Chicago Bears: What It Will Take to Return to the Super Bowl in 2011 - Bleacher Report

Chicago fans have a tendency to make years feel much more like decades when it comes to the city’s sporting achievements. Hell, it’s felt like two years since the Bears fell to Green Bay in the NFC Championship game.

All kidding aside, it has been some time though since the Bears made the franchise’s most recent Super Bowl appearance in 2007 when they lost to Indianapolis.

Remember how Rex Grossman and Muhsin Muhammad struck fear into the Colts secondary? Me neither.

Chicago came within a game of making it back to Super Bowl Sunday in 2010 finishing with an 11-5 mark and division championship, much to the surprise of skeptical fans and critics. With the bar set higher coming into this upcoming season, the Bears will once again look to turn heads and impress with another run at the Lombardi Trophy.

Certain elements of the traditional NFL offseason have yet to begin due to the lockout. Once the owners and players settle their differences on a new collective bargaining agreement, a new league year will begin.

What must the Bears do in 2011 to make it back atop the National Football League’s elite?

5. Solidify Linebackers

Chicago has just two linebackers currently under contract in Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs. While those may be the two best on the team, they can’t do it all by themselves.

Expect the Bears to re-sign Nick Roach and Pisa Tinoisamoa to give depth at the position. If money becomes a concern, Bears fans might see rookie J.T. Thomas get some playing time.

In the Cover 2 defense Lovie Smith operates, the linebackers play a large role in defending the underneath game. Not being able to attack in the box with poor linebacker play defeats the purpose of this defense.

4. Get Hester More Involved on Offense

How to use Devin Hester the most effectively is something Chicago has been trying to solve for the better part of the last decade.

Of course, his return skills are what separate him from the rest of the pack, but he only gets that opportunity a handful of times any given Sunday.

One thing the offense hasn’t played around with yet is the idea of making Hester the slot Y-receiver. Hester’s 5’11” frame doesn’t necessarily make him the primary receiver in a Mike Martz offense. If the Bears moved him to the slot, he could become very effective running short routes in wide open spaces.

If Hester plays the slot, Earl Bennett can take over the primary X-receiver and Johnny Knox can man the Z.

3. Increase the Turnover Ratio

It’s no mystery the key to the Bears success rests in the defense. The Cover 2 defense is one that doesn’t necessarily focus on takeaways but forcing offenses into making poor decisions.

Chicago had a plus-four rating on turnover differential last season. While it’s always a good thing to finish on the positive side of the takeaway battle, the Bears could certainly improve this statistic thus giving the team better chances to win contests.

Quarterback Jay Cutler’s 16 interceptions in 2010 are drastically improved from the 26 picks he threw the year prior. Interceptions are sometimes a deceiving number. Remember that for the first part of 2010, the Bears were a pass first team until the bye week arrived.

Cutler’s 26 interceptions came in a season where he attempted 555 passes. The fewer times he tries to throw, obviously the chance for an interception decreases. For the record, Cutler threw 432 passes in 2010, down 22 percent from 2009.

2. Find a Compliment to Matt Forte

Matt Forte has been the most valuable offensive weapon Chicago has featured in the last few seasons. Forte, in 2010, became the first Bear since Walter Payton in 1983 to rush for over 1,000 yards and catch 500 or more yards in a single season. Not a bad Hall of Famer to be compared to by any means.

The problem herein lies with the depth chart. Forte’s heavy workload will cause him to be injured or break down eventually. Should he have to miss any part of a season, Chester Taylor would become the featured back.

Former Minnesota Viking Chester Taylor came into Chicago last season as a free agent but left his football skills up north. Taylor rushed for only 267 yards and three scores, averaging 2.4 yards a touch. He was used mostly as a goal line back, so the opportunity to collect large chunks of yards became difficult.

Taylor has shown in the past he is capable of making a living by catching balls out of the backfield. Should Forte need to be relieved on the field, it will be interesting to see if Taylor, 31, can make up for the loss of production.

1. Protect Jay Cutler

Without a doubt, the biggest hurdle to clear for the Bears to make another postseason run will be to keep Cutler upright and unharmed.

Many different elements can be involved in protecting Cutler. Previously discussed, the amount of times Cutler throws versus the number of runs called not only keeps the offense two-dimensional but takes more pressure off of the man under center. Starting field position plays a role in how effective a quarterback does as well.

