Official Chicago Bears Forum Thread

[FirstTimer]

I am pissed the Bears aren't even in the DISCUSSION of most of these free agents. It's like JA doesn't give a fuck at all.

I'd love to see him talk to Derrick Brooks and Warrick Dunn but honestly there's not a lot out there this season.

 

[Saluki]

I am pissed the Bears aren't even in the DISCUSSION of most of these free agents. It's like JA doesn't give a fuck at all.

Thats cuz he doesn't give a fuck, he's such a cheap bastard.

I'd love to see him talk to Derrick Brooks and Warrick Dunn but honestly there's not a lot out there this season.

There's some WRs out there, there were a couple safties and cbs out there, some backup QBs, we went after 1 guy, and didn't even look to get a little depth at any other positions. There are alot of roleplayer and backup type guys in FA, mind u right now our backup QB is Caleb Haine........exactly.

 

[FirstTimer]

Thats cuz he doesn't give a fuck, he's such a cheap bastard.

Not so much true. He spent big money on Moose and has spent a lot of money resigning guys from the Super Bowl team. He spent hefty cash signing extensions and FA deals with those guys.

There's some WRs out there, there were a couple safties and cbs out there, some backup QBs, we went after 1 guy, and didn't even look to get a little depth at any other positions. There are alot of roleplayer and backup type guys in FA, mind u right now our backup QB is Caleb Haine........exactly.

I was responding to the idea the Bears didn't make a big splash in FA. Not a lot of guys out there to make a "splash" with.

As far as Caleb Hanie goes all word coming out of Halas Hall is that the Bears think they found a "steal" with him and REALLY like him. So that may explain the lack of a FA QB at this point. Honestly I'd expect the Bears to do a lot more FA signings after the draft since they will only be looking for role players and will look to fill what holes they have after the draft.

 

[Saluki]

Not so much true. He spent big money on Moose and has spent a lot of money resigning guys from the Super Bowl team. He spent hefty cash signing extensions and FA deals with those guys.

5mill a year isn't exactly hefty, and the only player that he gave a BIG deal too without alot of strife was tommie harris. He almost let Urlacher and Briggs go when it came time to pay them.



I was responding to the idea the Bears didn't make a big splash in FA. Not a lot of guys out there to make a "splash" with.

As far as Caleb Hanie goes all word coming out of Halas Hall is that the Bears think they found a "steal" with him and REALLY like him. So that may explain the lack of a FA QB at this point. Honestly I'd expect the Bears to do a lot more FA signings after the draft since they will only be looking for role players and will look to fill what holes they have after the draft.

They'd be lucky to find roleplayers at the positions they need that late in free agency. The way it's looking the bears will have a rookie or 2nd year player at one of the top two WR spots with Devin Aramashadou being the vet on the roster. Along with a very young core of DB's where peanut will be the only starter who's been in the lg longer than 3 years if they don't resign McGowan.

I don't know about you but that sounds like rebuilding to me, a 9-7 team that was maybe a few peices from being in the playoffs now drops down to the 2nd worse team in the division, on paper at least. It could turn out well, but right now the bears arn't looking like contenders for a NFC north title.

 

[FirstTimer]

5mill a year isn't exactly hefty, and the only player that he gave a BIG deal too without alot of strife was tommie harris. He almost let Urlacher and Briggs go when it came time to pay them.

Well all contract negotians have strife. That's why the whole process of negotiations exists. At the end of the day Angelo gave the money out so to call him a cheap ass if absurd. If he or the Bears were so cheap they just would have let the guys walk. Especially in the case of Briggs. But at the end of the day he has given out big money to resign guys like:
Urlacher
Briggs
Hester
Tillman
Vasher
Harris
And The Moose deal may not seem like "big numbers" but Moose was the top WR FA that year and JA went after him and was willing to throw 12 million guaranteed at him and 16 million over the first three years to the guy. The length of the deal was a bit of a knee jerk reaction but JA went out and was willing to spend money to try and bring in a legit WR to the team.

They'd be lucky to find roleplayers at the positions they need that late in free agency.

Odd: Guys like Ruben brown, John St Claire, and Anthony Adams have all been late additions that have been contributors to the team and those are just in recent memory.

And now Torry Holt may be released by the Rams, TO was let go by the Cowboys, and who knows what else will happen. There are always players out there to get and fill roles later in the FA cycle. This FA class wasn't very good to begin with so it remains to be seen what else will happen down the road.

Along with a very young core of DB's where peanut will be the only starter who's

Hi! My name is Nate Vasher.................

I don't know about you but that sounds like rebuilding to me, a 9-7 team that was maybe a few peices from being in the playoffs now drops down to the 2nd worse team in the division, on paper at least.

