Jake Calenda's NBA Basketball friend's fan blogs

As I tweeted during the opening hour of NFL free agency: "I'm not sure who's in the Bears front office right now, but I like him." A day and a half later, I stand by that statement. My Chicago Bears ended up going "hog wild" in free agency after all, signing defensive end Julius Peppers, running back Chester Taylor and tight end Brandon Manumaleuna on Friday.

It was a complete departure from the norm for a Bears front office that is very particular about spending money on players it doesn't know. Anyone who says the Bears are cheap hasn't been paying attention. They shell out the money, but only for players they already have under contract. This year it was different. With no first or second round draft picks, Jerry Angelo and Lovie Smith had to swing for the fences in free agency or they'd be on the chopping block for sure after the 2010 season. After a fantastic Friday, it's time to examine the moves the Bears made and how they improve the team going forward.

Continue reading "Bears open their wallets to sign marquee free agents"

Not even an hour into NFL free agency, ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that big fish defensive end Julius Peppers and highly touted running back Chester Taylor will both visit the Chicago Bears on Friday. Brad Biggs is also reporting that tight end Brandon Manumaleuna will also pay a visit.

My quick reaction is that of complete shock. I'm not really sure who these Bears are. They're acting like Dan Snyder and the Redskins (who are now just sitting back and waiting on free agents). It's been a complete switch. Jerry Angelo and Lovie Smith are all-in.  

We all knew Peppers was going to be a high priority for Angelo since he's head and shoulders the best DE on the market. Lovie Smith even flew to Carolina to pick him up. That's "the Bears' deal to lose" according to Peppers' agent. Done deal.

Continue reading "Peppers, Taylor and Manumaleuna visiting Bears on Friday"

With NFL free agency kicking off at midnight on Thursday, the Chicago Bears need to make a huge splash. They have no first or second-round draft picks to spend money on and a salary cap-less year on the horizon, priming them to be major players in free agency for the first time I can remember. I'll take a look at a few positions and players the Bears should be targeting in free agency.

Defensive End

Julius Peppers (Carolina)

Undoubtedly the biggest fish in the free agent pool, the 30-year old defensive lineman would bring instant pass-rush to a Bears defense that is sorely lacking. In Lovie Smith's much maligned cover-two scheme, getting pressure with your front four is key. Adewale Ogunleye's impending departure and the death of Gaines Adams makes signing Peppers a no-brainer. When he wants to he's one of the best pass-rushers in the league. Every now and again he'll take plays off (or seasons, as evident by his 2.5 sack 2007), but he's racked up double digit sacks in six of his eight years in the NFL.

Continue reading "Free Agency Preview: Chicago Bears"

If you're reading this, it means you're not among the thralls of New Orleans Saints fans in Louisiana or with the team in Miami that are just beginning what is sure to be a month-long party because their team just won their first ever Super Bowl. On a night thought by many to be Peyton Manning's coronation, Drew Brees ended up at the post-game podium as the MVP of the night after a 31-17 victory. Sunday's championship contest didn't get off to the most exciting of starts, but it sure finished with one.

After getting out to an early 10-0 lead, Peyton looked primed to make the Saints a footnote on his way to history. New Orleans kept it close with two field goals in the second quarter, even after failing a fourth down conversion down at the goal line. When the second half kicked off, it was all Saints. A surprising and successful onside kick led to a Pierre Thomas touchdown, signaling a momentum shift. 

Continue reading "Saints take advantage of Manning's mistake to capture first-ever Super Bowl"

Can't bet against the point spread? Feel too much pressure when deciding between your heart and your head? Vegas has you covered with these completely ridiculous prop bets, covered by Esquire. Here's a few choice selections and my useless advice.

How many times will The Who's Pete Townshend do his windmill move?
Line: 5.5

My take: The over! During these Super Bowl halftime medleys, every frontman pulls off his signature move at least once, like Springsteen's guitar catch or power slide, Mick Jagger's being creepy or Janet Jackson's being naked. (Snap.) Once you start the windmill, it's hard to stop. 

How many times will CBS cut to Archie Manning?

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Super Bowl 44 Prop Bets"

The wait is over. Super Bowl 44 is nigh. Manning versus Brees starts in mere hours. After prepping you for the game yesterday with separate previews of the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints, it's time to bring the two together for my Super Bowl predictions. 

