Fire Ryan Poles | Fire Ben Johnson

https://www.si.com/nfl/bears/news/now-darnell-wright-has-a-medical-issue

I just don’t fucking get this. Why is it always the Bears? Why do they seem to have more injuries than every other team?

Now, their first pick is hurt. Just remember that Ryan Poles traded away the FIRST overall pick just to move down and get what we already know is a bust in Darnell Wright.

Meanwhile, Teven Jenkins, who was the bust from two years ago, will miss the first month of the season.

The entire offensive line is now in shambles and the season hasn’t even started yet.

Only the Bears.

I’ll be watching the game at a restaurant and won’t be able to take notes down.

But I do have a problem with this game already and that’s Justin Fields not playing. At least play a quarter to get the offense in some kind of rhythm.

This just isn’t very encouraging. I think I picked the Bears to win four games this year and not playing the starters much in these preseason games is one of the reasons. Again, at least play a quarter to try to establish some synergy.

Whatever.

I was working during this game and was still able to take down some notes. I know some reading this may think I’m “overreacting.” But let’s be real: This is the Bears. Not another team. You can’t tell me that it’s football and these things happen. It happens to the Bears much more than the average team. They went 3-0 in the preseason last year and won the same amount in the regular season. So winning and losing isn’t the issue during these games. It’s what happens during them.

The Titans start the game with the ball and go right down the field for a touchdown. You know, I’ve seen this movie before. Seriously, I know it’s just preseason. But can this fucking franchise for once in our sad lives stop an offense to open up the game? Why do we always have to witness the defense give a score on the first drive?

The Bears take the ball after and wow. D.J. Moore has speed. And he actually gained yardage on one of those awful bubble screens that was the Ron Turner specialty. I don’t ever wish to see that again. But I am sure we will when the season begins. But the Bears got the ball back after the Titans punted and another touchdown with ease. Khalil Herbert this time scores. So maybe this is progress? Certainly, I’ve been wrong before.

Okay, here’s where our Bears show their true colors: Velus fucking Jones fumbling a punt return. I cannot stand this fucking guy and his fucking butterfingers. I think one of the guarantees when watching the Bears since last year is Velus Jones fumbling the ball. I don’t ever want to see this guy on the Bears again. He should be cut right now. The Bears got the ball back on the very next play. But then, gave it right back on a P.J. Walker throw to no one with a Bears uniform nearby. Can the Bears please stop signing shitty quarterbacks? It’s their motto. Nathan Peterwhacker played the third quarter. I just don’t fucking get it. How does someone with four touchdowns and 13 interceptions in their career still have a job? Fuck these two guys.

That same defense that is known for giving up a score on the first drive of the half also has a long history of doing the same before halftime. They gave up a field goal. Fuck.

Hey, look. A quarterback that may actually be worth something. I’ve wanted Tyson Bagent to be the second quarterback on the team. Unlike Walker and Peterwhacker, he may actually be decent. He had a nice pass on fourth down that moved the chains in the four quarter.

Remember how the Bears have a history of giving up points on the first and last drives of each half? Holy shit, did it appear that it was going to happen again. The Titans got all the way down to the 13 when the defense actually did something worth a damn late in the game. And not just once, but TWICE in the final two minutes.

Next up is a showdown in Indianapolis.

When Mack made his debut for the Bears, he was pretty damn good. But as the season went on, he became more invisible. Then the next year, very invisible.

I’m sure the Bears feel they have nothing to lose as this is a one-year deal. We’ll see what happens.

On August 1st, 2008, a phenomenon known as “Fire Dusty Baker 2” took off. For those new folks here, we were at an old site talking baseball when the person owning it disappeared without a trace. 22 year old me stepped up and brought a majority of the readers over here on that day. We have seen so much bullshit and hey, even *some* joy when it comes to Chicago sports. After all, mediocrity was what brought us here in the first place. We’ve seen some weirdos come along and tell us we are idiots over these years and we’ve had others who have praised us for our FIRE AND PASSION. But whatever it may be, we welcomed all of it with open arms.

Since then, we have had several iterations on the banner to fire countless other hacks such as Tom Thibodeau, Lovie Smith, Jerry Angelo, Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace. And now, it’s a dual banner featuring incompetent fools Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus.

I usually write an article like this every August 1st. Last year was different because I just simply forgot. While I love this site more than anything, it just hasn’t been popping like it was even a few years ago. But I keep paying for this site every year because of the history of it. Literally 15 years of everything I’ve ever written on this site exists in the archives. I sometimes take a look at them every once in a while. Sad to say, some shit I wrote ten years ago still applies today to some teams. Nostalgia at it’s finest, I suppose.

When this website started, I was 22 and just out of college. I was still living in a tiny apartment that the bedroom was actually as big as the living room and kitchen combined. Now, I have emerged into adulthood where I work 60 hours a week and am constantly on the go. It’s also another reason why I haven’t posted as much. When football season rolls around, traffic tends to rise and engagement is more common. When logging in, I do see the stats (cue Yeti). I am very thankful to see some people checking in.

