There are thirty-two teams in the National Football League. One of them didn't lose a game in the 2007 regular season. One of them needed overtime to secure their only win. But there is only one team in the league (ONE!) that can answer "no" to all three of the following questions:
For the Chicago Bears this is a very, very bad place to be on February 12th and when you take into consideration the plausible move of John Tait back to the right side, the Bears can now put a question mark next to the four most important positions on the offensive side of the ball. These are not positions the draft will improve for 2008 so the level of importance on the next two and half months increases tremendously if the Bears are to be competitive next season.
Three questions. No answers. If there was ever a time to hold Jerry Angelo's feet to the fire, it is now. How does a general manager with his tenure rationalize this team's lack of skill position talent? More importantly, what does he do now? The 2008 season doesn't start for seven months but it'll take less than three for Bears fans to create realistic expectations.
#2 jeff said . . .Those questions will be answered in time. Just give it a few weeks. We will make a splash in free agency. Wether its a belly flop from a 500 pound guy or a swan dive from a professional diver is yet to be seen but moves will be make. I cant wait for the end of February. I cant wait for this to all unfold.
Question for those who might be in the know a bit more than I.....are we allowed to be re-signing guys right now or whats the holdup. Could we re-sign Rex, Berrian or Lance today? I know we cant sign free agents from other teams but what about current guys on the roster? Or is there some sort of reason there havent been talks?
February 12, 2008
#3 JT said . . .rumors out of detroit are that roy williams is on the trading block. if this is true and the bears don't at least make a play - though an in-division trade seems unlikely - they are nuts.
February 12, 2008
#4 Shady McBears Fan said . . .I was in Hawaii last week and ran into Devin Hester, Brendan A, and some photog at the Ala Moana mall. When I asked Brendan if he's coming back next year, he smiled, shrugged his shoulders and replied "Hopefully". Hopefully, BB is taking too much of Rosenhaus' time for him to divorce Brendan A from Da Bears.
February 12, 2008
#5 Phil from SATX said . . .Roy Williams? Really?
Wow, we're getting desperate on here.
This guy is a total douche. He makes silly predictions, makes 1st down signals down 20+ pts, who does he think he is? He's like T.O. but without the production.
I don't see the Bears going after this guy at all. And if they do, we're all in trouble. Good post though Jeff, you accurately described the shithole of a situation we're in and how it's on Jerry to get us out... Sooner rather than later.
February 12, 2008
#6 jeff said . . .I agree with you 50% Jeff. That's one and a half out of 3. A running back in the draft CAN help us immediately, although I'm sure the Bears will look first to free agency, maybe Justin Fargas if the bidding is too fast and furious for Michael Turner (and it will be). Look what Joseph Addai did for the Colts in his rookie season. Maroney. There's others.
The half is for wide receiver, which has a higher bust/nonimpact rate for rookie starters. Colston was an obvious exception. But I give that a half because look at how Greg Olsen, essentially a WR, was able to contribute in his first year on our squad.
QB, no doubt.
Roy Williams would be great to have on the team - a top flight talent. Just because he signals 1st down at inappropriate times doesn't make him bad meat. How would you like to have to play in Detroit? It's bound to make you squirrelly. But he will be truly expensive, maybe not Ocho Cinco range, but maybe he would given his relative youth. Would favor all-out effort to get him if it can be managed money-wise.
PO'd, it looks like those three are still Bears until around March 2, right before the beginning of free agency. They should be free to negotiate with the Bears right now. The reality may be that their agents wouldn't consider signing early because it would not allow them to test the free agent market, and any free agent wants to and indeed should. So my guess is while the Bears can make an offer prior to free agency, they won't, there's no purpose.
Since I'm guessing some here, like to hear if anyone has any other input on that issue.
February 12, 2008
#7 PolygonHell said . . .shady, he could pull down his pants and shit on the field after every catch. he would sign with the bears and immediately become one of the two or three best receivers we've ever had.
February 12, 2008
#8 jdawg said . . .On the plus side, not having those questions answered at this point makes the offseason more interesting.
February 12, 2008
#9 serious said . . .hmmm...
when you put it that way it sounds like we're pretty fucked. My gut tells me we pick up a guard in FA, probably the guy from Indy -- Faneca's going to cost too much. From there we pick up a LT in the draft.
As far as RBs go, my tea leaves got nothing. I have no idea whether we'd get a hometown discount from Turner or not. That would make a difference in signing him.
QB -- if #8 isn't re-signed we're fucked. Not because he's great but because the other two aren't and the 08 D will not save KO's ass like the 06 D did.
February 12, 2008
#10 jdawg said . . .jdawg. I totally agree. As sad as it is to admit, i feel like the bears hopes for 08 are directly tied to the rex grossman situation.
Even if we drafted a QB at #14 (which we wont), he wouldnt be ready. KO won 10 games in 05 because our defense was fucking unstoppable, and we could run the ball consistently; thats clearly not the case anymore. Besides i dont ever want to watch that boring offense again.
Am i the only one who feels like BB (or any other reciever in FA) is going to prefer having rex grossman as QB??? The front office better suck it up and give #8 a 2 or 3 year contract with incentives. In that time we can develop a newly drafted QB (or at least pretend to be developing one, since the bears really dont 'develop' any QB talent historically).
