Wow. For many years, Chicago Bears fans have had to live off the memories of the 1985 Super Bowl Championship. Of course, this pales in comparison to the wait for the Chicago Cubs fans. However, we have been teased quite a bit more often with the promises of a return to The Promised Land. This is started off as one of those times. New QB, 3-1 start….and then the Atlanta game…where we failed to stop the Falcons when we needed to and could not get a timely score with our backs against the wall. Maybe it was the rust from the Bye week, we justified. Good teams occasionally come up just a bit short at times when playing other good teams on the road. Bad teams, such as, Tampa Bay, Cleveland, Detroit, KC, Oakland and the more-recent versions of the St. Louis Rams are never in that position.
This past Sunday, as the early games progressed, the distinction between good and bad teams was evident once again as Tampa, KC, Cleveland and the Rams were getting absolutely pummeled, even though they were all at home (the Bucs being the exception, but Ybor City residents were not laying claim to them). Thankfully, we had the Minny-Pittsburgh game to tide us over until the later games started. Based on the start to the day, one knew that Oakland didn't stand a chance and no one in their right mind cared about Buffalo and Carolina. So, would the late game standout be the Bears-Bengals, Falcons-Cowboys or Saints-Dolphins (unlikely)? Sadly, that question was answered before the first quarter was over. As a Bears fan, aside from a few Packers games during the past two decades, I cannot recall a more defeating feeling than seeing a score before half that I knew was insurmountable. I now know what it is like to be a Rams fan in 2009. Seeing Carson Palmer throw his third TD pass before half made me realize that he was not going to stop and I should find solace in the bottom of a bottle, look for the Cowboys-Falcons game or turn the TV off and find some productivity in my day. At least in Cleveland, you have that decision thrust upon you as soon as the Browns give up 10 points.
Sadly, if you were trapped at a Chicago airport in the second half like me, the Bears game was your only option as the local stations are contractually obligated to stay on their game, no matter the score or how dramatic the Saints' comeback was unfolding. This makes as much sense as Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to save California's economy by spending $800 million to build a football stadium to attract a team, though I can think of a few cities willing to load up the moving vans. Of course, if he doesn't get his way, he'll spend his time thinking of clever ways to tell his adversaries what he thinks. Truthfully though, when this viewing is your only option, the mind tends to wander. I envisioned myself trapped in front of the TV and being forced to watch either the blowout or Jon and Kate. Though I could see me beating myself into a coma with the remote, I suppose those less brave are the people who would rather watch that train wreck than harm themselves. It is the only way I can figure out why two of the slimiest people that I have spent 5 minutes reading about have any popularity. Humans love a disaster, I guess. That is why I will be watching the Bears play the Browns this weekend.
In the world of fantasy football, there were some big injuries and some small personnel switches, so the waiver wire is a much more active place this week.

QB: Alex Smith (SF) – Smith has long been labeled a bust but has remained on the Niners roster since they have not had a franchise QB since Steve Young. He has only one full season in the NFL (2006) and has played little in the past two years. However, he looked sharp in the pre-season and looked real good in leading San Fran back last weekend. With a favorable second half schedule, he is worth a pick-up if you need a backup QB.
RB: Shonn Greene (NYJ) – Green was a beast at Iowa and looked that way last weekend when filling in for the injured Leon Washington. It WAS against the Raiders though. However, the Jets have put up back-to-back 300-yard rushing days, which is unheard of in the NFL. With a rookie QB and an aging Thomas Jones, Green's fresh legs will get plenty of carries every week from here on out.
RB: Jamaal Charles (KC) – It was just a matter of time that Larry Johnson ran himself off the team, 2 yards at a time. KC is off this week, but have great matchups after their Bye. If Charles is available and you have room to stash him, grab him now! He has been much more productive running and receiving the ball the past two years than LJ.
WR: David Clowney (NYJ) – Clowney has performed well when the pie has been tossed his way. With big shoes to fill in the Jets receiving corp; Jerricho Cotchery with a never-ending knee problem and Braylon Edwards with his never-ending personal problems, Clowney could assume the number 1 receiver position on this team.
TE: Fred Davis (Wash) – Another player who is off this week, but, with Chris Cooley's injury, Davis becomes a very reliable receiving option in the Redskins' mediocre offense. He did put up fantastic numbers in their MNF blowout (8/78/1), so grab him this week if you need a TE and can stash him.