As long as I am still able to do this, I will. I wish I could write more positive articles when it comes to my teams. But damn, they just keep being mediocre. But at least I have this outlet. We have had some glimpses of recognition in the media many years back. From Sarah Spain getting pissed off at us for telling the truth about her to getting our site mentioned in Kenny Albert’s Wikipedia page, I find it all fascinating.

I seriously cannot thank you all enough. For those who just read without posting, you are just as important as the ones who do. It’s appreciated. For the regulars who still post here, you are just fantastic human beings. Even in the times we have disagreed on something, it was always a respectful debate. I have had the (dis)pleasure of meeting and being good friends with Genrebuster and Jimmy D. Then there is Chucky and while I haven’t met him, I am sure it would be a blast seeing him walk around with a chainsaw in his hands.

I really pray I don’t forget some others. But readers such as Dave, DVX, Ernie, Pie, John, Grant, USAgent and many more deserve praise. Seriously, thank you. It’s just incredible how some of us are talking here after all of these years. I sincerely do not take anyone for granted.

Here’s to many more birthdays for this dark corner of the internet.

Indeed it has. And as it goes every year, we are getting ready for another year of dropped catches, shitty play-calling, injuries, coaches lying about injuries and new ways to lose. Let’s not forget players who have no business being in the NFL (looking at you, Nathan Peterwhacker). This is the Chicago Bears.

I said a couple years back that my interest in the team at the start had never been lower. I can’t say it’s lower now. But it’s not that much higher either. It’s the same bullshit and it’s been discussed ad nauseum this offseason.

We will get all of the “we had a great week of practice” and “he looked great out there.” But until we are proven otherwise, this is the expectation. Shitty general manager and shitty coaches followed by shitty players. Any general manager who signs and then re-signs the statistically worst quarterback in NFL history gives us no reason to believe that things will be different.

In other news, Cole Kmet has been given an extension for $50 million over four years. Nice guy and all, but hasn’t produced much. If he isn’t a top five-ten tight end this year, then this is a waste of money. Travis Kelce had over 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns last year. Now, none of us should expect those exact numbers. But let’s just say 750 yards for eight touchdowns. Anything less is a bust.

Then again, at the end of the day, the only stat that matters is wins and losses. And unfortunately, there will be more losses than wins.

From the worst franchise in professional sports to one of the greatest dynasties within a decade.

That was Rocky Wirtz. The catalyst to the change. Yes, there was a ton of controversy towards the last two or three years. We all know what happened there. Certainly, that report by the law firm showed he wasn’t aware of what was going on. Then there was that town hall last year where he went off on a reporter. A horrible set of scenarios ensued. Before I knew it, they forced their long-time announcers out of town, got rid of all of the players and coaches and started anew.

As a fan, it still feels a bit tarnished. A Stanley Cup that I had waited for my entire life happened at 24. Then at 27 and 29. So we looked up to him as a savior.

When I was growing up, the Blackhawks could never get that Cup. Teams like the Red Wings or Avalanche always stood in their way. Then as I got older, the team got bad fast. And even worse as I got into high school and college.

Then the old man kicks the bucket and his son takes over. Rocky started the renaissance. The change that we had begged for. We didn’t see it with other teams in the city. Again, controversy or not, he should be thanked for making the franchise relevant. Putting home games on TV and having ratings as a whole go up in hockey, he had a lot to do with it. He brought back Pat Foley after he was fired by his dad for no logical reason.

If it wasn’t for him, we fans probably don’t see a Stanley Cup in Chicago. So he should get his due for that. And with the team appearing to get back to being contenders in the coming years, he should be thanked.

First, I can’t remember if I heard this news last year. But I did hear about it earlier this week. Pat Hughes was finally inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. I don’t know why it didn’t happen until now. But I’m glad it did.

Him and Ron Santo were very important people in my childhood. Growing up without cable and too far to get WGN on TV through an antenna, all I had was the radio. I forgot who did it before him. But I do remember Harry Carey doing some radio games and Santo was still there.

From when I was 10 in 1996 up until 2002, almost every game was listened to on the radio. It was my escape in life from all of the bullshit I was growing up with. It was in my room by myself with the radio on 720 AM. And even from when I finally had cable in 2003 until I stopped giving a shit in 2008, him and Ron Santo were the ones who made me feel great despite the heartbreaks of the team.

I met Pat on the final home game of the 2005 season just outside Wrigley. He signed my ball and as a 19 year old, I was marking out. I spoke fast like an idiot because I was so excited. I basically told him that I had listened to him since I was a child and that he was a big part of my life. I am sure his thought was “this kid has issues.” But what he told me was “Thank you for tuning in” along with something else I can’t remember.

I may sound bitter here. But I wish the Cubs had won the World Series when I was still emotionally into it. Selfish? Probably. But still hearing him call that victory was something that reminded me of my childhood.

Congratulations. Well-earned and long overdue.

This guy should be somewhere in Wyoming selling insurance. Not on a professional football team’s roster.

But yet, after seven years, a team is still paying him to be the statistically worst quarterback in NFL history.

And that team is our beloved Chicago Bears.

One month until training camp!