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Johnson is out indefinitely - 11/28/2006
Source: Chicago Tribune Bears safety Todd Johnson underwent an MRI exam Monday for what was diagnosed as a sprained right ankle suffered in Sunday's first quarter.
How long he will be out will not be known until later in the week, but missing at least Sunday's game against Minnesota would be no surprise.
"Things are looking pretty good for him," coach Lovie Smith said. "Hopefully he'll be back before long."
So is it the dreaded high-ankle sprain, which can take six weeks to heal, or just a regular ankle sprain?
Smith offered no diagnosis beyond a sprain, adding that, "my ankle's bothering me a little bit right now too. That [new artificial] turf was a little hard [Sunday]."
Learning experience
The Bears certainly didn't need to lose a game like Sunday's 17-13 setback to the Patriots. But one belief is that you often learn more from a loss than from a win, and the Bears' post-mortem perspective was precisely that.
"When you win, you're not as hard on yourself as when you lose," said linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer, who had his highest tackle total (nine) of the season in extended playing time with nickelback Ricky Manning Jr. suspended for the game.
"But when you lose, everything gets exposed, all the mistakes. Hopefully this is the last one we lose this year. It could end up being a blessing in disguise just in trying to look at all the things we need to tighten."
Cedric Benson had 10 carries for 46 yards, but as with his teammates, the lessons from New England may have been more important than the numbers.
"If we'd won that game, we might be walking around here [feeling good]," Benson said. "This keeps you grounded, lets you know where you stand and that you do need a lot of work. It just shows you where your errors are and what you need to correct."
| | | Burress zings DBs of Bears - 11/09/2006
Source: Newsday Plaxico Burress cranked up the hype machine yesterday, repeatedly saying that the Bears' secondary isn't all that good. Burress couldn't practice because the back spasms that kept him out of Sunday's game were still acting up, but the war of words has been engaged.
Burress was asked if the Bears' defensive backs were the best he's seen this season. "By far, no," he said. "Just looking at them on film, those guys make plays on balls that are thrown straight at them, but it's not like they're covering guys straight up and down [the field]. I haven't seen that."
The Bears have allowed a league-low 158.8 passing yards per game and have overcome the loss of safety Mike Brown for the season. But Burress credited Chicago's stout front four rather than the back four for that.
"Their four guys up front create a lot of havoc," he said. "That's why their DBs make plays. I don't know why everybody's acting like they're an exceptional group of corners. There's really not too many guys I worry about lining up against one on one. If they want to leave their guys out on an island [in man coverage], so be it."
Naturally, the defensive backs in question took issue.
"He's one of the better receivers in the league, I'll give him that, but he's not a Pro Bowl receiver, either," said cornerback Ricky Manning Jr., who leads the Bears with four interceptions. "He's far from the best I've seen, too."
| | | Midseason report - 11/08/2006
Source: Chicago Tribune Biggest surprises
Bernard Berrian. Nobody expected a receiver entering this season with 28 career catches to be missed as much as Berrian will be in the coming games. More than any other factor, the way Berrian's speed and sure hands created a new dimension for the passing game turned the Bears' offense into the NFL's second-highest scoring unit in the first half (29.2 points per game).
Mark Anderson. Fifth-round picks typically spend their rookie seasons buried on the depth chart correcting flaws that made them fall in the draft. Then there's Anderson, who missed a big portion of training camp but adjusted quicker than anybody imagined. If Anderson matches his 7.5 sacks in the second half, he could be one of the few part-time players making plans for the Pro Bowl.
Ricky Manning Jr. The attention paid Manning's brush with the law and the possibility of a league suspension has overshadowed the fact he has been the Bears' best big-play corner in his role as nickel back. The Bears knew they were paying $21 million for a solid player but didn't necessarily expect Manning to lead the team in interceptions, as he does with four.
