The Chicago Bears have seen their fair share of controversy over the years, but in the last decade they have seen many players arrested for guns, drugs, and alcohol issues. These problems are not unique to the Bears, in fact, they are a problem throughout the NFL. Unfortunately for the Bears, two players have been embroiled in legal battles at the same time this off-season. Here is a run-down of some of the team’s most notable player arrests.

Sam Hurd

Sam Hurd shocked everyone in Chicago after his arrest for attempting to purchase more than a pound of cocaine from an undercover officer back in December. He is accused of supplying numerous NFL players with drugs, and is believed to be one of the biggest drug dealers in Chicago. Hurd was cut by the Bears after his arrest. His absence from the team’s roster is just one of the problems that GM Phil Emery will need to address when scouting for talent to fill in gaps in the offense.

JT Thomas

Fresh off of the heels of the Sam Hurd arrest, JT Thomas found himself on the wrong side of the law this month in Virginia. Originally pulled over for going the wrong way on a one way street and speeding, Thomas was found to be in possession of a small amount of marijuana; less than 15 grams. Compared to Sam Hurd’s arrest, this seems like a small problem for the Bears, but it did make for bad timing and even worse publicity for the team.

John Capel

John Capel was known throughout the sports world as an Olympic athlete, and as a wide receiver for the University of Florida. He also made headlines back in 2001 after he tested positive for marijuana at the NFL combine . The Chicago Bears drafted Capel after this, and he was later arrested for possession. The Bears cut him from the team before he was ever able to report to training camp, and Capel went on to banned from track and field for two years after testing positive two more times.

Cedric Benson

Cedric Benson and his arrests in Chicago seem like old news, but he has continued to run into trouble with the law after leaving Chicago and joining the Cincinatti Bengals. In 2008 he was charged with operating a boat while intoxicated in Austin Texas. He was arrested just five weeks later for driving while intoxicated. Recent arrests for the former Bear have been for a bar fight two years ago, and a domestic abuse charge just last summer .

Tank Johnson

Tank Johnson is another former Bears player that was arrested multiples times. Originally arrested for possession of a firearm in 2005 after a nightclub employee saw him stashing a gun in his car, he was placed on probation. A year later, six unregistered firearms were found on his property during a raid of his Gurnee home . Johnson’s body guard who was also arrested as part of the raid was shot and killed at a nightclub two days later. Johnson was present at the time of the shooting. The Bears suspended him for one game for being at the club. Tank was later sentenced to 120 days in jail and 84 days of house arrest for the charges in the gun raid. The Bears did allow him to play in the Super Bowl that season.

Whitney Levon is a Chicago native whose dedication to the Bears goes back to her first football memory; the Bears’ 1985 Super Bowl victory.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

Phil Emery is attending his first combine as the GM of the Chicago Bears. He has to have a lot of key positions on his mind these days, but h e has the scouting history to make some sound decisions . Even so, many fans are wondering what his focus will be.

Emery will most likely be looking at the field of wide receivers at the combine. The Bears are determined to stick with Jay Cutler as their quarterback, so now they need to find someone to catch him. The Bears cannot rely on just a running game in 2012, and the wide receiver position is key to this.

The Bears lost Sam Hurd when he was arrested on drug charges, which left a hole in the depth of receivers for the offense. Matt Forte’s position with the team is still unclear, so Emery must do what he can to prepare the rest of the offense. To be fair, the offense needed some serious help before the Hurd scandal and the Forte franchise tag debate, so these two only further complicate a bad situation.

Some are saying that Emery should be looking long and hard at Justin Blackmon . It would take some fancy moves to get Blackmon, but the wide receiver from Oklahoma State may be just what the Bears need. There are some concerns about his speed, as rumors swirl that he may not run the 40-yard dash at the combine , but his track record as a college player may be enough to satisfy Emery even if he doesn’t get to see Blackmon’s speed at the combine.

Emery must come away from the combine with a clear picture of what he wants this Bears team to look like in 2012. We may have to resign ourselves to a re-building year, but if Emery makes the right moves now, we can still have a solid season. What he can’t do is repeat the Angelo mistakes of the past. We have to move the ball down the field and protect Jay Cutler. Phil Emery will only win over Bears fans if he gives the new offensive coaching staff some good talent to work with.

Whitney Levon is a Chicago native whose dedication to the Bears goes back to her first football memory; the Bears’ 1985 Super Bowl victory.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

The Chicago Bears won four division titles and reached the Super
Bowl while Jerry Angelo was general manager. They also crumbled in
a big way this season.

Now Angelo’s out.

He was fired Tuesday following a team collapse marked by
injuries to Jay Cutler and Matt Forte and a drug scandal involving
Sam Hurd.

Angelo had been on the job 11 years, but the Bears called for
change after an 8-8 season. A questionable draft record and an
inability to fill big holes, particularly on offense, led to his
ouster.

His dismissal comes after a wild season in which the Bears at
one point seemed a lock to make the playoffs. A five-game losing
streak spoiled a 7-3 start, keeping Chicago out of the playoffs for
the fourth time in five years, and Angelo wasn’t the only one on
his way out on Tuesday.

The Bears also confirmed that offensive coordinator Mike Martz
and quarterbacks coach Shane Day won’t be back. Martz had an
expiring contract, and there had been plenty of speculation he
would be gone after two seasons.

