I think the biggest problem plaguing NFL franchises is a lack of patience with coaching staffs and rosters. Certainly when franchises make big changes, they should expect some results. But football probably relies on cohesion more than any other sport, because each team has 22 individual parts that have to learn to play together...not to mention the three dozen spare parts that have to jump in when needed. If a team really believes it has the right parts, it sometimes just needs to ride things out for a little bit to achieve success (see Bengals, Cincinnati).

That was how I felt about the Bears up until the Arizona game. Now, though, things have become much clearer. This is no longer a team that's a player or two away from being a playoff contender again. This is the tail end of the post-Super Bowl decline. This is a team that needs to be rebuilt from the ground up.

Think about the Bears in 2010. Looking at the roster, who would be a lock to remain a starter? Jay Cutler for sure--interceptions aside, he has more skill and savvy than any Bears quarterback in my lifetime. Matt Forte, too, because he still has burst and moves when he can find some space to run. Devin Hester and Greg Olsen should probably remain starters, although Hester is not a number one receiver and Olsen is inconsistent. On the defensive side, Lance Briggs has surpassed Brian Urlacher as the best player on the defense, and despite the pantsing by Larry Fitzgerald, Charles Tillman remains a worthy starting cornerback. Assuming he returns healthy, Urlacher would be back in the middle, although age is quickly taking its toll on him. After that...anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

The coaching staff and management are of course greatly to blame for this mess, but the bottom line is this: if you look at your team and only feel confident about a handful of starters, it's time to start over. Better for the Bears to do it now while Cutler and Forte have a lot of football ahead of them. Now if only they had a GM who didn't trade second-round picks for first-round busts....

---BRANDON TRISSLER.