Biggest disappointments
Mike Brown's injury. Brown raised doubts about his durability himself during exhibitions and they were confirmed when he left the Cardinals game with a season-ending Achilles' injury. Brown's absence showed up most glaringly against the Dolphins when the secondary missed his run support.
Running game. Statistics can be deceiving because teams have dared the Bears to beat them through the air, and they have. But a team that wants its identity to be its ground attack needs to average more than 3.4 yards per carry and 104 yards per game.
Run defense. Giving up 91.9 rushing yards per game still ranks seventh in the NFL. But the 49ers' Frank Gore and Dolphins' Ronnie Brown have enjoyed consecutive 100-yard games against the Cover 2, single-gap control defense that must lock it up better than the Bears have.
Unsung heroes
Robbie Gould. As good as Gould has been with his record-setting 22 of 22 field goals, eight touchbacks have made him a defensive weapon as well. The mark of how solid Gould has become in his first full NFL season is that fans already take his accuracy for granted.
Desmond Clark. Committed to reshaping his body during an off-season in which Bears fans clamored for a new tight end, Clark is on pace to catch a career-high 58 passes this season. He's a smart receiver who has found the seams, especially against two-deep zones.
Brendon Ayanbadejo. The guy plays on every special team and filled in capably at strong-side linebacker when Hunter Hillenmeyer missed the Lions game with a concussion.
| | | Manning's numbers game gets changed to pick 4 - 11/02/2006
Source: Chicago Sun-Times Ricky Manning Jr. held up four fingers and yelled across half a football field to get the attention of defensive backs coach Steve Wilks on Wednesday afternoon.
The Bears cornerback had just been told the fumble recovery he was credited with Sunday against San Francisco has been changed to an interception, his team-leading fourth. Manning snared the ball intended for Arnaz Battle that was batted out by cornerback Charles Tillman before safety Todd Johnson popped him.
Manning is the only Bear with more than one pick, and four ties him with four others for the NFL lead and matches his career high, set in 2004. If he keeps it up, it will pay off. He has a clause in his contract tied to leading the team in interceptions. But it hasn't been about the money, rather getting familiar in a new scheme.
In Carolina, Manning was used to playing bump-and-run and turning and running with the receivers. With the Bears, he's facing the quarterback more, a completely different approach -- and one the Bears prefer in their base Cover-2 scheme because they believe if the defensive back sees the passer, he has a better chance to create a turnover.
''I feel more comfortable in this defense than I've ever felt,'' Manning said. ''What we ran in Carolina worked for us, but I do feel I'm able to make more plays in this scheme as the nickel. I'm seeing the play unfold more because of the position the scheme puts me in.
''I got the scheme right away, but it took a lot of work with the coaches and I really had to trust it. You know, DBs are stubborn in our ways. It was tough for me at the beginning, but I had to keep working at it.''
| | | Jury still out on Manning - 10/24/2006
Source: Daily Southtown Bears cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. hopes he built a strong enough defense during a meeting with NFL officials that he can avoid a suspension for a no-contest plea to felony assault.
"I would be disappointed," he said when asked what he'd feel about being suspended after making his case Wednesday in New York. The league hadn't decided his fate by Monday night because it still needed paperwork from his sentencing hearing.
Manning pleaded no contest to a felony assault charge last month. He has been sentenced to three years probation, 100 hours of community service and a year's worth of anger management counseling as a result.
Part of the evidence Manning presented was a surveillance video that he said showed him leaving the Denny's restaurant in Los Angeles 16 seconds before the assault happened.
"The way I look at it is I am an NFL player and I represent the NFL and I think they are supposed to be on our side," he said. "I feel like I am being ridiculed about the situation and things have been going unfair even though it was a bad situation and some of the things weren't the media's fault -- or whoever was reporting it -- but I feel like that some things were unfairly reported because they weren't true and they weren't facts."
Facts that Manning said were distorted were comments made by the victim in a probation report claiming that Manning had made a racial slur, an anti-Jewish comment and homophobic remarks.