Coach Lovie Smith, however, appears safe for now. The team said
on its website he will remain in his job and “continue to evaluate
his coaching staff.”

Angelo was signed through the 2013 season, but he was undone on
a number of fronts. The next GM will inherit a team that could use
help on the offensive and defensive lines, at wide receiver and in
the secondary. Forte’s rookie contract is up. Pro Bowl linebacker
Lance Briggs would like a new one even though he has two years left
on his six-year deal.

Still, the Bears believe they can make a run next season. Angelo
won’t be the one overseeing it, though.

“I have tremendous respect for him and am sorry to see him go,”
Smith said in a statement. “But I also will embrace the opportunity
that comes with change. As I said yesterday, we have an excellent
core in place. I look forward to working with a new general manager
to bring a championship to Chicago.”

Cutler broke his right thumb trying to help make a tackle
following an interception during a victory over San Diego on Nov.
20, and the Bears didn’t win again until the season-finale at
Minnesota on Sunday.

It didn’t help that Forte sprained a ligament in his right knee
against Kansas City on Dec. 4, leaving the offense without its two
best players. Those would be blows for any team, but they were
crippling for Chicago. Throw in Hurd’s arrest on federal drug
charges in mid-December, and what looked like a promising season
turned into a disaster for the team and organization.

The injuries exposed a glaring lack of depth as the Bears
tumbled out of playoff contention.

The low point might have been the loss at Denver when Marion
Barber ran out of bounds late in regulation. That stopped the
clock, giving the Broncos enough time to tie the score. If that
weren’t enough, he lost a fumble in overtime, helping set up the
winning field goal.

Meanwhile, backup quarterback Caleb Hanie was a bust filling in
for Cutler, going 0-4 as the starter before the Bears turned to
Josh McCown.

Chicago claimed Kyle Orton off waivers after Cutler went down,
but Kansas City had priority and got him. The Bears then brought in
Josh McCown, and Angelo left himself open to second-guessing when
he decided not to go after Donovan McNabb once Minnesota let him
go.

The lack of a reliable backup quarterback, continuing issues on
the offensive line and the inability to land a top-tier receiver
increased the heat on the general manager.

Roy Williams struggled to hold onto the ball and get open in his
first season with the Bears after an unsuccessful run in Dallas.
Hurd, another Cowboys import, was quickly waived after being
charged with trying to set up a drug-dealing network following his
arrest with more than a pound of cocaine.

The arrest only compounded Angelo’s problems. Now the Bears are
picking up the pieces.

For all the criticism, Angelo did have successes. The Bears won
those four division championships, including the 2006 team’s run to
the Super Bowl and last year’s trip to the NFC title game.

He traded for Cutler and signed Julius Peppers. But he also had
a spotty draft record that included such high-profile
disappointments as Cedric Benson and Rex Grossman.

Former first-rounder Chris Williams has mostly struggled, and
first-round pick Gabe Carimi missed most of his rookie season with
a right knee injury. Angelo also was unable to find a top receiver,
through the draft, a trade or free agency.

Chicago didn’t have anyone ready to step in when a solid but
aging line that helped the Bears reach the playoffs in 2005 and
2006 began to go downhill.

Martz called for deep drops and Cutler took repeated poundings.
That changed after Cutler made his feelings clear. The Bears
started getting the ball out of his hands quicker, handing the ball
off more to Forte and piling up wins. But just when it looked as if
they had saved their season, everything came apart.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Jerry Angelo was fired as the Chicago Bears‘ general manager Tuesday following a team collapse marked by injuries to Jay Cutler and Matt Forte and a drug scandal involving receiver Sam Hurd.

Angelo had been on the job 11 years, a stretch in which the Bears reached one Super Bowl and advanced to another NFC championship game. An 8-8 record this season, a questionable draft record and an inability to fill big holes, particularly on offense, led to his ouster.

His dismissal comes after a wild season in which the Bears at one point seemed a lock to make the playoffs. A five-game losing streak, however, spoiled a 7-3 start and kept Chicago out of the playoffs for the fourth time in five years.

Cutler broke his right thumb trying to help make a tackle following an interception during a win over San Diego on Nov. 20. The Bears didn’t win again until the season-finale at Minnesota on Sunday.

It didn’t help that Forte sprained a ligament in his right knee against Kansas City on Dec. 4, leaving the offense without its two best players. Those would be blows for any team, but they were crippling for Chicago. Throw in Hurd’s arrest on federal drug charges in mid-December, and what looked like a promising season turned into a disaster for the team and organization.

The injuries exposed a glaring lack of depth as the Bears tumbled out of playoff contention.

The low point might have been the loss at Denver when Marion Barber ran out of bounds late in regulation. That stopped the clock, giving the Broncos enough time to tie the score. If that weren’t enough, he lost a fumble in overtime, helping set up the winning field goal.

Meanwhile, backup quarterback Caleb Hanie was a bust filling in for Cutler, going 0-4 as the starter before the Bears turned to Josh McCown.

Chicago claimed Kyle Orton off waivers after Cutler went down, but Kansas City had priority and got him. The Bears then brought in Josh McCown, and Angelo left himself open to second-guessing when he decided not to go after Donovan McNabb once Minnesota let him go.

The lack of a reliable backup quarterback, continuing issues on the offensive line and the inability to land a top-tier receiver increased the heat on the general manager.

