Photo by Matt Hamilton Is that a drug deal caught on Google Maps? [Gawker] Best! Our wish came true! Frank Chimero's States set now includes Illinois. [more] The NFL ruled that the 49ers violated an anti-tampering policy by contacting Lance Briggs's agent during the 2007 season. [AP] Steven Frost, 53, of Hanover Park has been charged with seven DUIs since 1989, including a charge over the weekend. [Trib] The Neighbors Project says it's not......

Chicagoist hopes that IDOT has placed their orders for reinforced guard rails and extra sign posts because Lance Briggs will be remaining with the Bears after signing a 6-year, $36 million deal over the weekend. Briggs' contract ends a year-long saga for the All Pro linebacker that included a rejected $33 million offer, the Bears applying their "franchise" tag to Briggs, which limited his free agency prospects, and his threats to hold out for the......

There are few words we come across - at least within the local sports pages - that concern us more than "Brian Urlacher" and "neck surgery" in the same sentence. Yet that's what greeted us in bold print in Friday's papers. Following a routine post-season physical, a problem in Urlacher's lower neck that affected the curve of his cervical spine required "minor" surgery to correct. Tribune columnist Rick Morrissey wondered, "[I]s there such a thing......

Too bad Brian Urlacher's monster game on Monday night came too late in the season for it to impact Pro Bowl voting by coaches and players. While he won the fans' vote, the Bears' middle linebacker was not selected to February's Pro Bowl for only the second time in his career — and the first in which he played the whole year. However, an injury-induced sub-par season didn't keep one teammate from receiving an invite......

Lance Briggs's baby mama Brittini Tribbett says he only provides $250 per week in child support. Former Sun-Times publisher David Radler was sentenced to 29 months in prison today after pleading guilty. The fire that killed a 17-year-old and her baby on the South Side this morning may have been arson. File Elk Grove under "One more town where you can't buy a hand job at a massage parlor." Snowy smile by Thelou137......

The Bears have their bye week this weekend, which means a weekend off for Lovie Smith's players. We imagine Kyle Orton will end up in some embarrassing photos taken in some college-town bar. We suspect that Brian Urlacher will stay home to rest his aching back... unless some starlet want to hang with him in Vegas. And perhaps Lance Briggs will use the free time to finally test drive some new rides. It also means......

Bears linebacker Lance Briggs finally spoke with the media yesterday, after being compelled to do so by the NFL. Since training camp began in late July, his three-minute statement to the press after wrecking his Lamborghini was the only time he’d talked. While forced to talk with reporters, he didn't settle for canned cliches or vague statements -- there was real news contained in his words. We all remember, during the off-season, when Briggs felt......

We have an idea for how to end unemployment in this town forever. Just introduce everyone to Todd Stroger. He's still a big fan of hooking his pals up with jobs, like Patty Young, girlfriend of Stroger buddy Commissioner William Beavers. Once the Sun Times started sniffing around, Young left her spot in the county purchasing department. Are Illinois's state tests too easy? Depends who you ask. Lance Briggs pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor......

Things are not looking very good for the Bears. With Sunday's 37-27 loss to the Detroit Lions, the Bears showed their weaknesses on both sides of the ball. The first game of the Brian Griese era was no more successful than the Bears under Rex Grossman. Supposedly the safe game manager, Griese threw three interceptions — two while the Bears were in the "red zone." The other one was returned 64 yards for a touchdown.......

Happy first weekend of September - and happy Labor Day weekend, too, for our American cities! Let's take a look at what's been happening around the Ist-a-verse. The deaths of two firefighters shook Bostonist this week. Boston's firefighters bent over backwards all week long - first, they fought flames pouring from the Boston Tea Party museum, and then a restaurant fire killed two and injured many more. Their efforts make everything else - like Tom......

First person to name the song those lyrics in the headline came from gets a no-prize. Own some of Billy Corgan. Really. It's not a good idea to e-mail a Playboy playmate via Myspace, especially when said playmate is dating the Bears' Adam Archuleta, you're from Aurora, and type in bold threatening capital letters. Some Wisconsinites have a unique take on the designated driver. What did you do on your summer vacation? (via) Give......

It's been barely more than 24 hours since Lance Briggs' brand new $450,000 Lamborghini was found wrapped around a pole on the side of the Edens Expressway. In that time, we have learned that he was in fact driving the car at the time of the accident, and as a result on Monday was charged with leaving the scene of an accident -- a misdemeanor-- and ticketed for failure to immediately notify police of a......

In a story earily similar to one involving a Ferrari on a California road last year, police found an abandoned, crashed exotic car on the Edens Expressway around 3:15am Monday morning. The registered owner of the black 2007 Lamborghini? The Bears' Lance Briggs! Seems that after he finally to decided to accept the $7.2 million contract from the Bears, he went out and bought himself a new little toy. But he didn't have it for......

For those of us whose baseball teams is hopelessly out of the playoff hunt, today is the day we've been waiting for since June -- the opening of Bears open training camp! Players arrived at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais yesterday ahead of today's first practice. The Bears enter camp as reigning NFC Champs, and with the expectations of winning the Super Bowl this season. Can they overcome the fate of the past five......

