Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011
Posted: 10:38 p.m.
By John Mullin
CSNChicago.com Bears InsiderFollow @CSNMoonMullin
Not quite Ditka-Ryan II
This wont quite be Mike Ditka vs. Buddy Ryan but Lovie Smith vs. Ron Rivera does have some flavor beyond the normal coaching matchup. Ryan left by choice (he was never tired of reminding Ditka that hed been hired by George Halas, not Ditka), where Rivera simply was dis-invited to remain as Bears defensive coordinator after an assortment of differences with Smith.
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But dont look for acrimony. The game obviously is of epic significance to Rivera, who was drafted by the Bears in 1984, played for them until the arrival of Dave Wannstedt, worked as an unpaid quality control assistant just to stay around the organization and get some experience with coaching and came back as defensive coordinator under Smith. You never completely forget who gave you a major career break, which Smith did.
Rivera expressly said that this was not a normal game for him, which is understandable both from the standpoint of his Bears connections and also because he is exactly three games into his first job as head coach.
Smith has been at this a while and its been five years since he and Rivera split up. So Smith isnt looking at this as Lovie vs. Chico.
I dont think Ron is going to be out there but his football team is doing a heck of a job, Smith said. They lost a couple of tough games before this one Sunday. They found a way to win. Their record is the same as ours right now. Its a football game we both need to win.
News
Crammin Cam
Cam Newton has spent time privately talking with Tom Brady about the craft of quarterback. He enlisted Warren Moon as an advisor even before the draft. For all of his athleticism, he has quietly studied the game and the people who play it right. The results, for a rookie quarterback, have been jaw-dropping.
The one who is perhaps least surprised is Newton. He was listening and it shows.
I admire the guys like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, who is a professional at what they do, Newton said. No offense to those guys, but they might not run the fastest 40, they may not jump the highestthey might not jump the farthest in the broad jump, but I guarantee you from what I've heard from their teams, you're not going to outwork them.
They're in the film study or they're watching film before the offensive coordinator is watching film. So I respect somebody that treats their job they way they go about handling it each and every day."
Remember him?
If Matt Forte is wondering whether his offense went off and left him (right when he was hoping for a contract extension), how must DeAngelo Williams feel? Prior to the season the Carolina tailback signed a five-year, 43 million extension with 21 million guaranteed. Now Williams has all of 61 rushing yards on 27 carries and hes third on the Panthers in rushing behind Newton and Jonathan Stewart.
The Panther have been led in rushing by each one for a game, none for much. Williams led in the week-one-loss to Arizona with 30 yards. Newton ran a team-high 53 yards in the loss to Green Bay. Stewarts 59 led in the win over Jacksonville.
John "Moon" Mullin is CSNChicago.com's Bears Insider and appears regularly on Bears Postgame Live and Chicago Tribune Live. Follow Moon on Twitter for up-to-the-minute Bears information.