The largest concern would however be the offensive line. Chicago spent its first-round draft pick on Wisconsin tackle Gabe Carimi wisely. It has not yet been announced whether Carimi will be the right or left tackle to compliment J’Marcus Webb.

Chris Williams, a first-round draft pick from a handful of years ago, also remains in the mix but has shown issues with adjustment and health.

Roberto Garza and Frank Omiyale look anchored into their respective positions as guards. That leaves just one offensive line position left—center.

Olin Kreutz is a free agent once the lockout if lifted and the Bears could not have a more valuable piece to the puzzle to bring back than him. Kreutz has spent his entire professional career with the Bears and is the anchor to the offensive line. Without him, the franchise has a huge hole to fill in the roster. Kreutz may be getting up there in age, but still has value. Re-signing him to keep Cutler safe is a must.

Thoughts? Comments? Follow Brett Lyons on Twitter @BrettLyons670.

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Superbowl Ad Star, 'Mini Darth Vader' Sheds Spotlight on Heart - TIME

One of the more endearing commercials to emerge from the slate of Superbowl ads earlier this year featured a  pint-sized Darth Vader who surprised himself by starting up a Volkswagon with a wave of his hand. Now the boy behind the mask is taking on a different kind of role: health care activist.

As Sanjay Gupta reported last night on CNN, 6-year-old actor Max Page has a rare congenital heart defect called Tetralogy of Fallot that has required him to receive three different pacemakers in his young life, as well as eight major operations to correct other complications.

And while Page has been able to lead a fairly typical lifestyle for a child his age (medical appointments and national ad campaigns notwithstanding), he and his family know how lucky they are to receive the kind of highly sub-specialized medical attention he requires. Not just any hospital — not even any children's hospital — can provide the care. In fact, his doctor, a pediatric electro-physiologist is one of only 100 such sub-specialists in the country.

And that's the problem: there are just 56 children's hospitals in the United States. "We represent just 1% of all the hospitals in the United States, but we are responsible for training over 40% of all the pediatricians and 45% of all the pediatric specialists who take care of the kids," says Robert Adler, vice chair of pediatrics for the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles in the video. His graduate program may be a casualty of budget cuts and because of this, the Pages are headed to Washington to plead for continued funding.

Watch the full story below, or read an accompanying piece from Page's mother Jennifer on how she and her husband first learned about their son's condition and the way they cope.

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Lockout yields perfect scenario for Green Bay - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

July 21, 2011 |

How much does the lockout help the Packers in looking to repeat as champions?

Hurt them: 4%

Not at all: 25%

A little: 48%

A lot: 16%

Now a virtual lock: 7%

Total Responses: 153

Green Bay - The Green Bay Packers didn't need any favors in their attempt to repeat as Super Bowl champions.

Then along came an off-season without football, which provided the Packers with a subtle but almost unfair advantage entering 2011.

Each day that the National Football League lockout persists represents one fewer day for 31 teams to catch Green Bay. If the labor dispute had dragged on until September, as I guessed all along that it would, the Packers might have been almost impossible to beat.

One day last month, Mike McCarthy was trying to stay sharp as a football coach without a team. When it was suggested to McCarthy that every day without football only benefited the Packers, he blanched.

"We always get a lot better during the OTAs," insisted McCarthy. "We needed them."

McCarthy's three-month off-season program (mid-March to mid-June) was run as well if not better than most other programs around the NFL. He swore by the results. So did many of his players.

It isn't that the Packers didn't need their off-season. It's that every other team needed it more.

No off-season programs basically meant every team stayed right where it was. That's precisely where the team at the top, in this case the Packers, would want everyone else to remain.

Twenty teams haven't been on a football field since Jan. 2. Of the 12 playoff teams, only Super Bowl participants Green Bay and Pittsburgh had the benefit of 15 practices after the 20 non-playoff teams were finished.

McCarthy already had planned to delay the start of the off-season program by two or three weeks so his players, coaches and support staff could catch their breath. More than any other team, the Packers will have benefited simply by getting away from football and just resting.

In the first 44 years of the Super Bowl era, eight teams have been able to win championships back-to-back but no team has ever won three in a row. The Super Bowl hangover is real. Just seven of the last 15 champions so much as won their division the following season.

Super Bowl champions face a variety of obstacles. Friends and family tell every player on the roster how great they are. And, having accomplished the ultimate goal, some players lose their desire for the punishing workouts that are at the core of their job livelihood.