"My agent is Jewish, my ex-fiancee is half-Jewish and black, my two lawyers are Jewish, and so it was kind of not funny to me," Manning said. "But it was hurtful for him to say that, to make me seem like I would say some things like that which definitely wouldn't happen."
Manning maintained that the victim had originally accused other attackers of making the remarks, but two weeks later he also accused Manning during a follow-up police report.
"I want everyone to know that I would never say any racial remarks or homophobic slurs to anyone, let alone him," Manning said. "That was the thing that upset me the most because it makes me look real bad." | | | Brown's season in peril - 10/19/2006
Source: Chicago Sun-Times If the undefeated Bears thought they faced trying times Monday in their stunning comeback from a 20-point deficit at Arizona, they're in for some real adversity now.
Strong safety Mike Brown underwent surgery on his right foot Wednesday, and while coach Lovie Smith said it's too soon to speculate on the Pro Bowl performer's future, he likely will miss the rest of the season. Brown tore the Lisfranc ligament, and chances are he'll be put on injured reserve for the second time in three years, thrusting veteran Todd Johnson into a starting role.
The news was the talk of the locker room after players exited meeting rooms, having reviewed film of the Arizona game. They know moving forward without their vocal leader and quarterback of the secondary will be difficult. All they have to do is recall what the last four regular-season games were like last season, as well as the deflating playoff loss to Carolina in which Brown tried to play on a strained left calf muscle and couldn't.
''He's a big part of what we do,'' linebacker Lance Briggs said. ''Having him out there is pivotal to our success.''
| | | Wale told to give it a rest - 10/17/2006
Source: Chicago Sun-Times Two weeks of rest for Adewale Ogunleye just became three. The Bears left defensive end was held out for the second consecutive week with a pulled hamstring muscle, and with the bye week coming, he will get another week off to heal. Ogunleye practiced Saturday with the hope he could play, but the team decided not to have him suit up.
Rookie Mark Anderson, who entered with a team-leading 5½ sacks, got his first career start, and Israel Idonije also saw time in Ogunleye's spot. Ogunleye said if the decision was his, he would've played last week against Buffalo, but the pull must have been worse than he let on.
Linebacker Leon Joe (hamstring) also was inactive but is expected to be better when the Bears host the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 29.
NICE TIMING? Nickel cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. was lost for the game in the second quarter with a pulled hamstring. Manning will meet with league officials in New York on Wednesday to tell his side of the events that led to an arrest on assault charges and a felony plea in Los Angeles.
If the league decides to suspend Manning for the San Francisco game, the timing would be good for the Bears if he's still injured.
| | | Bears could lose Brown - 10/17/2006
Source: Chicago Sun-Times The Bears' stunning victory may have come with a price.
Pro Bowl strong safety Mike Brown left the exuberant locker room Monday night with a walking boot on his right foot and using crutches. Brown was carted off the field early in the fourth quarter for X-rays with what was called a ''foot sprain,'' and the results of the tests are not yet known.
Either way, it was an unsettling sight to see the quarterback of the defense hobbled. Brown's injury came just after he scored on a three-yard fumble return to spark the wild comeback, his franchise-record seventh defensive touchdown. Playing without Brown is something the Bears have done the last two seasons, but not well.
He missed the final four regular-season games last year with a strained left calf, and the defense was significantly worse, giving up 30 more rushing yards and 50 more offensive yards without him. He barely played in the Steve Smith spectacle that was the playoff loss to the Carolina Panthers.
Brown's injury wasn't the only one. Nickel cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. was lost in the first half with a pulled hamstring, and Todd Johnson, Cameron Worrell and Devin Hester were forced into action.
''We have depth,'' cornerback Nathan Vasher said. ''That's one of our strengths. Those guys can come in and play without missing a beat.''
| | | Manning eager to help his own defense - 10/13/2006
Source: Chicago Sun-Times If Ricky Manning Jr. is suspended, it won't be because he didn't do his best to defend himself. The Bears' nickel cornerback, who leads the team with three interceptions, will travel to New York next week to visit with NFL officials and give his side of the events that led to his arrest and eventual no-contest plea on felony assault charges in Los Angeles.
