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Sean Jensen
Sean Jensen is the Bears/NFL beat writer for the Sun-Times. He previously covered the Vikings and the Packers. Jensen is a graduate of Northwestern. …Read More
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Bears coach Marc Trestman has Matt Forte on speed dial
NEW ORLEANS — Bears running back Matt Forte, one of former coach Lovie Smith’s staunchest supporters, is excited about what he’s learned so far about his new coach. On Thursday, Forte was in New Orleans — about 40 minutes southwest of his hometown of Slidell …Read More
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Ex-Bear Ayanbadejo won’t back down from controversial stances
Ayanbadejo’s career path has been unusual, as has his emergence as one of the few outspoken heterosexual advocates for legalizing same-sex marriage in the NFL. Ayanbadejo has approached the issue with the same ferocity he does opponents on the field.
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Bears must join tight end trend
NEW ORLEANS — When he took over as coach of the University of San Diego, former Bears quarterback Jim Harbaugh called one of his mentors to share in the good news. But Bo Schembechler didn’t immediately offer any congratulations. “He said, ‘Tell me you’re going …Read More
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Thorough Emery gets his Trestman
He hasn’t been on the job a year, but Bears general manager Phil Emery diligently navigated the franchise-defining process of hiring a coach and selected longtime NFL assistant and CFL championship coach Marc Trestman early Wednesday morning. Emery’s search was distinctive, according to league sources, …
JENSEN: In coaching search, Bears GM Phil Emery has money, power
Any perception that Phil Emery is a puppet general manager should’ve been eradicated Monday morning. Emery decided to fire coach Lovie Smith after the Bears fell short of the playoffs, and his bold move was presumably rubber-stamped by chairman George McCaskey and president Ted Phillips, …
JENSEN: You can only control so much — just ask Bears’ Mike Tice
In more than 30 years as an NFL player and coach, Mike Tice has experienced all the highs and lows and everything in between. That includes a must-win game with playoff implications — the scenario the Bears face this Sunday when they meet the Detroit …
JENSEN: Bears use familiar recipe to cook up win over woeful Cards
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Lovie Smith didn’t froth at the mouth, didn’t unleash a string of profanities. But the Bears coach delivered a clear point in a five-minute message to his team Saturday night. “Coach made it clear that our playmakers — not just our veterans …
JENSEN: Cardinals rookie WR Michael Floyd benefits from positive stinking
With two games left, Arizona Cardinals receiver Michael Floyd is 75th in the NFL with 31 catches for 349 yards and just one touchdown. Not the rookie season the former Notre Dame star aimed for. ‘‘I always felt I was the best player, and I …
JENSEN: Cutler, Lovie just can’t keep up with Packers in NFC North
Earlier this month on his weekly radio show, quarterback Jay Cutler joked that he wasn’t going to try to “break the bank” during contract negotiations with the Bears. Wrapping up his fourth season with the team, Cutler remains a lightning rod, drawing comparisons to Brett …
Bears reversing momentum is hard, not hopeless: Troy Aikman
Since 1990, 37 NFL teams have started 7-1. Five were Super Bowl champions, seven were Super Bowl runners-up and 11 reached the conference championship game, according to STATS. Only one — the 1996 Washington Redskins (9-7) — missed the playoffs. Like this season’s Bears, those …
JENSEN: Lovie Smith says Bears’ concussion policy isn’t automatic week off
In the last four games, four Bears players have suffered concussions. All four missed the next game. On Thursday, Bears coach Lovie Smith ruled out receiver Earl Bennett — who didn’t play in the second half of last Sunday’s 23-17 overtime loss to the Seattle …
Jovan Belcher tragedy illustrates need to recognize distress signals
“How are you?” It’s a customary part of conversations. But former Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn compelled me to rethink how honestly I answer that question and how sincerely I ask it. The day after teammate Jovan Belcher murdered his live-in girlfriend, then killed himself, …
Ex-Viking Napoleon Harris’ politics are in the people
In 2006, when he started for the Minnesota Vikings, Napoleon Harris read Politics for Dummies on road trips. James Jones, who worked the political scene in Chicago, appreciated that the Northwestern star and NFL starter returned to Dixmoor for parades and parties. ‘‘When they get …
JENSEN: Cutler reinforces the point of just how important he is to Bears
Six days after watching a rout from his couch, quarterback Jay Cutler looked and sounded like a new — if not, at least, a renewed — man Sunday at Soldier Field. Cutler played “fiery,” receiver Brandon Marshall noted, appearing more animated than usual, even drawing …
Bears must address issues with offensive line during offseason
The Bears are guaranteed only six more games this season, their hope of a long playoff run called into question by a recurring issue. Pass protection. The Bears were counting on the continued development of left tackle J’Marcus Webb, the rehabilitation of right tackle Gabe …
Raiders castoffs Michael Bush, Jason Campbell have been recast with Bears
After they joined the Bears, running back Michael Bush and quarterback Jason Campbell talked about Oakland. Primarily, how they weren’t there anymore. ‘‘We both sat down and talked about, ‘We didn’t see it coming,’ ” Campbell said earlier this season. ‘‘How things played out.’’ The Raiders …
Texans defensive end J.J. Watt shining brightly
The accolades, records and expectations don’t faze Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt. A native of Pewaukee, Wis., Watt started his college career at Central Michigan, dropped out and delivered pizzas before realizing playing football wasn’t so bad after all. He enrolled at Wisconsin, redshirted, …
Bears enjoying the Tim Jennings the Colts wished they’d had
Tony Dungy isn’t the least bit surprised by the breakout season of Bears veteran cornerback Tim Jennings. Dungy just expected this years ago, when he was still the coach of the Indianapolis Colts. ‘‘He is what we thought we were going to get,’’ Dungy said. …
Former Bears tight end Greg Olsen happy with Panthers
Greg and Kara Olsen didn’t want to leave Chicago. ‘‘When we got traded,’’ Olsen said, ‘‘we thought the world was coming to an end.’’ A first-round draft pick in 2007, Olsen established himself as a more-than-capable pass-catching tight end for the Bears. His best season …
Vikings rookie Harrison Smith proving to be a quick study
During some down time last week, Harrison Smith had a panicky moment. ‘‘All of a sudden, I was like, ‘I’ve got to do my homework,’ ” the Minnesota Vikings rookie safety recalled. ‘‘Then, five seconds later, I was like, ‘I don’t have to do that anymore.’ …
