Rex Grossman.  I just don't know what to think of it.

Why bring Grossman back if you're not committing to him for another year?  Why not draft a highly-rated QB over the summer and begin a transition?  There's an explanation for this pre-season's shenanigans in here somewhere.

Is this a case of management knowing that we fans always want the one on the bench - so they've put the one THEY want on the bench to get us off their back when they ultimately go that way?  Seems far-fetched, for sure, but the management isn't striking me as very sure of themselves lately, so you have to ask these questions.

Or do they think Orton can keep us in games early, and if we need a boost at the end they turn to their all-or-nothing guy?

What do they know about Caleb Hanie that made them sign him - but didn't allow him to become the third member of the "who will be our starting QB" corps?  His results in the games (against inferior competition, for sure) have been good, and I could see them not wanting to muddy the mess any more than it was - but if it's a competition, then why not let all compete?

And I'm already hearing "bring in Culpepper", but I don't think that's the answer either. 

Ultimately, I'm hoping that the press and the public are really being played by a deft and brilliant coaching staff who know exactly what they're doing, and that our reward for the confusion will be a winning season.  As we haven't started regular season play yet, I'm going to give 'em a pass for now.  I might change my mind in two weeks though.

 CHILI DAN

Posted by dawn2 at 11:17 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

If you managed to stay awake long enough to see the second half, you at least got a football game.  I know I'm getting old, because these night games are rough on me.  But I'm glad I stuck with it, if for no other reason than I got to see another good performance by 3rd String QA Caleb Hanie.  We'll all be chanting for him on talkradio soon. 

But the big takeaway here is that the special teams are ready.  So now we just have to get the rest of it in place.

Other notes:

Erik Kramer must have gotten over his jitters, as there was no overtly noticeable quarterback mispronunciations.

Kyle Orton, when he wears his helmet, looks just like Goose from Top Gun.

Sure, Robbie Gould picks THIS week to miss a game-winning field goal - we speak highly of him in our notes for 24 Carrot Gould Chili this week.  I'm not saying it's the "Sports Illustrated Cover" curse or the Madden Game curse, but we'll be monitoring the situation.

 CHILI DAN

Posted by dawn2 at 11:14 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

A couple of months ago, I would have told you that the running game in Chicago was a mess.  Never of fan of Cedric Benson, who really seemed to think he was the greatest, even when he hadn't had a chance to prove himself.  For some reason, I have to believe that even today, after his actual chance to prove himself has proven him to be ineffective, he probably still believes the hype.  Whatever hype is left of course.  I'm sure his mother and his agent both say nice things.

Anyway, today we have a smorgasbord of runners on the roster, from the new Jones to the rookie Forte.  From the other Adrian Peterson to the little Wolfe who could.  Heck, we even got the Pope.  And I gotta tell ya - they all run.  I know you can't count on pre-seaon activity, but the Chiefs game highlighted four of these guys very nicely.  And you have to believe that Jones will be ready when he suits for the game.

I know none of these guys are the WOW back that makes people hope for one of those early picks in their fantasy football draft (I did get my first league invite this week - thanks Mike R.), but I'd take Forte as a second back in the 3rd round if I'm solid at my 1 back and could get a playmaker with my 2 at another position.

Sure, it's not the BIGGEST vote of confidence, but the point is I think he's going to play and be effective.  Still need to see some gametime from Jones to really get a picture of who's doing what and how much, but I think we have a 1-2 punch that works and that Forte will lead that charge.  And I like the next guys down as well, so the insurance policies are good ones.

I think we'll see some good things.  And controlling the ground is the first step to greatness, my friends.

 CHILI DAN

Posted by dawn2 at 07:48 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

With all of New York a-buzzin' about the gift they have just received, we here at chicagofootballchili.com have a different opinion.

Favre is gonna tank this year.

And not in a Tank Johnson kind of way.  He's going to do it naturally, without weapons.  Because at this stage of the game, we're not sure the gunslinger has any ammo left.

Yes, he had a great year last year - an anomaly when you look at the two previous.  But the thing you need to realize is that Favre has had a decade and a half to learn the Green Bay system.  For New York, he has four weeks.

Think back, if you will, to the early days of Favre-dom in Green Bay.  Do you remember all the interceptions?  It took a few years to learn to throw the ball to a guy wearing the same color uniform.  Favre doesn't have a few years in New York.  He has about two games in a row to show that he can hit the right receiver before the press starts tearing him apart.

Knowing how sensitive our poorly-shaven quarterback is, we're going out on a limb and saying that Brett Favre will de-facto retire again this year, in-season, either officially or through an "injury" that keeps him out through the end of the season.  We have the over-under at six games.  By then he'll have been beaten by ex-Jet QB Chad Pennington and the defending AFC Champion Patriots, as well as suffering through games 3-6.

Before then, he will yell at reporters, cry publicly, and throw more interceptions than touchdowns.

Which is not to say that Rex Grossman won't do the same...

 CHILI DAN

Posted by dawn2 at 06:01 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The hype, as it were, is about Ortman vs. Grossman.  And last night's game did nothing to substantially prove one better than the other.  But I do have a tale of two Bears quarterbacks from last night's game...

All cards on the table here - like many a Bears fan, I have been a big fan of the same quarterback every year for the past 30 or so.  Which is to say, THE ONE ON THE BENCH.  And today is no different.  The quarterback who impressed me is Caleb Hanie. 

Even sounds like a quarterback name, doesn't it?

