John Fox likes the Packers, too

Speaking at an annual Packers fan luncheon last Wednesday, head coach Mike McCarthy played his highly-paid role as chief cheerleader for one of the cornerstone programs in the NFL.

"We will proudly stand as the 95th team in the history of the Green Bay Packers when we kick Chicago's ass!" he yelped.

The fans yelped in response as is their right and everyone went home happy. And, it being Wisconsin, heavily sedated by beer and cheese. As, also, is their right.

Meanwhile, down the shores of Lake Michigan at Halas Hall, Bears head coach John Fox sat in his office and wondered how he was going to stop Aaron Rodgers on Sunday at Soldier Field.

It's a prescription the Bears couldn't locate last season following two embarassing defeats to their ancient rivals, and so succumbed to the terminal NFL disease: losing.

The Packers discarded Chicago 55-14 in a Sunday night bloodbath at Lambeau Field following a more respectful decision in Illinois earlier that year. Fox recently viewed those game films. He liked what he saw, from the Packers, that is.

"I looked at the tape. They should be confident," he said on Monday.

Green Bay has had the Bears' number at Soldier Field, not falling there since 2010, and the Packers have taken 10 of their last 11 appearances overall, including the 2010 NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field before claiming Super Bowl XLV.

Report: Bears release Tim Jennings

It wasn't long ago that cornerback Tim Jennings was in his prime and his stock on the rise as a potential turnover machine. 

But after a poor showing in 2014, the Bears have decided to release him, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

A two-time Pro Bowl selection, Jennings led the NFL with nine interceptions three seasons ago, adding four more the following year, a team-high, and a two-year tally that was second only to Richard Sherman's 19 picks in that span.

Jennings, 31, recorded 50 tackles and also forced a fumble in 16 games last season for Chicago (5-11), having spent the last five years there after a stint with the Colts. But he did not secure one interception.

Tracy Porter and Alan Ball will compete for the vacant position on the starting roster.

"They told me they were going to go younger," he told the Chicago Tribune.

Martellus Bennett: the Bears just sucked

There are many things that go into making a winning football team. Talent, chemistry and cohesion, scheme, coaching and leadership, and spirit. It was that last one, Bears tight end Martellus Bennett feels, that his team was lacking the most last season.

"We had lots of mellow guys," he told Chicago Magazine. 

"You didn't see a lot of guys running to the pile, helping their teammates up, or having each other's back. We weren't a bad team. A bad team is a team that doesn't have the talent to win. We just sucked. Everybody sucked. Coaches, players, everybody."

It was only a matter of time before Mr. Mellow himself, Jay Cutler, was mentioned.

"Why does everyone always assume the quarterback is the leader?" he said. "Leading the offense and leading the team are two different things. Sometimes I like Cutty, and sometimes I don't. When I think of a leader, I think, 'If he started a company, would guys come to work for him?' There's a lot of guys on our team who, if they started a business, it'd be, 'F- you, I'm gonna go work at McDonald's.'"

Working the 5-11 Bears was the equivalent of working the NFL's McDonald's last season, but if Cutler himself started a business, would Bennett apply for a job?

"There are veterans that people follow and then you've got guys that lead the offense, get everyone lined up, get to your spot, do what you need to do, let's do our plays," he said.

Which one Bennett thought Cutler was or is only he knows, but judging by his dim view of the Bears' roster overall, it might be safe to presume. 

Bears' Ratliff suspended 3 games

The Bears will be without starting defensive tackle Jeremiah Ratliff the first three games of the coming season after he NFL concluded he violated their substance abuse policy. 

Ratliff pled guilty to a DWI in Texas two years ago after he was arrested for crashing his pickup truck with a blood alcohol content of .16, twice the legal limit. He was put on one year's probation after pleading guilty to that charge.

Chicago signed him to a two-year contract the following year, a move they wouldn't altogether regret.

