Football Friday from On Her Game - Three Days Before Christmas, my Bears gave to me a BIG LUMP OF COAL

This post for Football Friday for On Her Game is something of a rant because the Bears have squandered yet another golden opportunity. One they really did not deserve based on their inconsistent play of this season. I had such high hopes for the game, and then I found that truth be told, I slept through much of it. While I have been fighting off some kind of end of the year sickness/exhaustion, I think this was more of a defense mechanism, hoping that the game on the TV was just a bad dream. No dice - it was a true nightmare.

On this Sunday evening, three days before Christmas, the stage was set for the Bears to win the NFC North thus securing a spot in the playoffs. The Lions had been eliminated following an overtime loss to the Giants, and the Packers by virtue of their tie with the Vikings would find themselves on the outside looking in if the Bears could just beat the Eagles in Philadelphia. Of course this would not be an easy win as the defense in Chicago has left much to be desired, and the offense in Philadelphia under first year head coach, Chip Kelly has found its rhythm led by second year quarterback, Nick Foles.

Still, NBC snatched up this game for its Sunday Night coverage under the flex-scheduling option; seemingly under the impression that this game was going to be competitive and relevant to the playoff picture. At least the latter was true, even though the Bears seemed oblivious to the fact that this game meant everything to them and absolutely nothing to their opponent in regards to playoff implications.

Following the disastrous ending to the game against the Vikings, I thought for sure the air had completely gone out of the Bears playoff hopes. I had mentally moved on to next season, which is pretty typical for a Bears fan at this point in the season. Yet, the Lions could not seem to pull away, so there was still a flicker of hope. The flame, albeit small, seemed to be stomped out by the Eagles faster than one can light a match as they jumped out to a 21-0 lead before the first quarter had even ended. Of course the final score of 54-11 was even more abysmal.

Melissa Isaacson of ESPN.com and the Chicago Tribune wrote, “when shortly after you get started, your team looks like a group of toddlers in the middle of rush-hour traffic. Ironically, Cutler pointed to the Eagles as an example of a team gathering itself after an embarrassing loss.

"They just had our number. It's going to happen across the NFL," he (Cutler) said. "These guys went to Minnesota last week and had a similar game [losing 48-30], and then they bounced back pretty well.

"Nothing says we can't play well next week."

Actually, Jay there is a lot to say that next week may not go very well either. First of all, the Vikings who have struggled all season to be relevant, beat the stuffing out of the Eagles. Yet, the Bears defense gave up 514 total yards amidst a game that ranked as Isaacson went on to say, “the worst game in Bears franchise history in touchdowns allowed (seven), the second-worst in points allowed and, especially considering what they had to play for, their worst overall showing in recent memory.”

Rather than finishing your playoff business a week ahead of time, the Packers who will more than likely be led by Aaron Rodgers will be coming into Soldier Field on the last game of the season to battle it out for the division title. If this eerily familiar, let’s go back to 2010 when the Bears had the division title and the number two NFC seed secured, but the Packers were trying to squeak their way in to the playoffs as the six seed. Well the Packers did more than just make it into the playoffs, they won the Super Bowl that year.

Do I think that the Packers will win the Super Bowl this season? Absolutely not. Do I think the NFC North deserves to have a representative in the playoffs? Not really. I would actually prefer to temporarily move the Arizona Cardinals in to the North so that the division can be well represented as I think that team is the most deserving of all the potential “on the outside looking in teams.”

Until next Sunday, I will try to figure out a way to block this gift of coal from my memory and root hard for my Bears on Sunday against the Pack. Let’s hope the Bears can find their cheese graters again between now and then. I will also hope that I can keep Jim Mora’s voice out of my head – “What’s that? Ah — Playoffs? Don’t talk about — playoffs?You kidding me? Playoffs? I just hope we can win a game! Another game.”

Ten on Tuesday: 10 Things that are Zapping my Energy

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My Ten on Tuesday series is back as I try to apply a yoga principle to my daily life, during final relaxation (one of the few times my mind will slow down), we are encouraged to acknowledge thoughts that float through our heads, and then let them go. My hope is by acknowledging these energy zappers that I can go in to 2014 with a fresh, clear mind ready to have a really good year. Plus as I sit here I get to look back at my beautiful Christmas tree - which finally went up this past weekend - and that brings me a certain level of peace.

• Being a Bears fan (and trying to write about it). I aspire to write each week during the football season. Sometimes though I don't have the energy or desire. That needs to be okay. Not to mention the way I was yelling at the television yesterday during the Bears-Browns game it cannot be good for my blood pressure. A friend on Facebook wrote that smoking unfiltered cigarettes may be better for his health than rooting for the Bears. As much as cigarette smoking is not something to joke about, I do have to wonder if he is not right... This week's post - "In Chicago a Win that did not feel like a Win"

• Nasty-grams. I can only hope that you do not receive nasty-grams (mean spirited emails). They sure do not feel good. The irony of some nasty-grams that I receive is that the amount of time and energy that went in to writing said nasty-gram probably took more time than doing what I asked in the first place. Also, I want to make it clear that while I voted for President Obama, Health Care Reform is not actually my fault.

