Dan Pompei

Team missing Payton Dan Pompei Chicago Tribune No team is done for the season after two games, but the Saints are moving in that direction. The good news is there are 14 remaining games to make them forget about Games 1 and 2. The better news is the...

The temptation is to define the man, or at least his body of work, by 140 character messages. Yes, the Colts' owner is an active and wildly popular tweeter with more than 180,000 followers. But the owner of the Colts is Jim Irsay, not @JimIrsay. That...

Mike Tice probably is more popular than any offensive coordinator in Bears history. Of course that could change Sunday on the Bears' first possession against the Colts, which also will be Tice's first chance in the job. Though the Bears don't have a...

Healthy Chiefs dangerous Dan Pompei Chicago Tribune The playoff field in the AFC is going to include a lot of familiar teams from last year — with one notable exception. The Chiefs could go from worst to first in the AFC West. They were a team...

Packers vs. Ravens Dan Pompei Chicago Tribune In the NFL, the team with the best quarterback usually has the best chance of going all the way. So that's why the Packers have to be the favorite in the NFC. Aaron Rodgers is on top of his game and...

We should not get too excited or upset about anything we see on a football field before the start of the regular season, with the possible exception of the Democratic National Convention at the Panthers' stadium. But it is a tad concerning that the...

INDIANAPOLIS — Chuck Pagano coached Tom Zbikowski for four years in Baltimore, so when he had a chance to run his own team in Indianapolis, one of his first moves was to bring Zbikowski with him. "He is invaluable because he played in the scheme,"...

ALBANY, N.Y. — When the Giants look in the mirror, what do they see? Is it the team that was 7-7 late last season, fighting for postseason survival as its coach was in danger of being fired? Or is it the team that finished with a flourish,...

Rookies make mistakes Dan Pompei Chicago Tribune There is no question officiating has been a little off this preseason. How couldn't it be? The NFL has replaced the men who were the absolute best in the world at what they do with officials who have...

BOURBONNAIS — If resiliency is a critical trait in a cornerback, Tim Jennings has an edge that distinguishes him. The player who was benched late last season and given the cold shoulder in free agency now enters Bears training camp as the most...

BOURBONNAIS — When Matt Forte signed his new contract shortly before the Bears reported to camp, the role of Michael Bush became more defined. He likely will be a change-of-pace back, a player who spells Forte and a short-yardage runner. "Give him...

There is little doubt that, on paper, the Bears have a highly talented team. But how does their talent stack up against their competition? With that in mind, the Tribune asked five personnel evaluators from different teams who have studied the NFC North...