The four-time Pro Bowl selection started eleven games for the Bears (5-11) last season, collecting 21 tackles and 6.5 sacks and, playing at the nose position, is expected to be the centerpiece of Vic Fangio's new defensive scheme in 2015. 

The Bears may sorely miss Ratliff during those three games he'll be away. They'll tangle with the Packers, Cardinals, and Seahawks to open their campaign, facing high-quality rushers like Eddie Lacy and Marshawn Lynch in two of those contests.

Jay Cutler doesn't care what Brandon Marshall says

Bears quarterback Jay Cutler doesn't want to get into it with his former wide receiver.

Brandon Marshall, now with the Jets after two seasons with the Bears, took two opportunities to criticize Cutler's play last season.

"There is a culture in the league that you keep everything in-house," Marshall said. Then he went right ahead and broke that rule.

"[W]hen we are going on 10 years, nine, 10 years in the league, it's time to get it," he said before adding how he was the only one with the "huevos" to hold Cutler accountable for his poor play.

Which, according to Google Translate, means he had an abundance of eggs with which to judge Cutler's play.

Cutler downplayed Marshall's view of things while speaking with ESPN Radio.

"Anytime you get traded or moved to a team there's going to be some issues you are going to deal with or questions that are going to come up," he said.

"That's only natural. All I can say is he's got a lot of good friends on this team and we wish him the best of luck. At this point we've got our own problems and things we are dealing with and we're just trying to concentrate on camp and get everything going in the right direction we need it to go."

Where it needed to go last season in Chicago is precisely where it didn't go. Under Cutler's tutelage, the Bears coughed and wheezed into a 5-11 result. That former chemistry between he and Marshall was missing in action, and the team dealt him to the Jets in March.

Cutler, to whom they owe $125 million, didn't budge. Nor will he when he's trashed by his former friend.

Bears put Kevin White on PUP list

The No. 1 wide receiver option the Chicago Bears had coming into training camp actually won't be at training camp.

Kevin White, the Bears' first-round pick, suffered a shin injury during his offseason workouts that will put him on the phyiscally-unable-to-perform (PUP) list, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Bears G.M. Ryan Pace confirmed on Wednesday that the team will take it easy with White in the near future, considering how much time still remains between now and the start of the regular season in September.

Pace also noted that White wasn't particularly pleased by the decision.

"He's fired up," he said, via the Sun-Times. "We kind of have to put handcuffs on him."

Pace said the team will work on building up White's cardiovascular strength while he's away from the field this summer. 

White was selected No. 7 overall after Chicago traded Brandon Marshall to the Jets in the offseason.

@MrJamesParks

Veteran QB Jason Campbell to announce retirement

When a 33-year-old man retires from any business, it's because he's done extraordinarly well, or was an unmitigated failure.

A bit of both could be said of Jason Campbell, who plans to announce his retirement following an eleven year professional campaign with five franchises.

Campbell, who declined offers from the Bengals and Ravens following last season, fell victim to that all-too-common NFL disease, being a moderately good talent that could have done something if he wasn't shackled to some legendarily awful teams. 

A first-round pick to the Redskins out of Auburn in 2005, he last started in 2014, throwing 19 pass attempts as Andy Dalton's backup with the Bengals. 

He spent five seasons with Washington, tallying 52 starts, before the arrival of Donovan McNabb, suddenly finding himself in Oakland. As per Raiders tradition, it went downhill from there. A six-game starting stint ended after he broke his collarbone in 2011, resulting in the eventual trade for Carson Palmer from the Bengals. He started a game for Chicago the following season and eight for Cleveland the year after, going 1-7 for the Browns.

He compiled a 32-47 career record in the professional ranks, tossing a respectable 87 touchdowns to 60 interceptions.

@MrJamesParks

Report: Bears hosted QB Mariota

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - The quarterback tandem of Jay Cutler and Jimmy Clausen that did so little to set the NFL alight last season may not be living up to the hopes of the Chicago Bears, as the team reportedly hosted perennial draft favorite Marcus Mariota last week.