In the case of the Packers, they played 24 games last season and ended up with one of the most magnificent seasons in franchise history. It would have been difficult for some players to be right back in town nine or 10 weeks later sitting in meeting rooms listening to the same stuff that they had mastered during the season.

Let's assume the Packers won't practice for the first time until the weekend of July 30-31. That's 25 weeks, almost half a year, since they beat the Steelers in Dallas.

Listen to and read the words of players in the last few weeks. There's a sense of eagerness among the Packers that simply wouldn't have been there had it been a normal off-season.

This is the perfect scenario for a team trying to recapture its esprit de corps of six months ago.

The last time the Packers were in this situation was 1997. That team overcame early season-ending injuries to Edgar Bennett and Craig Newsome, duplicated the 13-3 mark of the '96 titlists and made it back to the Super Bowl before falling to Denver.

On the eve of the '97 season, I wrote that the Packers should be favored for five reasons: the quarterback, the coach, the general manager and his scouts, the corporate structure and the continuity within the organization.

The principals are different now in each of the five categories, but the level of excellence is similar.

Not only does Aaron Rodgers have the best regular-season passer rating in history, he has the best postseason mark in history. Upon careful study, and multiple interviews with Packers and Steelers alike, Rodgers' performance in Dallas should rank among the half-dozen finest in Super Bowl history.

McCarthy became more than just a top-flight offensive coach a year ago. He grew into the leader that the organization sorely needed.

Ted Thompson will never change. He outworks many of his peers, listens to his people and keeps demonstrating the knack for picking the best of closely rated players. What shouldn't be overlooked about Thompson is the understated, professional workplace that he creates.

Mark Murphy recognized early that Thompson and McCarthy were worthy of his support and that of the board of directors.

After camp opens, the Packers should be ready to play a game in no time.

On offense, McCarthy starts his sixth season with the same scheme, the same coordinator (Joe Philbin) and five position coaches that have been with him throughout his tenure. Jimmy Robinson, the premier wide receivers coach, departed for Dallas.

On defense, the coordinator (Dom Capers) and his entire staff remain intact for a third year in a row.

It isn't only that these coaches know exactly what McCarthy wants. The collective level of expertise on this staff might match favorably against any in club annals.

In the personnel department, the Packers have been as stable as just about any group in the NFL over the last 10 years. When the Eagles and coach Andy Reid pursued Eliot Wolf hard after the draft, the Packers promoted Wolf to a position akin to what John Schneider had and retained his services

Compare that checklist to what's going on around the league.

Eight franchises will have new coaches with, for the most part, entirely new schemes. Minus an off-season, none of them really has a chance in 2011.

Depending on your definition of "set," 14 of the 32 coaches either don't know who will be their starting quarterback or, if they were honest, recognize that their starter isn't good enough to win the Super Bowl. Six quarterbacks were drafted in the first round, but in the wake of the lockout there just aren't enough hours of preparation for them to stand out as rookies.

Six of Green Bay's 16 games are against teams with new coaches or teams unsettled at quarterback, or both.

When the gong sounds for the start of free agency, the Packers won't be signing anyone. They'll try to re-sign some of their own veterans before they hit the market, add a dozen or so undrafted rookies and take the practice field with all but a handful of players from their Super Bowl 53 supplemented by eight to 10 of the 15 players that ended the season on injured reserve.

No one in their right mind should ever think that the Packers would even entertain lavishing $18 million or more this year alone on Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. They'll continue developing Sam Shields, hope for another good year or two from Charles Woodson and see what fourth-round pick Davon House has to offer.

The Packers have more than enough players. Even if they didn't, a blockbuster deal in free agency might be hard to handle given their cap situation.

In late February, the players under contract to Green Bay for 2011 totaled $128.6 million against the salary cap that was in effect through 2009. Only the Cowboys ($134.2 million) had more cap commitments, although A.J. Hawk's new deal on March 3 did reduce the Packers' charge by about $8 million.

The proposed collective bargaining agreement approved by the owners Thursday includes a salary cap of $120.375 million for 2011.

Cullen Jenkins will be leaving for what should be a huge contract in free agency. Jenkins was the team's second-best pass rusher, but he's 30 and Mike Neal was drafted high a year ago to replace him.

The decision to pay Hawk enormous money means he'll keep starting alongside Desmond Bishop, Brandon Chillar will back up at inside linebacker and Nick Barnett will become a cap casualty.

