Many of you will think I’m being harsh, but when you regularly choke on the biggest stages, one has to question your coaching ability (see Super Bowl and Championship game last season). Smith is horrible with challenges and time outs. While I am not going to use the he looks like he doesn’t care card, he does things to make all of us scratch our heads.

Smith can come across like a jerk. Again, I do not need a head coach to be my friend, but his arrogance is puzzling. Ron Rivera left the Chicago Bears because of Lovie Smith, and that loss hurt the Chicago Bears defense for a long time. Last season, things improved but I think Julius Peppers had a lot to do with that improvement. It should be noted that Peppers came to the Chicago Bears because of Smith, but one player’s decision isn’t exactly what I would call a solid coaching resume.

While I do not think Smith will ever reach the Dave Wannstedt level of crappiness, I do believe that Smith hasn’t delivered despite a load of talent over the years.

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All of you should know by now where I stand on Olsen. He should have been on my overrated list, but you have to be actually rated before you can be overrated. Most fans are onto how much this guy is a soft blocker, pass dropper and generally crappy football player. In order to be an elite tight end, you have to be able to at least do something. Doing nothing makes you a disgrace to the Chicago Bears.

I am sure by now the other NFL teams know what brutal football player Olsen is by now as well. This does not mean that a team may not take a shot at him, but his value has plummeted. Too bad the New England Patriots pulled the second-round draft pick off the table last season. That would have been larceny.

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5. Adrian Peterson (Vikings)

Peterson is a freak of nature. He has some amazing runs and blows through defenders. But, he fumbles way too much. In fact, I believe if he didn’t fumble as much he would be one of the all-time greats. I cannot look past a running back that regularly puts the ball on the turf.

4. Eli Manning (Giants)

He’s not Peyton. Considering the hype surrounding this guy, he just isn’t as good as we are led to believe. More excuses are made for Manning’s failures than any other quarterback in football. I would like to see Manning carry the Giants, which doesn’t happen very often.

3. Jay Cutler (Chicago Bears)

I do not question Jay Cutler’s toughness. I do not question Jay Cutler’s committment. I question his talent. While I think he’s talented, I don’t know if he’s as talented as we were once led to believe. Cutler throws way too many interceptions and misses open receivers. While he will make some great throws, he also makes terrible ones too. Something is missing with this guy, and I cannot put my finger on it…

2. Clay Matthews, III (Green Bay Packers)

This shouldn’t be a secret to many of you that read my work regularly, but you should be shocked that he isn’t number one. Matthews thrives in Dom Capers 3/4 defense, but put him in another city, and I am not sure if you’d see the results. Plus, this guy sucks against the run and isn’t strong in pass coverage. He’s a good football player that is helped by a system. Case closed…

1. Michael Vick (Philadelphia Eagles)

He’s exciting to watch. He’s got freakish skills. But he’s overrated as hell. Hit him once and he stops caring. I’m not saying he doesn’t make spectacular plays…he does. But he also is a wuss that hates contact and kills dogs. For Madden and fantasy purposes, he’s a star. But besides that…you can have Vick.

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Last season for the Buckeyes, Sanzenbacher caught 55 passes for 948 yards and 11 touchdowns. How does this translate to the NFL? Many experts including ESPN’s Jon Gruden suggested that Terrelle Pryor was helped immensely but Sanzenbacher and that he was shocked that Sanzenbacher wasn’t drafted. Gruden noted Sanzenbacher’s soft-hands, precise routs and play-making abilities.

I like two things about this kid…he was productive and seems to have a strong character (I know, Ohio State cheats, but…). Could he be the Chicago Bears Wes Welker? Remember, Welker followed a similar path. I will say this…while I do not think teams in the NFC North are shaking over this move I’m excited to see this kid develop. Along with Andy Fantuz, there is some potential much-needed help for the Chicago Bears in the receiving game.

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With that being said, would it serve the Chicago Bears to franchise tag Manning? I believe it is the right move. While he’s not a ball-hawk, he does make tackles and does a solid job in coverage.

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The Chicago Bears top targets are interestingly enough at linebacker. Former Bear and current Carolina Panther Jamal Williams and Jacksonville Jaguar linebacker James Durant. The Chicago Bears would also love a shot at Carolina Panther James Anderson, but his price tag and desire to stay in Carolina may be too much.

