The addition of Brandon Lloyd today is a good one. It might not provide the excitement of landing Randy Moss or the security of keeping Bernard Berrian but that doesn't change the soundness of the move. Let's look at the Bears wide receiving corps.
Marty Booker is something of a prodigal son, returning to the Chicago Bears organization that devastated to trade him in the first place. The question is: what does he have left in the tank?
Brandon Lloyd catches everything (everything!), though he wasn't thrown much in Washington the last two years. Lloyd hasn't scored a touchdown in two seasons where he leapt for the Redskin money instead of finding a team that actually required his services. He has that now and he should slide into the role of a reliable third-down receiver. I repeat...he CATCHES everything.
Mark Bradley is the the Bears' single greatest question mark in 2008 but I'm on record a dozen times saying that I believe he has more ability than Bernard Berrian. If Bradley can stay on the field this season, I think he'll repeat his brilliant back-to-back performance during the Meadowlands Massacre of 2006.
Devin "The Skunk" Hester is the most exciting player in the league.
Are they great? Yes, if Hester brings his special teams brilliance to offensive side of the ball. Hester, me and my brothers would be a great receiving corps if Hester plays to the level he's capable. As they sit right now, they each have to perform to the maximum of their potential for the Bears to have a more-than-just-average passing game.
And you know what? I think they will. What do you think?
#2 HesterFan23 said . . .Hard to be excited about this group, especially signing a number 2 who has 130 career touchdowns. Booker will be an upgrade, but he's not a number one. And Bradley has never proven to stay on the field. The bright spot is Hester. Take him off the leash.
I'd like to see us take a WR at 14. Devin Thomas from MSU fits in well. Big and fast...
And as for the QB situation, give Orton a shot and draft Henne in the 2nd...he's going to be a steal.
March 8, 2008
#3 Max said . . .I like the Lloyd signing. Might not be a huge move in some eyes, but if they throw the ball his way, he could become a very good reciever.
March 8, 2008
#4 B said . . .Amen. I think Lloyd could be very solid. He is alot like Booker. Great hands but not alot of speed. If we can get some O-linemen so our QB (whoever it is) has time, this receiver corp could be what we need them to be. Booker and Lloyd as the possession receivers, Dev and Bradley (who is fast, if nothin else) on the outside with Rashied contributing if he returns and then Clark and GO.
It at least gives us some options but we need OFFENSIVE LINEMEN!!!
March 8, 2008
#5 Shady said . . .I have to wonder is some of us Bears fans have just gotten used to settling for mediocre on offense. The organization seems to be ok with a mediocre offense. They just don't seem to strive for great when it comes to the offensive side of the ball. The LLoyd signing is just another sign of this. It's not a bad move but it's certainly not a great one.
As for Hester, he is great and amazing and all that stuff, but as far being a #1 receiver, I just don't see it happening. Maybe I'm wrong and I hope I am, but he seems a little lacking in the brains department. Learning a full offensive playbook takes a degree of intelligence that so far I have not seen from him. It's easy to fall in love with the idea of Hester being to the offense what he has been to special teams, but it might just be another heartbreak waiting to happen.March 8, 2008
#6 Megan said . . .Nick...
Devin Thomas at 14?
Really? C'mon.
Would like to hear from Redskins fans about Lloyd. Doesn't seem to me to be anything more than 'just another guy' at this point, but still like the FA action nonetheless.
Baby steps Jerry, baby steps.
March 8, 2008
#7 Shady said . . .Don't know much about Lloyd so I can't comment on him.
Booker, I'm okay with and actually a darn bit excited about-he does have hands, and being a girl, can't argue with a good set of hands.
Bradley, I still feel like he has something to prove...
Here's my one little teeny tiny itty bitty concern regarding Skunk-He has bobbled the ball a few times. I could see him running before he catches the pass, not keeping his eyes on the ball. As a special teams guy, he can read the field before the ball gets to him. As a WR-he has to catch (fight off defender), run then field. We know he is fast-lord knows.
