To Bears, media the bad guys, not miscreants
September 29, 2006
On the day it was revealed cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. had asked a man, "Are you a fa_ _ot?" before jabbing him in the head, do you know what the Bears were doing?
Publicly admonishing him for his insensitivity? Asking him why he was with a group of people who, according to a Los Angeles County probation report, called the man "gay," "geeky," "a [expletive] Jew" and a "fa_ _ot?" Voicing displeasure at having someone on their roster who apparently has trouble handling his anger?
No.
They were taking a few media members to task for their criticism of running back Cedric Benson. They were analyzing film of the Bears' on-field celebration after the Minnesota game to prove Benson had not been sulking, as several newspaper columns had implied. They were summoning at least one reporter to watch the Happy Cedric film to prove their point.
Oh, and they were wishing the NFL would hurry up already and dole out any punishment to Manning so they would know how to proceed with their roster decisions.
Talk about your twisted priorities.
This is an organization that, at least publicly, makes a big deal about signing players of high character. But Wednesday, coach Lovie Smith seemed more concerned that Benson, whose short career has been marked by a holdout and extended periods of self-centeredness, might be perceived as a serial pouter.
Then again, what do you expect? This is the guy whose angriest public moment as Bears coach came two years ago when the Sporting News, quoting unnamed scouts and TV analysts, called Brian Urlacher the most overrated player in the league.
When he signed Manning to a five-year, $21 million contract in April, general manager Jerry Angelo said he had done his due diligence. But according to the probation report, Manning's arrest record shows a "continuing propensity for violence." At the time of his arrest, he already was on probation for an assault charge. It was the Bears' "bad luck" to have signed Manning to an offer sheet just before he was charged in the incident at a Los Angeles-area Denny's.
The Carolina Panthers chose not to match the Bears' offer. Surprise, surprise.
As of Thursday afternoon, Smith said he did not know about the probation report or Manning's alleged slur.
"I haven't heard that," Smith said. "I'd be disappointed if that was the case, but I don't know that to be a fact. We have high-character guys, and Ricky is one."
If you're keeping score at home, Manning is the third Bear to get in trouble this year. Tight end John Gilmore was charged with trespassing, resisting arrest, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of less than 2.5 grams of marijuana after a July incident at a bar. Defensive tackle Tank Johnson was arrested in February, but charges of battery and resisting arrest were dropped when the police officer with whom he had tussled outside a bar decided against proceeding with the prosecution. At the time, Johnson was on probation for an unlawful gun possession charge.
So, yeah, they're all about character at Halas Hall.
Mostly they're worried about Benson, who they say is being portrayed unfairly in the media. He's a team guy, they say. Sure he is, and Urlacher and Mike Brown were big Benson fans when they put a licking on him in training camp.
By their relative silence on Manning, the Bears are offering up one big, public shrug. In the Denny's incident, Manning and a group of friends reportedly were making fun of Soroush Sabzi, who was working on his laptop at a nearby table. After poking the man, Manning claims he walked away before a fight broke out between his friends and Sabzi, who was left unconscious and suffered a knee injury.
Manning's sentence includes three years' probation, one year of anger-management counseling and 100 hours of community service.
But the real bad guy? That would be the media, for having the gall to question Benson's attitude. Not the cornerback with the Popeye arms. Not the guy who apparently makes Ozzie Guillen look like Miss Manners. Reporters are the Bears' biggest problem as they prepare for a big game against Seattle.
It doesn't have to be that way. If media members could learn to run and tackle, Smith surely would see them in a different light.
) wanted Mike Williams
), the YPC for the Bears is going to remain low. But if Rex puts up numbers like he has been for the past month AND the Bears continue to win, you will see defenses adjusting to stop the pass more and more. THAT is when I think you will see more of Ced.