McCarthy still thinks James Jones can become consistent even though he has dropped 30 of 285 targeted passes (10.5%) in four seasons. Now it's up to Jones.

The Packers are expected to offer him a reasonable contract even though Randall Cobb was drafted to do more than return kicks as a rookie. The market, however, likely will provide other opportunities for Jones.

Mason Crosby's next contract will be with Green Bay. So will John Kuhn's. I wouldn't offer Daryn Colledge a representative multiyear deal, but someone might because players from Super Bowl teams often are overvalued in free agency.

The flurry of developments that transpire over the next few weeks will be newsy. Still, they'll be merely window dressing in comparison to the arresting level of talent residing on the depth chart.

Jermichael Finley, one of six key Packers sure to be inspired by a contract year in 2011, heads the list of five tight ends, four of whom can get downfield. Drafting Derek Sherrod all the way down at No. 32 in the first round gives McCarthy the luxury of having three tackles. And then there are three or four respectable candidates to succeed the mediocre Colledge at left guard.

Few teams can match the Packers' collection of three running backs, all of whom at least have the size and ability to be every-down players.

Wide bodies B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett and Howard Green, a stubborn three-man front down the stretch, have had weight issues and will be monitored closely next month. Defensive end C.J. Wilson might not have Neal's ability but he is no slug, either.

The Packers won a Super Bowl with Frank Zombo, Erik Walden and Brad Jones playing opposite Clay Matthews. The return of Morgan Burnett and the re-signing of Charlie Peprah give Capers three safeties.

Perhaps Cobb will help improve the special teams that haunted McCarthy in four of the six defeats.

McCarthy's enemies are selfishness and greed in the locker room. Everything else, at least when compared to the competition, couldn't be more to his liking.

The lockout locked in the Packers as the team to beat. Pick against them at your peril.

Send email to bmcginn@journalsentinel.com

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Happy Birthday, Elliott Yamin!

Season 5's Elliott Yamin celebrates his birthday today. It's hard to believe it was six years ago that Elliott made a name for himself on American Idol. His warm personality, smooth vocals, and his doting mother Claudette made him one of the most beloved contestants ever on the show. Since his time on Idol, Elliott has had a lot of success in the music industry, but he always makes time to help those in need.

Elliott has released the albums Elliott Yamin, Fight for Love, and the holiday records Sounds of the Season: The Elliott Yamin Holiday Collection and My Kind of Holiday. His first album, Elliott Yamin, debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album was the highest new artist debut on an independent label in SoundScan history. On October 12, 2007, the album was certified gold. His hit single "Wait for You" was certified Platinum in digital sales on October 16, 2008. In total, Elliott has had four #1 hits on the Billboard charts.

In February, Elliott released his third studio album, Gather 'Round, but it was made available exclusively for the Japanese market. On Saturday, July 9, Elliott performed in Sparks, Nevada at the Legends at the Sparks Marina concert.

The charitable Idol has worked with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, the Promise to Remember Me Campaign, the Inspired by Diabetes Creative Expression Competition, the Life for a Child Program, World Diabetes Day, Malaria No More, and Africare. He's traveled to Africa twice for Idol Gives Back to raise awareness about malaria prevention with Malaria No More. Read moreread more

Source: "American Idol 10 Live Feed" via Glen in Google Reader

Do Something Award Nominees Adam Lambert and Randy Jackson

Congratulations to Idol's Adam Lambert and Randy Jackson! They've both been nominated for 2011 Do Something Awards. Adam in the category Do Something Music Artist and Randy in the category Do Something TV Star. Good going guys!

The official voting period for the 2011 Do Something Awards is open at DoSomething.VH1.com and extends through August 14, 2011 9 AM EST. Fans now have the opportunity to vote for their favorite celebrities who do great work and who inspire young people to do great work too.

In addition to announcing the celebrity winners, one young "do-er" (age 25 and under) will be receiving a grand prize of $100,000 for their cause. This is the largest and most prestigious prize in the world for young people and social change. "This is not your grandma's award show," says Nancy Lublin, the CEO and Chief Old Person of DoSomething.org. "There will be no violins and no ballgowns."

The 2011 Do Something Awards will be hosted by Jane Lynch (Glee) at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles and will air on Thursday, August 18th 2011 where the winners will be announced. Check local listings for time and channel.

Don't forget to vote for our Idol guys!

Watch an interview with Adam when he appeared on Idol in Season 10.

