The Offseason to End All Offseasons

After the season ended I started doing unit by unit reviews of the Bears and, knowing my proclivity toward inactivity during the offseason, figured I'd just do one every week or every other week and thus not overwork myself. I failed to manage even that. Frankly, there's something that felt absolutely pointless about writing about Kellen Davis' performance this year when there's a damn solid chance that there will be no NFL in 2011. Given the disgust I already felt over the treatment of Jay Cutler and a loss to Green Bay in the NFC title game, the enthusiasm quickly dipped well below zero. So I just gave up.

I realize this is the first time I've addressed the possibility of a lockout on here. Well, that's because I was scared shitless of the prospect. I think it's pretty obvious around here just how much time I waste on the NFL each year and I'm sure as hell not looking forward to it. It was best just to ignore the possibility as long as it could be ignored. Unfortunately, that doesn't appear to be an option anymore.

So where do we go from here? I'm really disheartened by the entire situation. There's a million meatball phrases out there that I've heard angry fans lobbying, from the whole "split da damn difference!" to "dose guyz 'r millionaires playin a KIDS GAME!" to "I don't care about millionaires vs. billionaires." Well, I suppose I'm in the last game. Both sides have valid points. Both sides have very stupid points. Fuck them.

The draft is coming up soon. Normally it would be a happy beacon of light for me in a dark offseason as it marks the halfway point to training camp. Now it just seems like a farce. I'm assuming the Bears will go for some combination of offensive and defensive linemen at the top. They need someone on the inside to compliment Peppers and they need anything that can keep Jay Cutler upright. We all know that.

I don't really have much to offer after that. I haven't been following the combines or workouts like I normally do, and even with as much college football as I watch I don't pay nearly enough attention to tell you who the best linemen are after the few big names at the top who aren't at all likely to be there at 29. My guess is Angelo will do what he did in 05 and trade down to pick up some more 2nd and 3rd round picks if at all possible. Quantity is definitely a necessity for an aging team.

That's about it for now. When the draft does come I'll be back with a full recap and everything I've managed to glean about the Bears' picks. Until then, go watch the Blackhawks. Or the Bulls. Hell, even the Cubs. Just go watch somebody who's actually playing.