Around the NFC North: Bears and Lions Edition

by Brandon on Oct 7, 2010 12:00 PM CDT in Green Bay Packers News

The Minnesota Vikings are focused on the trade for WR Randy Moss, and whether "we're already talking about a mutiny" in their locker room, but life goes on for the rest of the NFC North.

The Lions continue to churn their roster, claiming former Packer OL Jamon Meredith off waivers from Buffalo. The Packers 5th round pick in 2009 showed some promise last season, with the Packers and with the Bills, but according to Greg Bedard he's been awful in 2010. He's the 3rd former Packer they've added this season. They traded for DT Corey Williams from the Browns, and most recently claimed LB Spencer Havner after the final preseason cuts.

Bears QB Jay Cutler has returned to practice, just days after getting knocked out of the Giants game with a concussion. But he still hasn't been cleared to return by an independent doctor. And advanced statistical analysis has confirmed what was obvious to the untrained eye: their loss last Sunday was an epic fail.

They've also finally shown the door to DE Mark Anderson, who was a revelation in 2006 when he came out of nowhere to record 12 sacks, and has failed to live up to that promise ever since. The Bears certainly gave him plenty of chances. To replace Anderson, they've brought former Saints DE Charles Grant back to the NFL, after it was decided he wasn't good enough for the UFL. Oh, and Grant last made news when he got involved in the same StarCaps issue that's been hanging over the Williams Wall for the past couple years. And he was charged with involuntary manslaughter in 2008. How is it that Jerry Angelo is still a GM in the NFL?

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How has Cutler been practicing if he hasn't been cleared by an independent neurologist?

The NFL’s concussion policy reads

Once he is removed for the duration of a practice or game, the player should not be considered for return-to-football activities until he is fully asymptomatic, both at rest and after exertion, has a normal neurological examination, normal neuropsychological testing, and has been cleared to return by both his team physician(s) and the independent neurological consultant.

If all this is true, the Bears better be in deep trouble with the commissioner.

Towlieppan: "You wanna throw high?"

by GoGregGo on Oct 7, 2010 12:04 PM CDT reply actions

Full practice?

It could be that he was AT practice, and did some walk-thru stuff, or even donned the red vest and threw some passes with the defense under strict instructions not to even look at him. QB would seem to be the one position (maybe PK. P) where you could practice in complete safety. Certainly less effective than a “real” full-contact practice, but since QBs are coddled anyway, it’s probably not a huge difference.

by LA Cheese on Oct 7, 2010 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions

"football activities"

is, I guess, the key phrase here. A QB at practice could be at lower risk than a QB in his living room, tripping over kids’ toys.

by LA Cheese on Oct 7, 2010 12:33 PM CDT up reply actions

So according to this

Link

The concussion policy is really more like a guideline for medical staff according to an NFL spokesman. That is absolute crap. You can’t say that you’re concerned about players’ safety and especially concussions and then have the only league-wide language about handling concussion be a “guideline” with very little real accountability.

NFL, step your game up because this IMO is making a mockery of the serious issue of players receiving and recovering from concussions.

Towlieppan: "You wanna throw high?"

by GoGregGo on Oct 7, 2010 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Depends

If he doesn’t really have a concussion, then he should be fine to do football activities! LOL

by Strohman on Oct 7, 2010 5:54 PM CDT up reply actions

Pretty sure he had a concussion...

by Bush League All Star on Oct 7, 2010 9:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Peter King

would make more sense if he got sacked nine times in a half and took a concussion IMO…

I'm just glad Scott Tolzien didn't go all Drew Tate on Nick Toon and whack him upside the head...
WHAT DO YOU MEAN I WAS BANNED FROM STAMPEDE BLUE? - Clay Matthews III
No longer using Yahoo! Sports for anything besides stat checking since 9/29/2010...

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Oct 7, 2010 10:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Collins starting

Cutler ruled out..

Sometimes nothin is a real cool hand.

by White92 on Oct 7, 2010 1:12 PM CDT reply actions

The AP guy is an idiot!

I just read the game capsule for the Pack Skin’s game. Did you know that we’re 2-2? Would someone tell me who this phantom team we’re supposed to have lost to? Detroit coming close and Philly as well were still wins! If anybody knows this pinhead. Write or call him and tell him that Our Green Bay Packers are 3-1 thank you very much!

by biggun33 on Oct 7, 2010 2:16 PM CDT reply actions

Let's talk... FOOTBALL!

PACKERS @ Redskins

by Darrell L on Oct 7, 2010 8:08 PM CDT reply actions

Concerning Charles Grant...

And he was charged with involuntary manslaughter in 2008.

If you read the link about that, he got stabbed in the neck in the fracas. It’s not like HE was the one doing the shooting; his “friend” was, though.

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Oct 7, 2010 8:29 PM CDT reply actions

So John Kuhn is starting for my fantasy team this week

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by blackoutsox on Oct 7, 2010 11:39 PM CDT reply actions

I've got Randy Moss and and been offered Greg Jennings in a trade . . .

My heart says yes but my brain (and pocketbook) says no. Any thoughts?

Oh yeah, you’re starting John Kuhn? Does your league give extra points for playing out of position?

by I voted for Kodos on Oct 7, 2010 11:59 PM CDT up reply actions

I’d wait on it for sure. I think either Moss will end up having a huge season or just a mediocre one (for his standards).

by packallday555 on Oct 8, 2010 10:11 AM CDT up reply actions

Moss just went up in value

I have him in one of my leagues and I’m starting him this wk! Revis or not… And I think he’s going to do really well… Which is unfortunate for the Packers. And I hate having him on my fantasy team, but got him in the late 2nd so it was a no-brainer.

by Strohman on Oct 8, 2010 11:29 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm starting Kuhn too.

It’s a good bet the coaches liked what they saw when they started to create some consistency in the running effort.

I still think the running will be split between he and Jackson right down the middle, but the type of running plays they have Kuhn in bodes well for people starting him.

So uh… what is Havner doing for the Lions? Is he still playing multiple spots or did they stick him specificly to LB?

"Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser." - Vince Lombardi

by AdamA on Oct 8, 2010 11:30 AM CDT up reply actions