C H I C A G O   B E A R S
Go-To Guy | Weakest Link | Burning Question | Offseason Movement

Glance Head coach: Dick Jauron 2001: Results 2002: Draft picks Training camp: July 25 at Olivet Nazarene Univ. in Bourbonnais, Ill.  2002 Schedule Date  Vs.  Time  Sept. 8  MIN.  1 p.m.  Sept. 15  at Atl.  1 p.m.  Sept. 22  N.O.  1 p.m.  Sept. 29  at Buf.  1 p.m.  Oct. 7  G.B.  9 p.m.  Oct. 13  Open     Oct. 20  at Det.  1 p.m.  Oct. 27  at Min.  1 p.m.  Nov. 3  PHI.  1 p.m.  Nov. 10  N.E.  4:15 p.m.  Nov. 18  at StL.  9 p.m.  Nov. 24  DET.  1 p.m.  Dec. 1  at G.B.  1 p.m.  Dec. 9  at Mia.  9 p.m.  Dec. 15  NYJ  1 p.m.  Dec. 22  at Car.  1 p.m.  Dec. 29  T.B.  8:30 p.m.

By B. Duane Cross, CNNSI.com

The Black & Blue division had an orange hue to it last season, and NFL insiders believe the offseason realignment is a plus for Chicago. While Green Bay has improved, taking Tampa Bay out of the NFC Central (now North) gives the Bears one less hurdle to overcome in defense of their first division title since 1990.

While it wasn't the lead item on the evening highlight shows, the re-signing of 25-year-old Pro Bowl center Olin Kreutz to a six-year deal was big. Wide receiver Marcus Robinson restructured the final two years of his contract, and the team gave WR Marty Booker (100 catches, 1,071 yards, eight touchdowns) a seven-year extension after his breakout season.

Running back Anthony Thomas was outstanding as a rookie last season, so all the pieces seem to be in place. Which brings us to quarterback, where Jim Miller signed a new deal just prior to the Bears signing free-agent Chris Chandler.

Mark it down: Chandler is not an insurance policy; Miller is merely a placeholder. Despite winning 13 games for the first time since 1986, Chicago's offense finished ranked No. 26 out of 31 teams and 24th in passing.

Defensively, the biggest change comes at linebacker. Or rather, who will coach the unit. Gary Moeller, a former head coach at Illinois and Michigan, and interim head coach of the Detroit Lions for the second half of the 2000 season, takes over for Dale Lindsey, who left to become defensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers.

Moeller will be charged with leading one of the league's youngest linebacker corps that includes two-time Pro Bowler Brian Urlacher, Warrick Holdman and Rosevelt Colvin.

Much of Urlacher's success can be traced to Bears GM Jerry Angelo, who signed free-agent defensive tackles Keith Traylor and Ted Washington as run-stuffers to tie up blockers and enable Urlacher to use his speed to chase the ball. Urlacher obliged with six sacks and three interceptions.

Defense was key in Chicago's first playoff appearance since 1994 -- after going 19-45 its previous four seasons -- and again will be counted on to hold the opposition until the Bears' offense finds its stride in 2002.

Fact Since 1997, Brian Urlacher was the first inductee in the Lovington, N.M., Hall of Fame, which was created solely to honor his accomplishments.

Brian Urlacher, LB -- In only his second season, Urlacher, who made 148 tackles and helped the Bears go from last place to the NFC Central title, was chosen linebacker of the year in 2001 and finished second in balloting for defensive player of the year.

"Brian is a phenomenal player," defensive coordinator Greg Blache said. "He's a rare talent. In all probability there won't be another Brian Urlacher for another 10, 15 years. If he stays healthy, he's going to be a Hall of Famer."

Urlacher was drafted out of New Mexico in the first round, as the ninth pick over all in the 2000 draft, but the Bears slotted him as a strongside linebacker, a position he'd played in college, as well as safety, and was also a receiver and return specialist.

But outside linebacker didn't work for him with the Bears; Rosevelt Colvin beat him out. However, with middle linebacker Barry Minter injured, the Bears stuck Urlacher into the third game of the 2000 regular season. He responded with 11 tackles and a sack against the New York Giants.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

"I've seen him take on linemen and drive them into the backfield," safety Mike Brown said of Urlacher. "I've seen him hit fullbacks and stop them cold. I've seen him run down running backs from behind. I've seen him cover wide receivers.

"Who else can do all those things?"

Fact On Sept. 19, 1971, Chicago defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 17-15 before a capacity crowd of 55,701 at Soldier Field in the Bears' first game since moving from Wrigley Field.

Home-field advantage -- Coming off its first division title in more than a decade, Chicago has been rewarded with ... all home games at the University of Illinois' Memorial Stadium in Champaign because of the ongoing renovation of Soldier Field.

After 31 years at Soldier Field (and 50 before at Wrigley), the Bears will play the 2002-03 seasons at Champaign, about 135 miles south.

Plans for the original stadium started in 1919 as a memorial to the soldiers of World War I .The new Soldier Field project will cost $632 million. However, Sun-Times columnist Rick Telander says, "I'm betting we approach the three quarter-billion mark before Chicago is done paying on this baby."

The Bears will play eight regular-season "home" games and two exhibitions at Memorial Stadium. To meet NFL standards, the Bears have erected structures and scaffolding for NFL Films, additional replay and radio booths and remodeled the dressing rooms with lockers taken from Soldier Field.

They also plan to cover seats in one end zone and around the perimeter of the field because of poor sight lines, and the Soldier Field goalposts have been shipped in.

But make no mistake, Chicago will play 20 road games this year -- and next.

How long will it be until Chris Chandler is the starting QB?

Fact Jim McMahon was the last Chicago quarterback to play in the Pro Bowl. The "Punky QB" made his only Pro Bowl appearance in 1986 after passing for 2,392 yards and 18 TDs for the Super Bowl XX champions.

Chandler, a two-time Pro Bowler, is just the latest free agent to arrive under center in Chicago ... er, Champaign. Remember the likes of Erik Kramer, Steve Walsh, Dave Krieg, Rick Mirer and incumbent Jim Miller? Of course, there was that guy the Bears actually drafted, Cade McNown.

But Chandler, who took Atlanta to the Super Bowl just four years ago, is different; he's been to the summit -- and knowledge is everything in this business.

"I understand the reality of the situation," Chandler said. "It's important not to disrupt anything.

"Jim is very important to this offense and this team, and there's a chemistry here whether I'm here or not. The last thing I want to do is mess it up, rock the boat. I realize Jim is the starter. Hopefully, we go 14-2 and I never have to step on the field. I know what my role is."

OK, so Chandler knows how to play nice. But this isn't a nice game. After all, the Bears owe Chandler -- on Nov. 18 he backhanded the Bears the division title with a 431-yard show as the Falcons stunned the Packers in Green Bay. Chicago never relinquished the NFC Central lead.

Besides, Miller already knows how to ride the pine behind Chandler; they were together -- briefly -- with Atlanta in 1997.