Bear minimum -- Chicago loses two in secondary

The Chicago Bears' upset in Green Bay last Sunday came with great expense. The Bears lost starting free safety and defensive captain Mike Brown -- who returned an Ahman Green fumble 95 yards for a touchdown, his fifth career defensive score -- to a torn Achilles' tendon.

Brown is already listed as out for the season. Strong safety Mike Green will replace Brown as the secondary's playcaller.

"It's hard to replace a Mike Brown," first-year coach Lovie Smith told the Associated Press. "I just talked to Mike about changing the title behind his name. Assistant coach now. That's what we plan on getting from him."

Losing the Bears' emotional leader and top defensive playmaker is a threatening blow, no matter how the coaching staff spins it. In five seasons, Brown, besides scoring 30 points, his jersey number, has recorded 284 solo tackles, three sacks, 11 interceptions and six forced fumbles. That's six more turnovers than much-touted linebacker Brian Urlacher has generated in the same period.

Green, a somewhat underrated player -- like Brown and Urlacher, an alumnus of the class of 2000 -- had his best year in 2002, when he logged 129 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble. But Green leaves another hole at strong safety, which must be filled by three-year journeyman Bobby Gray, who has only 21 games to his name.

On the heels of Mike Brown's injury came even more bad news for Chicago fans: the Bears also lost starting corner Charles Tillman for at least seven weeks with an ankle injury.

Tillman, a second-round selection a year ago, had a blowout rookie campaign, logging 83 tackles, four interceptions and two forced fumbles. He had already posted 15 stops through two games in 2004.

Tillman -- at 6'1", 200 pounds -- is a big, strong shutdown corner known for taking opponents' leading receivers out of games. In two contests as a rookie, Tillman held the Vikings' Randy Moss to 120 yards and a score and literally stole a touchdown from him in the end zone in Week 15.

With corner Jerry Azumah already on the injury report, the Bears are left reeling to fill the corner spot opposite veteran R.W. McQuarters. Fifth-year pro Todd McMillon and rookie Nathan Vasher will rotate in that role.

The Bears next two opponents are Minnesota and Philadelphia. Daunte Culpepper and Donovan McNabb have got to be smiling.

Not even in your fantasies...

If you have Daunte Culpepper, Randy Moss, Nate Burleson, Kelly Campbell or Marcus Robinson on your fantasy roster, you've got to be happy with their match-up against the Bears. Mike Green is an underrated player and will fill Brown's leadership role, but he is not the coverage player Brown is.

McQuarters, McMillon and Vasher have an average height of 5'10" when the program is generous. They will be easily dominated by big receivers like Moss, Terrell Owens, Michael Clayton and Rashaun Woods in weeks to come.

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NFC East Spin

New York Giants

The G-men came very close to going 0-2 this weekend, but a strong performance by their defense pulled them through. Warner again looked a little more like the Warner of old, but don't expect him to fully recover. However, after this week's game in Dallas and the bye, the Giants draw five suspect defenses in Detroit, Minnesota, Chicago, Arizona and Atlanta.

Ron Dayne, who had a chance to revive his career this year in New York, is sniffing at Tom Coughlin's doghouse. Coughlin has been unimpressed with Dayne's work in the red zone through two games and brought it to the media's attention this week. The Giants could give the ball instead to Tiki Barber, but don't be at all surprised if Coughlin brings in Stacey Mack to move the pile, a la Jacksonville 2002.

Michael Strahan and Tom Coughlin may be getting along much better after Week 3. Strahan faces untested Joaquin Gonzalez, who is filling the shoes of injured Ryan Tucker, at right tackle for the Browns. Strahan had four sacks in one game on Tucker in 2001; imagine what he will do to Gonzalez.

Washington Redskins

Mark Brunell is injured and Patrick Ramsey looks terrible in 2004. The offensive line continues to be a major point of concern. Clinton Portis is only averaging 3.2 yards per carry after his first run as a Redskin, down from his career mark of 5.5, and continues to get absolutely hammered on every other play.

The Skins should have lost to Tampa in Week 1 and did lose to a sub par New York Giants club in their second game. If they lose to Dallas Monday night and Portis keeps skirting the injury report, there goes Joe Gibbs' triumphant return.

Dallas Cowboys

Look at the Cowboys current depth chart and tell me seriously that Bill Parcells is not the best coach in football. ReShard Lee might be the best running back on the roster with Julius Jones out, and Vinny's sub-80 passer rating is not cutting it, despite the yardage totals and media hype.

The Cowboys play the Giants, Steelers, Packers, Lions, Bengals and Eagles after the bye, and Parcells will probably still manage to win three or four of those contests.

Philadelphia Eagles

Are the Philadelphia Eagles the best team in football right now? I am a long-time Philly opposer, but the answer is clearly -- yes.

Andy Reid's crew beat a mediocre Giants team to go 1-0, but the Minnesota Vikings are not nearly as bad as the Eagles made them look last Monday night. ABC would like you to think otherwise, but this game was never even close. Donovan McNabb is loving Terrell Owens and Brian Westbrook, and the play of the offensive line has been a nice surprise so far.

Despite what the media will tell you, the Eagles are going to blow out Detroit in the dome. Without a real challenge until Week 8 vs. Baltimore, this team can go a long way.