Paper schmaper. In 2005 the team was ranked as one of the worst in the NFL and won the division and last year they were canned too and almost won it. Paper means squat. Put good players on the field regardless of how old they are and you have a chance to win.

 

[FirstTimer]

From Chicagobears.com

Interesting comments by Jerry Angelo on the WR position

LM: How much of a priority is upgrading the wide receiver position either in free agency or the draft?
JA: Naturally, we’re going to look at that real hard, in all likelihood in the draft. We’re not looking for backup wide receivers. What we want are potentially starting wide receivers. We have a nucleus of receivers that we feel good about in terms of twos, threes, fours and fives, and if we carried six, a sixth receiver. Part of that ties into special teams. What we’re looking at is the top of the wide receiver position. Where does that come from? It comes with a premium receiver in free agency if there’s one out there and/or in the draft. Yes, it’s a position that we are looking at.

Very intesresting when looking at the fact that all along Lovie Smith has touted Devin Hester as a #1 WR and here JA is talking about how the Bears need a #1 and he is comfortable with what they have at the #2-5 or 6 slots. Seems to be a disconnect between what Lovie sees and what JA sees. Also means to me the Bears could be looking WR with the #18 pick if they are looking for a starter right off the bat. In either case you have to think they have a guy or guys targeted already in Rounds 1 or 2 that they feel can come in and start from Day 1.

 

[FirstTimer]

Angelo better get on the phone now to sign either Holt or Owens I really want Owens in a Bears jersey

No way in hell that happens after the Tank Johnson/Cedric Benson stuff and all the character concerns TO brings.

If anyone JA would talk to Holt. Holt was in St Louis with Lovie and that might help.

 

[Senser81]

Very intesresting when looking at the fact that all along Lovie Smith has touted Devin Hester as a #1 WR and here JA is talking about how the Bears need a #1 and he is comfortable with what they have at the #2-5 or 6 slots. Seems to be a disconnect between what Lovie sees and what JA sees. Also means to me the Bears could be looking WR with the #18 pick if they are looking for a starter right off the bat. In either case you have to think they have a guy or guys targeted already in Rounds 1 or 2 that they feel can come in and start from Day 1.

The Bears WRs are trash. Hester is not a #1 WR. And I have no idea how the Bears could be comfortable with the #2-5 slots when Hester can come in and basically outplay every WR on the Bears roster. The Bears WRs were arguably the worst in the NFL last year. I doubt there is a disconnect between Lovie and JA...I would guess Lovie's comments about Hester were to build Hester's fragile confidence.

 

[FirstTimer]

The Bears WRs are trash. Hester is not a #1 WR. And I have no idea how the Bears could be comfortable with the #2-5 slots when Hester can come in and basically outplay every WR on the Bears roster. The Bears WRs were arguably the worst in the NFL last year. I doubt there is a disconnect between Lovie and JA...I would guess Lovie's comments about Hester were to build Hester's fragile confidence.

I would agree whole heartedly. Outside of the unknown quantity in Earl Bennett the Bears WR's last year sucked. They were the worst I can remember since I have been alive. They made me miss Wendell Davis. Hester is not and never will be a #1. He's the Bears version of Tyrus Thomas. He's the player all the meathead fans love because he can make big plays but frankly isn't as good as his flashes. Hester is MAYBE a #2 and I could see him as a hell of a #3 guy. Mike Hass was possibly the best WR on the roster last year and he never saw the field.

I guess I would doubt that JA and Lovie had a disconnect behind the scenes but it is interesting to hear such contradictory public statements from the top guys.

 

[Senser81]

I guess I would doubt that JA and Lovie had a disconnect behind the scenes but it is interesting to hear such contradictory public statements from the top guys.

Hearing both of them speak for the past few years, I would guess that neither is a Rhodes Scholar.

 

[Senser81]

I would ask how old are you but seeing the way Skip Bayless and the rest of the media are on T.O I see where you get this T.O hate....

I mean for godsakes he had a clean slate in DAL, just cuz he said Romo needed to spread the ball more last season (which was very fucking true) he got a bad rap for. I mean c'mon man Ced and Tank were legal issues. And may I add Ced was not talented at all, Tank wasnt much himself so why not bring in a talent like T.O to work with these young guys. T.O, Holt, and Hester with Holt playing slot would destroy hell you can even put T.O in the slot where he would catch at least 100 passes for the way that Orton likes to play the field.

LOL, if TO gets upset when pro bowl guys like Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb, and Tony Romo are throwing him the ball...what do you think will happen when Kyle Orton is his QB?