• Entitlement. Webster's Dictionary defines entitlement: "the feeling or belief that you deserve to be given something (such as special privileges)"
• Being born in 1982 I overlap between Gen X and Gen Y, but as a child of baby boomers, I probably fall more into the Gen Y category. Anyway, quite often my generation is characterized as entitled. We were given trophies for participation, not spanked enough, and just want everything handed to us. 
• I do not like the word entitlement, nor the concept, but man when it smacks you in the face, it's easy to recognize. I wish I knew where the feeling comes from as I think that would help me know how to combat it. I do not expect anything to be handed to me; I believe that I was taught to work for what I have/want. My parents did a tremendous amount for my sisters and me in an effort to give us all the opportunities to succeed as adults. I want to succeed by working hard and smart. In the spirit of true honesty though, I sure did like my trophies because I was not particularly athletic enough to "earn one," and the things I did participate in with any skill did not tend to give trophies.

• Wanderlust. I like to go places, especially ones that I have never been. Each place I visit, I enjoy picturing myself there for an extended period of time. Danny and I have set down roots here in Colorado, and I really enjoy living here. I just find myself itching to do something different and/or go someplace new. Since no travels are planned until May, I am looking for more attainable solutions. For instance, I am taking ukulele lessons, continuing to read new magazines thus learning new things, and trying to explore my new home town of Lakewood and beyond.

• Varied Priorities. I cannot control anyone's priorities except my own. I have come to accept that when I say I do not have the money or the time to do x, y, or z, it is because I have chosen to do something else. I am trying to make a more conscious decision about what truly is a priority in my life.

• Fear of being a Helicopter Parent. The "helicopter parent" is definitely another phenomenon of my generation. I definitely grew up with kids whose parents fit the mold before the phrase was coined. I am not the child of helicopter parents, thank goodness. My parents would step in when needed, for instance my Dad fought to get me into the honor's English program after I agreed to sign a waiver saying that I would more than likely not succeed. Yea for supportive educators! My Mom came to my defense against an over-bearing, albeit well-meaning instructor who was hampering my spirit and enthusiasm for the activity. Still, when I screwed up (which I often did and do), it was expected that I would accept the consequences, and work to fix it next time.
  
  I am absolutely a helicopter parent when it comes to the Spike-Monster. He is a special needs doggie, and I am very, very protective of his eye. For goodness sake, he only has one! Plus I promised his foster parents when I adopted him that I would take good care of him, and he is a favorite of his eye doctor. I feel a strong sense of responsibility to give this little guy a good life. I am not going to cripple Spike's emotional development in the process, though. I would not be doing any future Pechie-children a service by treating them the way I treat Spike.
  
  Danny and I have no immediate plans to have kids, but I was recently asked if I think that he and I will be good parents. Holy cow! The question leads me to believe this person doubts my ability, which is not at all helpful.

• Planner vs. Non-Planner. Versus is such a strong word, and not at all my intention. It is just two very different personalities, each of which have their place. It is just really hard for me when people who know that I am a planner completely invalidate me by dismissing any plans I try to make - sometimes it is okay to plan something in advance. It won't hurt you, I promise. At the same time though, it is important for me to work at being more spontaneous.

• My commute. When Danny and I bought our home in Lakewood, we knew on a practical level that our commute was going to double in terms of mileage and time. Yet, it's easy to know without understanding. There is no way to sugar coat it, more often than not, my commute stinks. The biggest frustration is people's inability to merge or allow others to merge. While very few people are actually from Colorado, once you have lived here a while you transfer your license plate, thus blending in. I really wish I could pin point a particular state or state(s) that do not teach people this basic driving function so I can write a nasty-gram of my own  to their DMV.
  
  I am trying to incorporate books on tape to my routine in an effort to not be homicidal by the time I arrive at the office. This comes at the recommendation of a psychologist that I greatly respect as he also has a long daily commute. So far I have done two, and it works well. The constant stream of stimulus seems to provide a healthy diversion that allows me to focus on something other than the time or the yahoo who would not let me in the right lane.

• Over-commitment. When I was visiting with my Grandparents over Thanksgiving I texted Danny at one point that he was really screwed in the respect that I have women on both sides of my family who are incapable of sitting down. My Dad and I arrived earlier than everyone else with the hope that we could be helpful to my grandparents. One of the tasks that we wanted to take on was making the meals. This really helped in my quest for domesticity, plus it was something I could handle (spaghetti). My Grandmom really wanted to do it. So I finally told her that my Dad had told me it was my responsibility. She asked if I did not do it was there was a chance he would put me over his knee. I said, yes. Even though there was no chance of that happening, it still worked - she supervised me, and I avoided a potentially embarrassing situation considering I am one of his grown, married daughters.
  
  I strive to be everything to everybody. I really need to work at finding balance - which is actually the topic of this month's Real Simple magazine (of which I am a big fan). The editor wrote something that I found very helpful, "I believe that balance is less about circumstance and more about perspective."
  
  I need to find the balance of doing the things I want to do with the things I have to do while still making time for myself, as well as the important people in my life.

