21
Jul
2010
Bears RB Unga signs contract, prepares for competition
Bears RB Matt Forte isn't about to give up the spotlight just yet. (Source: Mark2400 on Flickr)
The Chicago Bears have signed Harvey Unga to a four-year contract, according to The Chicago Tribune.
The Bears chose Unga with the 12th pick in the seventh round of Thursday’s 2010 NFL Supplemental Draft. The BYU running back was one of a whopping two players taken.
Unga rushed for more than 3,400 yards during his college career, but it’s going to be an uphill climb when Bears training camp starts July 29. Chicago’s backfield is crowded, with Matt Forte and Chester Taylor set to see the majority of the action. Unga will battle reserves Khalil Bell, Brandon Minor, and Garrett Wolfe for the third spot.
As discussed earlier, the supplemental draft hasn’t exactly been a goldmine for NFL teams. Maybe the Bears — who already have enough Unga-types on the roster — feel like they’ve found something special.
16
Jul
2010
Oh yeah, the Supplemental Draft happened
Once again, mid-July rolls around, and we here at ReadAndReact are settling nicely into our summer, blissfully unaware that the NFL’s annual Supplemental Draft is taking place. Which it did, yesterday.
For those who don’t remember (or care), the Supplemental Draft is intended for players who failed to declare for April’s draft, or had other issues affecting their eligibility. This year, there were a grand total of 4 players eligible for the draft, and the Chicago Bears played it crafty, waiting until the 7th and final round to select RB Harvey Unga from BYU. They were quickly followed by the Dallas Cowboys, who pounced on Illinois DT Josh Price-Brent later in the round.
BYU Running Back Harvey Unga is now a Chicago Bear (Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel/US Presswire via ESPN.com)
As we’ve discussed here before, the Supplemental Draft is something of an enigma, in that it holds very little significance, even for draftniks like ourselves. Hell, it doesn’t even seem to be a real event — more likely a conference call or online draft, a la fantasy football. But do you think that they make some poor sucker sit through hours of calling out team names and waiting for their time on the clock to run out? I mean, there were only four players entered in this thing, and the first one was taken with the 12th pick in the 7th round!! Even if there’s only 2 minutes on the clock per pick, that works out to over SEVEN HOURS before the first pick was made!!! I guess that’s why this isn’t a televised event. Goodell certainly isn’t hanging around and watching it unfold.
Of course, every time I think about the supplemental draft, I always wonder how many players taken here have really made an impact in the NFL. Read the rest of this entry »
29
Jun
2010
VIDEO: Walter Payton runs the wildcat offense (1984)
Props to the guys at Tremendous Upside Potential for uncovering this gem from the mid-80s, featuring Bears Hall of Fame RB Walter Payton running a variation of the Wildcat offense, WAY before it was in fashion in the NFL. I’m not exactly sure what happened to Jim McMahon that forced Payton into action here, but Sweetness is fairly effective here, leading the offense to about midfield before heaving a bomb downfield that gets picked off by the Packers (effectively a punt).
Man, that guy was the best.
7
Jan
2010
CLASSIC VIDEO: Mike Ditka goes off on reporter while pantsless
Check out this classic footage of Bears HC Mike Ditka during a 1988 post-game interview with CBS reporter Johnny Morris … which Ditka chose to conduct without pants. The brilliance here is found in the off-air moments before and after the interview, when Ditka absolutely lays into Morris for having to answer the same questions over and over again. Vintage Ditka, right here:
[Via Kap's Corner]
1
Dec
2009
Jay Cutler is somehow less impressive on “mic’d up”
Last week we posted Matt Stafford’s “mic’d up” segment as evidence of his leadership skills, and overall potential as an NFL QB. In the case of Jay Cutler and his 5 INT performance in Week 10 against the 49ers, the insight we gain from the mic somehow manages to make us think even less of the man. And trust us, we hold Cutler in pretty low regards around these parts.
From his pre-game focus on Michael Crabtree’s cleats, to his nonchalant attitude throughout a horrendous game, to the near sense of relief when he was able to finally put his hat on and head to the locker room, Cutler does absolutely nothing to inspire nor lead the Bears offense. There just can’t possibly be a less charismatic QB in the game than this guy.
23
Nov
2009
VIDEO: Devin Hester brings out a full moon in Chicago
Here’s a little something for the ladies. During the final seconds of last nights Bears/Eagles game, while Chicago was attempting to drive for a game winning score, America was treated to a full moon courtesy of WR Devin Hester.
