My Friends,

 

Now that we have the second exhibition season out of the way maybe our guys will flip the switch just like they did in green bay to start the season. But will somebody please tell Virginia McCaskey to ditch the blue-on-blue color scheme? It looks hideous, and the only two times they’ve worn it the packers have embarrassed them on a national stage. I heard on the radio broadcast that fashionista Ginny had to grant special permission for the look after the drubbing they took in their monochrome navy kit down in Champaign back in 2002. Whoever asked should have forgotten to tell Tony Medlin.

 

My suggestion is that they fit the storage cabinets holding the jerseys and pants with a pair of locks that have to be thrown in the same direction to reveal an appropriate uniform. Left gives you navy tops with white pants, right the white road jersey with blue bottoms. And if they want to move the locks in opposite directions and do that single color deal or break out the even more revolting orange togs, make the override accessible only through the special key the Miser wears around his neck to open his change purse. That’s one item that’ll never see the light of day.

 

Speaking of light of day, the weather that was threatened all week turned out to be nothing more than a rumor, as the only sprinkles came as we were pulling into the South Lot around 3:34. The Parking Police were out in full force, though, denying all requests for eastern access and shunting us off to the west. But it was all good, as Marko’s delicious Polish Feast never fails to put a smile on your face and a rumble in your gut.

 

 

 

 

You couldn’t ask for better conditions in late December, with mid-50s temperatures, clearing clouds and mild winds. It was a perfect day for a hangin’, and Gus obliged with a papier-mâché packer effigy that was appropriately displayed and a drawing card for most passers-by.

 

 

After the feast Lactose Intolerant began the post-meal entertainment by gently tapping upward on the effigy’s dowel-like head, slowly dislodging it from the torso. With an extended neck the effigy bore an uncanny resemblance to Wayne Larrivee, so disturbing that the head had to be swiftly and completely removed.  Mojo then located some lighter fluid from an adjacent group of Bears fans, and the packer/Pencil-Neck combo was placed in the middle of the aisle and immolated. 

 

 

But it was all for naught.

 

The wholesale changes Ron Rivera made on the defensive line makes me think he was simply putting stuff on tape for future playoff opponents to think about. He was experimenting with stunts and blitz packages, and the AARP candidate in white recognized it and was hitting all the vacant spots. I didn’t see many straight four-man rushes, and when the Bears did, they didn’t stay in their gaps. But that’ll change in two weeks with a more set defensive line rotation and the return of Peanut Tillman and Todd Johnson in the secondary.

 

The offense is a bit more problematic, which it always is when your punter is your team’s best passer. Watching Rex Grossman play catch with Nick Collins on a telegraphed pass was painful, but no less excruciating than seeing Brian Griese do the same with A.J.Hawk. We all know Kyle Orton isn’t the answer, but the calls for Griese will grow as the divisional round approaches. Why?

 

Chalk up last night’s offensive “effort” to a stale performance by an uninspired group in a meaningless game. Pitiful most of the way around. The offensive line was pathetic in pass protection, giving both quarterbacks little time or room to throw. And don’t underestimate the absence of Jason McKie, who they’re telling us will be ready in two weeks. I hope so.

 

The running game, on the other hand, looked great, and while I doubt Lovie Smith would replace Thomas Jones in the starting lineup at this point, I don’t think there’s any question Cedric Benson will carry the bulk of the postseason load.

 

Another point about the running game is how they used it. Why would they roll out on third and one? Just like Rivera, I think Ron Turner was loading up the plate with looks for playoff teams to consider.

 

The most disappointing thing about last night wasn’t getting routed by an inferior opponent in essentially what was an exhibition, or that Robbie Gould fell one point short of Kevin Butler’s single season scoring record. It’s that we waited twelve years to erase the stench of packer victory from the Bears home, and it only lasted one year. Good thing it happened yesterday.

 

Better times are ahead.

 

Happy New Year.

 

LBF

1/1/2007