Source: "American Idol 10 Live Feed" via Glen in Google Reader

Lockout will help Packers, favorites stay ahead - The State

A DAY AFTER the Green Bay Packers won the Lombardi Trophy in February, I felt they had a strong chance to repeat as NFL champions in 2011.

The 2010 Packers were one of the youngest, deepest teams in the NFL, and they figure to become deeper with the return of six starters off injured reserve. Green Bay also returns a franchise quarterback and a top-five defense.

Five months later, I feel the Pack’s chances for back-to-back titles are even stronger.

Since the NFL went to the eight-division format in 2002, life has not been good for incumbents. An average of 4.9 of the eight division champions each season have failed to repeat. Three of the past eight Super Bowl winners failed to qualify for the playoffs the following season.

But I love the incumbents in 2011. I like the Packers to play for another championship next February in Indianapolis. I like the Patriots and Steelers in their divisions. I like the Saints to extend their season into January. Status quo looms as a major plus this season.

That’s because there wasn’t an offseason. The NFL lockout shut down all 32 buildings, slowing down the rebuilding and reloading process for the 31 non-winners.

The offseason is an important time in the NFL. Teams are allowed up to 14 organized team activity sessions, plus two minicamps, one for rookies and another for veterans. Teams with new coaching staffs are allowed an extra minicamp.

Add it all up, and that is 24 to 29 practice sessions a team is allowed to conduct during the offseason. But those practice sessions did not take place this offseason because of the labor stalemate.

So, there are six new coaches in 2011 who have not handed out their playbooks. Those coaches must start from scratch in training camp, indoctrinating unfamiliar players to unfamiliar coaches with unfamiliar schemes.

Thirteen other teams have new defensive coordinators, and 11 have new offensive coordinators. They don’t know the players, and the players don’t know them or their coaching styles.

If teams report to training camp by Aug. 1, that leaves six weeks to prepare for the season opener. When you factor in the four preseason games each team plays, practice time will be at a premium. There will not be enough hours in training camp to achieve all that a team needs to achieve next month. So expect some ragged play in September.

This brings us back to Green Bay and its fellow incumbents.

Five of the eight division champions — Atlanta, Chicago, Indianapolis, New England and Pittsburgh — return with the coach and coordinators intact. In addition to the Packers, two of the other three wild-card teams from a year ago — the Jets and Saints — also return with the same coaching brain trust.

So those teams will not spend camp teaching something new. They will spend it refining and polishing an already proven, successful product. That will give them a huge edge heading into the 2011 season.

I’ve always been a sucker for the underdogs. But this is one year to bet the favorites.

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Drew Brees Partners with Fantapper to Launch #ifiwereaQB Social Media Contest - PR Newswire (press release)

IRVINE, Calif., July 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Football star Drew Brees, MVP of Super Bowl XLIV and quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, has launched a new social media campaign that lets fans imagine themselves as QBs while earning a shot at a signed jersey and an iPad 2.  Brees has invited fans to submit photos to drew@fantapper.com for a special enhancement which they can share with their friends online through his free, interactive Fantapper service. Two winners will be determined based on the number of views that each photo receives.

The #ifiwereaQB social media campaign is one of many ways Drew is connecting with his fans through Fantapper.  Drew has already been posting exclusive content including videos and pictures to his Fantapper service, providing his fans with a closer connection to the Super Bowl MVP.  Check out Drew's Fantapper page at www.fantapper.com/celebs/drew_brees.

"Fantapper allows me and other celebrities and athletes to engage with fans in a meaningful way by giving them access to exclusive content, media, and applications they can't find anywhere else," said Brees. "I hope the contest will encourage people to check it out, and I can't wait to share pics of the 'QB squad' that we assemble."

Fantapper combines all the latest news, content, and social media posts about fans' favorite celebrities and athletes into a single online offering.  Also available as a free desktop plug-in, Fantapper provides fans with a 24/7 connection to their favorite celebrities and athletes, dynamically enhancing photos and text wherever they surf the web.  

The #ifiwereaQB campaign is currently live and will run through Sunday, July 24; details are available at: www.ifiwereaQB.net.

