In a typical year, May puts us smack dab in the middle of the NFL offseason. In that respect, 2011 is like any other. The difference: this time the offseason could drag on indefinitely while players and owners work out a new labor agreement.
I mention this because even though teams haven't officially convened since early March, the Bears have been in the news a lot lately. Linebacker Brian Urlacher said last week that the Bears are the best team in the NFC North. And Jay Cutler unwittingly helped bridge the Wisconsin political divide by, well, being Jay Cutler.
And Wednesday, prior to the Bulls falling to the Heat in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals, Bears head coach Lovie Smith talked about the basketball and football teams bringing multiple championships to Chicago in 2011.
"[I'm a Bulls] season ticket holder, so a big basketball fan," Smith said during an ESPN interview. "I'm excited just like the rest of Chicago.
"The chance to bring ... hopefully we can win this series -- the Heat is a great team -- but hopefully we can win this series and have a chance at another championship. … I hope they start it off, and we finish it off."
Lovie also echoed Urlacher's sentiments from a week ago. "Of course I agree with him. You'd be disappointed if any of our players didn't feel like we were the best around. But reality says the Packers are there right now.They have the Super Bowl ring. They're the champion right now. And it's up to us to do something about it."
Sadly, ESPN didn't ask Smith about Cutler's offseason gig as a political comedy prop.