Teeter Totering

You know it's a strange fall when the Chicago Bears, 9 months off a Super Bowl appearance, are behind the Chicago Black Hawks in terms of interest. While Jerry Angelo starts his search for a new backfield to replace his Wunderkids Rex Grossman and Curtis Enis Cedric Benson, the Hawks sport Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. These guys are generating actual interest and discussion instead of indifference and derision.

What's so disappointing about this Bear season is not that it began with such hope. Rather it seems that there is no light at the end of the tunnel. The guys that could be looked to for hope in 2008 all seem to be untrustworthy.

Brian Urlacher - shadow of his former self. Injury or age could be the cause, but the future for him at this age is dim.

Tommie Harris - the best defensive tackle in the game before his injury last year. Will he ever return as a dominant player?

Lance Briggs - will he even be a Bear?

Mike Brown - Will he even be in the NFL?

Benson and Grossman are headed to the waiver wire. Bernard Berrian is a Viagra/prune juice cocktail. The offensive line is more porous than Sponge Bob.

And Lovie Smith is making Jerry Angelo's head spin wondering if the Texas Rangers might lend him some of their free cash to buy Smith's contract out.

It looks like 2010 will be the year the Bears next make contact with the NFL playoffs.