Roy Williams struggled to hold onto the ball and get open in his first season with the Bears after a disappointing run in Dallas. Hurd, another Cowboys import, was quickly waived after being charged with trying to set up a drug-dealing network following his arrest with more than a pound of cocaine.

The arrest only compounded Angelo’s problems. Now, Angelo’s out and the Bears are picking up the pieces.

For all the criticism, Angelo did have successes. The Bears won four division championships, including the 2006 team’s run to the Super Bowl and last year’s trip to the NFC championship game.

He traded for Cutler and signed Julius Peppers. But he also had a spotty draft record that included such high-profile disappointments as Cedric Benson and Rex Grossman.

Former first-rounder Chris Williams has mostly struggled, and first-round pick Gabe Carimi missed most of his rookie season with a right knee injury. Angelo also was unable to find a top receiver, through the draft, a trade or free agency.

Chicago didn’t anyone ready to step in when a solid but aging line that helped the Bears reach the playoffs in 2005 and 2006 began to go downhill.

Offensive coordinator Mike Martz called for deep drops and Cutler took repeated poundings. That changed after Cutler made his feelings clear. The Bears started getting the ball out of his hands quicker, handing the ball off more to Forte and piling up the wins. But just when it looked as if they had saved their season, everything came apart.

Despite losing their last five games in a row, the Chicago Bears had one of their bigger Pro Bowl hauls in recent years when five players were named to the Pro Bowl. While linebackers Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher, long the mainstays of Chicago’s defense, were honored again, the most welcome news for Chicago was Charles Tillman, one of the best cornerbacks in team history, being selected for the first time and runningback Matt Forte become the Bears first running back picked in 20 years.

Special teams player Corey Graham was also picked. Julius Peppers, Chicago’s $91 million defensive end, surprisingly was not picked.

Chicago’s five picks were its biggest representation for the NFL’s all-star game since eight Bears were named in 2006, the year Chicago made it to the Super Bowl for the second time.

This is the seventh consecutive Pro Bowl nod for Briggs (2005-11 seasons), who has played well despite complaining briefly about wanting a new conrtract early in the season. He is just the fourth linebacker in franchise history to be selected to seven straight Pro Bowls joining Hall of Famers Dick Butkus (eight straight), Bill George (eight) and Mike Singletary (ten). He is the ninth player overall to be voted to seven Pro Bowls as a member of the Bears organization and the seventh to be selected seven years in-a-row. In 2011, Briggs paces the team with 140 tackles and is tied for the team lead with eight tackles for losses to go along with one interception and two forced fumbles.

Forté is the first Bears running back to be named to the Pro Bowl in 20 years. Neal Anderson made it following the 1991 season.  Prior to missing the last three contests with a knee injury, Forté led the NFL in yards from scrimmage (1,487), ranked third in the league in rushing yards (997) and ranked fourth among all running backs with 490 yards receiving. His 4.9 rushing average in 2011 is a career high and sixth among NFL running backs with at least 150 rushing attempts this season.

Graham was named to his first Pro Bowl and is the eighth Pro Bowl selection by a Bears special teams player under Special Teams Coordinator Dave Toub. Graham plays on five of the Bears six special teams units (punt coverage, kickoff coverage, punt returns, kickoff returns and field goal blocks).The Bears punt return coverage unit ranks second in the NFL this season allowing just 5.4 yards per return.

This is the first Pro Bowl nod for Tillman and he is the first Bears cornerback to be named to named to the Pro Bowl since Nathan Vasher in 2006. The ninth-year veteran ranks third on the team with a career-high 107 tackles. Tillman leads the team in pass break ups (11) and is tied for the team lead in forced fumbles (three) and fumble recoveries (two) while adding two interceptions and an interception return touchdown. Since entering the NFL in 2003, Tillman leads all defensive backs with 27 forced fumbles and his 29 interceptions is tied for ninth in the NFL overall during that time.

Urlacher was named to his eighth Pro Bowl (2000-03, 2005-06 & 2010 seasons). He is the sixth player in team history to be voted to eight Pro Bowls. He is tied for the team lead with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries and has added a fumble return touchdown.

Despite losing their last five games in a row, the Chicago Bears had one of their bigger Pro Bowl hauls in recent years when five players were named to the Pro Bowl. While linebackers Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher, long the mainstays of Chicago’s defense, were honored again, the most welcome news for Chicago was Charles Tillman, one of the best cornerbacks in team history, being selected for the first time and runningback Matt Forte become the Bears first running back picked in 20 years.

Special teams player Corey Graham was also picked. Julius Peppers, Chicago’s $91 million defensive end, surprisingly was not picked.

Chicago’s five picks were its biggest representation for the NFL’s all-star game since eight Bears were named in 2006, the year Chicago made it to the Super Bowl for the second time.

This is the seventh consecutive Pro Bowl nod for Briggs (2005-11 seasons), who has played well despite complaining briefly about wanting a new conrtract early in the season. He is just the fourth linebacker in franchise history to be selected to seven straight Pro Bowls joining Hall of Famers Dick Butkus (eight straight), Bill George (eight) and Mike Singletary (ten). He is the ninth player overall to be voted to seven Pro Bowls as a member of the Bears organization and the seventh to be selected seven years in-a-row. In 2011, Briggs paces the team with 140 tackles and is tied for the team lead with eight tackles for losses to go along with one interception and two forced fumbles.

