Archives for October 6, 2006

‘Duke Preston vs. Tommie Harris – Buffalo’s second-year lineman will have his hands full with Chicago’s Pro Bowl defensive tackle. He’s arguably been the most disruptive interior defensive lineman in the league through the first month of the season and leads the Bears with five sacks in four games.’

‘"Going into this game, I’m really just trying to focus on me, and what I know I can do and what our offense needs to do to be successful," Preston added. "That’s going to be the approach, and we’ll just go from there."’

The creators of Two Bills Drive have launched a new website: SabreSpace.com. Join us over at SabreSpace as the Sabres play their home opener tonight against the Montreal Canadiens! SabreSpace will have all the news and information you need to follow the Sabres as they seek to take the final step and bring home Lord Stanley’s Cup this season.

‘”It’s going to be a test,” Preston said. “Like I’ve been saying, we’re really going to try to focus on us and do what we do, let that stuff take care of itself. Definitely study them and give them their respect, but we got to do our job, too.”‘

‘Brown was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection before the Bills released him after the 2003 season, when his relationship with the team turned ugly. He was involved in a heated exchange with offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride late in the season, was placed on the inactive list for the regular-season finale and eventually was waived.’

‘The fair catch signal actually wasn’t the call on the play. The referee called “Interference with opportunity to catch,” a 15-yard penalty. It’s in Rule 10, Section 1, Article 4, under Supplemental Notes: “A receiver running toward a kick in flight has the right of way and opponents must get out of his path to the ball. Otherwise, it is interference irrespective of any contact or catch or whether any signal is given or not.” The problem is the Vikings’ Jason Whittle, in our view, wasn’t making a good attempt to catch the ball.’

‘It’s been seven years since Bills coach Dick Jauron was hired by the Bears. Almost three years have passed since they brought Lovie Smith aboard to replace him. Yet we’re still waiting for either of them to say or do something particularly newsworthy.’

‘The Bills have not scored more than two touchdowns on offense in a game this season, though, and they have stalled inside the opponent’s 20, with five touchdowns and five field goals in 12 trips. Their offensive line is a bit thin, with right guard Chris Villarrial expected to sit out with an ankle injury, and on defense, linebacker Takeo Spikes (right hamstring) is questionable. "I think we’re evolving," Losman said. "We’re getting closer to where we want to be, and every week it’s showing."’

Early MVP? Grossman, hands down (Chicago Tribune)

Playing defense by the numbers (Chicago Tribune)

Berrian turns into a steal (Chicago Tribune)

Bears a draw for networks (Chicago Tribune)

Ask David Haugh (Chicago Tribune)

Upright-guy Gould turns into pop star (Chicago Sun Times)

Harris already enjoying a strong campaign (Chicago Sun Times)

Bearing up under pressure (Chicago Sun Times)

Some cuts, some glory for these Bears (Chicago Sun Times)

Turner: Grossman can be compared to Kramer in ’95 (Arlington Heights Daily Herald)

Bears surely can pass for a Super team (Arlington Heights Daily Herald)

Ground to a halt (Tinley Park Daily Southtown)

Tommie Harris racing … toward NFL stardom (Tinley Park Daily Southtown)

Lovie vs. Jauron: It’s ‘Boring Bowl I’ (Northwest Herald)

Decision making key for Grossman (Rockford Register Star)

Bears get back to business (Northwest Indiana Times)

There’s something familiar about these new-age Bears (Anderson Herald Bulletin)

Bears open up field with Berrian (AP)

Harris taking early season success in stride (ChicagoBears.com)

Is offensive line depth a concern? (ChicagoBears.com)

Brown stoked to face former teammates (ChicagoBears.com)

Grossman, Turner shift offense into overdrive (ChicagoBears.com)

‘"If you look back at Rex’s history, he was right on the verge of taking a step in every year he played before he was injured," he said. "In 2004 he led us to a big win against Green Bay, was going up and down the field against Minnesota and went down with (a season-ending knee injury). We had high hopes last year; he looked great in preseason and went down. But he came back later on, and we got a taste of what Rex could do then. And this year he’s been there the entire time and we’re seeing the type of football player he can be. He’s a great leader; he has the physical tools that quarterbacks need to possess. It should be a lot of fun to watch him grow."’

‘…the Bears will pull it out, 17-9.’

‘Bears win 24-13.’

‘”It means a lot to me,” said Brown, who’s in his third year with the Bears. “I used to play there for a long time. Obviously it means a bit more sentimentally than some of the other games, but I’m keeping it in stride with everything else.”‘

‘Bears 20, Bills 10.’