Adam Schefter said as much when he appeared on ESPN 1000 (Chicago) on Friday.

The Bears have the overall No. 7 pick in the coming NFL Draft, which likely is too low a spot on the pecking order for Mariota, who will probably go first or second overall. He has been linked to the Titans (No. 2 selection), the Redskins (No. 5), and the Jets (No. 6).

Any trade to deal up to a higher position, and the chance to snag Mariota, would involve some heavy-duty dealing, the heaviest of which could be Jay Cutler, though his performance last season (28 TD, 18 INT) may not garner much interest around the league.

Former Bears coach Lovie Smith, now in the same position with the Buccaneers, put Mariota through a public workout recently, though Schefter and others report Tampa is likely to pick Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston with the first overall pick.

Mariota, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, tossed 105 touchdowns against only 14 interceptions in 41 career starts at Oregon.

Report: Bears sign DE Jenkins

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - In their long overdue effort to revamp their defensive front, the Chicago Bears on Tuesday signed former Redskins defensive end Jarvis Jenkins to a one-year contract, according to the Chicago Tribune. 

Brad Biggs of the Tribune said on Twitter that the deal would become official pending a physical.

Jenkins, a second-round pick by the Redskins in 2011, started 33 games in Washington the last three seasons, recording 28 combined tackles but no sacks.

The fourth-year man from Clemson leaves the Redskins' 29th-ranked defense to join a Bears group that is 30th-best in yards allowed and second-worst unit in scoring defense.

He will look to feature in first-year defensive coordinator Vic Fangio's 3-4 scheme, a group in dire needs of run-stoppers on the edge, though provides little in the way of run defense.

Jarvis missed his rookie campaign after tearing his ACL in a preseason game against the Ravens.

Bears sign WR Eddie Royal

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Wide receiver Eddie Royal has signed with the Chicago Bears, according to reports from the Chicago Sun-Times and NFL.com.

Both sides agreed to a three-year deal, according to a league source.

Royal recorded 72 receptions for 778 yards and seven touchdowns last season with the Chargers and is expected to take the No. 1 spot after the departure of Brandon Marshall to the Jets.

He and Bears quarterback Jay Cutler played together for one season when both were with Denver, a banner year for the receiver, as they connected on 91 passes for 980 yards and five scores in 2008, Royal's rookie season.

He has 3,750 career yards on 338 catches and 25 touchdowns in a seven-year career, and in 2009 became the fourth-fastest receiver in NFL history to reach 100 career catches.

Eddie Royal visits Bears

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Former Chargers wide receiver and free agent Eddie Royal is visiting with the Chicago Bears, a league source has confirmed to ESPN.

The source says Royal has interest from other clubs, though the Bears are currently the front-runners to sign the seven-year veteran from Virginia Tech.

A second round pick in 2008, Royal snagged 7 touchdowns on 62 catches for 778 yards in San Diego last season.

Royal played with Bears quarterback Jay Cutler when both were together for one season in Denver, hauling in 91 receptions for 980 yards and five touchdowns.

Chicago, under first-year head coach John Fox, is in need of depth at the receiver position after sending Brandon Marshall, and a seventh-round draft pick, to the Jets in exchange for a fifth-round draft choice.

Bears: TE Zach Miller inks year extension

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Tight end Zach Miller on Friday signed a one year extension through the 2015 season with the Chicago Bears, according to the team website.

Miller, a product of Nebraska-Omaha, has not played a regular season game since 2011. He was placed on injured reserve with the Jaguars near the end of 2012, then signed and released by Tampa Bay in 2013, before signing with Chicago in December of that year.

He caught two touchdowns on 68 yards in a preseason match up with Philadelphia last preseason before being placed on injured reserve on August 15th with a foot injury.

"Freak things," Miller said, via the Chicago Tribune. "That's what happened."

Drafted in the sixth round by Jacksonville in 2009, he started five games and played an additional 33 for the Jaguars, notching 470 career yards and four touchdowns from 2009-11.

