It's The End of The World As We Know It: Bears News and Notes

By Rob Winn in News on Dec 21, 2012 6:40PM

Welp, this collapse came as a surprise. Normally Lovie Smith teams have a way of playing to their ability, which is typically mediocre. The hallmark of the Lovie Smith era is to win a game or two then lose a game or two. But this season is a different animal and after starting 7-1, the Bears now face the very real possibility of missing the playoffs. Lucky for them, they face two bad teams the final two weeks of the season. First the Cardinals, who look like a JV squad, then the masochist Detroit Lions. Going into the Cardinals game here is what's coming out of Halas Hall:

• It looks like defensive tackle Henry Melton will play against the Cardinals. He missed last week with a clavicle injury suffered during the Vikings game. Melton has been one of the few bright spots on a defensive line that has struggled to maintain consistent pressure. He will be a free agent after the season and GM Phil Emery will most likely try to bring him back.


• It appears as though the Halas Hall powers thatat be had a conversation with wide receiver Brandon Marshall after the comments me made following Sunday's loss to the Packers. He ruffled some feathers on the coaching staff when he said "everybody in this offense should be held accountable, even if that means jobs." That comment was most likely aimed directly at offensive coordinator Mike Tice, who has been at the helm of an underachieving offense. He went on to say, "You hear the word accountability being thrown around, you see guys starting to look at themselves, and that's what it's about, especially this time of the season when you're sitting where we're sitting." Regardless of his intentions, Brandon Marshall has been the only person on the offense who has consistently produced, meaning that he isn't going anywhere. The same cannot be said for Mike Tice or head coach Lovie Smith. Both are inching towards the unemployment line as this Bears season teeters on the brink of disaster.


• Much has been made about Brian Urlacher's comments about the fans following Sunday's loss. It is a non-issue that's not even worth discussing. By all accounts, Urlacher interacts well with fans and will have a long relationship with the Bears after his career is over. The real issue is that he will most likely not be back if Lovie Smith is fired. Urlacher is a free agent after the season and enjoyed his best playing days in the cover 2 defense. A new coach with a new scheme will have no use for an aging middle linebacker with diminishing skills. Bears fans clamoring for a new coach should keep something in mind, if Lovie Smith is fired you've probably seen the last of Brian Urlacher in a Bears uniform.

If the Bears lose Sunday, which is a possibility despite Arizona's deficiencies, they are, for all intents, out of the playoffs. That would have been hard to imagine just a month ago, but the world of the Chicago Bears, nothing should surprise you.