On Aug. 24, former NIU offensive lineman Tim Vincent was released by the Chicago Bears for not being “big” enough.

Well, it sure looked like the Bears could have used another offensive lineman just like they could have used a new punt returner, new quarterback, running back – heck, a whole new team in their loss to the 49ers, 49-7.

The first week in the NFL was pretty boring, as every game shown on Sunday was a blowout. The Packers and Vikings game finished 30-25, but was never really as close as the score indicated. The Chiefs and Chargers game was all Priest Holmes, and the Bears game was, well, the worst of them all.

The Bears looked lost on the field, and the 49ers overmatched them at every position.

Maybe Tim Vincent would’ve been knocked around even worse than the rest of the offensive line on Sunday, but it would have at least given NIU students who watched the game someone to cheer for.

After being nothing but a disappointment for most of the day, the ESPN Sunday night matchup was pretty entertaining.

The Tennessee Titans and Oakland Raiders squared off, and former NIU receiver Justin McCareins was talked about on more than one occasion by the ESPN crew.

McCareins caught three passes for 43 yards and returned five punts for 74 yards. He also drew a lengthy pass interference call in the first half to set up a touchdown, putting the Titans up 6-0. McCareins also made a nice special-teams tackle on a punt return.

On one catch, McCareins tipped the ball to himself in the air and never took his eye off of the ball.

ESPN’s Joe Theismann praised the former Huskie for his concentration, and said Tennessee’s duo of Drew Bennett and McCareins will develop into a dangerous receiving core alongside Derrick Mason by the end of the year.

The 6-foot-2 receiver and special-teams player did, however, miss an opportunity to pin the Raiders at the 1-yard line when he wasn’t able to down Craig Hentrich’s punt.

Not only is NIU gaining recognition from its former players, but also through its play in college ball. NIU moved up to No. 28 in this week’s Associated Press poll and No. 31 in the USA Today/ESPN coaches’ poll.

With a 42-17 win over Tennessee Tech this weekend, NIU is now 2-0 for the first time since 1988 and has an opportunity to be ranked in the top 25 with a win at Alabama on Sept. 20.

All in all, the first week in the NFL wasn’t what we’ve come to expect, even for the Bears. Fans around here shouldn’t worry, though. The Huskies are being represented well in the NFL and in the collegiate ranks.