Everyone wants the Chicago Bears to sign a wide receiver. Andy Fantuz from Canada made many plays in the CFL, but the transition may be too difficult right away. I wouldn’t be surprised if he becomes a player, but it may not be overnight. I think the Bears may sign as many as two wide receivers to give Jay Cutler a much-needed target. Chad Johnson from the Bengals could come cheap.

On the offensive line, I think the Chicago Bears may actually be more content than people think. Mike Tice is a great coach and had the unit playing respectably by the end of the season. We will know more when a decision is made with Olin Kruetz. He’s expected to resign, but the Chicago Bears could look to get younger in the middle. Roberto Garza’s time with the Chicago Bears could be expiring as well. Robert Gallery from the Oakland Raiders and former second overall pick may be given a shot. Tice loves projects, and this could be his guy. Gallery has been a disappointment with the Raiders, but he may be the difference on this team. While the Chicago Bears have J’Marcus Webb and newcomer first-round pick Gabe Carimi at tackle, I’m not convinced the Chicago Bears are set at this position. Obviously, if Kruetz and Garza go, there may be some movement on the interior line. Some even feel that Carimi may be more suited at guard.

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While many of us are not shocked that the work stoppage didn’t impact the regular season, it will impact the free-agency period. Players will have a shorter window to sign contracts and teams are going to have less time to negotiate with potential signees.

It is no secret that the Chicago Bears need to improve depth at wide receiver, offensive and defensive lines and in the secondary. A backup running back and quarterback would be nice too.

As of today, I think the Chicago Bears will struggle to win seven games. However, this can change quickly if the Chicago Bears make a splash in free agency. Will this happen? It is my belief that Jerry Angelo has some things up his sleeve. He is going to be aggressive in free agency and bring in some much-needed help. With players like Brian Urlacher getting older, the window is becoming smaller and smaller. With one or two solid moves, the struggle to seven wins can be a 10 or 11 win team. Remember, this team darn near beat the Packers in the championship game.

There will be much more to follow in the up-c0ming days. But folks, we’re going to have football. Thank goodness for that…

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I am so sick and tired of this line of thinking. The NFL owes me nothing. The Chicago Bears owe me nothing. I have season tickets to the Chicago Bears as a choice. Anytime I want to stop paying for my tickets is my right. I have no issue with what the Chicago Bears charge me because I CHOOSE to pay it. If I cannot afford to attend a game, guess what, it is available on television.

The NFL is a business. Owners and players have a right to maximize the value of the product. If the owners want to make more money, that is their collective right. Do you really believe the players give a crap about the name on the front of the jersey? OK, well a select few might but they want to get paid as well. It is called capitalism.

This power-to-the-people nonsense really irritates me. As a small-business owner I need to make as much money as I can. Otherwise, why the hell did I go into business? Do you think that it’s any different with the owners. If I do not like the way the owners do things, it is my right to stop watching. The Chicago Bears are my passion, but the team is hardly a necessity in my life. I will live and breath without football. And I hate to break it to you folks that complain about the cost of attending a Bears game, you will too.

I grew up at the old Soldier Field. The tickets have been in my family for many many years. I hated the old place…it was a dump. The new stadium is nice. This wasn’t exactly free. If the city raised taxes to pay for it, I am sure that everyone would be up-in-arms about it. The City of Chicago and the Chicago Bears worked out a plan that cost the residence of Chicago nothing (there is a  hotel tax involved, but it wasn’t a direct tax). Meanwhile, the costs were passed onto the fans. That is certainly a fair deal to those individuals in Chicago that do not care about football. Again, to repeat myself, if you do not like the costs of attending a football game…don’t go.

As some of you may or may-not know, I am a Chicago Cubs fan. I am so fed up with the horrible product and direction of the team that I am avoiding Wrigley Field. I still love baseball and remain loyal to the Chicago Cubs, but why should I pay for something that I find to be inferior? My point is to all of you sanctimonious bastards out there complaining about sports prices and the way fans are treated, stop going. Stop supporting your team. Find something else to do with your time. Stop worrying about how the owners treat the fans. But until you are prepared to do that, there’s no basis to your argument.

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According to my source, there was a deal on the table that the players association was ready to accept. However, some top players wouldn’t accept it. What makes this even worse for the former NFLPA is there’s now problems with many of the players. There are some players that want to play, and don’t care if the players recertify or not.

I want football. The nation wants football. And this greedy display by both sides screws over one important group…us.

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