Sorry to be Polly Pessamistic-I want the guy to succeed at his new post. I worry about the bobbling.. am I being paranoid?March 8, 2008
#8 who gives a poop said . . .You're not paranoid Megan, there is most certainly going to be a learning curve for Devin next year as he adjusts to the WR position in '08. I think it's a bit RIDICULOUS (hehe) for the Bears to expect Devin to move into the #1 slot anytime soon. While Hester has some of the talents elite WRs have (Speed, quickness, vision, strength) he is still very much unproven and inexperienced at the receiver position.
Fucking Bulls getting WORKED by the Celtics tonight. Bean Town has had one hell of a sports year, Patriots choke included.
By the way, what do they say about guys with good hands Megan?
March 8, 2008
#9 who gives a poop said . . .I think you couldn't give two shits what we, the people, think.
I do like the BL signing.
March 8, 2008
#10 who gives a poop said . . .I think you couldn't give two shits what we, the people, think.
I do like the BL signing.
March 8, 2008
#11 JM said . . .I think you couldn't give two shits what we, the people, think.
I do like the BL signing.
March 8, 2008
#12 Matt said . . .I seem to remember BL going Alligator Arms over the middle during his days as a Niner. Has that been fixed??
March 8, 2008
#13 Matt said . . .Lloyd was awful in DC. overpaid and underperforming. why anyone would get excited about this asshole playing for their team is beyond me.
March 8, 2008
#14 Anonymous said . . .Shady, ask and you shall receive:
" am a Chicago guy also transplanted to DC.. and agree with the other DC guy... this is a questionable sign- same as Archuleta. The coaches, fans and sportswriters couldn't wait to wave goodbye to this guy. Bye all accounts they say he is bad in the locker room, bad on the practice field and worse in games. They wouldn't even dress the guy part of this season. Guy evidently kept calling the local radio sports guys begging to do interviews or weekly shows on the air.. despite not even playing. I heard a debate on the radio just last week on if he was the worst trade/sign of the Redskins the past 20 years. It might be worth giving him a second chance based on his 49 numbers, but any Redskin fan or coach would think you need a straightjacket if you are counting on him as even a marginally productive player.
Posted by: Bill | Mar 7, 2008 4:45:04 PM"Good luck with this one Bears fans...remember Adam Archuleta? This guy is worse!! If you don't believe, just go to his website and see what his real interests are. As a Redskin fan who follows both teams(I now live in Chicago), I know first hand how bad this guy is. If you think this is an upgrade from last year, just watch the fireworks when he short-arms his first pass!! Beware Beware..."
" don't believe this. I really don't. I live in Maryland, and his "Stats" don't even tell the whole story.
He argued with staff and regular staff of the Redskins. I mean, like non-football related.
This guy has a serious attitude problem.
I hope they didn't pay him much money at all.
This might be THE worse move by the Bears since Bryan Cox.""As my name implies, I live in Washington, DC, and I've watched this bum do nothing for the past two years. The Bears' front office would have been better off taking a day off instead of bothering with talking to Lloyd and his agent. Please reread the line where he caught two passes for 14 yards last year. He wasn't injured, he just sucked! Good to see the Bears are adding another integral piece. And hey, if he doesn't work out at receiver, he can replace his former Redskin teammate at strong safety.
Posted by: DC | Mar 7, 2008 5:40:44 PM ""As a Redskins fan living in your midst, I find it absolutely laughable that Bears fans see this as a good move. I too though this would be a good move when we got him 2 years ago. After 2 years of non production, team suspensions, being a malcontent, not wanting to go over the middle and basically not getting open at all, I was glad we cut ties with this clown. He was terrible for the Skins and we actually have a QB. You guys are QB challenged so while you guys just signed a WR, I would be really surprised if he makes the team out of camp. Honestly, the only 2 things that Lloyd did in Washington was make an acobatic catch in Washington's first preseason game in 2006 at Cinci and he made a good block on a corner on a Portis 40+ yard TD run against Dallas in 2006. Like I said, I would be really surprised if he even makes the team."
March 8, 2008
#15 Shady said . . .Seriously Jeff? "Mark Bradley is the the Bears' single greatest question mark in 2008"
How about the quarterback situation?
How about the runningback situation?
How about Hester's transition to offense?
How about the health of half the defensive starters?March 8, 2008
#16 Mike said . . .The patented triple-post Mike, we should start calling you ECHO.
