So Far...So So

Wednesday, March 22, 2006 | Jeff

I have to admit that I don't really think I understand Jerry Angelo but I like him. I like him more and more each offseason. While Jay Mariotti spent last night clamoring for Drew Brees (you can read that mindless piece of sports writing in the Sun Times today), I sat at the West Side Brewery and thought, "You know...I like Brian Griese."

And I do. He's not going to come into the game and throw forty-yard bombs and he's not going to dazzle you with his scrambling ability, but under Jon Gruden he became one hell of a game manager. Think Jim Miller, only a hell of a lot more talented.

This site's trio of authors fully endorse Rex Grossman as the starting quarterback as the Chicago Bears. The signing of Griese means that the Bears have their most able-to-win backup since Steve Fuller or Mike Tomczak. What Jay Mariotti doesn't understand yet is that Jerry Angelo has been walking the Grossman tightrope and the signing of Brees would have essentially undermined his mantra of the last two seasons. This is Grossman's Last Chance Cafe and Angelo knows it might also be his own. If his golden boy goes down (which Vegas currently has at about 5-2 odds), Griese is his safety net.

I'm not trying to convince ya'll that Brian Griese is going to be hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in February but it's a sound football move. Not go-out-and-buy-a-pinata great, but sound. Signing Dante Wesley for special teams and cornerback depth was a similar move.

I like it.

OTHER NEWS AND NOTES:
I didn't know that the Redskins made Adam Archuleta the highest paid safety in NFL history. They are fucking nuts. He'd struggle to be listed in the top fifteen safeties in the game right now.

I'd like to see something happen at the receiver position but I just don't see it coming out of free agency. The talent just isn't out there.

Anybody else think Adam Vinatieri is an asshole for signing with the Colts?

Bill Parcells is going to end up murdering T.O. in his sleep?

Daunte Culpepper to Randy Moss has become Brad Johnson to Troy Williamson. Just love writing that over and over again.

If I'm Rod Marinelli and the Detroit Lions, I'm looking wide receiver in the first round.

So...Brett...when are you deciding, exactly?

Staying on Culpepper, he's going to have a monster season in Miami if he's on the field and healthy. He's got great weapons at receiver and a good, focused running game. It's going to be very difficult for me to pick any other team in that division to win it. Nick Saban is terrific.

Pre-draft NFC playoff teams: Seahawks, Bears, Vikings, Panthers, Cowboys, Redskins
Pre-draft AFC playoff teams: Dolphins, Colts, Jaguars, Steelers, Broncos, Chiefs (no Bengals until I heard definitively about Palmer and no Pats for no reason whatsoever)

The Chargers letting Drew Brees go in favor of Philip Rivers doesn't make a single bit of sense to me. I just don't fucking get it. If you do, Comment.

If the Bears can trade up in the draft - and I mean high - for VD the TE from MD...they fucking should. A tight end can't just run a 3.47 and not be worth giving up next year's first rounder.

If the Bears pulls a Bears and go 5-11 and half the team is on IR by the bye week, I'm quitting.

CALLING ALL METROPOLITAN AREA BEARS FANS! We've got games at the Giants and at the Jets this year. Come to dabearsblog tailgate party, hosted by yours truly.