By Dan Pompei
Somebody asked me the other day who the Bears' most valuable player is this season. Tough question, because no player has been valuable enough to make a difference in this 5-9 team.
But after thinking about it for a while, here are my top five candidates:
1. Lance Briggs. He has been one of the few consistent players on the team. Briggs makes plays every week. He almost always causes opposing offenses problems. He plays fast and hits hard.
2. Brad Maynard. He has escaped attention this season, but the punter has done an outstanding job. And this team has needed every yard Maynard has given them. Of course, it's an indictment on the whole team when the punter is one of your most valuable players. But that's the way it is.
Somebody asked me the other day who the Bears' most valuable player is this season. Tough question, because no player has been valuable enough to make a difference in this 5-9 team.
But after thinking about it for a while, here are my top five candidates:
1. Lance Briggs. He has been one of the few consistent players on the team. Briggs makes plays every week. He almost always causes opposing offenses problems. He plays fast and hits hard.
2. Brad Maynard. He has escaped attention this season, but the punter has done an outstanding job. And this team has needed every yard Maynard has given them. Of course, it's an indictment on the whole team when the punter is one of your most valuable players. But that's the way it is.
3. Alex Brown. He doesn't have flashy numbers, but Brown is
the most consistent pass rusher on a team that is dependent on getting
pressure on the quarterback. He plays with fire every week, and almost
always makes a play or two that cause a big ripple in the game.
4. Charles Tillman. The cornerback has had some ups and downs, but he is the Bears' most consistent takeaway producer. He has been given some tough assignments and handled a good portion of them well. Having Tillman cover the other team's best receiver has allowed Zack Bowman to come along slowly.
5. Johnny Knox. Between his big plays on offense and his big plays on special teams, Knox has been an impact player. He doesn't have enough touches to be the team's most valuable player, but he unquestionably has been one of the most dynamic players on the team.
4. Charles Tillman. The cornerback has had some ups and downs, but he is the Bears' most consistent takeaway producer. He has been given some tough assignments and handled a good portion of them well. Having Tillman cover the other team's best receiver has allowed Zack Bowman to come along slowly.
5. Johnny Knox. Between his big plays on offense and his big plays on special teams, Knox has been an impact player. He doesn't have enough touches to be the team's most valuable player, but he unquestionably has been one of the most dynamic players on the team.
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We stink so bad there is No top five, certainly not with Brown or Maynard on it, cmon now.
Ill go Briggs no doubt, Tillman, then Gould. Watching other teams try field goals is the only time I feel good about the Bears. After those three...Nothing!
Misterchris, Seedy- good ones.
The Mascot has clearly has out-performed everyone else on the team. He brings grit and dedication to his game, week in and week out. Keeps his mouth shut and does what he is told. As valuable a player as any mentioned above - my pick hands down!
Maynard's punting average ranks 29th in the league! His net is 22nd. Why is he getting so much love again?
Special teams MVP Tim Shaw. See ya Rashied Davis.
You mean Rod Marinelli, the best free agent signing of the off-season, isn't the MVP? How could that be? How could that be?
How do you know Briggs refused to move to MLB? Do you have proof of this? Bears fans get dumber by the day.
How can you vote for a guy who didn't even try to move to MLB to better the team. Briggs is good, but so is Jamar Williams, yet we have to play Hunter because Briggs can't lead the defense. Nice defense last week, way to lead them Briggs!
OK, I know it's kind of joke to list the punter as a team MVP, but Brad Maynard is not the 2nd most valuable player.
Maynard is top ten in terms of punts inside the 20 yard line, but he is in the bottom 1/3rd of the NFL in pretty much every other NFL metric, including NET yards.
Let's cut the hyperbole here.