Forté is the first Bears running back to be named to the Pro Bowl in 20 years. Neal Anderson made it following the 1991 season.  Prior to missing the last three contests with a knee injury, Forté led the NFL in yards from scrimmage (1,487), ranked third in the league in rushing yards (997) and ranked fourth among all running backs with 490 yards receiving. His 4.9 rushing average in 2011 is a career high and sixth among NFL running backs with at least 150 rushing attempts this season.

Graham was named to his first Pro Bowl and is the eighth Pro Bowl selection by a Bears special teams player under Special Teams Coordinator Dave Toub. Graham plays on five of the Bears six special teams units (punt coverage, kickoff coverage, punt returns, kickoff returns and field goal blocks).The Bears punt return coverage unit ranks second in the NFL this season allowing just 5.4 yards per return.

This is the first Pro Bowl nod for Tillman and he is the first Bears cornerback to be named to named to the Pro Bowl since Nathan Vasher in 2006. The ninth-year veteran ranks third on the team with a career-high 107 tackles. Tillman leads the team in pass break ups (11) and is tied for the team lead in forced fumbles (three) and fumble recoveries (two) while adding two interceptions and an interception return touchdown. Since entering the NFL in 2003, Tillman leads all defensive backs with 27 forced fumbles and his 29 interceptions is tied for ninth in the NFL overall during that time.

Urlacher was named to his eighth Pro Bowl (2000-03, 2005-06 & 2010 seasons). He is the sixth player in team history to be voted to eight Pro Bowls. He is tied for the team lead with three interceptions and two fumble recoveries and has added a fumble return touchdown.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) – The Chicago Bears placed their slim
playoff hopes in the hands of quarterback Josh McCown and running
back Kahlil Bell in a prime-time road game against the defending
Super Bowl champions.

It didn’t turn out quite as badly as it sounded going in. Bell
rushed for 121 yards, and McCown made enough plays to keep the game
close into the third quarter.

But it wasn’t good enough to keep the Bears in the playoff chase.
Aaron Rodgers threw five touchdowns, and the Green Bay Packers beat
Chicago 35-21 on Sunday night.

“Yeah, that’s what this business is all about, getting a chance to
showcase your abilities,” said Bell, a third-year player out of
UCLA. “Tonight, I had a good shot and a good chance to get out
there and play and try to make some plays for our team. Just
unfortunate that we fell short.”

With the win, the Packers nailed down the No. 1 seed in the NFC and
claimed another round of bragging rights in the NFL’s most storied
rivalry. The loss eliminated the Bears (7-8) from postseason
contention and put the Atlanta Falcons in the playoffs.

The Bears trailed by only four points early in the third quarter,
but Rodgers drove the Packers for touchdowns on their next three
possessions to put the game out of reach.

“When you play the Super Bowl champions, you have to be on top of
your game,” Bears coach Lovie Smith said. “Offensively, we did
enough things to keep us in the game and have a chance to win the
game at the end. But defensively we just didn’t have it.”

The Bears have lost five straight games since losing quarterback
Jay Cutler to a broken right thumb in a Nov. 20 victory over San
Diego. Chicago was 7-3 then.

The Bears started McCown on Sunday after backup Caleb Hanie
struggled to fill in for Cutler. McCown’s most recent start came
with the Oakland Raiders in 2007, and he was out of the NFL last
season.

McCown was 19 of 28 for 242 yards with a touchdown and two
interceptions.

“All I know is, my number was called tonight and I played as hard
as I could,” McCown said. “The bottom line is, we still came up
short. We have to protect the football better. You can’t have those
two (interceptions).”

To make matters worse for the Bears’ offense, Barber was inactive
because of a calf injury. Chicago already was without Forte, who
missed his third straight game because of a sprained medial
collateral ligament in his right knee.

Chicago did have Devin Hester, who played despite a lingering ankle
injury, but he didn’t look like himself.

The Bears were able to stay in the game early, with solid defense
and tough running by Bell and Armando Allen. Rodgers’ second-half
fireworks proved to be too much for Chicago.

“Thirty-five points on that defense, that’s a good night,” Packers
coach Mike McCarthy said.

The victory was the Packers’ fourth over the Bears in 2011. Green
Bay also beat Chicago in the 2010 regular-season finale, the NFC
Championship game, and at Soldier Field on Sept. 25.

With the Bears trailing 14-3 at halftime, McCown found Earl Bennett
wide open for a 49-yard gain to set up first-and-goal on the 1.
Bell fumbled just short of the goal line on the next play but
offensive lineman Edwin Williams recovered the ball for a
touchdown.

With the Packers nursing a four-point lead, and the Lambeau Field
crowd nervously quiet early in the third quarter, Rodgers answered
by dropping deep and throwing a rainbow pass to Nelson, who blew
through the Chicago secondary and hauled in the ball for a 55-yard
touchdown.

Rodgers then showed his running ability on the Packers’ next
possession, juking his way between linebackers Brian Urlacher and
Lance Briggs on a scramble. Rodgers finished the drive with a
7-yard touchdown toss to Jones, giving the Packers a commanding
28-10 lead.

Packers safety Charlie Peprah came up with an interception, and
Rodgers found Nelson for another score to give Green Bay a 35-10
lead.