He is subject to a fine, suspension or both for violating the league's personal conduct policy.
''They're going to hear what I have to say about what happened,'' Manning said.
It's not commonplace for players to take this step, and it shows how strongly Manning believes his actions and character have been unfairly tainted.
''I don't want to get into all the details,'' said Jim Ivler, Manning's agent. ''Suffice to say we want to tell Ricky's side of things and present the real facts, along with some documentation to back it up. Whether or not a suspension comes, who knows, but the facts in this case are very different than what has been generally reported.''
The Los Angeles County probation report that was released more than a week ago said the police report from the incident indicated Manning used racial and homophobic slurs during the altercation at a Denny's restaurant. The victim, Soroush Sabzi, attributed slurs on the morning of the attack to patrons at the scene that did not include Manning. It was not until he was re-interviewed more than two weeks after the incident that Sabzi also accused Manning of hateful language.
Originally, the league wanted to meet with Manning this week to move swiftly, but he successfully pushed it back to the bye week so that if he misses any team activities, it will not be game preparation.
| | | Manning still waiting for verdict - 10/10/2006
Source: Daily Southtown Bears cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. knows what Carly Simon meant when she sang "anticipation is making me late, is keeping me waiting."
The Bears still await word on a possible suspension, fine or other such penalty from the NFL for their nickel back, who made his third interception of the season in Sunday's 40-7 win over Buffalo. The issue is not an overriding problem, but the Bears would like to put it in the past.
"We would like to hear from the league as soon as possible, and I assume we will," Smith said.
Manning pleaded no contest to a felony assault charge last month in Los Angeles. He has been sentenced to three years probation, 100 hours of community service and a year's worth of anger management.
Manning's attorneys submitted information to the league last week on his behalf arguing extenuating circumstances surrounded the situation and no league penalty is necessary.
Smith said he's uncertain whether the Bears will hear from the league if there is no penalty. | | | Obstacles mounting for Harris; Scott surprised about 'day off' - 10/10/2006
Source: Chicago Sun Times The rough season of Chris Harris got a little rougher when Lovie Smith announced Monday the backup safety had pulled his quad muscle ''pretty good.''
In Smith-speak, that's not a glowing injury report -- not from the man who dropped out of the doctor business when the hamstring epidemic struck in 2004. But the Bears have plenty of depth at the position and the possibility to get help that is on the way.
Smith lauded the play of reserve Todd Johnson on Sunday, and his role will only increase as the nickel cornerback if Ricky Manning Jr. is hit with a suspension by the league office. The Bears are hoping a decision is rendered soon. Cameron Worrell is also available and is a primary special-teams contributor. If Harris lands on injured reserve, it's possible Brandon McGowan could take his place.
MISSING TIME: Defensive tackle Ian Scott has missed only four starts the last two seasons. Smith reported Sunday afternoon that Scott was inactive after coming to Halas Hall and reporting his hamstring was a little sore. The player didn't seem to believe he was injured after the game.
''They gave me the day off,'' Scott said. ''That's all I can say.''
It could have been the Bears were sending a message. Scott will be an unrestricted free agent after the season and the club has yet to approach him about an extension, a sign they could be willing to watch him go. There have been concerns about his toughness in the past, although he underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in training camp and did not miss time at the start of the season. | | | RECEIVER MUHAMMAD FEELS MORE AT HOME THIS SEASON -- AND THE STATS SHOW IT - 10/08/2006
Source: Chicago Sun Times Life is not only good for Muh- sin Muhammad, the Bears' 33-year-old, 11-year veteran wide receiver, it might be better than ever in his second season as one of Chicago's sports darlings.