Remember when Bears linebacker Lance Briggs threatened to hold out — at least for the first ten games — because he took exception with the Bears tagging him with their "franchise" tag? Briggs was upset that the team's move prevented him from signing a long-term contract elsewhere after he and the Bears were unable to agree on long-term deal. Never mind that the franchise tag also guaranteed he'd make $7.2 million in 2007. Unable to......

With the Bears opening training camp on Friday, it's time to dust off the blue and orange, refresh our memories of last year's Super Bowl XLI appearance, and then start figuring out what to fret about come Week One. The Tribune points out their five areas of concern, while the Sun-Times gives us their ten things to watch for. 1. At the top of both lists is the quarterback situation. Can Rex Grossman be the......

Faced with declining revenues, the Tribune plans on placing advertisements on the bottom of its front page. Michael Vick of the Atlanta Falcons isn't the only person charged with running a dog-fighting ring. So is 29-year-old South Holland resident Kevin Taylor. Like he needs the money: Oprah's throwing a fundraiser for Barack Obama at her California estate. Chicago Public Schools chief Arne Duncan makes his case for money from Springfield. Oak Park supports same-sex......

The NFL held its annual draft this past weekend, and the Bears attempted to fill the holes on their roster in the hopes of building a team that can return to the Super Bowl next season. On Friday, we outlined what we felt were the biggest needs for the Bears. How'd they do in filling those areas? In the first round, with the 31st overall pick, the Bears filled their need for a tight end......

Just as the local sporting goods stores have finally moved out the last of their Bears NFC Champions merchandise, it's time for the Bears and the NFL teams to restock their roster during the NFL draft, which takes place Saturday and Sunday in New York. The draft begins at 11:00 am on Saturday, but there's no need to get up early to watch. The Bears don't draft until the 31st pick in the first round,......

The name Drew Rosenhaus sends shivers down the spines of football executives -- he's known to be quite the difficult agent to deal with. And he happens to represent the Bears' Lance Briggs, which certainly isn't making the situation between him and the Bears any easier. Briggs had remained fairly quite in recent weeks, following his trade demands and promise to hold out the entire 2007 season. He did meet with Bears officials on Monday,......

The Bears' offseason thus far has been a pretty unbearable affair for fans. We watched the tension grow between team management and head coach Lovie Smith before Lovie finally got the extension and raise he deserved for taking the Bears to the Super Bowl. We saw defensive coordinator — and member of the 1985 Super Bowl team — Ron Riviera fired. Thomas Jones traded. Lance Briggs telling anyone and everyone he's upset at the Bears'......

When we were unhappy with a previous job, our dad gave us a bit of advice about not burning bridges. Even if the situation at the time wasn't ideal, at least it came with a paycheck. And one never knew how actions could impact things — either within that organization, or with others who might move on and could be of help down the road. Unfortunately, Bears linebacker Lance Briggs didn't seem to get the......

Just days after Bears management redeemed themselves by locking up Lovie Smith for the next five years, they once again have us scratching our heads. They traded Thomas Jones, the team's starting running back, to the New York Jets along with their late second-round pick for an early second-round draft pick. Are we missing something? Jones ran for over 1,200 yards in 2006, carrying the ball 296 times and averaging 4.1 yards a carry. He......

There was no late-night shopping for championship T-shirts on the way home from our Super Bowl party. We had our intended course home charted out — one that would give enough time for the delivery trucks to drop off the first of the Super Bowl Champs apparel by the time we passed the Sports Authority on the way home from a party in the 'burbs. But there was no need to stop, because the......

Although it's not as if anyone actually watches the Pro Bowl, the NFL announced the Pro Bowl rosters on Tuesday. Seven Bears have been invited to Hawaii for the postseason all-star game. As expected, the bulk of the slections are on defense and special teams. Linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs, as well as defensive tackle Tommie Harris (on IR, won't play) will represent the defense, while rookie Devin Hester was voted in as the......

As we alluded to the other day, the Bears open their training camp today at Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois. Unlike last year's opening of camp, there will be little controversy this year. All of the Bears' draft picks have signed and will be in camp. All the veterans are expected to report on time, even those -- like Lance Briggs -- who have expressed the desire for new deals. So no holdouts to......

Having earned a first round playoff bye, the Chicago Bears probably spent Sunday the same way Chicagoist did -- on the couch watching a little football. While we were trying to recover from our Mexican vacation-induced football withdrawal, the Bears were watching to find out who they'd welcome to Soldier Field next weekend. By dominating the New York Giants 23-0, the Carolina Panthers earn a trip to Soldier Field this coming Sunday. Should the Bears......

While they still don't know whether they'll be visiting Detroit later this winter, six Bears will be going to Honolulu. The Pro Bowl Teams were announced on Wednesday with six Bears mading the NFC squad. Not really a surprise, five of the six are on defense. Brian Urlacher makes his 5th trip to the Pro Bowl and will be joined by safety Mike Brown, cornerback Nathan Vasher, linebacker Lance Briggs and defensive tackle Tommie Harris.......