About Brand Affinity Technologies, Inc.  (BAT)

Founded in 2007, BAT (http://brandaffinity.net) unlocks the marketing power of celebrity through research, endorsements, and interactive experiences. Advertisers such as AT&T, Comcast, IHG, Intuit, Ford, Samsung and Sony use BAT's Endorsement Platform, which provides daily analysis of more than 45,000 celebrities and athletes, along with the ability to identify, license, and activate talent for cross-media advertising campaigns.  BAT has exclusive representation agreements with more than 4,000 athletes and celebrities. BAT also leverages its research and technology engine to engage consumers directly through Fantapper (www.fantapper.com), which brings interactive apps to celebrity content across the web. Connect with BAT on Twitter:@BAT and Facebook: www.facebook.com/BrandAffinityTech.

About Fantapper by Brand Affinity Technologies

Fantapper (www.fantapper.com) helps actors, musicians, athletes and other personalities influence, control and monetize their social media content and the skyrocketing amount of online content in which they are featured. When a consumer clicks on a photo or text reference of any celebrity, Fantapper automatically populates an expanded media window with dynamic apps, including original pictures and videos, games, popularity metrics, YouTube videos, Twitter and Facebook feeds – all specific to the featured celebrity.  Fantapper is available as a free desktop plug-in, runs on select news, entertainment and sports sites, and can also be accessed via popular mobile devices. Celebrities and athletes with custom Fantapper apps include Drew Brees, Nick Cannon, Peter Facinelli, Ashlee Simpson and Pete Yorn. Connect with Fantapper on Twitter: @Fantapper and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Fantapper.

SOURCE Brand Affinity Technologies, Inc.

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Let's get this NFL lockout over with - Chicago Sun-Times

By Rick Morrissey rmorrissey@suntimes.com July 18, 2011 12:30AM

Pittsburgh Steelers' Troy Polamalu (43) delivers a blow to Green Bay Packers' Greg Jennings, right, as Jennings grabs a reception for a touchdown during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl XLV football game Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Updated: July 18, 2011 12:30AM

Years from now, people will remember what they were doing when the United States played Japan in the 2011 Women’s World Cup final: celebrating the imminent end of the NFL lockout.

Kudos to the owners and players for what appears to be a near-settlement to their four-month disagreement. As dull and as painful as the lockout has been, the absence of games would be infinitely duller and more painful. With labor peace now within reach, fantasy-league players see a reason to live, gamblers are crying tears of joy and husbands who had envisioned a football-free world of antiquing and scrapbooking with their spouses are smiling contentedly.

The NFL is not bulletproof, but it’s the closest thing to it in sports. The owners and players know they’ll pile up loads of ill will if games are lost this season. In a poor economy, the last thing people want to see is rich owners and rich players arguing about a mountain of cash.

It’s obvious both sides get that part of it. There’s enough money to go around for everyone.

But it’s hard to picture the league’s fan base ever walking away from the game in disgust because of a labor stoppage, no matter how long and bitter. The NFL is too ingrained in our culture. You can attribute that to our love of the game, to the billions of dollars wagered weekly or to our bloodlust as a society.

The TV ratings don’t lie. Super Bowl XLV between Green Bay and Pittsburgh earlier this year drew an audience of 111 million, the biggest for a U.S. TV program. Of the top-20 prime-time telecasts of all time, 11 are Super Bowls.

Over the years, labor problems have hurt baseball. Disgusted fans stayed away after the 1994-95 strike. We’ve seen the same thing happen after NBA and NHL work stoppages. If the current NBA lockout is as lengthy as analysts are predicting, the league will lose part of its fan base. It simply doesn’t have the magnetic draw of the NFL.

We, the viewing public, can be used and abused, but don’t take away our football. The key word there is “our.’’ It’s how the country looks at the game. It’s ours. We can’t do without it.

Provided negotiations between the owners and players don’t break down this week, we’ll soon be able to get back to the rhythm of life. Free-agent signings. Training camp in the heat and humidity. Games on Sundays, forever and ever, amen. Or until the next lockout or strike.

We’ll soon get answers to whether Jay Cutler is healthy, whether Olin Kreutz is coming back and whether the Bears’ wide-receiver position will get an upgrade.

We’ll see how serious the NFL is about the concussion issue in its sport and whether it plans to take meaningful steps to improve player safety. We’ll find out whether James Harrison can coexist with Steelers teammate Ben Roethlisberger, whom he ripped in a recent Men’s Journal article.

We’ll waste all sorts of time on questions that, in the grand scheme of things, don’t mean much, but it’s a lot better than wasting time wondering whether there’s going to be a football season.

