Team Identity in the NFL

In sports, and particularly in American football, a team cannot change its essence, abandon the distinctive that fans choose colors for and follow to the death, regardless of the results themselves. The identity of the different NFL clubs is easy to identify. Since the time of Tom Landry, the Dallas Cowboys have been known for their offensive play, which is why their starting quarterback, whether it be Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, or Tony Romo, is always among the top ten most popular athletes in the United States. The Pittsburgh Steelers made history as the Steel Curtain, and even today, above "Big Ben's" arm, their defense's aggressiveness stands out. The Oakland Raiders, although in decline, became famous, since the times of John Madden and the recently deceased Ken Stabler, for always fighting on the edge of what is allowed. The San Francisco 49ers will be remembered more for their West Coast Offense, which Joe Montana and Steve Young masterfully executed, than for the gritty defense that Jim Harbaugh assembled and led them to three consecutive conference finals...

In the Windy City, the Chicago Bears have always been a blend of running game and defense, a combination executed to perfection in the 1985 season, when Mike Ditka coached the team that came closest to equaling the undefeated campaign of the 1972 Miami Dolphins. Yes, closer than the 2007 New England Patriots, led by Tom Brady and Randy Moss, because they lost the Super Bowl, and Walter Peyton and the 46 defense Bears dominated in the grand final and only fell on a regular season Monday to a pass from Dan Marino, used even in the song text "Are you ready for some football?" from the presentation of Monday Night when it was still offered by ABC.

However, with the controversial signing of Jay Cutler, the Bears changed their essence and have paid a high price for it. And it's not that Cutler is not good for American football, I consider him one of the best, but you can't go against the current. In fact, in the first season of the quarterback in Chicago, he hardly had anyone to throw the ball to. His starting wide receivers on the first day were Earl Bennett and Johnny Know... The issue was resolved and receivers of the caliber of Brandon Marshall came, but at the cost of letting the defense gradually crack, until it was completely broken after Brian Urlacher's retirement. The Bears' gamble went so far as to bring in a offensive guru like Mark Trestman from Montreal as the head coach, who as offensive coordinator was responsible for the 49ers' offense in 1995 and 1996. However, you can't go against the current... Trestman won thirteen games in two seasons with Chicago, being fired last winter. Now he goes back to his roots, as offensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens.

Finally, the Bears have reconsidered and decided to hire a defense specialist coach, with a spectacular track record, like John Fox. Chicago took advantage of John Elway and company's obsession with getting rid of the veteran coach in Denver to get one of the most solid coaches in the entire NFL. Don't expect Marshall's departure to be covered, it's not necessary. The Bears will once again bet on defensive play, controlling the ball, and bringing out the best in a runner like Matt Forte. If Cutler gets into the rhythm, he can stay longer in Chicago, but playing with a different style. The path back to success will probably be long and winding for this historic club, but it is undoubtedly the right one.

Five things I think:

1. I think things will soon start to get very ugly in Dallas and Denver if the Broncos and Cowboys do not reach an agreement with two wide receivers who are undoubtedly among the top five in the NFL: Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas.

2. I think now that the NFL has reduced Greg Hardy's suspension from ten games to four, we can conclude that the Cowboys, at least in the sports aspect, made the right choice when signing the sensational defensive end.

3. I think the Broncos' failure in the 2014 draft was just the beginning of a negative spiral that a year and a half later will be constantly present in Denver.

4. I think the end of Donovan McNabb's career has been very sad. After not keeping his starting position in Philadelphia and his brief stint in Minnesota, he has not been able to establish himself as a television commentator. After being arrested for the second time for driving with blood alcohol levels above the legal limit, FOX has indefinitely suspended the former quarterback.

5. I think it was a real pleasure to watch Ken Stabler play, who died last week at the age of 69 from colon cancer. Stabler shone with the Raiders in the late seventies. I will never forget my first season with the Barcelona Dragons, when we played at Legion Field, Alabama, and in the press room there were photos of the three best quarterbacks that this university had produced, winners of four of the first nine Super Bowls: Bart Starr (Packers), Joe Namath (Jets), and Stabler himself.