Thursday, Nov. 25, 2010
1:34 PM
By John Mullin
CSNChicago.com
Bears practice ended Thursday with a group celebratory roar as Lovie Smith sent his players to their home Thanksgiving training tables rather than Halas Hall fare.
We have so much to be thankful for, Smith said. Our football team, it seemed like this day, you dont have to give anyone a pep talk. Everybody is excited, cant wait to get the practice in and then get home and eat a little bit and enjoy some time with family.
And if Smith knew which of his charges was the teams No. 1 trencherman or gourmand, he was about to give the player up. As far as which Bear was likely the biggest eater:
You look at the size, and thatll give you a start, Smith said. I would say one of our offensive linemen, without singling out one.
Dirty guy I?
NFL
Philadelphia guard Todd Herremans was assessed a 5,000 fine for a chop block against New York Giants defensive tackle Chris Canty. Herremans admitted that he was unaware that Canty was engaged with Eagles center Mike McGlynn but Canty was not mollified.
Canty told Herremans after the game, Theres no place for that, no excuse for what you did, according to the Newark Star-Ledger. Herremans maintained on CSNPhilly.com that deep down he knows himself not to be a dirty player.
Dirty guy II?
With Mother Nature hosing down Soldier Field a bit on Wednesday and Thursday, the state of the turf will be closely watched. The temperature at game time is expected to be in the mid-40s, not the sub-zero wind chill that helped take the heart out of Michael Vick in the Bears 16-3 pasting administered in 2005. No more rain is forecast before Sunday.
Regardless, Philadelphia coach Andy Reid is more than familiar with directing offenses in Chicago. Reid was an assistant with the Green Bay Packers during the 1990s when Brett Favre and the Packers were dominating the Bears, often in Soldier Field. His Philadelphia teams are 5-0 in Soldier Field, plus once in Champaign during the Bears transplant season, so inclement doesnt necessarily favor the Bears.
I dont know if this is a good thing or a bad thing but I feel like Ive played there a million times, not only with the Eagles, but with Green Bay, Reid said. The turf is a little soft but what you lose in footing, when you land its a good cushion, so youve got to look at the positive and the negative of it and make sure you keep your shoulders over your toes at all positions and make sure youve got a good base.
Sackable? Oh yes.
At last, an indisputable bit of evidence that the whole football world may be concerned about Michael Vick, but there also is something, or someone, that Vick is truly concerned about.
The New York Giants didnt beat Vick and the Eagles but New York defensive end Justin Tuck did sack Vick three times in last Sundays game. And Julius Peppers was named NFC defensive player of the week after his three sacks of Miami quarterback Tyler Thigpen so.
I know what Julius can do, Vick said. I played against him about six years straight in Atlanta, always had competitive games and hes always a guy Ive tried to stay away from. So it doesnt surprise me that hes turning his game around right now. We knew it was just a matter of time.
Sick bay
The Bears continue to hold a health advantage with an unusual full-participation by all players at practice Thursday. The Eagles are still practicing without cornerback Asante Samuel (knee) and defensive end Juqua Parker (hip), and they had an added concern with run-stopping defensive tackle Antonio Dixon (abdomen) and starting right guard Nick Cole (knee) limited in practice.
John "Moon" Mullin is CSNChicago.com's Bears Insider, and appears regularly on Bears Postgame Live and Chicago Tribune Live. Follow Moon on Twitter for up-to-the-minute Bears information.