[CBFF] Weren't We Supposed To Hear About Manning This Week?

[Steve Behrens]

I thought a decision was supposed to come down from the NFL front office
this week?  Is no news good news?  In any case, the following article
speculates on the possibility of Manning being suspended:

   Suspension could decimate Bears' secondary
By *Paul Eide* on October 25, 2006 01:50 AM
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The NFL's version of Goliath suddenly doesn't look so big. The Bears'
defense, already reeling from the loss of safety Mike
Brown<http://realfootball365.stats.com/fb/playerstats.asp?id=5068&team=3>for
the rest of the year, will be even further depleted if it loses the
services of nickel back Ricky Manning
Jr.<http://realfootball365.stats.com/fb/playerstats.asp?id=6418&team=3>Manning
is facing punishment from the league office for being charged with
felony assault after a highly publicized run-in near the UCLA campus in
April.

Manning went to New York City last week to meet with new NFL commissioner
Roger Goodell to discuss a possible fine, suspension or both, a punishment
that will be levied some time this week.

Under the guidelines of the NFL's "Personal Conduct Policy," any player
charged with criminal activity must "undergo immediate, mandatory clinical
evaluation," and is subject to a fine or suspension determined by the
commissioner. If a player is convicted of criminal activity he "will be
subject to discipline as determined by the Commissioner. Such discipline may
include a fine, suspension without pay and/or banishment from the League."

The punishment for being charged with a crime and convicted of a crime is
almost identical and boils down to semantics and prior history. Manning has
complied with all of the guidelines outlined by the league but his prior
history is a concern. Before the incident in March, Manning was already on
probation for a previous assault conviction and may have been looking at
serious jail time had he plead guilty.

Since Manning copped a plea bargain to avoid going before a jury, his
chances of being suspended are lessened considerably, especially when you
consider the punishment handed out to NFL peer Chris
Henry<http://realfootball365.stats.com/fb/playerstats.asp?id=7259&team=4>.
Henry has been arrested four times since last December, but was only
suspended for a total of two weeks, a good sign that Manning won't receive
anymore than a slap on the wrist. But, if Commissioner Goodell decides to
make an example of Manning, it puts the Bears' secondary in a precarious
position.

If Manning is suspended for any time, the Bears would rely on Dante
Wesley<http://realfootball365.stats.com/fb/playerstats.asp?id=5986&team=3>or
rookie Devin
Hester <http://realfootball365.stats.com/fb/playerstats.asp?id=7806&team=3>to
fill the vacant nickel back position. Wesley is entering his fifth
year
and has plenty of experience playing nickel back thanks to time he shared
with Manning playing for the Carolina
Panthers<http://panthers.realfootball365.com/>. Wesley's experience in
the playoffs and Super Bowl means he is no stranger
to pressure and is capable of providing veteran leadership the Bears are
suddenly lacking.

Hester may be raw, but his physical tools make him a perfect fit for the
nickel. He recorded a team-leading four interceptions during his sophomore
season at the University of Miami and has the Bears thinking he could be as
successful on the defensive side of the ball as he has been in the return
game.

The Bears' safety position has compounded the concern enshrouding the
secondary. Third-year safety Todd
Johnson<http://realfootball365.stats.com/fb/playerstats.asp?id=6436&team=3>will
get the start in place of the injured Brown in Week 8 and is suddenly
viewed as the Bears' "veteran" at the safety position. Johnson started 10
games at the strong safety position in 2004 after Mike
Brown<http://realfootball365.stats.com/fb/playerstats.asp?id=5068&team=3>tore
his Achilles' tendon and was lost for the season. Behind him is
untested third-stringer Cameron
Worrell<http://realfootball365.stats.com/fb/playerstats.asp?id=6615&team=3>.
Primarily a special-teamer, the Bears really don't know what to expect from
Worrell and hope they don't have to find out.

Starting across from Johnson is rookie free safety Danieal
Manning<http://realfootball365.stats.com/fb/playerstats.asp?id=7791&team=3>,
who is backed up by second-year man Chris
Harris<http://realfootball365.stats.com/fb/playerstats.asp?id=7357&team=3>.
Manning and Harris have both played admirably but the loss of Brown forces
production to come from elsewhere.

The NFL's most dominating defense is literally one injury away from starting
two rookies in the secondary, with the loss of personnel putting more
pressure on Lovie Smith to devise game plans that will protect a perceived
Achilles' heel. No matter what scheme Smith comes up with, someone will have
to step up and seize the opportunity, or the memory of a 6-0 start to the
2006 season could just as easily become a romanticized footnote of what
might have been.

*Chicago Bears <http://bears.realfootball365.com/> commentary, courtesy of
RealFootball365.com*