Archives for November 7, 2010

‘Buffalo lost to Miami in 2008 in a dreadful 16-3 game, and then fell to the New York Jets last year, 19-13. As if the losses aren’t bad enough, given the state of the roster – which is littered with non-productive draft choices and middling veteran free-agent signees – it would seem that the $78 million the Bills netted in the deal is going to waste.’

‘Let’s face it, the timing of this Bills Toronto Series couldn’t have been much worse. Toronto is catching the Bills in a period of dysfunction and losing. This year, it’s even worse because Buffalo brings an 0-7 record into the game. Home game? That might be a stretch.’

‘The saddest thing about more Bills games in Toronto would be the prospects of Canadian fans getting a chance to watch playoff-caliber Bills teams after fans in western New York paid the freight for 10 years (and counting) of non-playoff football.’

‘”I can tell you that from the first time we played against the Steelers up there the very first time [in 2008], it was a completely different atmosphere all the way up until we played the Colts this past preseason,” said safety George Wilson. “I think the Toronto fans are continuing to embrace our team more and more each and every time that we come up there.”‘

‘Bills, 23-20.’

‘”I’ve been working out doing everything, and I’m just ready to get on the field as soon as possible,” he said. “And whenever they feel like I’m ready to be on the field and I fit good in the system and I’ve learned everything, I’ll be ready to go. … I’ll probably get out here early next week and start practicing. Whatever they need me to do. I’m ready to work and be a piece of the puzzle.”‘

‘He has been a revelation. I’ll admit, I was wrong about Parrish. I dismissed him as too small and slight, a receiver who struggled with press coverage and didn’t run the best routes and would never be more than a marginal fourth wideout.’

‘Martz is truly the modern-day Gillman and Coryell. He’s the brilliant professor. His head is in the playbook. He’s committed to his philosophy. His problem at times is he’s too opinionated. In the NFL, if you’re the smartest, most strong-minded person in the room, it’s hard to survive if you’re not the head coach. Here’s hoping both Martz and Smith survive this year for the Bears.’

‘I say it’s better to be 0-8 than 1-7 and on the way up.’

‘We won’t overpay for junk – and right now that’s what the Bills are. Toronto is a city of Dolphins fans and Cowboys fans and Raiders fans and Steelers fans and just about any NFL team you can name. It’s a football town that won’t sell enough enough tickets for the Argos or the Bills, won’t get excited really until it has its own NFL team. Until then, there will be more of the same – a neutral site game for a team that few around here really gives a damn about.’

‘At home in the off-season, Fitzpatrick says he drives a 2009 Ford F150 King Ranch pickup truck and confesses, “I’m a truck-guy. I haul stuff around, mulch the yard – [it] makes me feel a little more manly.”‘

Bears’ season at a tipping point (Chicago Tribune)

Continuity integral for Bears offensive line (Chicago Tribune)

Bears’ Idonije has come long way from Manitoba (Chicago Tribune)

Bear’s quiet battle: Mom’s drug addiction (Chicago Tribune)

Former Bears QB McMahon has memory issues (Chicago Tribune)

At 3-3, Lovie Smith needs a bye-week bailout (Chicago Sun Times)

Trust key factor for Bears’ offense (Chicago Sun Times)

Potash’s breakdown: Bears at Bills (Chicago Sun Times)

The picks: Bears at Bills (Chicago Sun Times)

Bears defense: We can get better (Arlington Heights Daily Herald)

Will Bears’ tight ends have big day against Bills? (Arlington Heights Daily Herald)

Bears had game plan for customs (Arlington Heights Daily Herald)

Bears don’t see mismatch (Northwest Herald)

Five key matchups that will be pivotal in (Northwest Herald)

Small crowd expected Sunday, Ditka talks hits (CSN Chicago)

Bears @ Bills Preview & Prediction (WBBM-TV)

’85 Bears gather to celebrate 25th anniversary of title (ChicagoBears.com)

Cutler in favor of plan to be more balanced on offense (ChicagoBears.com)

‘Smith doesn’t consider the Bills the pushovers their record might reflect. What encourages him is having the game played at Toronto, where he expects to have a large contingent of Bears fans in the stands. “We definitely like playing there instead of Buffalo,” Smith said. “Hopefully, it will be more of a neutral site.”‘

‘First off, if Rogers ends up renewing their agreement to host regular-season Bills games in Toronto, the price point for tickets will be lower. That will help. The biggest thing that would help is if the Bills had a winning team.’

‘So enjoy this little taste of the NFL, Torontonians. Enjoy the fact you paid ridiculous prices for games that are a fraction of the cost in Buffalo. Enjoy the fact you haven’t truly had a real tailgate party, but rather a phony corporate version. Enjoy the fact you were able to see some star players, though hardly enough of the really big ones — unless you count Terrell Owens, who was a Bill for one year and brought his act to Toronto. We did enjoy seeing the Miami Dolphins and Ricky Williams, though we had already seen him toil for a season in with the Argos — that OTHER pro football team in Toronto.’