One of the players who helped silence a super Sunday
Posted by Jeff Joniak in Jeff Joniak on Thursday, December 3, 2009 | no responses
One of the players who helped silence a super Sunday in Miami in 2006, is now helping the Bears.
Veteran weakside linebacker Cato June comes off the street to sign with the team. With 73 career starts with the Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Bucs, he is very familiar with the Bears defensive scheme. He is insurance.
Jamar Williams assumes the starting job if Lance Briggs is sidelined. He is suffering from a mild left knee sprain and is questionable for Sunday’s game against the 1-10 St. Louis Rams.
June left the Bucs in free agency in the off-season signing with the Houston Texans. In August, he fractured his right forearm in practice and was placed on injured reserve. Later, he was waived after an injury settlement.
In 2006, June led the Colts with 142 tackles, and seven in the Super Bowl XLI win over the Bears. He also has 12 career interceptions.
Briggs has been the lone star on the Bears defense, with 108 tackles, 2 sacks and an interception. He appears headed to his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl.
To make room on the roster, the Bears finally placed starting linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa(knee) on injured reserve. He suffered the injury October 18. Brian Urlacher’s season ended in the first half of the first game with a dislocated right wrist.
The Bears also filled out the practice squad, by adding rookie un-drafted free agent Kevin Malast from Rutgers.
CUTLER ON URLACHER
No damage done according to Jay Cutler.
His relationship with Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher is again being scrutinized. Urlacher gave an interview to YahooSports over the weekend and questioned the thinking behind transitioning from a run oriented team to a pass oriented team.
“He didn’t have to apologize to me,” said Cutler. “It’s frustrating for everyone in that locker room. I know where he’s coming from…you can’t take anything personal.”
In that article, Urlacher bemoaned the apparent shift from a running team to a passing offense. Cutler said Urlacher made a good point.
“We’ve struggled running the ball,” Cutler said. “Brian’s right. You don’t have to run the ball every play, but when you run the ball you have to be effective.”
The Bears are the lowest ranked running team in terms of yards in the NFL on the fewest number of carries.
Cutler knows offenses can not survive exclusively throwing the ball.
“You have to be able to keep teams honest. You have to be able to run the ball.”
Cutler also said that Chris Williams “has to be the guy” at left tackle Sunday against the Rams. Orlando Pace could miss the game. Lovie Smith would only say that “if” and “when” Williams moves to left tackle, he believes he will transition well to the position he played exclusively in college.
Cutler also tackled a variety of topics Wednesday.
v He said it is 100% fair to put the blame on him for the 4-and-7 record. “I’m not doing very well.”
v When asked what is the ideal offense for him to play in he said, “whatever one that wins’.
v He is not into moral victories at this point.
WEDNESDAY PRACTICE UPDATE: Rams Week
v LB Lance Briggs(sprained left knee/hip pointer), DE Alex Brown(leg contusion), Charles Tillman(concussion), Orlando Pace(groin), Desmond Clark(neck)-limtied. Tommie Harris(knee)-limited.
v Rams QB Marc Bulger(knee) is out. C Jason Brown(knee), RB Steven Jackson(back), FB Mike Karney(neck), and T Jason Smith(concussion) did not practice. LB James Laurinatis(shoulder) and G Richie Incognito(foot) were limited.
Leave a Reply