Last week, the owners and players reportedly reached agreement on two of the biggest issues — the salary cap, which will be set at $120 million, and a rookie wage scale. For anyone who has wondered why a high draft pick who has accomplished nothing in the NFL makes more than a proven starter, the rookie scale is the answer: He shouldn’t. A high draft pick should have to prove himself before he makes megabucks.

More good will come out of this lockout. The collective-bargaining agreement is expected to last 10 years. Ten years of peace. Ten years without the hourly torture of watching ESPN attempt to update stalled negotiations. I think I might cry.

The NFL is disputing a Sun-Times report that the Aug. 7 Bears-Rams Hall of Fame Game likely will be a casualty of the lengthy lockout. If that’s the extent of the damage — the cancellation of a meaningless game in which Cutler will play a series or two — then there’s really no damage.

Whatever the case, it looks as if most of the preseason will go on as planned. It means fans will not have felt the real pain of a lockout. Amazing, really. But if owners believe they sacrificed too much in a new CBA, they’ll raise ticket prices. It’s what they do. They’re owners.

But that’s for later. For now, let’s take a deep breath and hope that labor peace will settle over the NFL before the end of the week.

Congratulations to Japan for winning the Women’s World Cup on Sunday. Now let’s play some football.

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Pittsburgh Steelers: 5 Keys To Return to the Super Bowl - Bleacher Report

By (Contributor) on July 17, 2011

The Pittsburgh Steelers shocked most people by returning to the Super Bowl in 2010.

Despite quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's four-game suspension to start the year, the Steelers managed to finish the year 12-4.

Heading into 2011, the Steelers are looking to return to the Super Bowl and win their coveted seventh championship.

In order for that to happen, several key elements will need to fall into place.

Here are five keys surrounding another Steelers Super Bowl appearance:

Improve Pass Coverage

The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense was one of the best in the league in 2010.

However, if the Steelers' defense has one weakness, it lies at cornerback.

In 2011 that situation could potentially be worse. Ike Taylor and William Gay are both set to be free agents. Whether they are elite corners or not, losing two corners who earned substantial playing time last season will hurt an already maligned position.

If the Steelers wish to contend again, it would be in their best interest to make an upgrade through free agency—or hope rookie Curtis Brown is up to the challenge early in his career.

The Steelers' defense is excellent based on its pass rush and discipline. Imagine how much better it could be with improved coverage.

Better Protection Up Front

The Pittsburgh Steelers' offensive line is probably the most criticized unit on the team.

The addition of center Maurkice Pouncey into the fold last season helped tremendously, but the unit as a whole still has work to do.

Protecting Ben Roethlisberger, along with opening holes for Rashard Mendenhall, is as important as anything for the Steelers to be successful.

The Steelers' offensive efficiency will ride on the big backs of the men up front in 2011.

Troy Polamalu's Health

Troy Polamalu is the life-blood of the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense. He is also prone to injuries.

Polamalu has had lingering injuries over the last four seasons, and the Steelers need that to change in 2011.

The Steelers' defense is at their best when Polamalu and his hair are flying around the field and making plays. He is one of the most complete defensive players in the entire league, and the Steelers sorely miss his playmaking ability when he is sidelined.

Polamalu's playing style along with his smaller stature lend themselves to injuries. That will need to change in 2011, or the Steelers may need to find a way to address his strong safety position for the future.

Maintain Unity in the Locker Room

James Harrison has made waves in the media yet again with this article in Men's Journal.

In the article, Harrison blasts not only NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, but also teammates Ben Roethlisberger and Rashard Mendenhall.

Whether you think the football world is overreacting to these comments or not, that does not mean the Steelers' locker room will not be affected.

The Steelers will need to be focused all season. They do not need any distractions if they wish to make it back to the Super Bowl again this season. Harrison's comments, despite being taken out of context to an extent, could provide an unnecessary distraction.

Focus on the Ground Game

The Pittsburgh Steelers' faithful have Rashard Mendenhall's Super Bowl fumble lodged in their brains.

However, that should not cloud the fact that Mendenhall has emerged as one of the most dangerous running backs in the league.

He has the ability to break tackles in order to reach the secondary, and also has the speed to outrun those secondary players.

Mendenhall may have issues holding onto the ball sometimes, but that does not take away from his raw talent on the football field.

In the rounds leading up to the Super Bowl, Mendenhall seemed to take his running game to a new level.

The Steelers need to lean on him in 2011.

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Complete coverage of 2011 Hall of Fame Enshrinement - WNDU-TV

No one knows for sure when the College Football Hall of Fame will leave South Bend, but for now it's still going strong.

