Dan McNeil

I'm relieved the Bears have concluded the junior varsity portion of their schedule and finally have a worthy opponent Sunday night at Soldier Field. The comedy of errors in Nashville was entertaining, but it's time for a 15-round bout between two...

Though nobody requested one, coach Lovie Smith said he wasn't about to offer an apology after his Bears rallied to stave off the Panthers for their fifth straight victory. I'm wondering if the coach is listening to his team's critics more than he ever...

Beginning today, I'm resolving to give Northwestern football what those responsible for it say they desire — reviews that are honest and, if necessary, unmerciful. When NU recently announced it has conceptualized a $220 million plan for new...

I don't blame any Cubs fan for being as disappointed in Bob Brenly's departure as in the 101-loss season the team just suffered. The latter was expected. We have a much more intimate relationship with those behind the microphones for our baseball teams...

Of course Phil Emery and Lovie Smith denied they have been knocking knees over a fresh contract for the coach. There's no upside for either of them if they indicate otherwise. If they're being truthful and Emery does wait until after the season for...

It doesn't look like a fair fight. The Bears, fresh off an explosive blowout victory over the Cowboys on the national stage, against the Jaguars, who've been outscored 54-17 at EverBank Field and are 1-3. I'm going to spare the "any given Sunday" caution...

It would be snobbish — not to mention cowardly — if I suggested we all park our opinions of the Bears and the NFL until there's more evidence to evaluate in a few weeks. But pessimism over the 1-1 Bears is not a rush to judgment, a knee-...

We have nine days to debate if the Bears offense can be as bad as Thursday night's debacle in Green Bay would lead one to believe. I'm going with yes, it can. For the record, I've not been pushing Lake Forest propaganda. Of the nine-man Tribune football...

Pardon me if I'm a smidge disjointed with this one. I have had no experience writing about a Bears offense with players at the skilled positions who are capable of taking a team to a Super Bowl. And I have no memory of a Bears defense that appears to...

Allen Pinkett didn't get into any trouble when he was wearing that fabled gold helmet in South Bend, Ind., in the mid-1980s. He waited until he was 48 to take a seat in the Dean of Discipline's office. The Notre Dame radio analyst had his headset taken...

If you're passing on Friday night's Bears-Giants game, I don't blame you. Summer is evaporating and it makes sense to enjoy these final weekends before the leaves change colors. For the Bears, however, this glorified scrimmage is the biggest day since...

If Addison Reed now appears on your list of White Sox concerns as the division leaders brace themselves for the dog days of August, I understand why. It's not time to hit the panic button on Reed yet, but after two rocky saves in Minnesota this week, it'...