As you're enjoying commercials and stuffing your face with every snack food known to man, it's hard to remember there's a game to be watched. If you miss it, you could miss one of the most explosive Super Bowl match-ups in history. Behind Drew Brees and Peyton Manning, these offenses are always threats to hit the big play. That gives defensive coordinators headaches. Each defense will look to pressure the opposing QB early and often. Whoever best achieves that goal has the best chance to take home the coveted Lombardi Trophy.

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive: Super Bowl 44"

As we grow closer to the Super Bowl, all eyes are on Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts as they chase down a legacy. After starting the season 14-0, the organization turned off the gas for the final two games as they rested their starters for the post-season. After shutting down the Ravens and putting a 30-spot on the Jets, we will finally see if shunning history will pay off for Indianapolis.

Being named the successor to Tony Dungy, Jim Caldwell already had the tools necessary to make it to the playoffs, but no one would have believed he could take a team to the Super Bowl in rookie season as head coach. His ability to keep the team united during the undefeated fiasco and on the championship path while improving a defense that missed All-Pro safety Bob Sanders all season proves Bill Polian and Jim Irsay made the right call.

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive of Super Bowl 44: Indianapolis Colts"

We are now a little more than a day away from the culmination of the 2009 NFL season. As we all have that inevitable Super Bowl party where no one else knows about football, I'm here to help you impress your friends with your gridiron knowledge. In this special edition of the Opening Drive I take a look at the NFC representative in SB XLIV, the New Orleans Saints.

Head Coach Sean Payton has taken this team from the bowels of the NFL to a legitimate contender. His offense put up a league-high 32 points a game during the regular season, making it one of the most prolific in history. But we all knew the Saints had a great offense. It was Payton's decision to bring in Gregg Williams as defensive coordinator (and give up part of his own salary to do so, as has been widely publicized) that propelled his Saints to the Super Bowl. While it wasn't dominating, Williams' pressure-filled defense created 39 takeaways during the regular season, second only to the Green Bay Packers. Who needs to stop the run when you'll simply force a turnover on the next the play? On the way to the big game, the Saints absolutely punished Kurt Warner and Brett Favre in their two victories. They want to repeat that result against Peyton Manning.

Continue reading "Joe's Opening Drive of Super Bowl 44: New Orleans Saints"

Completing the circle of "Lovie's guys," Bears defensive line coach Rod Marinelli was promoted to assistant head coach and defensive coordinator on Friday. The move was among many staff decisions made by Smith and GM Jerry Angelo. Shane Day, quality control coach with the San Francisco 49ers, was hired to become the new quarterbacks coach and Eric Washington was promoted to defensive line coach. Seattle's Mike DeBord was signed on Tuesday, assuming the tight end coaching vacancy. 

Let's just get this right out of the way: I don't like Marinelli as my defensive coordinator, but he's not going to be. This is still Lovie Smith's defense and that will never change as long as he is the head coach. Marinelli will barely call plays since he's never been a coordinator before in his lengthy football career. Is the promotion ridiculous? Yes. Significant? No.

Continue reading "Bears stun no one with promotion of Marinelli to defensive coordinator"

After a 27-day germination, the Chicago Bears' offensive coordinator search finally bore fruit. Oddly enough, the man chosen for the job was rumored to be a front-runner as soon as Ron Turner was released. The polarizing Mike Martz will step into what boils down to be the offensive head coaching job.

Jerry Angelo and Lovie Smith exhausted a list of potential candidates which included: Jeremy Bates (Seattle), Rob Chudzinski (San Diego), Ken Zampese (Cincinnatti), Kevin Rogers (Minnesota) and Hue Jackson (Oakland) over the month-long PR debacle. Candidate after candidate turned down the Chicago job for (supposedly) greener pastures all while Mike Martz sat idly by, waiting for even an interview. Last Friday, Martz finally sat down with Bears brass, followed by a trip to Tennessee to have dinner with Bears franchise QB Jay Cutler. After Jay expressed his support for Martz, Lovie Smith hired the man he wanted all along.

Continue reading "Bears finally hire Mike Martz for offensive coordinator position"