Matt, sorry I asked. Fuck. Comparisons to Arch Deluxe? OMG can we never trade with the Redskins again? Wasnt AA Lovie's guy? And isn't Lloyd Turner's guy? This has disaster written all over it...
March 8, 2008
#17 jeff said . . .I am a retard!!....I repeat!!....I am a retard!!
March 8, 2008
#18 Mike said . . .whoever #14 is...
currently i know exactly what we're getting from the quarterback and running back positions. health is unfair to put in this category for any team. and hester...i'm not worried about him.
March 8, 2008
#19 Shady said . . .I feel like both the Booker and Lloyd signing were not good moves. We are going with two washed up recievers that obviously no one else wants. Why does it always seem the other teams are going for the real stars and bears fans are suppose to accept these mediocre moves. I'm starting to get tired of this. I think it is long over do to fire Ron Turner. He stunk at Illinois and still stinks at Chicago. I don't know how he and his brother keep getting jobs when neither is worth a damn. If we don't draft a real reciever in the draft we are in dire trouble.
March 8, 2008
#20 Rancid said . . .It seems that there is a lot of pressure on Devin Hester to perform well.
Can he handle the transition to WR the NFL as a #2 or a #1?
Will it effect his performance as a kick-returner?
I'm not sure I want to see him stretching for too many footballs over the middle of the field.
Are the Bears going to do much else for the WR position until the draft? If not, that would mean DH is the only legitimate 'big play threat' on the field.... unless the Bears decide to go ahead and draft the likes of: Kelly, Manningham or Hardy with a late 1st or early 2nd rd. pick... If Angelo decides to trade down that could be a possibility and the possibility of Angelo trading down is 90%, 100% of the time...
Anyway, can we start buying some O-Line now?
March 8, 2008
#21 Decatur Staleys #7 said . . .I know too little of this guy to comment. I would think this means we won't draft a receiver early though. We've got plenty of them. I will admit that after Arch Deluxe any Redskins castoff scares me a lot
March 8, 2008
#22 Rancid said . . .Mike it good you finally got on board about firing turner,I vaguely recall you defending Turner during the season because the talent level he had to work with wasn't up to snuff.
But I do agree with you about the Bears failing to go for top talent,an make do with patchwork players.
I just hope the BT is committed to the young guys to developing if we're not going for top FA.
I feel Mark Bradley is on the trading block,with this signing I don't know where you fit him in to inprove with Booker,Lloyd,Hester in the top 3 spot at WR.
March 8, 2008
#23 Decatur Staleys #7 said . . .Kill me now
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/dnspo030808_hotair.2fdd62d1.html
March 8, 2008
#24 Megan said . . .RB J Jones may be signing with the sea-chickens
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/nfl/03/07/seahawks.jones.ap/index.html
March 8, 2008
#25 craig said . . .Rancid- I told YOU!!! We are going to be saturated by Brett Farve's spit, endorsements or face. AHHHhhhhhh
Shady, If you need to ask, you don't have 'em.March 8, 2008
#26 The Duke said . . .I'm not ready to jump to any conclusions. Sometimes a change of scenery and coaching can make a difference for a player. We see examples every year. At the same time, we all know what can happen when coaches make a questionable investment based on personal history (Archuleta being a prime cautionary tale in that regard).
I still don't love our receiver corps. Booker doesn't excite me. I've seen Lloyd make some incredible catches but they've been few and far between. I think it'll be on whatever WR we draft in the first three rounds and/or Mark Bradley to really provide the spark for this offense. Hester... I'm not yet confident that he's ready to be an every-down receiver (but I hope I'm wrong).
March 8, 2008
#27 B said . . .Let's not forget about Olsen. I think he's going to take a huge step this year and help the Bears receiving game big-time. If not we all know G-Reg will have a promising rap career.
March 8, 2008
#28 B said . . .Stupid question. Why is Hester called the skunk? I've only heard that on this site.
March 8, 2008
#29 Jakub said . . .Haha, according to the suntimes, Lloyd just named Grossman as the Bears starter. Then took it back. Open competition, yeah right. I don't care though, Grossman's can win a game for us, Orton won't lose a game for us, but he's still just a caretaker.
March 8, 2008
#30 jeff said . . .So if the Seahawks just signed Jones and previously signed Ducket, is Alexander available? If so, we should get on that.
