Chicago Bears

The NFL has taught Bears wide receiver Terrence Toliver much humility. Having bounced around the league his first two years, he now has a realistic shot of contributing in Chicago this year.

The following is the transcript from the latest edition of The Superfans show live from Ditka's Pat - Welcome everybody to the annual Bill Swerski's Superfans Prediction special, and as you can plainly see I am not Bill Swerski.Carl - No you're not Pat, Bill is protesting the blatant trademark infringement that was predicated by the powers that be here at Windy City Gridiron.Pat - Making the Chicago Bears season prediction has been a Superfans staple here at WCG, long since before we were made official Writers on this fine site that is dedicated to the greatest team in the history of the NFL, Da Bears.All - Da Bears! Pat - So with no Bill as of yet, please allow us to introduce us. I'm Pat Arnold.Carl - I'm Carl Wollarski, Pat - And the big guy double fisting the mugs of beer is Todd O'Connor.Todd - Da Beers.All - Da Beers! Carl - This year the honor of running through our schedule was divvied out to four of our compatriots in Bears fandom, and broken out into 4 separate articles.Todd - Can I just say right off the bat that some on those predictions were way off base.Pat - Agreed. Todd - Can I just say that some of those predictions were outright wrong.Carl - Yes.Todd - Can I just say that I haven't had a Kielbasa is about 2 hours.Pat - That's a new record.Carl - Well done my friend, that new heart healthy diet is really working out.Pat - But back to the matter at hand, and our take on the aforementioned theft of our annual prognostication. Carl tell us how they usurped our annual event.Carl - Well Pat, in a nod to the 3rd greatest coach in the history of our storied franchise, Lovie Lee Smith, Windy City Gridiron broke their Chicago Bears' season predictions into 4 quarters.Pat - We never needed four separate segments.Carl - No we did not my friend. Pat - Quarter numero uno was speculated upon by Kay Paradiso, and she almost got it right. She had our beloved boys losing...Todd - (interrupting) Blasphemy...Carl - For shame Kay, for shame...Pat - ... losing to the Minnesota Vikings to go 3-1 in the quarter.Todd - Kay used to be my favorite WCG columnist, but now I have to question if she really knows the game of football at all, I mean us losing to the Vikes?Carl - Her big (air quoting) "argument", is that Adrian Peterson will run all over the Monsters Of The Midway, and to that I say...Todd - (interrupting) Blasphemy...Carl - ...yeah, Blasphemy.Pat - I see a certain defense, now led by a certain double nickle on the weakside, chasing down Adrian Peterson when ever he attempts to gallop free, and if by some slim chance he's blocked out of the play, then our latest and newest Pro Bowl defender, Henry Melton, will penetrate the backfield and take him down with extreme prejudice. Bears win in a rout, 69-28. Da Bears.All - Da Bears! Pat - The WCG staffer that wrote the second quarter prediction was even more out of his ever loving mind. Sam Householder, if that is even his real name, had our fellas in Navy and Orange losing to the Saints, Redskins, and Packers.Todd - When I finished reading his prediction, I sent him a scathing email questioning his Chicago ties and his football I.Q., and like the coward he is, I never heard a peep back from him, just some response from someone named Mailer Daemon. First off, what a stupid name, Daemon is even sillier than Householder. And second off, where does Sam get off having someone else answer his email? Where does he get off big timing me? Who does he think he is?Pat - Normally this is where I would correct my burly Bears brethren, but I kind of like the idea of Todd getting pissed off every time an email is returned to him by the Mailer Daemon.Carl - And knowing Todd, and his limited computer skill set, that's probably quite a bit.Todd - What if Mailer Daemon and Sam Householder are one in the same?!?!?Pat - Back to the outlandishly wrong predictions by Sam, there's no way we drop a game to the left tackle depleted Saints. We snagged Drew Brees' blindside protector, Jermon Bushrod, so

Steve Rosenbloom: Full marks to the Arizona Cardinals.

Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy wasn’t the only Packers representative speaking with fond remembrance about the career of Chicago Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher on Wednesday.

Will have to find the time to write a proper BearsHistory.com tribute to Brian Urlacher, who retired on Wednesday after an illustrious career as a Chicago Bear. Despite his resorting to frequent insults of the fans in defense of Lovie Smith late in his career, and calling the Bears’ final offer of $2.5 million for one season “insulting,” Urlacher has gone out in style and grace. In short, if I could say one thing about Urlacher’s career (when so many dozens of compliments can be made), it would be that Urlacher was the first player to give the Bears true hope for the future in a decade or more. Let us not forget that after 1993, Dave Wannstedt’s Bears had no Pro Bowl players from 1994-1998. None. Zero. The situation looked hopeless in 1997 and 1998. After being a dominant team from 1984-1991, the Bears became one of the worst teams in the league and laughingstocks. Doormats. It was bad. Despite personnel boss Mark Hatley unsuccessfully trying to trade up to draft receiver Plaxico Burress in the 2000 draft, the Bears stayed with the ninth pick and drafted Urlacher. Given that the Bears’ quarterback, running back, defensive secondary and line positions were below average at the time, linebacker wasn’t at the top of the need list. But Urlacher’s athleticism was off the charts, and it was a best-player-available pick. Urlacher gave hope to Bears fans starting with his NFC Defensive Rookie of the Year season in 2000, through his Defensive Player of the Year award in 2005, his game for the ages against Arizona in 2006, and his resurgence in 2010. It was great to see our Bears team again have one of the best teams in the NFL. Thank you, Brian. See you in the Hall of Fame.

Urlacher retires after 13 illustrious seasons - Larry Mayer: Star MLB Brian Urlacher on Wednesday announced his retirement from the NFL. Urlacher spent all 13 seasons of his illustrious NFL career with the Bears. Kev: Brian Urlacher Retires Urlacher reflects on unforgettable Bears career - Larry Mayer: When Brian Urlacher first joined the Bears in 2000, he never dreamed he'd have an illustrious 13-year career that likely will culminate in his induction in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Former Bears teammates will miss Urlacher on, off field - Larry Mayer: News of Brian Urlacher's retirement reverberated through Halas Hall Wednesday as his former Bears teammates celebrated the star MLB's illustrious 13-year NFL career. Reactions from Twitter. Lester: Twitter reacts to former Bears MLB Brian Urlacher Follow WCG on Twitter; like us on Facebook (& click on 'Subscribed to'). Click for Chicago Bears Tickets for next season. Check out David "OSS" Taylor's CheekyMonkeyArt prints and shirts. ---------- Urlacher retirement Urlacher announces NFL retirement with ‘no regrets’ - Bob LeGere: Statistics and records were never as important to him as wins and his relationships with teammates, staff and fans. Urlacher calls it quits with gas left in the tank - Mark Potash: Age took its toll on Brian Urlacher, but history will repair that damage and then some. You can make your reservations for Canton in 2018 right now. Urlacher says he would still play for Lovie - Adam L. Jahns: It seems like a moot point now with Marc Trestman now in charge of the Bears and Lovie Smith gone. But Brian Urlacher said he believes he'd still be playing if Smith was the Bears' head coach. Urlacher exits the NFL stage quietly - Mike Mulligan: Bears MLB still wanted to play but evidently not at second-rate pay so he just fades away with no fanfare. Urlacher: Injury, coach change factors in retiring - Dan Hanzus: Why did Brian Urlacher retire? The Bears legend told "The Rich Eisen Podcast" that he couldn't ignore the truth, saying, "Honestly, I'm just not quite the same player I used to be." [Video] NFL Total Access - Brian Urlacher joins Andrew Siciliano to discuss why he decided to retire and what could have caused him to stick around for at least one more year. Urlacher's loyalty to Bears 'special' - Kip Lewis: There will be no pictures or stories of him ever donning colors representing another franchise. That is special nowadays. For Reinsdorf and Urlacher, time is relative - Mike Imrem: A player is the man for a while, but the owner is the man for as long as he wants to be. ---------- Reflecting on #54 Urlacher special to the Bears on and off the field - Vaughn McClure: #54 announced his retirement via Twitter but his legacy will be lasting. Urlacher carried on proud tradition of Bears’ MLBs - Rick Telander: Bill George, they say, started the position. Dick Butkus turned it into performance art for sadists. Mike Singletary made it into religion. Urlacher played the famed Chicago position in a way that was his alone, even as it paid homage to the past. Dane: Bears release statement on Urlacher's retirement Urlacher could do it all, and then some - Matt Bowen: Bears MLB forced the opposition to plan around him because it couldn't run through him or pass over him. Brian Urlacher deserving of a 54-gun salute - Dan Pompei: When Brian Urlacher held up that navy blue jersey for the first time on that April day in 2000, his face a little pimply and his scalp covered with closely cropped blond hair, no one had any idea what 54 would come to represent. [Video] NFL Total Access - Ex-NFL GM Charley Casserly breaks down the career of Brian Urlacher and how he stacks up against the great LBs in Bears and NFL history. Packers' McCarthy: 'Everyone has so much respect for Brian' - Brad Biggs: The presence of the MLB for 13 seasons made for terrific battles within the game involving him and Packers QBs Brett Favre and

Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports For a team that rushes right up to the brink of the seven-win mark by the beginning of November year after year, it’s hard not to be at least a little bit intrigued by the Chicago Bears getting a 2013 NFL season win total of 8.5, according to RJ Bell of Pregame.com. Of course, how these hot starts have tapered off into playoff-less seasons are why the line is set at a just-on-the-outside-looking in mark of 8.5, close but no cigar in most years; and with the NFC growing in strength overall in recent years this could easily fall 1.5 or even 2.5 games short of a bid this season. What I also found interesting is seeing that the Bears are getting +350 at some venues for the NFC North division title odds, good for second-most favored behind the Green Bay Packers at -175. So, the Bears are getting some respect in leapfrogging the Minnesota Vikings — who made the playoffs over Chicago in 2012 — and the Detroit Lions — who made it over them in 2011. When it comes to the overall NFC totem pole, the Bears sit on the outside in Vegas’ eyes for 2013 as well. Bell’s newsletter lists the Bears at 35-to-1 odds to win the upcoming Super Bowl, which is only good for seventh in the conference. Still, the fact that the Bears are rated as on the fringe after two consecutive years of utter collapses does show some respect for the personnel they have led by the likes of Jay Cutler and Matt Forte. Disclaimer: The information provided here is merely for the purpose of generating analytical discussion of the NFL. Thomas Emerick is a Senior Writer for RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ThomasEmerick, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google

Congratulations to Brian Urlacher on his retirement.  The interwebs were abuzz since just after 10AM on Wednesday morning with news that the Chicago Bears legend announcing his retirement with this simple tweet It was an honor to play my entire career for the @chicagobears say.ly/GOh5Sxs — Brian Urlacher (@BUrlacher54) May 22, 2013 So naturally we have TONS of links to some fantastic stuff.  (more…)

Middle linebacker announces retirement via Twitter but legacy on and off field will be lastingTypical of how a giddy little brother of a probable Hall of Fame middle linebacker would react, Casey Urlacher couldn't stop gushing over Brian Urlacher's endless accomplishments in 13 NFL seasons.

Although his talent, intelligence, accomplishments on the field and overall value to the Bears always said superstar, Brian Urlacher always just wanted to be one of the guys. “You always knew you could call ‘Lach and he would do whatever he could to abide that,” former Bears fullback Jason McKie said. “He was the type of guy who would take the shirt off his back if you needed it. ““He never put himself above anybody. He always went out of his way to speak to everybody in the building, whether you were an undrafted guy, a tryout guy, a first-, …