The 2011 Enshrinement Festival concluded Saturday night with 20 all-time greats joining the ranks of the best to ever play college football.

With Super Bowl winning coach Jon Gruden serving as the host and emcee along with Charles Davis and NewsCenter 16's Jeff Jeffers, the event wrapped up with the Dinner and Show at the Century Center.

The busy Saturday started with the Grand Parade and continued on the gridiron with the Pep Rally where all the enshrinees received their Hall of Fame Blazers for the first time.

No one had a bigger ovation on Saturday at the pep rally than 1991 Heisman winner Desmond Howard. With the maize and blue flooding the scene, Howard's eyes were fixed on his twin sons--as he saw them cheering on dad.

"Maybe not now but years from now, our kids will definitely appreciate this," said the former Michigan standout wide receiver. "It's nice to have them here and be a part of it."

Howard's famously showed off the Heisman pose after a touchdown against Ohio State in 1991. When asked for a repeat performance on Saturday by Davis and Gruden in front of the big crowd, Howard politely refused.

"That was done at a special time and a special place," Howard explained. "We'll leave that for where it happened and where it was."

That did not stop his sons from flashing the Heisman.

"Of all my trophies at home that's their favorite," Howard said with a big smile and laugh. "They like to imitate that trophy. You ask them, 'What's your favorite statue.' They'll do that pose."

Charles Haley was all about the poses throughout the day. And he knows all about trophies and rings as the only five-time Super Bowl winner. He was proud to represent James Madison, which he called a powerhouse that he felt could beat the likes of Michigan and Notre Dame.

Former Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez also had a large following. Before he coached the Badgers, Alvarez served as an assistant coach under Lou Holtz at Notre Dame.

Alvarez joined us live on NewsCenter 16 at 6. You can watch his interview in the video above.

Former Purdue quarterback Mark Herrmann was also one among the headliners. Hermann is an all Indiana guy as he played at Carmel High School, Purdue and then the Colts in the NFL.

"Being able to play in front of the home fans, it's been a great opportunity for me," said Hermann. "To see them out here today supporting me and congratulating me, it's been very well worth it."

Gruden, a South Bend Clay product and now ESPN broadcaster, was pumped up to be the host. The man, who at 38 was then the youngest coach to win a Super Bowl, had plenty of reasons. He was back in town for the first time in a long time and his college coach---Mike Kelly was among the enshrinees.

Gruden and Kelly shared some great moments throughout the day. Gruden also joined us live on NewsCenter 16 at 6. You can watch his interview at the link above as well.

Complete listing of HOF enshrinees:

• Players
  
• Dennis Byrd (deceased) – North Carolina State, Defensive Tackle (1965-67)
• 
  
• Ronnie Caveness – Arkansas, Linebacker (1962-64)
• 
  
• Ray Childress – Texas A&M, Defensive Lineman (1981-84)
• 
  
• Dexter Coakley – Appalachian State University, Linebacker (1993-96)
• 
  
• Randy Cross – UCLA, Offensive Guard (1973-75)
• 
  
• Sam Cunningham – Southern California, Running Back (1970-72)
• 
  
• Michael Favor – North Dakota State University, Center (1985-88)
• 
  
• Charles Haley – James Madison University, Defensive End (1982-85)
• 
  
• Mark Herrmann – Purdue, Quarterback (1977-80)
• 
  
• Clarkston Hines – Duke, Wide Receiver (1986-89)
• 
  
• Desmond Howard – Michigan, Wide Receiver (1989-91)
• 
  
• Mickey Kobrosky (deceased) – Trinity College (Conn.), Back (1933-36)
• 
  
• Chet Moeller – Navy, Defensive Back (1973-75)
• 
  
• Jerry Stovall – LSU, Halfback (1960-62)
• 
  
• Pat Tillman (deceased) – Arizona State, Linebacker (1994-97)
• 
  
• Alfred Williams – Colorado, Linebacker (1987-90)

• Coaches
  
• Barry Alvarez – Wisconsin (1990-2005), 118-73-4 (.615)
• 
  
• Mike Kelly - University of Dayton, Head Coach, 246-54-1
• 
  
• Bill Manlove - Widener University (Pa.), Delaware Valley College (Pa.), La Salle University, Head Coach, 212-110-1
• 
  
• Gene stallings – Texas A&M (1965-71), Alabama (1990-96), 89-70-1 (.559)

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