McCown finally answered with a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end
Kellen Davis – then drew the ire of the Lambeau crowd by scrambling
for a two-point conversion and spiking the ball over the goalpost
with his team trailing 35-18.

The Chicago Bears placed their slim playoff hopes in the hands of quarterback Josh McCown and running back Kahlil Bell in a prime-time road game against the defending Super Bowl champions.

It didn’t turn out quite as badly as it sounded going in. Bell rushed for 121 yards, and McCown made enough plays to keep the game close into the third quarter.

But it wasn’t good enough to keep the Bears in the playoff chase. Aaron Rodgers threw five touchdowns, and the Green Bay Packers beat Chicago 35-21 on Sunday night.

“Yeah, that’s what this business is all about, getting a chance to showcase your abilities,” said Bell, a third-year player out of UCLA. “Tonight, I had a good shot and a good chance to get out there and play and try to make some plays for our team. Just unfortunate that we fell short.”

With the win, the Packers nailed down the No. 1 seed in the NFC and claimed another round of bragging rights in the NFL’s most storied rivalry. The loss eliminated the Bears (7-8) from postseason contention and put the Atlanta Falcons in the playoffs.

The Bears trailed by only four points early in the third quarter, but Rodgers drove the Packers for touchdowns on their next three possessions to put the game out of reach.

“When you play the Super Bowl champions, you have to be on top of your game,” Bears coach Lovie Smith said. “Offensively, we did enough things to keep us in the game and have a chance to win the game at the end. But defensively we just didn’t have it.”

The Bears have lost five straight games since losing quarterback Jay Cutler to a broken right thumb in a Nov. 20 victory over San Diego. Chicago was 7-3 then.

The Bears started McCown on Sunday after backup Caleb Hanie struggled to fill in for Cutler. McCown’s most recent start came with the Oakland Raiders in 2007, and he was out of the NFL last season.

McCown was 19 of 28 for 242 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.

“All I know is, my number was called tonight and I played as hard as I could,” McCown said. “The bottom line is, we still came up short. We have to protect the football better. You can’t have those two (interceptions).”

To make matters worse for the Bears’ offense, Barber was inactive because of a calf injury. Chicago already was without Forte, who missed his third straight game because of a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee.

Chicago did have Devin Hester, who played despite a lingering ankle injury, but he didn’t look like himself.

The Bears were able to stay in the game early, with solid defense and tough running by Bell and Armando Allen. Rodgers’ second-half fireworks proved to be too much for Chicago.

“Thirty-five points on that defense, that’s a good night,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said.

The victory was the Packers’ fourth over the Bears in 2011. Green Bay also beat Chicago in the 2010 regular-season finale, the NFC Championship game, and at Soldier Field on Sept. 25.

With the Bears trailing 14-3 at halftime, McCown found Earl Bennett wide open for a 49-yard gain to set up first-and-goal on the 1. Bell fumbled just short of the goal line on the next play but offensive lineman Edwin Williams recovered the ball for a touchdown.

With the Packers nursing a four-point lead, and the Lambeau Field crowd nervously quiet early in the third quarter, Rodgers answered by dropping deep and throwing a rainbow pass to Nelson, who blew through the Chicago secondary and hauled in the ball for a 55-yard touchdown.

Rodgers then showed his running ability on the Packers’ next possession, juking his way between linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs on a scramble. Rodgers finished the drive with a 7-yard touchdown toss to Jones, giving the Packers a commanding 28-10 lead.

Packers safety Charlie Peprah came up with an interception, and Rodgers found Nelson for another score to give Green Bay a 35-10 lead.

McCown finally answered with a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kellen Davis — then drew the ire of the Lambeau crowd by scrambling for a two-point conversion and spiking the ball over the goalpost with his team trailing 35-18.

“I was overcome with Christmas joy, I guess,” McCown said.

Now the Bears will be home for the playoffs.

“It’s tough,” offensive lineman Roberto Garza said. “We had a lot of big goals for the season. We had a lot of injuries, but that doesn’t matter. We have to step in, guys have to step up and make plays. We haven’t done that. We haven’t been able to score enough points. We haven’t been able to finish plays. Obviously, it falls squarely on us. We have to go out and do a better job of that.”

With the first five-touchdown game of his NFL career, Aaron Rodgers ensured that the Green Bay Packers’ playoff road will go through Lambeau Field. 

He also made sure the rival Chicago Bears will be spending the playoffs at home.  

Rodgers broke a close game wide open by leading three quick scoring drives in the second half, and the Packers beat the Bears 35-21 on Sunday night.  

Rodgers noted that he once threw six touchdowns in junior college — also in a rivalry game — but acknowledged this one was a little bit bigger.

“Yeah, this one’s pretty special,” Rodgers said.  

With the win, the Packers (14-1) nailed down the No. 1 seed in the NFC and claimed another round of bragging rights in the NFL’s most storied rivalry by knocking the Bears out of the playoff chase.  

“We wanted the path to go through Lambeau,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said.  

Rodgers threw a pair of touchdown passes to Jordy Nelson, another two to James Jones, and found tight end Jermichael Finley for a score. Rodgers was 21 of 29 for 283 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions when backup Matt Flynn took over for Rodgers with 7:54 left in the game.  

Rodgers surpassed Lynn Dickey’s single-season franchise record of 4,458 yards passing with one game left, although it’s unclear how much Rodgers will play in the Packers’ finale against Detroit.  

