by Dan Jiggetts and Mike North, The Chicago Sun-Times , Chicago Sun Times

BY MIKE NORTH

Dan, when you and I talk Bears , we have fun because it's the team we're most passionate about. We never hold back, and I believe we've had balance.

Some people might think I've been hard on the Bears , but my respect for the logo and the team will never go away.

We can look at draft picks and say everybody makes mistakes and also give credit for the good picks. The thing is, Jerry Angelo wants to win every year but doesn't know how to go about it.

Former TV sports anchor Howard Sudberry asked me the other day what the Bears' record would be if Kyle Orton were quarterback. I said 3-3. He winced. I winced when he winced, but the other way. What would Jay Cutler's record be with Denver? I know it wouldn't be 6-0.

Also, Cedric Benson always will hang with Angelo. Thomas Jones was the man, but Angelo gave $17 million to a petulant child. Angelo made a decision that Cutler was the missing piece. Well, quarterback wasn't a problem last year and isn't one this year. He misdiagnosed. Now Jerry's kids must avoid missing the playoffs for a third straight year.

Angelo had some good years, with two playoff appearances. He was general manager in 2001, but that team was set by the late Mark Hatley by the time Angelo took over.

I want the Bears to win every game. But you get rid of Orton, Jones, Mike Brown and others, and it's tough. If that isn't bad enough, he gives extensions to broken-down players -- Tommie Harris and Urlacher -- and, after five games, to Cutler. Man, can't you wait at least till the halfway mark of the season?

By the way, Brown is playing and starting for the Chiefs. When the Bears win, Angelo should get a ton of credit. But when they lose, it seems like it's Lovie Smith's fault. It stops at the general manager. Say a prayer, Bears fans, and I'm right.

ON THE WHOLE, GM HAS DONE A DECENT JOB

BY DAN JIGGETTS

Mike, I think in these difficult times for the Bears , coming off a brutal beating at the hands of Cedric Benson and Tank Johnson, it's easy to question the current situation. Yes, Jerry Angelo has been the front- office force of the franchise since 2001, and, yes, like any general manager in the NFL, he has had his share of hits and misses, but overall I think there have been more positives than negatives.

I think critics focus on the first two rounds of the draft when they want to take shots at his record on draft day, some of it justified.

He started with the Bears after former GM Mark Hatley took David Terrell with the top pick in 2001, so his record begins in 2002 with offensive tackle Marc Colombo, who starts for the Cowboys after injuries ended his time with the Bears . The '03 draft brought Michael Haynes and Rex Grossman in the first round and Charles Tillman in the second. In '04, Tommie Harris was the first pick and Johnson the second, and in '05, it was Benson and Mark Bradley, who's with the Chiefs. Greg Olsen and Chris Williams came in the '07 and '08 seasons along with Matt Forte in the second round of the '08 draft. I'll grant you this: Dan Bazuin in the second round of the '07 draft was a miss.

Much of it has been money well-spent. Benson, Colombo and Johnson aren't here, but there are reasons why.

You have to assess Angelo's work as a whole. He has done a good job picking up free agents and has drafted well in Rounds 3 through 7. If you want to criticize the extensions for Harris and Brian Urlacher, go ahead. At the time, there were good reasons for those deals.

Since Angelo came aboard, the Bears under Lovie Smith have won three division titles and went to the Super Bowl. That's more than most GMs can say.

Let's give Angelo and Smith some time to get the Bears back on top. I know I'm right.

WHO'S RIGHT? Jiggetts or North? Who's right on this issue? What do you think? Vote and comment at www.suntimes.com/sports.

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