Tweet
Mike Vandermause column: Bears are winning, but they aren't winners
By Mike Vandermause
"The Bears are who we thought they were."
Dennis Green, the now-fired coach of the Cardinals, made that infamous statement in an angry postgame news conference this past season after Arizona staged a memorable fourth-quarter collapse against the Chicago Bears.
Thoughts about the Bears vary, but my guess is at least 99 percent of Packers fans will be rooting against them today in their NFC championship game clash against the New Orleans Saints.
If there's one theme that is shared universally among Packers fans, it's that the Bears always will stink.
It has nothing to do with jealousy. It has everything to do with a bitter rivalry that is 85 years old.
No doubt Bears fans are puffing out their chests this week with pride and looking down on the Packers. They should savor moments like this, because they have been so rare in recent years.
In the storied history of the NFL, the Packers have won more championships and playoff games than the Bears.
Chicago fans correctly will point out the Bears lead the all-time series with the Packers. They will fail to mention that much of that advantage was gained in the leather-helmet era. The Packers hold a 55-43 edge over the last 50 years, and have won 22 of the last 29 meetings.
Incredibly, the Packers have toppled the Bears on the road 12 of the last 13 games, including a 26-7 beat-down at Soldier Field less than three weeks ago. In those 12 victories, the Packers have won by an average of 12½ points. If you can't defend your home turf better than that, there is no basis for bragging rights of any kind.
Even now, when they are one victory short of a Super Bowl berth, the Bears suffer from a major case of insecurity. Bears players were whining this week about how they don't get enough respect.
Apparently they don't realize that respect must be earned. This is a team that won its first playoff game in 12 years last Sunday, and even then barely escaped in overtime, at home, against the injury-ravaged Seattle Seahawks.
It's hard to respect a team quarterbacked by Rex Grossman, who said after his miserable performance (0.0 passer rating) against the Packers on Dec. 31 that he didn't give 100 percent in preparation for the game. It was a bad excuse for his horrendous showing, and it spoke to his integrity that as a team leader, he would consider giving less than his best.
Even in the midst of a winning season, Grossman comes off looking like a loser.
And so it goes with the Bears.
Can you imagine the Packers' Brett Favre having that kind of attitude? It's unthinkable, and helps explain why the Bears have gone through 20 starting quarterbacks since Favre took over the Packers' offense in 1992.
Win or lose today, the Bears are who we thought they were. Packers fans know exactly what I'm talking about.
Mike Vandermause is sports editor of the Press-Gazette.
http://greenbaypressgazette.packersn...701210736/1989
By Mike Vandermause
"The Bears are who we thought they were."
Dennis Green, the now-fired coach of the Cardinals, made that infamous statement in an angry postgame news conference this past season after Arizona staged a memorable fourth-quarter collapse against the Chicago Bears.
Thoughts about the Bears vary, but my guess is at least 99 percent of Packers fans will be rooting against them today in their NFC championship game clash against the New Orleans Saints.
If there's one theme that is shared universally among Packers fans, it's that the Bears always will stink.
It has nothing to do with jealousy. It has everything to do with a bitter rivalry that is 85 years old.
No doubt Bears fans are puffing out their chests this week with pride and looking down on the Packers. They should savor moments like this, because they have been so rare in recent years.
In the storied history of the NFL, the Packers have won more championships and playoff games than the Bears.
Chicago fans correctly will point out the Bears lead the all-time series with the Packers. They will fail to mention that much of that advantage was gained in the leather-helmet era. The Packers hold a 55-43 edge over the last 50 years, and have won 22 of the last 29 meetings.
Incredibly, the Packers have toppled the Bears on the road 12 of the last 13 games, including a 26-7 beat-down at Soldier Field less than three weeks ago. In those 12 victories, the Packers have won by an average of 12½ points. If you can't defend your home turf better than that, there is no basis for bragging rights of any kind.
Even now, when they are one victory short of a Super Bowl berth, the Bears suffer from a major case of insecurity. Bears players were whining this week about how they don't get enough respect.
Apparently they don't realize that respect must be earned. This is a team that won its first playoff game in 12 years last Sunday, and even then barely escaped in overtime, at home, against the injury-ravaged Seattle Seahawks.
It's hard to respect a team quarterbacked by Rex Grossman, who said after his miserable performance (0.0 passer rating) against the Packers on Dec. 31 that he didn't give 100 percent in preparation for the game. It was a bad excuse for his horrendous showing, and it spoke to his integrity that as a team leader, he would consider giving less than his best.
Even in the midst of a winning season, Grossman comes off looking like a loser.
And so it goes with the Bears.
Can you imagine the Packers' Brett Favre having that kind of attitude? It's unthinkable, and helps explain why the Bears have gone through 20 starting quarterbacks since Favre took over the Packers' offense in 1992.
Win or lose today, the Bears are who we thought they were. Packers fans know exactly what I'm talking about.
Mike Vandermause is sports editor of the Press-Gazette.
http://greenbaypressgazette.packersn...701210736/1989
Comment