March 8, 2008
#31 Mike (the real one this time) said . . .i think what i like about lloyd and especially booker is it puts guys on the field that CAN make plays. this receiving corps is clearly now being built around devin hester and it'll be up to devin hester to take over games. call me crazy, but i think devin can be a faster steve smith. what worries me is the durability-factor if he's taking 10 big hits a game. i hate when a team's best player is a receiver: it makes the season very fragile.
March 8, 2008
#32 Shit Parade said . . .Brandon Lloyd sucks. He's another question mark at a position littered with them. Marty Booker is faded, Devin Hester is in transition phase and Mark Bradley just plain sucks.
Memo to Jerry Angelo...try going with QUALITY over quantity at the offensive skill positions.
March 8, 2008
#33 jeff said . . .Brandon Lloyd is terrible. He was terrible in San Francisco, he was terrible in Washington. But Ron Turner says he's a good player so Jerry Angelo decides to sign him to a contract? The same numb nuts coach who ran the Illini football program into the ground? Lovely.
If I wasn't laughing so hard I'd be crying. 2008 is going to be a LONG season. Did Angelo secretly accept a job with the Green Bay Packers and just not tell anyone?? Because I swear if I didn't know any better I'd say he is sabotaging this team.
The wide receivers are BRUTAL. The running back is BRUTAL. The quarterbacks are BRUTAL. The offensive line is BRUTAL.
March 8, 2008
#34 mikebdot said . . .Hello. I am a clueless wonder who actually thinks signing a washed up Marty Booker and the certified bust Brandon Lloyd is great. I know nothing about football. Nothing. But just so long as Angelo keeps in bringing in new players, no matter whether they are stiffs, then I get a chubby in my pants.
March 8, 2008
#35 jdawg said . . .Good job, Mike, you finally didn't make it a capital J.
If you want to insult people why not do it like a man?
To: Mike
Fuck you
From: mikebdot
Hiding behind sock puppets to insult people on the internet. The epitome of douche.
March 8, 2008
#36 jdawg said . . .truth is, we don't know how these WRs will work out. They both seem to fit Turner's system, which means Grossman will have the advantage in training camp, especially chucking it to Lloyd downfield.
In my opinion I'm not that pissed at JA for focusing on his own players in FA rather than get into ridiculous bidding wars for second-tier talent. You pay tackles Faneca money, not guards, especially 31 year old guards. If JA signs Harris and Hester to long-term deals we've already won the FA period for 2009.
March 8, 2008
#37 Phil from SATX said . . .yeah -- assuming other people's board names seems like something Paris Hilton would do to Lindsey Lohan.
March 8, 2008
#38 Polygonhell said . . .Don't know anything about Lloyd. Know that he was another colossal bust in WA, but think about this: when moronic clubs pay moronically high money to undeserving free agents, they are bound to be greatly disappointed when the guys don't turn out to be superstars. They think that just because the made the moronic decision to overvalue the guy, he needs to meet their moronically excessive expectations.
Don't know if that's what happened to Lloyd, but I wouldn't be surprised. He was signed as the second coming of Jerry Rice and then didn't turn out to be that. If he can catch passes and he doesn't mortgage our future, I'm glad to bring him in. We'll have low expectations (I guess you could say Jerry's trained us well that way) and the guy was considered good before he went to the Redskins (I know, a story we've heard before) so I agree with craig - it's a definite possibility.
And no, I don't believe this means Mark B is being traded - despite what some of the Mikes and Mariottis of the world believe, many of us forget that Bradley is like Hester in the fact that he's VERY fast (not Hester fast, but still very fast) PLUS he's a real receiver instead of a converted one like Devin. So if we now have two slower receivers who have great hands coupled with two fast ones who can provide a deep threat throughout a game - even if it's not capitalized on - that could work really well.
And yes, I believe that this now lowers the draft pick that will be used on a receiver - and raises the RB pick - or maybe, just maybe, because JA hasn't done anything yet on the oline - maybe he's looking at packaging some picks together to get a second 1st rounder, and taking two stud rookie linemen. Our 2nd round pick plus late 3rd rounder would provide enough to pick at the end of the first. Problem with that scenario is it would have to be two tackles - the only guard that shows up in the top 50 picks is Brandon Albert, who virtually everyone has the Steelers taking with the 23rd pick to replace Faneca.