The loss eliminated the Bears (7-8) from playoff contention and put the Atlanta Falcons in the playoffs.  

Third-string running back Kahlil Bell rushed for 121 yards for the Bears, who trailed by only four early in the third quarter. But Rodgers drove the Packers for touchdowns on their next three possessions to put the game out of reach.  

“When you play the Super Bowl champions, you have to be on top of your game,” Bears coach Lovie Smith said. “Offensively, we did enough things to keep us in the game and have a chance to win the game at the end. But defensively we just didn’t have it.”

McCarthy said the team’s run defense will be examined after the big performance by Bell, but added that the final score told the story.  

“We won big,” McCarthy said. “That’s the bottom line.”

Chicago came into Sunday on a four-game losing streak and beset by injuries. But the Bears were able to stay in the game with solid defense and tough running by Bell, who started because of injuries to Matt Forte and Marion Barber.  

Rodgers’ second-half fireworks proved to be too much for Chicago.  

“Thirty-five points on that defense, that’s a good night,” McCarthy said.  

The victory was the Packers’ fourth over the Bears in 2011. Green Bay also beat Chicago in the 2010 regular-season finale, the NFC Championship game, and at Soldier Field on Sept. 25.  

With the Bears trailing 14-3 at halftime, quarterback Josh McCown found Earl Bennett wide open for a 49-yard gain to set up first-and-goal on the 1. Bell fumbled just short of the goal line on the next play but offensive lineman Edwin Williams recovered the ball for a touchdown.  

With the Packers nursing a four-point lead, and the Lambeau Field crowd nervously quiet early in the third quarter, Rodgers answered by dropping deep and throwing a rainbow pass to Nelson, who blew through the Chicago secondary and hauled in the ball for a 55-yard touchdown.  

Rodgers then showed his running ability on the Packers’ next possession, juking his way between Bears linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs on a scramble. Rodgers finished the drive with a 7-yard touchdown toss to Jones, giving the Packers a commanding 28-10 lead.  

Packers safety Charlie Peprah came up with an interception, and Rodgers found Nelson for another score to give Green Bay a 35-10 lead.  

“It just hasn’t gone the way we wanted to,” Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher said. “If we play like this, that’s what’s going to happen. The last five weeks, we haven’t played well enough to win, and we’ve lost all five games. We’re not real happy where we’re at. Our coaches aren’t happy, but that’s what we get.”

McCown finally answered with a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kellen Davis — then drew the ire of the Lambeau crowd by scrambling for a two-point conversion and spiking the ball over the goalpost with his team trailing 35-18.  

Rodgers’ offensive feats came behind a patchwork offensive line, as the Packers were without three of their top four tackles.  

Chad Clifton returned to practice this week after sitting out since October because of hamstring and back injuries, but isn’t ready to play. Bryan Bulaga was inactive Sunday because of a left knee sprain, and backup Derek Sherrod is out for the season with a broken right leg.  

Green Bay also was missing wide receiver Greg Jennings, because of a sprained left knee, and defensive lineman Ryan Pickett because of a concussion.  

The Bears have lost five straight games since losing quarterback Jay Cutler to a broken right thumb in a Nov. 20 victory over San Diego. Chicago was 7-3 after that win, but came into Sunday’s game barely alive in the playoff chase.  

The Bears started McCown on Sunday after backup Caleb Hanie struggled to fill in for Cutler. McCown’s most recent start came with the Oakland Raiders in 2007, and he was out of the NFL last season.  

“It’s a tough assignment, but you’ve got to find a way to pull it off,” McCown said.  

To make matters worse for the Bears’ offense, Barber was inactive because of a calf injury. Chicago already was without Forte, who missed his third straight game because of a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee.  

Notes: Sunday’s attendance was 70,574, the team’s 300th consecutive sellout, including the playoffs. … Bears offensive lineman Lance Louis left the game in the first half because of an illness. … Packers RB James Starks bruised an ankle.
 

LAKE FOREST — Last season the Packers were ravaged by injuries, filling the injured-reserve list with 15 players throughout the course of the year. They even lost a star on each side of the ball (Charles Woodson and Donald Driver) by halftime of the Super Bowl.

Did it set them back?

“No way,” said Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews, who was part of that 2010 Super Bowl title run.

This year it’s the Bears who have been beset by injuries, the most costly of which was the broken thumb of Jay Cutler and the sprained knee on Matt Forte.

Did they lose any steam because of injuries?

“Well,” Bears center Roberto Garza recently said, “I guess you could say they’ve knocked us back a bit.”

So why did the mounds of injuries not slow down the Packers, but they turned the Bears from a title contender into a team besieged by a four-game losing streak? Packers head coach Mike McCarthy insists his squad was able to sustain the barrage of setbacks because of the way it built its roster depth.

“I couldn’t really give you an informed opinion on how the Bears are handling their injury situation, but I know that for us, something you always want to feel strongly about is your roster. And how you train your players from one through 53 is part of the ability to overcome these types of injuries,” McCarthy explained. “We try to spend as much time as we possibly can with our younger players to make sure that when these situations arise, they’re ready to go.”