Bears: CB Demontre Hurst signed through '16

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Cornerback Demontre Hurst was signed on Wednesday by the Chicago Bears to a contract extension through 2016, according to the team website.

Hurst appeared in 15 games at the nickel position last season, recording 39 tackles and an interception after spending 2013 on the Bears' practice squad.

"It's a blessing," Hurst told the Bears website on Wednesday. "It's a blessing to be where I started and get to be with a different set of coaches but still with the same teammates. I'm just happy to be back with the guys. They pretty much helped me throughout the season last year to keep growing with them."

Hurst, as an exclusive free agent, was permitted to only negotiate and sign with the Bears.

Bears: Ryan Pace hired as GM

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - The Chicago Bears hired Ryan Pace on Thursday to be their general manager, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Pace was formerly the director of player personnel with the Saints for two seasons after six years with that franchise as their head of pro scouting.

He will succeed Phil Emery, who was fired on Dec. 29 following a 25-29 mark through his three seasons with Chicago in that position.

His first task will be to find a head coach for the five-win Bears, who relieved Marc Trestman of his duty following the regular season, which found the team miss the playoffs for their fourth-straight and seventh out of eight seasons.

He will assist team chairman George McCaskey, president Ted Phillips, and Ernie Accorsi, who was brought on recently as a special adviser to help with the search.

Bears: Virginia McCaskey is "pissed off"

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Yes, Virginia, the Bears stink.

To that effect, Monday afternoon found the press conference assembled at Halas Hall to discuss the resulting dismissal of head coach Marc Trestman and general manager Phil Emery after a woeful five-win campaign and 13 victories against 19 defeats in two seasons.

Concerning those firings and the performance of the franchise overall, George McCaskey, chairman of the Chicago Bears, was asked about the feelings of his mother, team owner Virginia Halas McCaskey.

Mrs. McCaskey is the daughter of George "Papa Bear" Halas, the Bears' beloved founder and former coach.

"She's been very supportive. She agrees with the decisions that we've made," chairman McCaskey said, pausing for a few seconds. 

"She's pissed off," he said of Mrs. McCaskey's sentiments. "I can't think of a 91-year-old woman that that description would apply to, but in this case, I can't think of a more accurate description."

Chicago (5-11) missed the postseason for the fourth straight season and the seventh out of eight chances.

"She's been on this earth for eight of the Bears' nine championships, and she wants more. She feels that it's been too long since the last one, and that dissatisfaction is shared by her children, her grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren.

"She's fed up with mediocrity," McCaskey said. "She feels that she and Bears fans everywhere deserve better."

Black Monday: the Bears

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Not with a bang, but a whimper do the Chicago Bears end their 2014 campaign, and after a five-win outing capped off with five straight defeats, the team released head coach Marc Trestman and general manager Phil Emery on Monday.

The soft-spoken Trestman leaves the Midway with a 13-19 record in two seasons. He was hired from the Canadian Football League as an offensive guru, winning two Grey Cups with Montreal.

Though the current season found the Bears ranked 15th in passing and 27th in rushing, headed by quarterback Jay Cutler, receivers Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery, and tailback Matt Forte.

Chicago would also finish 23rd in football in points scored (19.9), 15th in touchdowns per game (2.5), and 20th in yards per game (327.5). 

Cutler, who in the offseason signed a seven-year, $126.7 million dollar extension, was responsible for 18 interceptions and 24 turnovers overall, both the worst in the league.

He was replaced by backup Jimmy Clausen for the team's Week 16 matchup with Detroit after Cutler's poor performance.

General manager Phil Emery made his mark immediately upon his arrival to Halas Hall, firing head coach Lovie Smith in 2012 after a 10-6 mark, hiring Trestman as replacement, and overseeing Cutler's contract extension. 

Emery was also tasked with sustaining and rebuilding the Bears defense following the departure of Brian Urlacher, who retired after the 2012 season after he felt he was offered too little money to stay on.

