Forte Oz. to Freedom

The puzzle is finally complete. Sure, the picture on the cover (before the season starts) always alludes to the process of assembling an infinite amount of cardboard pieces in order being a splendid time; a picturesque landscape, a Frank Lloyd Wright mansion, or one of those transcendent, 3-D embodiments of American monuments that were far beyond my intelligence level.

Still, Forte has been signed and optimisim and excitement for the upcoming Chicago Bears season is at an all-time high. In the offseason, they have acquired arguably one of the most promising young wideouts in the game, Alshon Jeffery, while dually signing a proven veteran with a unique rapport with our signalcaller, Brandon Marshall. Whether these two miscreants can keep themselves on Sportscenter's top 10 rather than America's Most Wanted remains to be seen, but hey, who doesn't deserve a second chance (or in Marshall's case, an 8th chance)? What makes me weary, though, is Brandon Marshall being diagnosed with a BPD (borderline personality disorder) last year. I'm not entirely sure what a "borderline disorder" entails; should I consider myself a "borderline internet journalist"?; is Ja Rule a borderline actor?; are the Bears borderline contenders for the NFC North crown in 2012?

Last year, the Bears were one thumb away from a playoff birth, and when Jay Cutler severred that god-forsaken tendon in his thumb, the Bears season went up in smoke quicker than Andre Rison's mansion set aflame by Left Eye (R.I.P., No Scrubs). Dissimilarly, the Bears have mortgaged their home and bought the insurance this year as they have added competent backups at the two most influential offensive positions (QB: Jason Campbell, RB: Michael Bush).

That said, there is no way they can compete in the NFC North with Campbell and Bush leading the Monsters of the Midway. The Bears needed to pony-up and sign their tireless, multi-talented, workhorse halfback, and to their credit, they did. Forte just wanted a check with a couple extra commas after finishing in the top-10 in yards from scrimmage in 2011 (10th in total, 2nd in YFS per game). The Bears tried to scare him by signing Bush, and Forte flinched as much as Teddy KGB at the head table in Rounders>. As the pressure increased and crunch time neared, the Bears signed #22 to a 4 year, 32-million dollar deal.

After reading Bears beat reporter, Brad Biggs', contract breakdown, which I must admit was very hard for me to comprehend, it seems that both sides gave a little, took a little, and left the table with a deal that rendered both parties satisfied.

As much as drafting Jeffery and the signings of Marshall and Forte mean for GSH's tribe, the Bears will need offensive tackle Gabe Carimi to have a healthy season on the right side for the Bears' offensive attack to be as efficacious as us fans would hope. Carimi, the former Wisconsin Badgers All-American is an athletic, nimbly-footed tackle who will without a doubt be a useful constituent in Forte getting out in the flat and doing what he does best. If you get hurt in your rookie year and return to prowess, it is amazing how people forget about your former ailment (see: Blake Griffin); but, if your injuries linger into your sophomore campaign, you'll be labeled as "susceptible to injury" faster than you can schedule a PT session at the Bears' residence in Lake Forest (see: Greg Oden).

As for Pick of the Day, the Pulse Man is enduring some setbacks in his return as the Pirates and Rockies only combined for 9 runs last night in the Mile High City. Tonight, he looks for the Twins to take care of the Orioles tonight at (-108).

Pick of the Day: Orioles @ Twins- TWINS (-108)

Record:(64-55-0)

Now I'm done. Rack me.

Frost