The reasoning behind this, according to the Bears, is there is nothing left to say?
What does this say about the mentality of the Chicago Bears?
What does that say about the ego of the Chicago Bears?
What message does this sell to the fans of the Chicago Bears?
Two words...Season Over.
The Bears obviously do not want to talk about the struggles of this season anymore than they have to. Although I am sure a "grilling" by Bob Costas of all people will not make any headlines in town, it's apparent to me that this team has already quit on the year. For all the BS that has been spilled over this past week and a half still talking about taking it one game at a time and a 9-7 team made it to the postseason last year. Obviously they are lying about the remaining seven games of this 2009 campaign to the people who have been by their side the most, the fans.
I understand that an organization wants to keep their players and coaches focused on the objective at hand, but right now is not the time to be hush on the issues of your football team. Bears fans are a special breed of fan who demand accountability and want answers. There are too many people in this town that spends their hard earned money on the Bears product for the team to just shut up and play ball.
I've never been a fan of players talking anyway because they all still say the same thing. Same cliches about the same problems and every week it's all about keep fighting, get better and watch the tape. Beside Ozzie Guillen, there is no one in this town that tells you the truth without being told to filter their answers for the betterment of the organization.
This decision however shows Bears fans that in their tenth game of the year, this is the white flag. They might as well use a "Do Not Disturb" sign as the Bears logo on your television Sunday night (in HD) to show that the Bears do not want to be bothered with your questions.
In fact, let's take it one step further. How about only having shots of the Eagles' sideline as their laughing the evening away as DeSean Jackson lights up the Bears defense for another long touchdown catch. Now that is entertainment!
So instead, NBC decided to sit down with the people who cover the team on a daily basis to get their take on what has gone wrong. It's my hope that the interviews conducted with the beat writers of the Bears are truly compelling and do more damage on a national stage than any cliche-ridden sit down with Lovie Smith would. I hope the writers were up front and honest while throwing away the concept of "playing the line" with the organization in their sit downs with NBC. That would truly be more insightful than anything anyone with the Bears organization can offer you in an one on one interview.
The 2009 Chicago Bears season has been disappointing, painful, and extremely long. For the Bears to reject access to NBC Sports is nothing more than an ego-driven declaration that "We're the Chicago Bears, who the hell are you?"
What have you done as an organization to gain this right?
How does the NFL allow this to happen? The NFL wants to grant fans more access than ever to its players and teams, yet Commissioner Roger Goddell sits at the sideline and allows this.
If the Bears do not want to cater to NBC and speak about their issues to a national audience, then why should the local fan base give a damn about this season anymore?
So if Jay Cutler throws another large number interception game this coming Sunday night and Soldier Field is flooded with an outcry of boos from the fans the Bears should cater to the most...this officially has gotten ugly.
All my questions have officially been answered about this team, and they did not even have to say a word.
-RoCk
Rock Mamola is the Associate Producer of The Mully And Hanley Morning Show and co-host of The Joe O And Rock Show on WSCR 670AM The Score
You can follow the Joe O and Rock Show at Twitter.com/joeoandrockshow ]]>