Decompression over, time to recap...

Well, when all is said and done, no one can argue that it was a season to remember.  Going in, only the most hopeful of us would have predicted an NFC Championship appearance, so it has to be said that this season was a resounding success.  What is disappointing, however, is that teams have trouble getting to Championship games on a yearly basis, so you have to wonder when the Bears will get back to these heights again.  This is also beginning to be an aging team (especially on defense) so the famous "window" of opportunity, while not completely shut, may be closing.  Here are some observations from, as I wrote previously, the biggest game of our lives.  And some thoughts for next year and beyond:

• Brian Urlacher should have scored on that interception return.  Ray Lewis doesn't get tackled there (maybe why Ray Lewis has a ring and Urlacher doesn't).
• If it saves the Bears some money that they can use elsewhere, I have no problem with the idea of cutting Chester Taylor.  Forte is a full-time guy, and the Bears can draft a complement in the middle rounds or bring in a second or third tier free agent.  Taylor seems to have lost a step, and he'll only get worse as he gets older.
• The Bears need a BIG wide receiver.  I'm not sure Canadian superstar Andy Fantuz is the answer, but I like the direction.  Cutler needs a guy he can trust to go up and get it.  Cutler loves taking chances and giving his wide receivers a chance to make a play, now he just needs a guy who can do it.
• I like Frank Omiyale more as a 3rd swing type tackle than as my starting left tackle.  If the Bears can bring in someone to compete at that position, along with another guard, they will be much improved next year.  Good move to keep Mike Tice where he is as there was noticeable improvement by the end of the year on the line.
• Caleb Hanie should be the 2nd stringer next year--he brings exactly what you want--knowledge of the offense and a little unpredictability in the role.
• So long Tommie Harris--I don't see him back next year.  I hope the Bears do bring back Pisa Tinoisamoa though.
• Bob Sanders was just released by the Colts--I wonder if he'd be a good fit in the cover-2?
• Finally, some thoughts on Jay Cutler.  When you're hurt, you're hurt, but Jay does not do himself any favors with his attitude towards the media and fans.  He leaves himself no margin for error, and as a result many fans/media/other players jump all over him at every opportunity.  The thing that made me the most upset about Jay was his poor performance in the championship game, as I thought that he was going to show up big time after his great performance in the Divisional round. My hope is that he uses this experience to motivate him to be the best he can be next year, as the Bears will always go as far as he takes them.  If the Bears can put a few more pieces around him, watch out.

I'll be back with some Draft thoughts in the coming weeks.  Thanks to everyone for reading this year, I hope you got as much out of reading this as I did writing it.  Go Bears!