Hanie, the 22-year-old rookie from Colorado State, just plain looks like a QB.  When he came onto the field, he had presence.  His eyes were not of the "deer in the headlights" type.  He didn't look scared about being in front of a pro crowd.  He looked confident, as if he were exactly where he was supposed to be, doing exactly what he was supposed to do.  Not bad for an undrafted free agent with absolutely no pro experience.  And he made plays, like that laser pass into coverage to Brandon Rideau for a touchdown.  And that 18-yard scramble for a first down.  And had two rookie receivers not dropped a couple of catchable passes, he surely would have led the team to victory.  It's a promising start, and I'm sure there will be plenty others singing his praises as THE ONE ON THE BENCH very soon.

Not faring so well was the other #12 in play - former Bears QB and Bears Network commentator Erik Kramer.  In what seemed unbelievable at the time, he managed to botch the names of all 4 quarterbacks who had played by halftime.  It was Harry Carey-esque.  Kyle Orton became Ortons.  Rex Grossman, take your pick, was both Max and Rhett.  Brodie Croyle became Rory Coyle and Damon Huard was Damian.  All in less than 30 minutes of play-time.  By the time Caleb Hanie became Chet Hanie in the 4th quarter, it was really more of an expectation. 

Having not done that particulary job, I can't speak to the pressures and difficulties of it.  And should he have missed a third-stringer offensive lineman's name, you'd have to give him the pass.  But 5 out of 6 quarterbacks?  That's not going to help his Commentator Rating.

The running game, and other observations next time...

 CHILI DAN

Posted by dawn2 at 01:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

So, today it’s announced that the Bears in conjunction with the wishes of the NFL, will start cracking down on tailgating at Soldier Field during the games.

Obviously, I can’t support this.

Last I knew, the Chicago Bears, like all NFL franchises, are in the entertainment business.  And one that truly benefits from a strong emotional attachment to the team.  Well, what is tailgating but an expression of that?  We go down there to be among other people who, like us, really love the Bears.  And we have food and beverage, and meet new friends, and have a great time cheering the good guys on.

It’s getting together to support a common cause.  To see our guys beat their guys.  To see good triumph over evil, in a way. 

This is such a slap in the face to the mythology of the Bears fan.  Tailgating (or if you don’t ever actually make that trip, the notion of tailgating) is part of who we are.  It’s friends and food and fun that goes on all season long.  It’s like getting together to have a celebration with our family of Bears fans.  It’s a family business.

So, I’m hoping the Bears are wise enough to take this NFL edict and not actually enforce it.  Sure, send out the press release.  But don’t enforce it.  Because you recognize that, long-term, it’s bad for business.

 CHILI DAN

Posted by dawn2 at 10:55 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Whenever we tell people that we're heading down to Bears Training Camp to watch a practice, the response is always something like "Oh, that sounds like fun.  I should do that sometime."

So, why don't you?  In addition to the "when should you arrive" question and a couple of other comfort-related questions that I answered a couple of days ago, here's a few other items that might help you along on the financial side of things.

First things first - it's free.  Getting into the stadium is free, parking is free.  Free is good.

You do have to pay for gas to get down to Bourbonnais, but there's some good news on that front, too.  A week ago, when gas in Lemont was $4.19 per gallon, the gas in Bourbonnais was $3.86.  And at the Kroger gas station, it was 10 cents less than that if you have a Kroger card (and have spent $100 at Kroger recently).

When you get there, the Boy Scouts will try to sell you TWO programs, one for offense and one for defense ($3 each, by the way).  But you only need one.  Not to be dissing the Boy Scouts, and by all means, give them the extra three dollars if you want, but the ONLY difference between the two programs is the autograph sheet in the middle - one has a few pictures of players on offense, one has a few pictures of players on defense.  All other content is the same.  So if you just want a roster list and bios, one will do just as well as the other.

They have (sparse) concessions, but you can bring your own food if you like.  No alcohol, no glass bottles, but you can either eat before you arrive or bring a couple of sandwiches.

So, all told, an inexpensive night out and a lot of fun.  Some notes on the team next time...

 CHILI DAN

Posted by dawn2 at 10:39 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Just a quick shout out to Dave Z. - thanks for the feedback on the recipe format back at the main site.  If you take a look, you'll see things have changed.  Fun idea, and much appreciated!

 CHILI DAN

Posted by dawn2 at 12:13 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Although we won’t be posting our first Green Bay chili until long after the current Brett Favre issue has been put to rest, I gotta speak up on the Favre business.

First of all, the pre-season drama of the year ought to be Chad Johnson moaning about his contract in Bengal-land.  But Ocho-Cinco has decided to become boring, so we’re left with this batch of Mississippi mud.

So, on Favre’s retirement – first he was, then he wasn’t, then he was, then he might, then he did.  Yikes!  That’s world-class, running-for-office type flip-flopping.  Not the decision-making I expect from my starting quarterback.  I have a hard time understanding the good of popping in and out of retirement.  This should really be embarrassing to Mr. Favre.  It smacks of a middle-aged “super hero” desperately clinging to the last rays of sun.  “Idolize me, fight for me, PAY ATTENTION TO ME!”  Time to accept that you’re supposed to be grown-up about this.  It’s time to let it go.   

I don’t know why some people lack the sense-of-self that keeps them from “Going out on top”.  So few seem to be able to do it – John Elway, Jim Brown, Barry Sanders.   But you really have to admire the ones that can pull it off.  My favorite example, though not a football player, is Johnny Carson – the one-time King of Late Night – who walked away, and despite continuing to live in L.A. was pretty much not heard from again. 

Now THAT is how you retire.

 CHILI DAN

Posted by dawn2 at 10:39 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)