There's still seven regular season games to go this season, not to mention the playoffs.  But that won't stop us from breaking out the old crystal ball and taking a crack at some 2012 predictions.

Looking forward towards the Bears 2012 roster can be a bit tricky.  Currently, five of the 23 offensive and defensive starters (including the nickel position) are scheduled to be free agents.  Those starters are Earl Bennett, Kellen Davis, Tim Jennings, Israel Idonije and, of course, Matt Forte.

Those contracts, or lack there-of, have to be taken into account when considering the starting roster for next year.

Possible draft picks have to be considered, as well.  You expect first and second round draft picks to start, for the most part.  And mid-to-late round picks occasionally make their way onto the starting roster.  

It's a tall task looking into the future of the roster and determining the first string of the depth chart.  But we're bold here, and so we will do just that.  

Follow along as we predict the future and divine the Bears 2012 starting offensive and defensive lineups.

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The possibility of watching NBA basketball in 2011-2012 is very unlikely.

The NBA players have rejected the owners last offer of a 50/50 split of BRI. The players are in the process of decertifying, and will be pressing charges against the league tomorrow morning.

What does all this mean for fans? NBA fans will have to be satisfied with college basketball this year.

What does this mean for players? The players are going to have a lot of free time on their hands. Some will join their fellow brethren and head overseas to play basketball, but maybe some could hop into the NFL and help out a team making a playoff push?

Obviously there are probably only a handful of current NBA players who would even have a chance at making an NFL team, let alone actually play for one. The conditioning and training for basketball and football are vastly different, and this scenario is highly unlikely.

Though, it is interesting to speculate what NBA players could play in the NFL.

Here is a look at five Chicago Bulls and how could they fit into the Chicago Bears roster. 

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The Chicago Bears are flying high as they head into their Week 11 matchup with the San Diego Chargers. Riding a four-game winning streak, the Bears will try and extend the Chargers' four-game losing streak when the two teams meet Sunday at Soldier Field.

Although the Chargers currently have a losing record, they are the seventh-best offense in the NFL.

An area of concern for head coach Lovie Smith and the Bears will be trying to handle the Chargers' All-Pro tight end, Antonio Gates.

Hampered by injuries, Gates has had a somewhat quiet year for the Chargers. When he has played, Gates has averaged five catches per game, and almost 12 yards per reception. He has scored just two touchdowns this season.

Gates is still one of the premier tight ends in the game. He has scored no less than eight touchdowns each year since 2004.

What Gates brings to Soldier Field on Sunday is a potential matchup nightmare for the Bears.

Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley scored three times against the Bears in Week 3. The Bears tried many different coverage schemes against Finley, but with no success. Along with the three scores, Finley finished the day with seven catches and 85 yards.

The Bears have also allowed three other tight ends to score this season.

With his size and great pass-catching abilities, Gates might have a big game if the Bears don't have an answer for him. If the Bears go with a Cover-2 scheme most of the day, Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers and Gates might hook up often, exploiting the space the Bears' default defense can create at times.

The last time the Bears played the Chargers during the regular season was in Week 1 of the 2007 season. Lovie Smith's Bears lost 14-3 as Gates caught nine passes for 107 yards, with a touchdown.

Charles Tillman will have his hands full on Sunday, likely covering the Chargers' physical wide receiver, Vincent Jackson. The job of containing Gates will most likely fall on the Bears' talented linebackers, Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs.

The Chargers boast the fourth best passing game in the league, and will be desperate for a win after dropping four in a row.

The key to a Bears victory will be how they contain Gates, and what adjustments they make if he finds early success against Chicago's defense Sunday.

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