Chicago Herald-American

As if the Bears need any more attention on their demise since reaching the Super Bowl in 2006, the Colts and Saints are playing in Super Bowl XLIV today in Miami. Just three short seasons ago, the Bears beat the Saints 39-14 at Soldier Field in the NFC Championship Game and gave the Colts a pretty good game without two key defensive players (Tommie Harris, Mike Brown) before losing 29-17 in the Super Bowl. 

While the Saints and Colts are back in Super Bowl contention, the Bears have gone backwards since playing in the Big Game. They've gone 7-9, 9-7 and 7-9, becoming only the fourth team in the Super Bowl era to fail to make the playoffs in three consecutive seasons since playing in the Super Bowl.

What happened? I tried to explain in in this feature in the Sunday Sun-Times, but I'll try to boil it down a little more concisely here: 

1. The Quarterback

Rex Grossman, an MVP candidate in 2006 after five games, already was a liability by the time the Bears played in the Super Bowl, with as many alarmingly bad performances as good ones in the last three months of the season. The Bears just can't seem to get the most important position on the field right. Kyle Orton was OK but not a game-changer. Even bringing in a Pro Bowl quarterback in Jay Cutler didn't help their fortunes at quarterback. 

Obviously Peyton Manning makes a huge difference for the Colts. Manning's performance against the Jets in the AFC Championship was crystal-clear proof that while the Colts are a fine all-around team, they would be a minor factor in the playoffs without Manning. 

But give the Colts credit for drafting Manning in the first place. When he came out of Tennessee in 1998, Manning and Washington State's Ryan Leaf were seen as equal prospects. Leaf, of course, went No. 2 to San Diego and was a major bust. But as Colts general manager Bill Polian told me in 2000, he didn't just flip a coin. 

"When you sorted through all the important data, not the hype, it was relatively clear-cut," Polian said. "[Manning] was better prepared to come in and play. He had the extra year in college. He was more mature. He was a dedicated student of the game." 

 2. Injuries. 

The Bears seem to have the worst luck with injuries. Not only do key players get injured, but they never are the same when they return. Harris, the key to their defensive line, suffered a ruptured left hamstring in 2006 and then developed knee problems in 2007 and 2008 that required surgery. He hasn't been the same player since. 

Brian Urlacher was fourth in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2006, but also has suffered from injuries since the Super Bowl -- an arthritic back in 2008 and a dislocated wrist in 2009. He also has not been the same player he was since the Super Bowl season. 

Mike Brown suffered a Lisfranc injury in Week 6 of the 2006 season -- the same game in which he ignited the big comeback victory over the Cardinals with a fumble return for a touchdown. He also suffered a knee injury in 2007 and missed most of the season. After a mediocre season in 2008, which ended with yet another injury, the Bears did not resign him. 

That's arguably the Bears' three most important defenders, all in the prime of their career, all of whom were injured and never the same. It makes you wonder whether it's just a tough break, so maybe something wrong with the way the Bears train and condition their players. 

The Colts, on the other hand, have also had some key injuries, but have done a better job of 1) replacing their injured players; and 2) having their injured players return to peak form. Safety Bob Sanders missed most of the 2006 season with a knee injury and the Colts had the worst rushing defense in the league without him. He returned for the playoffs and was outstanding as the Colts' rush defense improved dramatically en route to the Super Bowl.  Sanders was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year the next season. 

And another key player, defensive end Dwight Freeney, suffered a Lisfranc injury in 2007 that was feared to be career-threatening. Freeney not only returned, but was as good as new. He had 10 1/2 sacks in 2008 and 13 1/2 sacks this season, making the Pro Bowl each time. For some reason, Mike Brown was an average player after his Lisfranc surgery, but Freeney returned in peak form. Just coincidence?

3. The draft/free agency

The Bears haven't done a very good job of replacing their established players when they start to lose their edge. They pieced together a decent offensive line with veterans John Tait, Fred Miller and Ruben Brown in 2006, but when those three fell off, the Bears have yet to replace them: Terrence Metcalfe, John St. Clair, Frank Omiyale, Chris Williams, Orlando Pace all have been unable to maintain even the modest level of play the Bears were getting on the offensive line. 

The Colts actually have improved with the changes they've made. When Sanders was hurt again this year, Melvin Bullitt, an undrafted free agent in 2007, stepped in and has played well. When Tarik Glenn, a Pro Bowl offensive tackle, retired after the 2006 season, rookie Tony Ugoh replaced him without a problem. When Ugoh faltered, Charlie Johnson, a sixth-round draft pick in 2006, replaced him and the Colts still have one of the best offensive lines in football. 

4. Aging poorly

For some reason, most Bears players don't age well. Not only that, but they seem to age prematurely. Center Olin Kreutz was the best center in football in 2005-06. In fact, when the Bears played the Colts in the Super Bowl, Kreutz was the AP's first-team all-NFL center and the Colts' Jeff Saturday -- an undrafted free agent the same year Kreutz was a third-round pick in 1998 -- was the second-team all-NFL center. In 2009, Kreutz was clearly past his prime, a good center but not nothing special. Saturday made teh Pro Bowl and again was second-team All-Pro. For some reason, Kreutz has shown his age in recent years while Saturday seems to get better. Just a coincidence?

He's not the only one. Cornerback Nathan Vasher, a Pro Bowler at 23 in 2005, suffered a groin injury after signing a big contract and hasn't been the same player. Cornerback Charles Tillman was playing near a Pro Bowl level in 2006. He had a decent season in 2009, with a career-high six forced fumbles, but is not the player he was in 2006. 

The biggest problem is that the Bears don't seem  to even recognize these failings, let alone be inclined to do something about them. They keep thinking they're a step away from returning to prominence, when they might be getting another step further away.