The Bears signed the two-time All-Pro to a six-year, $30 million free-agent contract in February 2005, and he helped lead them to the playoffs. This season, he has his own weekly NFL review show on Comcast SportsNet and already has been nominated for a local Emmy for a special assignment he did with Lissa Druss Christman.
He also remains one of the NFL's premier humanitarians. His charity work includes his own M2 Foundation, which seeks to enrich the lives of underprivileged kids, and his financial support of other programs helps rescue and comfort battered women and support the fight against muscular dystrophy.
On the field, he continues to win the highest respect from his teammates for his leadership and superb play.
''He's a great guy,'' running back Adrian Peterson said. ''He stays positive and keeps us positive. He's a good leader who practices like it's a game.''
Cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. calls him ''a great role model and good father with a tremendous spirit.''
Fellow wide receiver Bernard Berrian praises him because ''he always gives knowledge when knowledge is needed.''
Meantime, fans admire him for his thrilling catches and his signature ''Moose walk'' touchdown celebration, in which he crouches and passes the ball back and forth between his legs as he takes wide strides. | | | Manning: 'I don't deserve a suspension' - 09/28/2006
Source: Chicago Sun Times Bears cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. hopes the NFL believes he wasn't one of the men who beat a UCLA student at a Los Angeles Denny's restaurant in April.
Facing a felony assault charge and still on probation for a 2002 assault, Manning struck a no-contest plea with prosecutors Tuesday to avoid a possible prison sentence in exchange for three years of probation. Manning, who also must attend 52 weeks of anger-management classes and do 100 hours of community service, maintained he wasn't to blame for any injuries Soroush Sabzi may have suffered.
''Hopefully [the league] will be fair,'' said Manning, who is subject to a fine or suspension for a violation of the personal conduct code. ''I don't think I deserve a suspension, a harsh punishment. My story hasn't changed. I said I walked away, and I'm still saying I wasn't [involved].''
Coach Lovie Smith said the Bears are prepared in the event Manning is suspended. There is no timetable for a decision by the league, but it is not expected to take long. | | | Plea in assault case keeps Manning Jr. from facing jail - 09/27/2006
Source: Chicago Sun Times Bears cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. chose a plea over possible prison time Tuesday, getting three years of probation for an assault in April at a Denny's restaurant.
Manning pleaded no contest in Los Angeles Superior Court to a felony charge of assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury for his role in the attack on Soroush Sabzi in the early hours of April 23. He was ordered to undergo anger-management counseling for 52 weeks and to perform 100 hours of community service. A civil suit looms.
Jim Ivler, Manning's agent, said legal counsel strongly advised Manning to accept the deal because it was considered a felony with Manning still on probation for his role in an assault in April 2002. Ivler also said taking the case to trial would have left Manning open to the risk that he might miss time during the season.
''Ricky couldn't take chances with his freedom,'' Ivler said.
Manning became a Bear the day after the incident when the Carolina Panthers declined to match a five-year contract offer worth up to $21 million. He's now subject to punishment by the NFL for a violation of the personal-conduct policy and likely will be fined.
''We are disappointed in Ricky's involvement,'' Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said in a statement. ''Situations like these are embarrassing to our team and create unnecessary distractions.'' | | | Manning in for more than nickel's worth - 08/21/2006
Source: Chicago Sun Times Ricky Manning Jr. makes no secret of the fact that he wants more than the Bears can give him. Not money, mind you. Manning has plenty of that after joining the Bears on a five-year deal that could be worth as much as $21 million.
What Manning wants is playing time, specifically a starting job in the Bears secondary. He has been told he's in competition at cornerback, but the simple fact is that it will be better for the team if Manning plays the nickel. If he winds up starting, it means Nathan Vasher is hurt or Charles Tillman has been benched.
Fantasy Impact: While Manning won't necessarily start at corner, he is more talented than many starting cornerbacks around the league. If he's able to garner playing time, he could perform as well as some of the better players at the position. |
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