I guess of all 4 of these question marks i am most confident that the O-line will see improvement in 08. They cant really get too much worse. That means even if its cedric benson + (insert mediocre FA who is not Turner) the running game will improve. And if rex comes back, those factors should help him alot.
I am most concerned about BB leaving. I cant imange a WR corps of Moose, Hester, and ... maybe mark bradley or davis. Moose is too old. Hester is not experienced enough, and bradley apperently is a slack ass. Its going to be a real issue.
I am equally concerned about the Defense. But i'll save that for a different day.
February 12, 2008
#11 Al in WI said . . .I'm for dumping Moose and replacing him with Booker. Moose was brought in to help develop our WRs like he did Steve Smith (cough... cough... bulshit... cough...cough). Besides pointing Hester in the right direction a few times I'm not seeing it.
Maybe Benson will be closer to the RB that ended the SB run than the one that showed up this year -- if we get better line play. Hopefully he'll come into camp knowing that most people consider him a bust. If that can't motivate him I hope he's gone after next season.
February 12, 2008
#12 Z said . . .Jdawg, I'm with you on Booker replacing Moose. Big time upgrade for a underneath reciever, who would be a lot cheaper than Moose. That would a be a "value pickup," in my eyes as well. (Just to be clear, I'm not looking at him as a #1 anymore, more like a solid 2-3)
I also think they should take a look at Wahle out of Carolina at the gaurd position. Not sure why Carolina would dump him unless they are just rebuilding or he is more injured then anyone thought.
For the record because someone asked, I think we could be re-signing guys now if we wanted too.February 12, 2008
#13 North Dakota just ceded from the Union said . . .I agree about looking at Booker to replace Moose and maybe Wahle who just got cut. I go back and forth about BB and the tag. If we could get another guy who could be almost as good for half that it seems like a much better biz decision and would give us more areas that we can use that $ to improve.
Could Trent Green pretend to be our backup instead of Griese or does he have so many concussions he would wander out there on D or throw the wrong direction? Any of the other tackles on O or D that Miami cut worth anything.
I am trolling through the cut players from a 1-15 team. WTF. Afro you got any pills to spare for that GBA yet. I've had that my whole life except in 1985-86 when I was 10.
Bear Down!!
February 13, 2008
#14 Shady said . . .Marty Booker looked real old in 2007. I'm not sure he is worth more than a 'camp invite' type of arrangement.
February 13, 2008
#15 Z said . . .Has anyone seen Mike? I mean, it smells like he's around but I don't see him... Hmmm.
O.K. What are you guys talking about? Booker replacing Moose? I know Moose isn't getting any younger but I'd still take him over Booker. Believe me, I was just as upset as you were when he left cause he had some great hands. Kinda reminded me of Desmond Clark, but faster. But Booker hasn't produced in Miami and he's is in the twilight of his career. I just don't see how Booker is an upgrade over MM.
Jeff- That may be true, but it doesn't make it right.
February 13, 2008
#16 Max said . . .I definitely meant if we can get him significantly cheaper than MM. He did have 10 more catches than MM on a 1-15 team, albeit for 14 less yards and 2 less TD's. Ya they both suck. Did Keary Colbert look older or younger on the field than these 2?
If we are going to risk a little $ on somebody, I would rather pay Davis or Bryant less than BB and take a chance on youthful improvement.
By the way it sucks when your team's #1 WR is the best FA WR on the market and he is not good enough to be your #1 even if you do overpay him. Besides Moss (who I hate) everyone else looks really old or they are a #3 at best.
Come on BT draft some winners!!
February 13, 2008
#17 Pissed Off said . . .I say invite Marty to camp, invite as many WR as possible to camp. what have we got to lose?
Resign Rex, ditch Griese, draft a QB at some point, keep KO.
. . . I have no idea at RB. . . keep A.P., hes the man. thats all i got
Draft Kenny Philips. . . and sign O-Line through FA. . . . please
February 13, 2008
Do whatever it takes (and it wont be much cuz RBs dont demand a ton of value) to get Fargas. He'll start and be a stud. I dont care about BB, if you got the money, franchise him for a year, if not let him walk and pick up one of the many guys available in free agency, none of them can possibly drop as many balls as Berrian and with another year of experience and practice, we can use Hester to run those deep routes for 70 yard TDs.
Pick up a safety or two in the draft, one will work out. If MB is healthy and stays healthy (HAHAHA!!) we have good depth, if not we got McGowan, Manning, Payne and rookie(s) to patch it together.
Go O-line heavy in the draft, I'd take a stud tackle at #14 if I can and then draft another tackle or guard or two later and see if one or two of em work out. Restructure a bit and its fixed. Pick up one proven guy in free agency and thats it. We've done this before, going from shitty to pretty damn good in one offseason. Its not that tough.
Oh yeah, and re-sign that Rex guy....cuz if we dont....this whole thing is fucked anyway. If you think Orton, Griese or a Rookie or some slappy free agent out there can take us to the SB...your nuttier than squirrel shit.
February 13, 2008
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