Chicago's defense ranked 30th in their last two seasons, allowing the second-most points every Sunday (27.6), the third-most yards per game (378.2), and the third-most touchdowns per game (3.1).

Offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer, who had to apologize after admitting himself to be the anonymous source of published criticisms concerning quarterback Jay Cutler, was also fired.

The Bears finished this season with a 13-9 defeat at Minnesota, a game in which Trestman's offense failed to enter the end zone.

The firings seem to solidify Jay Cutler's reputation as a personnel killer, having gone through four offensive coordinators, two general managers, and two head coaches since arriving with the Bears in 2009.

Cutler: "Everyone could get axed"

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Jay Cutler is a realist.

The grim-faced Chicago Bears signal caller had a chance to reflect on the team's recent history after being named starter for their season finale against the Vikings. 

"I think you've just got to prepare yourself that anything could happen," Cutler said to the Chicago Sun-Times. 

After tumbling to a 5-10 record and four straight defeats since Thanksgiving, Cutler is responsible for 18 interceptions and 24 turnovers overall, both the worst mark by any man in football.

"That's kind of what I'm prepared for. I mean, everyone could stay. Everyone could get axed. You just never know what direction it's going to go. You just have to stay open-minded and know that things happen for a reason."

Missing the postseason for the fourth straight season and the seventh out of eight chances, not only is the quarterback position up in the air, but also that of head coach Marc Trestman and general manager Phil Emery.

"Coaches could leave. Players could leave. I could leave," said Cutler, who was benched last week for Jimmy Clausen, but will return after his backup suffered a concussion in his start against Detroit. 

"That's part of it. It's a weird season. A lot of things have happened. A lot of things haven't gone our way for numerous reasons."

Also numerous are the dollars Cutler receives in the process: after signing a seven-year deal for $126.7 million, his salary of $15.5 million this season is guaranteed, as is $10 million for the 2016 season if he is on the Bears roster March 12, the third day of the 2015 league year.

Cutler has 23 touchdowns and 13 interceptions against Minnesota in 10 starts with the Bears, passing for 2,434 yards.

"Hopefully, we can make it through the next couple of days without something else happening," he said. "You never know though."

Lions center suspended

ALLEN PARK, Mich. - Detroit Lions center Dominic Raiola has been suspended one game by the NFL for stomping on Bears tackle Ego Ferguson's ankle in their game Sunday at Soldier Field. 

Raiola stepped on Ferguson's right ankle at the end of a tackle in the third quarter of that game and will miss the Lions' regular season finale with the Green Bay Packers next Sunday in a game that will decide the winner of the NFC North.

Game officials did not see the incident and no penalty was called.

"I did not try to stomp on his ankle," Raiola said after the game. "I'm not going to try to take somebody out of the game."

Raiola was stumbling on the tail end of a pile near the end of a rush. He appeared to have a chance to avoid Ferguson's outstretched leg, but stopped his progress intentionally to step on it.

"It was totally unintentional," he said. "I remember I was stumbling out. I didn't see the end of it. I apologized at the end of the game, told him it was unintentional and we shook hands and that was it."

That was not it, according to Ferguson, who was injured on the play but returned to the field soon after.

"None of that matters," he said. "We all saw the play. You can't take back what happened with that play. That's the end of it.

"I haven't seen the replay," he added, "but I am pretty sure I know what happened. I told the man to keep it between the lines. He said a couple words during the game and a couple words at the end of the game but at the end of the day, it's on the film. The film don't lie."

Lions coach Jim Caldwell said he accepted his center's version of the story though also understood why the league was looking into the incident.

Bears receiver disagreed with Caldwell's assessment.

"He should be banned from the NFL," Marshall said of Raiola to the Chicago Tribune. "This guy is a dirty player and he's a worse human being."

Raiola has the right to appeal the suspension per the collective bargaining agreement, though should he lose, rookie Travis Swanson will likely start in his place.