• Unrealistic, Self-Imposed Deadlines. Sometimes I over-estimate my own abilities, or expect that everything that needs to happen is going to fall in to place. I think this falls into the category of me "looking for things to worry about." I am trying to be more realistic about how long something is going to take - I want to be sure that something is done well rather than just getting crossed off the list. Nothing I do is ever going to be perfect, but I can strive for quality each and every time in its own time - not my own stupid, often arbitrary deadline.

So why did I share all this nonsense with you? I am trying to shift my perspective to stop letting this ridiculousness zap my spirit and my energy. I am giving these ten things far too much power over my thinking. Danny recently compared my brain to a wide receiver running a route - constantly moving, constantly trying to be open for the pass (or in this case an epiphany or some such nonsense). While I cannot stop it, perhaps I can have more control over the play-call while still running the best possible route.

Football Friday from On Her Game - It's Time for the Bears to Use the Franchise Tag

http://flic.kr/p/hs9eRc

This post for Football Friday for On Her Game was my first post in a number of weeks. The game following Thanksgiving against the Vikings really tested my Bears "fandom,"  but then the team came back strong against the Cowboys scoring on every drive before taking a knee on the final play. While neither team had a defense to speak of, for once the Bears offense scored more points than their opponents. Who do they think they are the Manning-Led Colts of old?!

So here’s a new one, the Chicago Bears may have a controversial decision to make at the QUARTERBACK position for next season. Who would have ever thought it? Not this long-time Bears fan who at the beginning of Josh McCown’s time as the starter compared the position to a Merry-Go-Round  going so far as to say, where it stops nobody knows. If I knew when I wrote that post that McCown would be this week’s (or any week for that matter), NFC Offensive Player of the Week with, 348 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, one rushing TD, and a 141.9 QB  rating, I would have bitten my tongue!

Larry Mayer of the Chicago Bears News reported that, “McCown became the first Bears quarterback to account for five touchdowns in a game since Jack Concannon in 1972…”

In McCown’s fourth straight start following multiple injuries to Jay Cutler, McCown has a passer rating that ranks third in the NFL behind the Eagles’ Nick Foles and the Broncos’ Peyton Manning. When was the last time that a Bears quarterback was linked in a sentence with Peyton Manning that did not relate to Super Bowl XLI?

So rather than a Merry-Go-Round at the quarterback position, Marc Trestman may find himself in something of a quarterback quagmire. First, who starts on Sunday against Cleveland if Cutler is cleared to play, next what about the balance of this season since a playoff spot is still not out of the realm of possibility; and finally, what about next season? Trestman has been adamant that Cutler is the starting quarterback, but how can one argue with the success that the veteran McCown has had with this offense? As Jon Gruden said on the Monday Night Football broadcast after McCown flung himself over multiple Cowboys defenders for the rushing touchdown, “Don’t tell me this guy is a back-up quarterback, he just laid himself out there for this team!”

In my (not always so humble) opinion, enter the franchise tag option for Jay Cutler. Here I go, spending the Bears’ money again. Wikipedia states, “In the National Football League, the franchise tag is a designation a team may apply to one player scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. The tag binds the player to the team for one year if certain conditions are met. It has been designed to reduce player movement (often to bigger markets) which is often evidenced in other major pro sports leagues. Usually reserved for players of great skill or of high importance to the team, a franchise tag allows a team's general manager the privilege of strategically retaining valuable free-agent players while seeking talent through the NFL draft or other acquisitions without exceeding the League's salary cap.”

While the Chicago media is clamoring for a longer term for Cutler because the franchise tag option would cost more money (a one-year contract for an amount no less than the average of the top five salaries at the player's position) as the Bears have a number of players to sign. Plus this would allow the Bears to look at the 2014 Draft for a quarterback of the future. Um, do they not remember players like Cade McNown, Rex Grossman, Curtis Enis, Rashann Salaam, etc. The Bears have not had the greatest history of picking offensive players in first couple rounds of the draft.

Before you tell me that I should give this new management and coaching staff an opportunity, what is wrong with keeping both McCown and Cutler for the immediate future, and taking the next couple years to wait for the right quarterback to come out of college? I am not sold on this year’s draft class of quarterbacks, but it could also be said I don’t watch enough college football to form such an opinion.

What the potential quarterback battle boils down for me is that in all this time Cutler has never become the player that I was so excited to have sign with the Bears. Although he seems to have lost the smirk that drove me crazy for multiple seasons, McCown has a strong arm with a good head on his shoulders, not to mention the maturity level of a veteran that Cutler has never exuded. I understand that McCown is a journey-man who is not the future of any franchise, but why should he not finish his career in Chicago? The franchise tag, while costing more money, would not tie the Bears to Cutler for an extended period of time unless they want him to be the quarterback to lead them to the promised land (aka the post-season). This is one of the most important decisions that General Manager Phil Emery is going to make in his tenure with the Bears – let’s only hope it turns out better than how the Urlacher situation turned out.

Regardless of whether you agree with my assessment of how to handle Cutler, I trust you can concede that Josh McCown has played hard enough to deserve some serious consideration! Seriously, did you see that rushing touchdown?