Watch as the Eagles DB pulls down Hester’s pants after the pass falls incomplete, exposing his buttocks to the nation. Much like Jay Cutler has been exposed as a Junior Varsity-level QB.
13
Nov
2009
Jay Cutler makes Josh McDaniels look like a genius
(AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
When the Chicago Bears made the trade for Pro Bowl QB Jay Culter, everyone – and I mean everyone – said that they got the best of the Denver Broncos in the deal. I mean, Cutler for Kyle Orton and a few draft picks?!? Experts across the land destroyed Josh McDaniels for making such a foolish, rookie move, and most felt that Cutler would flourish in Chicago, while the Broncos would flounder under questionable leadership. Fast forward to 7 months later, and all of the sudden, Josh McDaniels looks like the smartest man ever to walk the face of the earth.
Cutler threw 5 interceptions in last night’s 10-6 loss to the 49ers, including one on the final play that ended a potential game-winning drive by the Bears. And there could have been more. The loss takes the Bears to 4-5 on the season, and brings Cutler’s season total to a league-leading 17 interceptions, on pace to break Peyton Manning’s record of 28 in one year. Meanwhile, Orton has thrown just 4 INTs so far this year, and the Broncos are leading the AFC East at 6-2.
But the numbers don’t tell the whole story. Sure, Cutler said all the right things after the game, but you can just tell that he’s breaking down mentally on the field. He looks uncomfortable out there, and his decision making process has been atrocious. Plus, the Bears offense seems intent on having Cutler throw to his check-down receiver on almost every play, instead of utilizing the big arm he’s famous for to try and stretch the field a bit. It seems like a bad fit all-around, and it’s only a matter of time before the team starts cracking under the weight of Cutler’s performance.
So, at least at the mid-season point, it sure looks like the Broncos got the better of this deal. And this just in: Cutler got picked off yet again at breakfast this morning.
4
Oct
2009
VIDEO: Jay Cutler goes airborne against the Lions
Bears QB Jay Cutler set the tone for his team in the first quarter against the Lions today with this 5-yard run, which concluded with Cutler launching himself into the air at the goal line:
Cutler seems to be enjoying his new Chicago surroundings, and now has the Bears sitting at 3-1.
29
Sep
2009
Week 3 NFL Highlights: Ric Flair edition
Julius Jones does the Ric Flair Strut
This week’s installment of your NFL highlights combines 2 things we hold dear to our hearts here at ReadAndReact: football and old-school professional wrestling. Recently, Seahawks RB Julius Jones has been displaying his appreciation for 16x world champion Ric Flair by performing the famed “Flair Strut” in the endzone after scoring a touchdown.
He did it against the Rams in week 1, and yesterday against the Bears, Jones once again did his best Nature Boy impression after ripping off a 39-yd TD on a screen pass (play starts at the :15 mark):
The NY love-fest with Mark Sanchez is fully underway, thanks in large part from this TD run on Sunday. Also, Ric Flair will wrestle Hulk Hogan in Australia later this year. WOO!:
Donald Driver makes an amazing one-handed catch against the Rams. In other news, Ric Flair scratch-off lottery cards are now available in North Carolina. WoooOOOooo!:
18
Sep
2009
Friday Phone Call Between Tom Brady and Kyle Orton
Kyle Orton: Hey Tom, it’s me, Kyle. You mind if I ask a few questions?
Tom Brady: No problem, but I don’t have much time. Me and Gisele are headed out to Lake Como to hang out with Matt, Brad and George.
KO: You’re going to Lake Como? You have a game on Sunday!
TB: I’m Tom Brady, I can do anything.
KO: Um, well, I was wondering… Josh McDaniels, he keeps wanting me to hit the open man?
TB: Well…
KO: I mean what the hell, right?
TB: I, uh… that seems reasonable.
KO: You know how difficult that is?
TB: Well…
KO: That’s just crazy!
TB: I think maybe I have to go; the butler has informed me the limo is here.
Gisele [in the background]: Tommy, should I even bring underwear?
KO: Okay, but seriously, he also wants me to watch video! Of the other team! Can you imagine? What is that? I would understand if he wanted me to watch like “Replacements” or something, but game film? What? That’s crazy!
TB: Well… I really have to go.
KO: Okay, I am gonna go drink a TON of beer! You know what I mean? Get NFD, National Football Drunk. You know what I’m saying?
TB: I actually don’t.
KO: I got a 30-pack of Coors, my man. I mean screw McDaniels! I’m going to get HAMMERED!!!!
TB: Bye now.
KO: X-Box, chips and beer! Gonna get lit!! Let’s go Broncos!!!