Question - can a stud tackle be moved inside to guard? Or does the 6' nothin Rex Grossman need shorter players on the inside?
March 8, 2008
#39 HesterFan23 said . . .Clearly this isn't the final answer at Wide Receiver. Teams take as many as 10 WR's into camp, it's a one year deal someone on the Bears staff obviously sees potential (probably Turner).
Using some cap space o gamble on someone who may be talented, seems like a good plan if you have the space and you are wlling to cut him and take the loss if he can't contribute.
I still think we'll take receiver in the first 3 rounds, but I wouldn't expect a rookie receiver to contribute immediately.
I think the WR corp is at least OK as it is, if we can sure up the O-Line and running game, I think we'll get adequate offensive production.
March 8, 2008
#40 Mike said . . .Who else is up for getting actual usernames on this site?
I'm getting a little sick of people acting like others just to insult them...
March 8, 2008
#41 Pissed Off said . . .Mark Bradley couldn't get on the football team the last three years. Even though the only reliably decent/good wide receiver was Bernard Berrian. But the football gurus on this board have concluded - with certainty - that Bradley is a great wide receiver in the making. Which is so off the charts irrational and goofy that I don't know what else to say.
Mark Bradley sucks. It would be one thing if he couldn't get on the football field his first year or so. Or if he was blocked on the depth chart by quality wide receivers. But this hasn't been the case. Bradley has been a member of the Bears for 3 seasons and the guys in front of him, Bernard Berrian excluded, were non-descript to awful.
March 8, 2008
#42 Phil from SATX said . . .Mike, you are a fucking asshole. Mark Bradley didn't play because Lovie and Turner had a vendetta against him. Bradley has outstanding speed and pass catching ability and will be a perennial All-Pro wide receiver. Anybody who knows and cares about the Bears can understand that. Except you.
March 8, 2008
#43 Phil from SATX said . . .Just thought about that last scenario some more - what if Jerry moved down some spots to take Albert the guard and then moved up some to get one of the remaining OT's, of which there are a ridiculous number? There's only so many teams needing an OT in the first round and we're already looking at Long, Clady, Otah, Williams, Baker, Cherilus - and the move could be costless, with our second plus the extra value points from moving down 6 places (still have t0 stay ahead of Steelers) we'd get a late round 1st or earliest 2nd and get a Baker or Cherilus. Still get to keep our tw0 third rounders for a RB and a safety, maybe, or package them together to get a real stud RB, if there's one out there at around the 55th pick.
Now that does put two rookies on our line, potentially on the same side, which probably isn't good, but that can probably be shuffled, right?
How you like?
March 8, 2008
#44 mikebdot said . . .Follow on: You could do that and get Chris Johnson for RB with that 2nd round pick, reported to be the fastest player in the draft. Then you could count on giving opposing teams motion sickness as they try to adjust to the fastest RB and the slowest - it'd make their heads spin! They'd be puking on the turf! It could work!
(sorry Ced)
March 8, 2008
#45 Drafting a RB=STUPID said . . .Hesterfan: Actual usernames don't stop sock-puppets, especially those as douchey as Mike. You can bet he'd create multiple accounts just to create the illusion that there are in fact more people insulting everyone.
You can rest assured, he has no wife, and will die alone.
March 8, 2008
#46 Ghassan Jaber said . . .Wolfe would smoke Chris Johnson or anyone we could draft just for speed. We have a nice tandem in Benson-Wolfe with Peterson thrown in there.
March 8, 2008
#47 start o said . . .Very frustrating to examine the Bears right now. Brad Lloyd is not a good football player. Very overrated, drops balls, called Chad Pennington names. I had him on my fantasy team and his performance was below expectation level. He was my poorest performer in three years running. The Bear organization lack fundamental understanding of football sabermetrics.
March 8, 2008
#48 Max said . . .wow. ugly on the board today.
and depressing.
a quick read reveals the general consensus is that B. Lloyd not only sucks, he is a bad character guy. I fucking hate guys who hurt chemistry, the most underrated component in sports.
great. we finally sign someone, and my mood gets worse. Im off to beat my head on the wall.March 9, 2008
#49 Rancid said . . .Screw it. The man has something to prove because his lack of production. We just need to be signing WRs at this point. Bring in as many as possible. I have faith in Lloyd. I seem to be one of the few but whatever
March 9, 2008
#50 Phil from SATX said . . .jeff could have written this himself! Fantastic!
