For Cutler, there's no receiver envy
(Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:05:44 PST)
There's no truth to the notion Jay Cutler will turn green with envy, if not Cardinals red, at the sight of the receivers on the other side when the Chicago Bears host Arizona on Sunday. No offense to Larry Fitzgerald or Anquan Boldin, he likes what he has. "I think we're fine in that area," Cutler said.

Bears Team Report
(Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:59:19 PST)

In the interest of better overall execution and of keeping quarterback Jay Cutler upright and in one piece for the remainder of the season, the Bears' offense might be more basic Sunday against the Cardinals at Soldier Field in a battle of 4-3 teams.

Asked about the execution of the Bears' offense shortly after Sunday's sloppy victory over the Browns, frustrated coordinator Ron Turner seemed on the verge of borrowing a line from former Bucs coach John McKay, and saying, "I'm in favor of it."

But instead, Turner hinted that it might be time to focus on running fewer plays with better precision, as opposed to more plays with shoddy execution.

The offensive shortcomings were most noticeable in two areas.

Psst, did you hear the news? Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is NOT perfect
(Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:24:00 PST)
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - Psst, did you hear the news? This one's a stunner, so brace yourself.

'Tis the season to run teams into the ground
(Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:24:00 PST)
The Browns' Randy Lerner is not alone in dragging a dysfunctional franchise to a new level of embarrassment.

QB Jay Cutler not about to pin Bears' problems on struggling offensive line
(Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:47:00 PST)
LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Jay Cutler was sore and a bit black and blue.

NFL Team Reports: NFC North
(Thu, 05 Nov 2009 04:16:27 PST)
Several times a week, The Trenches will present team reports from Sporting News' 32 NFL correspondents.

Jay Cutler says Bears' problems go beyond O-line
(Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:53:01 PST)
Jay Cutler was sore and a bit black and blue. He ran five times for 32 yards but absorbed four sacks and spent plenty of time also running for cover in the Chicago Bears' 30-6 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. One hit caused him to bite his tongue, leaving him with a bloody mouth. The Bears certainly took a beating during the win, particularly the guy behind center who also happens to...

Week 9 picks: Eagles, Cowboys battle for NFC East lead
(Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:16:44 PST)
Donovan McNabb knows how to duck pressure and avoid interceptions. It's strange, but considering all the...

Confluence of influence: NFL coaches praise mentors
(Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:16:41 PST)
When it comes to football coaches, the branch doesn't fall far from the tree. It's only natural for a...

Week 9 playoff forecast: Ravens make big jump
(Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:49:00 PST)
Signs of a revamped defense bode well for the Ravens' playoff chances the rest of the way.

Browns waive kicker Billy Cundiff; filled in while Phil Dawson was injured
(Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:19:00 PST)
BEREA, Ohio - The Cleveland Browns waived kicker Billy Cundiff on Tuesday.

The Week 8 NFL Quarterback Power Rankings: Favre vs. Rodgers
(Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:47:32 PST)
Shutdown Corner is proud to present the weekly quarterback power rankings. They're just as arbitrarily...

Bears not pleased, still see room for improvement after ugly 30-6 win over lowly Browns
(Tue, 03 Nov 2009 06:45:00 PST)
LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Jay Cutler was on the run and bleeding for much of the game, yet he insisted afterward he was fine. No reason to worry.

Bears feel need to improve despite routing Browns
(Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:27:45 PST)
Jay Cutler was on the run and bleeding for much of the game, yet he insisted afterward he was fine. No reason to worry. Even so, the Chicago Bears did little to calm their anxious fans in a 30-6 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Lopsided score aside, it was far from a perfect performance by a team that had dropped two straight and was coming off a 45-10 beating at Cincinnati that ranked among...

NFL Power Poll: Texans gaining playoff momentum
(Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:16:11 PST)
The second half of the season could be historic for the Houston Texans . They have a chance to make the playoffs...

Browns not firing Mangini just yet
(Mon, 02 Nov 2009 03:40:06 PST)
The Cleveland Browns got crushed yesterday by the Chicago Bears, 30-6, but owner Randy Lerner isn't getting...

Favre not alone in getting measure of redemption
(Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:06:00 PST)
Brett Favre was among several players that got some form of retribution by helping their teams to victory.

NFL Today
(Sun, 01 Nov 2009 19:16:46 PST)
SCOREBOARD Monday, Nov. 2 Atlanta at New Orleans (8:30 p.m. EST). New Orleans, the NFC's only unbeaten team, faces second-place Atlanta in a key NFC South matchup. STARS Passing -- Peyton Manning, Colts, was 31 of 48 for 347 yards in Indianapolis' 18-14 win over San Francisco. -- Aaron Rodgers, Packers, was 26 of 41 for 287 yards and three touchdowns in Green Bay's 38-26 loss to Minnesota.

Bears honor Walter Payton on the 10th anniversary of his death
(Sun, 01 Nov 2009 18:58:26 PST)
As hard as it is to believe, it's been 10 years since the death of Sweetness. Sunday, on the 10th anniversary...

Cutler, Bears pull away from Browns, 30-6; Quinn replaces Anderson late in game
(Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:26:00 PST)
CHICAGO - Pounded the previous week and losers of two straight, the Chicago Bears couldn't afford to go down again. Good thing for them that Derek Anderson and the Cleveland Browns were in town.

Bears to honour Payton at halftime on 10th anniversary of his death
(Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:54:00 PST)
CHICAGO - Ten years to the day he died, Walter Payton was honoured by the Chicago Bears with a ceremony at halftime of Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns.

Bears honor Payton at halftime
(Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:53:35 PST)
Ten years to the day he died, Walter Payton was honored by the Chicago Bears with a ceremony at halftime of Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns. The crowd roared during a video tribute that showed highlights of his career and included praise from Mike Ditka and owner Virginia McCaskey, along with former teammates such as Otis Wilson and Richard Dent.

Browns LB Barton injures shoulder
(Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:21:45 PST)
Cleveland Browns linebacker Eric Barton injured his right shoulder late in the second quarter Sunday against the Chicago Bears and was questionable to return. Barton was injured tackling Chicago's Greg Olsen on a 12-yard pass that put the ball on the Browns 14 and stayed down for a few minutes before walking off the field.