Cedric Benson

All the pieces are in place, Brian Urlacher is back practicing, and Indy comes to town to kick off the 2012 season. Everybody happy. Big-time receivers in the house, Matt Forte and Jay Cutler happy … new offensive coaches who aren't offensive, everybody happy. Great special teams as always, offensive line is OK, everybody happy. Except I'm not happy. You're telling me a GM comes in from out of nowhere and in a matter of months addresses every major need, almost overnight seems to modernize the franchise?

Two days before the Bears pooped themselves on national TV, a reporter at Halas Hall told Jay Cutler that if he targeted Brandon Marshall as many times per game as he did in Week 1, he would throw to Marshall 240 times. Could he do such a thing? Cutler wasn't sure. But he knew he completed nine of those passes, and that seemed feasible. "What's 9 times 16?" Cutler asked the media. Silence. And more silence. Not one person could answer the question. I myself multiplied 16 by 10 in my head and then subtracted 9, and then I decided that was inaccurate and I had done something wrong.

Two days before the Bears pooped themselves on national TV, a reporter at Halas Hall told Jay Cutler that if he targeted Brandon Marshall as many times per game as he did in Week 1, he would throw to Marshall 240 times. Could he do such a thing? Cutler wasn't sure. But he knew he completed nine of those passes, and that seemed feasible. "What's 9 times 16?" Cutler asked the media. Silence. And more silence. Not one person could answer the question. I myself multiplied 16 by 10 in my head and then subtracted 9, and then I decided that was inaccurate and I had done something wrong.

All the pieces are in place, Brian Urlacher is back practicing, and Indy comes to town to kick off the 2012 season. Everybody happy. Big-time receivers in the house, Matt Forte and Jay Cutler happy … new offensive coaches who aren't offensive, everybody happy. Great special teams as always, offensive line is OK, everybody happy. Except I'm not happy. You're telling me a GM comes in from out of nowhere and in a matter of months addresses every major need, almost overnight seems to modernize the franchise?

Last week, EA Sports got Bears fans in a tizzy by predicting the Bears would finish 12-4 in the regular season and earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC. RedEye then upped the ante by using "Madden NFL 13" to simulate the regular season and playoffs. If real life reflects video games, this season will play out like an eerie flashback to 2010 - complete with an agonizing NFC championship loss to the hated Packers. Here's the blow-by-blow:   Game 1: Bears 40, Indianapolis 38 The Colts and new franchise QB Andrew Luck almost has enough luck to spoil the Bears' home opener, but Jay...

There's an old saying that goes something like this: "You can't keep a good dog down. " Actually, that's a lie. But that's what it should be. Do not adjust your glasses or your monitor, folks, what you are seeing is indeed real. I'm back. After a couple of months shooting films in Hollywood, I have returned to Chicago and my RedEye roots. Actually, that's a lie too. The Hollywood part, not the RedEye part. And I'm back to doing what I do best. Predicting sporting events.

I'm trying hard to find a way to feel good about Sunday's Bears-Tebows game after the recent "football game loss" to Kansas City. I couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu, and I realized that we had indeed been here before in the Lovie Smith era. I'm not even sure The K.C. Masterpiece Game (note: nickname is ironic) ranks in the bottom five. Try to un-repress the memories of these stink bombs: The Holy Crap, I Just Watched Our Quarterback Die On TV Game 2010 at N.Y. Giants Remember this game?

Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers were top-five picks in almost every fantasy draft. If you took one of these three, you are automatically thinking championship. But after two weeks they've looked nothing like fantasy studs. Will this trio rebound, or did you draft fool's gold? Tom Brady The master of style has compiled 552 yards passing, three touchdowns and an interception, though the Patriots have other issues. They face tough defenses in the coming weeks (Baltimore, Buffalo, Denver and Seattle)

As Phil Emery prepares for his second Bears draft, he would be wise to study his predecessor Jerry Angelo. The Bears will pick in the first, second, fourth, fifth and sixth rounds of the 2013 draft. RedEye takes a look at Angelo's best and worst from those rounds. FIRST ROUND BEST - Tommie Harris, defensive tackle, 2004 WORST - Michael Haynes, defensive end, 2003 Angelo's poor track record in the first round is well-documented, and we could debate his best and worst picks till the cows come home.

Last week, EA Sports got Bears fans in a tizzy by predicting the Bears would finish 12-4 in the regular season and earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC. RedEye then upped the ante by using "Madden NFL 13" to simulate the regular season and playoffs. If real life reflects video games, this season will play out like an eerie flashback to 2010 - complete with an agonizing NFC championship loss to the hated Packers. Here's the blow-by-blow:   Game 1: Bears 40, Indianapolis 38 The Colts and new franchise QB Andrew Luck almost has enough luck to spoil the Bears' home opener, but Jay...

There's an old saying that goes something like this: "You can't keep a good dog down. " Actually, that's a lie. But that's what it should be. Do not adjust your glasses or your monitor, folks, what you are seeing is indeed real. I'm back. After a couple of months shooting films in Hollywood, I have returned to Chicago and my RedEye roots. Actually, that's a lie too. The Hollywood part, not the RedEye part. And I'm back to doing what I do best. Predicting sporting events.