Bears: Cutler will start, Clausen concussed

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Chicago Bears quarterback Jimmy Clausen will be out on Sunday after suffering a concussion in the team's last meeting with Detroit.

Jay Cutler will return under center for the Bears' finale against Minnesota.

Clausen was injured in a head-to-head hit by Detroit's Ezekiel Ansah on a late scramble, a tackle for which Ansah was penalized for unnecessary roughness.

Clausen, a former Notre Dame starter, completed 23-of-39 passes for 181 yards against the Lions, a game in which the Bears once led 14-10 before allowing ten unanswered points in defeat.

The Bears said Clausen passed all his tests with their physicians and experienced no concussion symptoms, but did speak of some issues later in the day.

Clausen made his first start on Sunday since 2010 with Carolina.  

Bears: Clausen thrilled, Cutler stunned

LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Out of the playoffs for the fourth straight and seventh out of eight seasons, Jimmy Clausen has been given the nod to start for the Chicago Bears when they host the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Which came as a surprise to the 27-year-old former Notre Dame starter.

"I didn't see it coming at all," Clausen told CSN Chicago. "It was quite a surprise to me that they wanted to go with me this week. But it's a great opportunity for me and the team to go out there on Sunday and put our best effort out there and hopefully get a 'W'."

Clausen wasn't the only man at Halas Hall who was surprised.

"I didn't see it coming," former starter Jay Cutler said. "But any time you lose a lot of games and don't do as well as you hoped, there's a chance that could happen."

Chicago has posted a 5-9 record through fourteen outings, including three straight defeats, to Detroit, a Thursday nighter to Dallas, and Monday night's debacle against the Saints.

In those latter two contests, the Bears attempted comeback bids, but both would fall short.

Jay Cutler would be benched by head coach Marc Trestman after posting the most interceptions (18) in the league, adding 6 lost fumbles for the most overall turnovers (24), and has been sacked 36 times.

They average a turnover every 33 offensive snaps, by far the worst mark in football.

"I think we need a lift at quarterback. We need a spark," Trestman said, adding that he personally told both quarterbacks of his decision on Wednesday as well as general manager Phil Emery.

Trestman noted that his decision for only for the forthcoming week and would be active as Clausen's backup on Sunday.

Hopefully, Clausen enjoys a good challenge. Detroit currently leads the NFC North, has allowed the third-fewest touchdowns (1.9) and yards per game (300.3) this season, and the 17 points against them every Sunday are the fewest permitted by any club. Their three-game win streak began with a 34-17 decision over the Bears on Thanksgiving, a game the Bears led 14-0 early.

"I was excited obviously to get this opportunity to play against the No 1. defense in the NFL right now," Clausen said. "As soon as I heard, I just started preparing and watching tape, just like I've done the whole entire season."

Cutler has been helping his backup with the preparations going into Sunday's game.

"We've had a great relationship since Day 1 when I came in," Clausen said. "Jay's been great with me, helping me, and that's what he's doing right now, too."

Clausen last started a pro football game in 2010 for the Carolina Panthers, going 1-9 in ten starts before the team drafted Cam Newton.

"It's just a great opportunity for me. A lot of people don't get second chances to showcase their talent in the National Football League."

The change has many questioning Cutler's future with the team, especially with the money he gets and the results reaped. 

The cash value of his current deal, $22.5 million, is worth more than that of Aaron Rodgers, Cam Newton, Andrew Luck, Mark Sanchez, and Russell Wilson combined.

"All I know is there is a lot of money involved in my contract, which comes with a lot of expectations, and a lot of responsibility," Cutler said. "Whenever you're not winning and performing the way you should there's a likelihood of that happening [getting benched]."

Cutler, a Bears fan since his youth in Indiana, was asked about his future with the club.

"I would like to stay here," he said. "I really like it here. I love the guys in the locker room I get to play with. Clearly, it's a different set of circumstances now. Looking forward, this is the place I want to be."