Bears

Running back Garrett Wolfe is expected to miss the remainder of the season with a lacerated kidney.

Bears general manager Jerry Angelo, the man with the plan, feels your pain. He admires your fanaticism. He shares your obsession.

Veteran center Olin Kreutz returned to practice Thursday and participated fully after missing two days, making it likely he will run his streak of consecutive games started to 112 on Sunday night against the Philadelphia Eagles.

In a sign of how difficult things have become in the Bears' world, the beleaguered team stunned a network giant Wednesday by rejecting NBC's request for prime-time access to coach Lovie Smith, quarterback Jay Cutler and general manager Jerry Angelo.

Whether or not the Bears failed Rex Grossman or Rex Grossman failed the Bears, the point is still the same: the Bears haven't had a "franchise" quarterback since Sid Luckman. In fact, the Bears haven't even had an offense that ranks higher than 15th in the NFL in Jerry Angelo's nine seasons as general manager. They've been 26th or lower in seven of his first eight full seasons.

Bears offensive coordinator Ron Turner said he's not buying the concept of Jay Cutler as a Not Ready For Prime Time Player despite evidence to the contrary.

Two weeks ago, the Bears handed Devin Aromashodu a No.11 jersey in practice and asked him to be Larry Fitzgerald.

This is how it happens. You lose. You blow expectations, you get picked apart by fans and analysts.

Megan Pluister received an unexpected gift for her 23rd birthday -- the promise of Bears tickets.