It worked well for them last year, and they may need that depth again this year. The Packers were fairly healthy throughout much of this season, but they have stumbled on hard times of late. This week alone they added rookie tackle Derek Sherrod to the injured-reserve list, bringing it up to six players, and they have already ruled out tackles Bryan Bulaga and Chad Clifton, wide receiver Greg Jennings and defensive end Ryan Pickett.

And all of this comes on the heels of the team’s first loss — a 19-14 defeat to the struggling Chiefs.

“There’s never such a thing as a good loss,” Matthews said, “but there’s definitely things you can take away from a loss, as far as how we need to play and respond moving forward into the playoffs.”

If they move forward the way they did last year — when the injuries piled up and they rattled off six straight wins capped off by a Super Bowl championship — they’ll be fine. The Bears can only hope they can pull something like that off as well.

“It’s very important to get all of our starters back out there,” Bears head coach Lovie Smith said this week. “No matter what, we’re going to have more guys than we would like on the sideline for a game like this.”

His offensive coordinator likened it to a mash unit as he looked for ways to figure out who all the new guys are.
“We’re going to put names on tape and put them on their helmets so we can get to know everybody,” Mike Martz said with a chuckle.

But the Bears have not been laughing about their injury situation much of late. Not only did they lose Cutler and Forte during their best seasons as a pro, but they just added wide receiver Johnny Knox and safety Chris Conte to IR, and they have a slew of questionable players this week. Stars in all phases (defensive tackle Henry Melton, running back Marion Barber and kick returner Devin Hester) could be missing from the Bears’ active roster Sunday in Green Bay.

And, at this most inopportune time, the Bears are turning to third-string QB Josh McCown, a recent free-agent pickup who is considered injury prone even by his own coaches.

“Unfortunately,” Martz said, “in his career, when he’s gotten going, he’s usually gotten injured or nicked.”

If he does this time, he will join a long list. Chicago currently has eight players on injured reserve, after having only two make that grade last year. And that’s not counting the two most severe losses: Cutler and Forte, who have not yet been ruled out for the year.

The Bears are clearly nervous. The Packers feel a little bit more at ease with their issues after they ignored them so well last year. But that doesn’t mean they’re not worried about it, like the Bears.

“It’s a situation everybody goes through. We had a bunch of injuries last year, and we understand how it feels and really the approach you need to take,” McCarthy added. “You don’t want to get injuries, you especially don’t want to get injuries down the stretch, but that’s part of our challenge preparing for the Bears.”

And this year, it’s part of the challenge for the Bears as well.

Jay Taft covers the Chicago Bears for the Rockford Register Star. He can be reached at 815-987-1384 or jtaft@rrstar.com.

The Denver Broncos beat the Chicago Bears 13-10, in overtime Sunday in one of the most improbable victories of the season. Beating Chicago (and Oakland being massacred by Green Bay) has put the Broncos in a spot that last season seemed to be only a pipe dream – the top spot of the AFC West with an 8-5 record. The playoffs are near and not impossible.

Anywhere in Broncos Country (or any country it seems, as when I was in Ireland last October people knew who he was -this about a player who wasn’t even the starting QB at the time), Tim Tebow is a polarizing figure. You love him or you hate him. Critics have said it all.

“Tebow doesn’t have what it takes to play at a pro level.”

(Really?)

“We’ll see how the Broncos do when they play a real team”

(New York, Chicago, San Diego, Miami, Minnesota and Oakland would probably all contend that they are in fact “real teams.”)

“This can’t keep happening”

(Yet, here we are with seven wins, most of which are happening in the last five minutes of the game.)

They Just Keep Winning

There is no logical reason for the Broncos’ continues winning streak, when the fact is they generally spend the first three quarters losing. But something happens in the fourth quarter, whether it is a sense of urgency or divine intervention, can be left to the skeptics; football hasn’t been this exciting in Denver since Elway led the team to back to back Super Bowl wins.

Broncos Time

Something is happening with the Broncos, at least in the last quarter of every game, something Tebow is aware probably ought to be spread out through the other three quarters. Tebow told the Denver Post, “When it is clutch and you need competitive greatness, you have to step up and you have to make those plays. If you’re able to do it when it really matters, usually you can find a way. We’ve just got to get better at doing it for four quarters.”

Tebow obviously isn’t winning these games by himself, but it has made him fodder for criticism that it is a team sport and not a one-man show. Even Tebow agrees it is a team effort and the attention on him alone is unwarranted, as he told the Post, “I think my teammates make me look a lot better than I am. They really stepped up and came up with some huge plays, and I’m so proud of them…I don’t think it’s Tebow Time, I just think it’s Bronco Time, and the team steps up.”

Defense and Special Teams

Matt Prater proved once again how clutch he is when he kicked the 59-yard game-tying field goal and in overtime, the winning 51-yard winning goal.

The Broncos defense has been unstoppable, Wesley Woodyard, Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil made Pro-Bowl level plays yesterday and the Chicago offense is likely feeling the pain this morning.

Da Bears have Da Blues

Marion Barber is probably having a rough day watching reels today. His fumble in overtime was crucial for the Broncos to win. But even more vital was his running out of bounds after the two-minute warning in the fourth, stopping the clock and giving the Broncos a chance to do what they do best-win when there’s no other option.

