Barber's blunders highlights Bears small window for error

Marion Barber rushed for over 100 yards for the first time since 2009 Sunday, but it is safe to say, no one has been thinking about that in the last 24 hours. While no one player is solely responsible for the loss this week, one does seem to stand out as more tied to the outcome than any other on the Bears after a 13-10 overtime loss to the Denver Tebows (Broncos).

After running out of bounds on a six-yard run on second and 10 in the final two minutes set the stage for Tebow to lead a last-minute drive, leading to a game-tying 59-yard field goal, Barber was on the hook for allowing the game to go to overtime, although the Bears defense going into a super soft Cover 2 didn't exactly help wiggle Barber off said hook.

The Bears ended up winning the overtime coin toss and were in the process of getting into field goal range for Robbie Gould when Barber took a handoff and was set to at least reach the Broncos 35-yard line when on third and 10 from the Denver 38 he was stripped of the ball by Wesley Woodward. When Elvis Dumervil recovered the fumble the camera quickly went to Barber on the sideline, who was getting consultation from quarterback Caleb Hanie.

Things are pretty rough for Barber right now if you consider his not lining up on the line of scrimmage in the Chiefs game cost the Bears a touchdown which would have changed the whole complexion of the game. And should have ended in a win against Tyler Palko and company.

Again the defense allowed the Broncos to pick their way down the field and set up a 51-yard field goal. As the Bears fell for the third straight time, it became clear to my while everyone piled on Barber for his clear mistakes, this team specifically on offense, does not have a margin for error at all.

That point was clear thoughout this game. Despite the offense not doing much of anything in the first half, they did not have the big turnover that put the defense in a bad spot. That's about as perfect as Caleb Hanie has played. Well, throwing for less than 100 yards shows how little Mike Martz and the coaching staff trusted him to throw the football.

Then when the field position was in their favor Barber broke a nice run and scored a touchdown and Gould hit a Bears record 59-yard FG. Even when the defense handed the offense solid field position with a Peanut Tillman interception and a Chris Conte forced fumble of Tebow, the offense had little luck getting anything going. Add in big blunders like a run out of bounds at the end of the game which gives an offense 35 more seconds and a fumble near the 40 yard-line in overtime and most teams will find a way to make you pay.

If anything has been shown these past two weeks was how valuable Jay Cutler has been to this offense. He made the offensive line look better and the receivers the same with what his presence. This team, especially on offense and even moreso without Matt Forte, is just lacking playmakers. Credit has to go to the coaches for putting the team in a position to win this game with what they have, but it falls on the players to execute when it matters and they did not.

Chris Berman: Another thing wrong with ESPN

Yesterday I wrote of sports doofuses and today, well, I speak of another guy that doesn't have to do any of the items on that list, but still is one of the biggest sports doofuses (probably the nicest of names people call him), Chris Berman. Yeah, you can add it ot the list of things I don't like about the network.

The guy is a rambling loser. He was the reason I was OK missing Prince winning the Home Run Derby this year. He's also the reason I can't wait to move so I can get DirecTV and fire up the NFL Network for my pregame and postgame football coverage. He is just awful with those lame ass nicknames and banter.

Now why am I bringing this up now? Well, he's finally been taken off the Pro Football Hall of Fame's induction ceremony as master of ceremonies in favor of Rich Eisen of the NFL Network. I must say good choice. Rich is witty and actually relevant. Good riddance!

OK, the guy has been around for awhile and was probably the first guy to start having his own "thing" he did when he was at the desk for ESPN, but really, the needs to effing go. Trey Wingo kills it on NFL Live during the week and Stuart Scott does a damn good job at the sight of the Monday Night Football games, why not just let the man and his huge gut and combover just go the hell away already?

Oh, the biggest point of them all, he's a jerk. If he was a nice guy, I'd have some compassion for him. Here's some proof he's a first-class asshole. Enough said.



Now to a little tribute of sorts to take you into the weekend. With news John Hughes passed this week, everyone seems to be discussing what his best movie was. I loved a lot of his movies, but the one that I go to seems to be Ferris Bueller's Day Off. It has its spot among the best in all of pop culture history and I'm a huge fan of the Ferrari, the trip to Wrigley Field, the parade and Mia Sara. I even think she's tied with Elisabeth Shue as "it" girls of the 80s. Got a couple vids that show some of my fave parts.





Let me know what your favorite part of Bueller is in the comments. I'd love to hear them.

Now to some other funny bits of the day. Saw this on my boy Jimmy Traina's Twitter yesterday. He runs SI.com's Hot Clicks. If you were paying attention during the SEC football media days, Tim Tebow admitted he was a virgin. Here's a link if a missed it. Well, the folks at Yahoo! Sports made a wild headline the other day. To the regular person, probably nothing big, but to those of us who write headlines on an everyday basis, it's a big deal. You tell me what you think.



OK, the Nussie Hunter had been hiding this next pic from me for the last couple weeks. He finally let me have it today. If you've seen this month's Maxim, you've seen the Joanna Krupa pictoral. I must say she's amazing. If you've seen her Playboy spread, you know what I'm talking about. Here ya go boys. Enjoy your weekend.