Bear Down

Meanwhile, while Packer Nation continues its incessant fatuation with the drama that is Brett Favre (he is part of the family again…my wife took her #4 jersey off the rummage sale pile), real drama is taking place south of the border. It seems Brian Urlacher doesn’t get along with new quarterback Jay Cutler, evidently calling him a derogatory name that reached the Chicago press. This follows reports that the two players had a confrontation during OTA’s (denied by both). Maybe there was a reason the new Bronco coaching staff was in such a hurry to move Jay Cutler. Drama…gotta love drama.

The Bear-Packer opener is huge for the Bears. (Granted, it is huge for the Pack as well as it would drudge up memories of their lousy 2008 second half.) A win in Green Bay will validate the steep trade price that brought Cutler to Chicago. A loss will bring criticism far more heated than anything Cutler faced in Denver. Typically, way too much emphasis is placed on Week 1 of the NFL season. After all, it is only one game of 16. Player health and timing (it’s not who you play it’s when you play them and where you play them) usually determine the relative success or failure of an NFL team. In the case of the Bears, Week 1 may set a tone that will carry on throughout the season.