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=paolantonio_sal&id=3281535
March 9, 2008
#51 jeff said . . .Very hopeful article in the Trib about AFC scouts take on Booker - gist is that he IS the same player as when we traded him, he hasn't lost any speed. They opine that he's not a #1, although if I remember right, he was our #1 when he was traded.
Lots of negative talk hear about Lloyd. I'm going to go ahead and be hopeful about him too - if he's a bust with us, the old BT will look absolutely ridiculous picking up another Washington high profile FA (actually trade) failure - and they surely know that.
This is an interesting article about him - the rap on him as a bad actor sounds very real. But also his talent sounds real too. Moss was once a douche, mended his ways - even TO somewhat, so maybe this guy, on his 3rd team in a pretty short career, is ready to reform himself. He's already rich - got a $10MM signing bonus in the Washington deal. He was also beat out (I read) by Randle El, who's no slouch. We don't really have any Randle El's here to beat him out, fortunately (unfortunately).
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/26/AR2008022603262.html
After you read this, realize that there's another upside to Lloyd - Vegas should already be posting odds on how long it will take him to choke Ron Turner, Sprewell-style. THAT will be worth the price of his signing bonus.
To the No RB poster, hopefully it will change this year with a better line (TBD at some apparently much later date) and a teensy bit more experience (since he hardly played last year) but Garrett Wolfe has hardly shown he can be a reliable tandem back - he may have speed but he can't make it past the line of scrimmage, where the NFL-size defensive lineman pick him up and throw him down like he's a Raggedy Ann doll. I do think the BT is going to be selecting a draft RB based on speed this year with the hopes that CB provides the power - then probably next year's priority will be selecting a power running back to pair with this year's speedy draft pickup.
March 9, 2008
#52 Ted said . . .the skunk comes from a bill parcells quote about hester along the lines of "i smell that skunk, i ain't going near it." as for me beingg a numbnuts...no doubt about it. as for brandon lloyd sucking in san fran, he just didn't, so that's factually incorrect. as for me liking any players brought in to chicago, that's written by someone who is very very new to this site being that i'm basically critical of everything done. i like these two moves, especially booker. the only free agency moves that have been disasters for the jerry/lovie team were archuleta and jonathan quinn. other than that, they've been pretty solid.
March 9, 2008
#53 KM1113 said . . .I remember Lloyd being good in college at IL. Despite the grim connection with the AA acquisition of another Skins cast-off, I
think we should be (moderately) encouraged. Turner clearly believes he can handle him, even though he has been immature in the past (I believe that R Moss has been similarly immature - ask the Raiders how good a teammate he was).I agree with Max, that we need more receivers in camp, and Lloyd is one more.. with a checkered history, true. I still have hope for Bradley, and would not protest if Angelo used the first pick on a WR, but CLEARLY we need Lots-o-help on the OL, and that should come first.
Oh, and all this name-calling is really really immature.
My $.02
March 9, 2008
#54 Nick said . . .Lloyd is a good signing. He obviously comes with some risk, but to be honest, im fine with that. Because that risk is what scarred off all the other teams. We got a talented reciever for cheap. And if he turns it around and plays great then its a genius signing. If not, then it didnt cost much. This shouldnt stop up from drafting a wr if there is a good value pick there. All it does is give us another guy with speed who can catch the ball. He's probably almost as good as berrian, and it didnt cost much.
March 10, 2008
#55 attiliexife said . . .I'd be more excited about signing Lloyd before getting another washed up player like Alexander. What the hell could he provide us? Good call Jakub...
And by the way, Taylor would be great, but spend some money on a fucking offense!
March 11, 2008
Hello. And Bye.
March 3, 2011
Here at DaBearsBlog, you are free to kill us or the Bears as you so wish. You are not free, however, to be an asshole. So if you spew racism or ill-meaning foul language (cursing about football is just fine) or anything of that ilk, your comments ain't gonna last long, jerk.