Even Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher had a snarky remark about Tebow when he told the Post, “He’s a good running back, man. He runs the ball well.” Ironically, the Bears’ defense held the Broncos’ running game to a near halt and it was Tebow’s passing yardage in the fourth quarter that landed a Broncos’ touchdown and made room for Prater’s field goals. Urlacher’s choice of words may taste like crow this morning when he had suggested Tebow isn’t a solid quarterback. While he may not be a traditional or even conventional QB, Tebow does run well.

He also wins well.

Clutch

To suggest that the players are working harder, with Tebow at the helm than they did with Orton is insulting to their professionalism. Yet it is impossible to ignore the level of energy and enthusiasm amongst the players and fans felt every Sunday now that he is starting and winning. Tebow has won six games in a row now with five of those being fourth-quarter comeback victories.

Broncos linebacker Von Miller said it best when he told the Post, “There’s no one else I’d rather have the ball in his hands when it counts.”

Yesterday’s game against Chicago was all but lost until the last two minutes of the game. During the first three quarters, Tebow only threw 3-16 with crucial drops made by Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas. Until the fourth quarter fans had seemingly accepted this might be where the winning streak ends.

Yet, the Broncos beat the Bears anyway, 13-10, in overtime. Tebow has always been subject to criticism because he isn’t as accurate of a passer as, say, Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers. The first three quarters were essentially the same: aggravating throws, sloppy plays and if it wasn’t for the Broncos’ defense, the chance of these type Hail-Tebow wins wouldn’t be happening.

Tebow’s Passing Game

Even Tebow knows his passing is a potential problem, as his body can’t take the hits like he has been and expect to have a long career in the NFL. Tebow told the Post, “I’ve just got to do a better job and just improve with accuracy and put it on my receivers more.”

Tebow continues to rush well, but his passing has improved exponentially every game, even if it is for the most part, in the fourth quarter of the game. His stats are better than Elway’s when he was first starting. It is funny how short memories can be in Denver when fans forget how Elway was often the subject of harsh criticism before bringing us home two back-to-back Super Bowl championships, thereby ensuring his place as THE Denver Bronco. Before signing on to be a Broncos executive, fans would practically genuflect to the man if he were seen at games. And now he is mentoring a QB that everyone was quick to dismiss as simply a great college player.

‘What the frickin’ is happening here?’

Broncos Country is probably the highest Nail-Biters-Per-Capita at this point, and even Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey finds these shocking wins, well, shocking. Bailey told the Post: “I don’t want to give him all the credit. But at the same time, he comes through at crunch time every week. Every single week it’s like, ‘You’ve got to be kidding me.’ It gets to the point where you say, ‘what the frickin’ is happening here?’ “

Is it divine intervention? Nobody can answer that for sure but Tebow isn’t quick to take the credit for what is, after all, a team effort.

Tebow said it best: “Great things are only possible if you’re under very tough circumstances. That was a great comeback for this team, and it was led by our defense and coaches and a team that constantly believes.”

True Broncos fans always have.

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_19526117

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The Chicago Bears are on their last legs—literally.

Brett Favre is still deciding if he will return for another season in the NFL. His offseason ankle surgery may play a big role in that decision.
Wikimedia Commons

With quarterback Jay Cutler(notes) sidelined with a broken finger and running back Matt Forte(notes)—who should have gotten paid weeks ago, I might add—out with a knee sprain, it didn’t take long for someone to mention that one former quarterback from Hattiesburg, Miss.

You know, that one guy who played in Green Bay for a long time, then went to New York, then ended his career in Minnesota—or so we thought. Now, Brett Favre(notes) has been said to be interested in the Bears’ quarterback job.

Well, that’s if the Bears decide to risk backlash from their faithful fans and call up a guy who used to hate playing against them when he was wearing green and yellow in the NFC North.

I don’t see it happening, for a few reasons.

First of all, Favre is up their in age. He is 42, and the last time NFL fans saw him he was barely walking straight in his final go-round with the Vikings. He is not getting any younger and he can’t take a hit as well as he could five or ten years ago, and with essentially no running game, Favre would take a beating.

Then there’s the public perception of having Favre on your football team.

The circus has swirled around Favre more in the past five years than in all his other years combined, bitterly leaving Green Bay in a move that made Aaron Rodgers(notes) the starter. (How did that work out for Packers GM Ted Thompson?) Favre then rode his tractor, er, car, to the Big Apple and had a pretty decent season with the Jets. An injury ruined his time there, but he wasn’t done.

The 2009 season was a magical one for Favre, posting great numbers on what many considered the NFC’s best team, or at least close to it. But a costly Favre interception (and he does hold the all-time interception mark in NFL history) ruined the Vikings’ chances of playing in another Super Bowl and gave way for the skeptics to come out once more and say that was everything he had in his tank.

And they were pretty much right. The Vikings struggled mightily in 2010 and Favre couldn’t even finish the season.

After all that, the bitter escape and constantly being ridiculed by the public, Favre’s name pops up again because, well, we all know he loves toying around professional franchises and media members. Favre was Tebow before Tebow, and Favre does make Tebow look like a saint in many regards. No. 4 has a reputation that has taken a few too many hits in recent years, and the NFL is a what have you done for me lately-type league.

The Bears have come out and said they aren’t interested. For some reason I think Favre will stay retired. As a Detroit Lions fan, I hope he goes to the Bears, actually.

But really, who am I kidding?

Sources:

NFL.com

Yahoo! Sports NFL

ESPN.com

ProFootballTalk.com

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