Chicitysports – Chicago Sports News Site
  • BEARS
    • Chicago Bears News
    • Chicago Bears Rumors
    • Caleb Williams news
  • BULLS
    • Michael Jordan News
    • Chicago Bulls News
    • Chicago Bulls Rumors
  • BLACKHAWKS
    • Connor Bedard News
    • Chicago Blackhawks News
    • Chicago Blackhawks Rumors
  • CUBS
    • Chicago Cubs Prospects
    • Chicago Cubs News
    • Chicago Cubs Rumors
  • WHITE SOX
    • Chicago White Sox Prospects
    • Chicago White Sox News
    • Chicago White Sox Rumors
  • SKY
  • MESSAGE BOARD
Navigation
  • About Us
  • About Us
  • Author Page Template
  • Chicago Sports News
  • Chicago Sports Podcasts
  • ChiCity+
  • Editorial policy
  • Editorial team
  • email test
  • Get In Touch
  • homepage
  • homepage
  • Join Our Group
  • Meet the team
  • Newsletter
  • Our Writers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Push notifications
  • Social Media
  • test
  • Test page
  • Testing
  • Want to Write for ChiCitySports?
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • Chicago Bears see new veteran pass rushing target suddenly emerge
  • Chicago Sky: Caitlin Clark’s agent subtlety slights Angel Reese
  • Chicago Blackhawks coaching icon set to return to the NHL after 3 seasons away from the bench
  • ‘Alarm’: Chicago Cubs have a ‘situation’ with pitcher after 9-run inning, demotion predicted
  • Chicago Bears’ Jaylon Johnson gives honest Dennis Allen review
  • Chicago Cubs set to make ‘toughest’ decision of season before Mets’ series
  • Chicago Bears have another underrated problem brewing on defense
  • Chicago Bears’ Jaylon Johnson reveals eye-opening 2025 expectations
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Want to Write for ChiCitySports?
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Chicitysports – Chicago Sports News SiteChicitysports – Chicago Sports News Site
WANT FREE UPDATES?
  • BEARS
    • Chicago Bears News
    • Chicago Bears Rumors
    • Caleb Williams news
  • BULLS
    • Michael Jordan News
    • Chicago Bulls News
    • Chicago Bulls Rumors
  • BLACKHAWKS
    • Connor Bedard News
    • Chicago Blackhawks News
    • Chicago Blackhawks Rumors
  • CUBS
    • Chicago Cubs Prospects
    • Chicago Cubs News
    • Chicago Cubs Rumors
  • WHITE SOX
    • Chicago White Sox Prospects
    • Chicago White Sox News
    • Chicago White Sox Rumors
  • SKY
  • MESSAGE BOARD
Chicitysports – Chicago Sports News Site
Home»Bears»Time for the Bears of Yesteryear to Give Way to the Bears of Tomorrow
Bears

Time for the Bears of Yesteryear to Give Way to the Bears of Tomorrow

Zack PearsonBy Zack PearsonAugust 1, 20113 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Reddit Tumblr Email
banner
banner
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

Really, when we look back, it began with more of a whimper than a bang.  Brad Maynard, who had been with the team and been the glue that solidified what had been a below average punting game since 2001, was passed over in favor of a new punter.  Not too many people pay much attention to a punter unless he screws up, but perhaps we all should have.

Brad Maynard was merely the first domino to fall in what is starting to become apparent as a changing of the guard for the Bears, the next being Olin Kreutz.  Olin has been a Chicago Bear since 1998, and has been an absolute anchor to a line that has seen many a bad quarterback.  In fact, in the absense of a real leader at QB, Olin took on that job and became the defacto leader of the offense and the lockerroom, made necessary by the Bears’ ineptness at putting together a real NFL caliber offense.  Ever since, Olin has been a fixture, a mainstay in the lockerroom.

However, every career has an end, and Olin just hasn’t performed as well the last few years, lockerroom antics aside.  Ultimately, it was his lockerroom manipulation and status that ended him, as he used coaches and teammates to politic for him to come back, when he could have just taken the $4m offered by the Bears and made one last run at it.

No, this isn’t just a one-shot either.  We often think of our favorite players who stand the test of time as ageless immortals, who will be there forever, holding up the pillars of the team and our fanhood.  But the reality is the NFL is a harsh, cut-throat business where winning matters more than loyalty, and production is the currency of choice for Superbowl-contending teams, something Olin just couldn’t afford.

And looking down the line, he isn’t going to be the last fan fav to run out of that currency in the near future.  Fans need to be prepared for guys like Lance Briggs, Peanut Tillman, Patrick Mannelly, and the mighty Brian Urlacher to be the next on the way out.  One could even argue that Brian was heading that direction when an unfortunate arm break actually extended his career by forcing him to take a year off to get healthy.

Now I am not saying these guys will be actively replaced, but they are the longest tenured Bears whose best years are behind them.   And the Bears front office realizes this and have begun the process of bringing in depth that will also allow the Bears to transition into the new core that will lead the team into the next decade.  As guys like Lach and Briggs fall, guys like Jay Cutler will be expected to step up.

It’s an odd, confusing, agonizing, and frustrating time to be a Bears fan, but its one we must all weather in the coming years, as the old guard falls to the wayside, and the Bears of Tomorrow take their place, until 10-15 years later, when we must all go through the process all over again…

Pictures and Commentary from Bears Training Camp in Bourbonnais

Pictures and Commentary from Bears Training Camp in Bourbonnais

Read More

For More Great Chicago Sports Content

Get the latest Chicago sports news, analysis, and breaking stories on the Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, Cubs, White Sox, Sky, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News, so you never miss a story on your favorite Chicago teams.

Follow us on Twitter at @chicitysports23 for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Chicago sports news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Tumblr Email
Author Image
BY Zack Pearson

Journalist

Related Posts

Bears May 8, 2025

Chicago Bears see new veteran pass rushing target suddenly emerge

Bears May 8, 2025

Chicago Bears’ Jaylon Johnson gives honest Dennis Allen review

Bears May 8, 2025

Chicago Bears have another underrated problem brewing on defense

Bears May 8, 2025

Chicago Bears’ Jaylon Johnson reveals eye-opening 2025 expectations

Bears May 8, 2025

Chicago Bears’ newest defensive draft pick gets firm position message

Bears May 7, 2025

How Ben Johnson can end Chicago Bears ‘days in the dumps’

Leave A Reply

Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube
  • Home
  • Message Board
  • About Us
  • Editorial policy
  • Contact Us
  • Our Writers
  • Want to Write for ChiCitySports?
  • Privacy Policy
© 2025 ChiCitySports. Designed by Dope Guys Who Run ChiCitySports

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.