With Peppers in Tow, Bears Must Be More Than Paper Champs

A buzz of energy and anticipation filled the Chicago Bears offices as all awaited word on the Julius Peppers free-agent harvest. And once the deal was accomplished, the Bears were again "offseason Super Bowl champions."

That title is reserved around the league for teams that make a spark, a splash in the offseason, ensuring they are the talk of the league. Last April, the Bears made news with their stunning trade for quarterback Jay Cutler. Then they finished 7-9.

Now, it is Peppers.

And another losing season will not do.

As one Bears coach said on Friday: "We've got to win some games around here or nobody will be keeping their jobs. You got Julius Peppers, you should win some more games.''

That is how huge an addition the Bears view Peppers, the former Carolina Panthers defensive end who was this year's free agency treasure.

"Julius has the athletic ability, the power, speed, hands, agility, he has it all,'' a Bears source said. "Any NFL offense that goes against him has to have a plan to account for him. And the overwhelming feeling here is now we have put our money where our mouth is. We preach defense. Now we have the kind of defensive hammer you have to have to be a good defense in this league.''

The Bears are counting on linebacker Brian Urlacher and nose tackle Tommie Harris to rebound firmly from injuries, but they are looking for Peppers to help push them to bigger places.

Coach Lovie Smith went 5-11 in his first Bears season in 2004. Then 11-5 with a playoff loss. Then 13-3 with a Super Bowl loss. Since, though, Smith has led three straight non-playoff seasons of 7-9, 9-7 and 7-9.

Before landing Peppers, Smith talked last week at the combine of what new offensive coordinator Mike Martz meant.

"I looked around at a few options for that job and it kept coming back to Mike,'' Smith said. "I have known him a long time. He will do what we need. I see him joining us having an effect much like what the New Orleans Saints did. They brought in a strong force on one side of the ball (defensive coordinator Gregg Williams) and it changed a lot for them. It got them over the top. I believe we have made the same kind of move in getting us over the top.''
As for his reportedly strained relationship with general manager Jerry Angelo, Smith said: "Jerry and I talk three or more times a day. We are both focused on the Chicago Bears becoming champions. I have his support and he has my trust.''

Thus, little wonder even Smith's coaching staff acknowledges that time is ticking for this entire Bears regime. But things look in place for the Bears to make a significant leap in 2010.

Also motivating Chicago's move for Peppers: The Bears feel NFC North pressure.

While the Bears have struggled for three straight seasons since their Super Bowl XLI appearance, the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers grabbed control of the division. Minnesota has won the division for two straight years and reached the 2010 NFC championship game. Green Bay reached the 2008 NFC championship game. And the Packers reached the playoffs last season, losing in that in that high-scoring overtime affair at Arizona.

"Those guys had been chasing us,'' a Bears coach told FanHouse. "Now they are out in front of us. We can't let them get too far out. You've got to take care of business in your division before you can look anywhere beyond it. That has been a well-discussed theme here. Julius Peppers is another answer to that.''

By also adding running back Chester Taylor from the Vikings and tight end Brandon Manumaleuna from the San Diego Chargers in the first day of free agency, the Bears have given Martz and Cutler more weapons. Taylor can contribute on any down in the run or pass game and Manumaluena is a stellar blocking tight end who can offer timely contributions as a receiver.

But in Peppers, the "Monsters of the Midway'' have added a legitimate monster.

The Bears insist their Cover-2 defense must be ignited by front-four pressure. They traded in-season last October for defensive end Gaines Adams to be a part of that mix, but he died from a heart attack two months ago. Peppers is more than hope for the Bears -- he is the new anchor.

He's the central figure in pushing the Bears from offseason champions to in-season relevance.