FanHouse RickyManning

Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer.

The 2008 season was an unmitigated disaster for the Rams. They had their star running back hold out, only to be re-signed and get injured -- an injury which lingered far too long. They fired their coach after four embarrassing games, won two straight under his replacement, but then dropped their final 10.

It was hard to find a strength on this team. The offense ranked 27th in the league, while the defense was 28th. Then again, Donnie Jones was one of the best punters in the league. So there's that.

Two years ago, the Bears signed Ricky Manning away from the Panthers to be the team's nickel back. Chicago front-loaded his contract, which, in terms of the salary cap implications, is good news should they decide to "Adam Archuleta" him in the coming months.

Manning currently finds himself on the third team, and last season, the Bears opted to go with rookie seventh-rounder Trumaine McBride when Nathan Vasher missed time with an injury.

The Chicago Sun-Times' Brad Biggs points out that head coach Lovie Smith is fond of using the depth chart as a motivational tool. Sometimes it works (Mark Bradley was allegedly the team's fifth wideout at the beginning of the '07 season), and sometimes it doesn't (see Cedric Benson ... any example will do).

Manning gives the response we've come to expect from players who could be losing their jobs:

'I try not to worry about things I can't control. What I can control is I will be out there making plays. I will be a playmaker in this league. Whether it's here or somewhere else, I can't control that. Whether it's this year or next year, I can't control that.''

You know, this wouldn't even be an issue if the NFL played it's games inside Denny's. When it comes to Moons Over My Hammy and nerds, Manning's unstoppable.