 

[FirstTimer]

TO's biggest problem is that he is the Milton Bradley of football...except more durable. He takes every bit of criticism or suggestion that he doesn't like as a sign of disrespect. I don't think anyone has a problem with a player giving his opinion either in front of or behind closed doors but the problem with TO is that he doesn't have any sense of how to maturely/effectively express his opinion. it always comes off as whiney/immature/standoff-ish/aggressive. Until TO learns thathe's going to have a lot more short tenures on teams. Will he ever learn it? Doubtful, but some team can hope. Frankly though TO, who is 35, comes off as a whiney 20 year old in a lot of what he does. He needs to adjust his personality and frankly start acting his age.

 

[Saluki]

Hi! My name is Nate Vasher.................

I'd be willing to bet money that Nate Vasher won't be a bear come seasons start.

 

[FirstTimer]

NFL Hall of Famer George "One Play" McAffee Passes Away

George McAfee, a college and pro football Hall of Famer who was a star for the NFL's Chicago Bears and at Duke, has died. He was 90.

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Durham, where McAfee attended church, confirmed Thursday that McAfee died Wednesday night.

In eight seasons with Chicago, McAfee gained more than 5,000 all-purpose yards and had 21 interceptions. His 35-yard interception return for a touchdown helped Chicago to a 73-0 victory over the Washington Redskins in the 1940 NFL championship.

McAfee helped the Blue Devils to a 24-4-1 record and two Southern Conference titles between 1937 and 1939.

McAfee led Duke in rushing, receiving, scoring, kickoff returns, punt returns, interceptions and punting during his senior season. He earned first-team All-America honors and Duke went 8-1.


From Wiki:
George Anderson McAfee (March 13, 1918 – March 4, 2009) was a former American football player. He played college football at Duke University. He is a former running back who played for the Chicago Bears (1940-1941, 1945-1950). During his time playing football, he scored 234 points, gained 5,313 combined net yards, intercepted 25 passes in eight seasons, held the record for punt return average at 12.78 yards, and was the NFL punt return champion. Among some of his feats, he returned a punt for 75 yards to beat the Brooklyn Dodgers during his first exhibition game with the Bears, and ran back a kickoff for 93 yards and threw a touchdown pass to help the Bears win over their rival, the Green Bay Packers. He served in the Navy during World War II.


Nicknamed "one-play McAfee" he was known for explosive speed. 1941 was a banner year for McAfee. He lead the league with an eye-popping 7.3 rushing yards per carry while scoring a league high 12 touchdowns in an eleven game season. While his rushing yardage totals seem modest by today's standards he had to share the backfield with other outstanding running backs such as Hugh Gallarneau, Norm Standlee, and Bill Osmanski as well as hall of fame quarterback Sid Luckman. Versatility was the name of McAfee's game. In 1941 his 12 touchdown total consisted of 6 by rushing, 3 receiving, 1 by punt return, 1 by kickoff return, and 1 by interception return all while helping the Chicago Bears to their second straight NFL league championship over the New York Giants.

 

[RainboUnicorn]

Oh yeah I forgot. We are such a perennial playoff team and we have such a potent offense that we wouldn't want TO to ruin that...

I'm willing to take the chance. Heck, we needed receivers last year and we thought that with Booker and Lloyd were the ones that were going to get us over the hump. I'm sorry but I would love to take the risk with T.O.

What's the worst that could happen? He hurts Kyle Orton's feelings? Oh my! Not our franchise quarterback! He prevents our team from making the playoffs? oh no! What's new? Instead we can take a risk with an unproven first or second round draft pick as our number one.

Give me a break


Who am I kidding though. Angelo wont sign anyone in free agency.

 

[FirstTimer]

Angelo isn't cheap. Just a myth.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported this week that no NFL team spent more money on contract extensions last year than the Bears, who committed more than $185 million in contracts, including more than $50 million guaranteed. Is that being cheap? The Bears have re-signed Pro Bowlers Lance Briggs, Brian Urlacher, Tommie Harris, Devin Hester and Robbie Gould as well as Charles Tillman, Nate Vasher and Desmond Clark to new deals.

 

[Saluki]

I understand that Angelo likes to build through the draft, but at some point he has to look back and go hmmm, this isn't working out too well. Since Angelo took over the bears in 2001 they have gone 69-59, and had only THREE playoff appernces, granted they did appear in a SB but 3 playoff apperances in 9 years is pretty bad, and most GM's would have been fired by now, way better GM's than him have been fired for way less, lucky Jerry the McCaskey's like him.

 

[FirstTimer]

I understand that Angelo likes to build through the draft, but at some point he has to look back and go hmmm, this isn't working out too well. Since Angelo took over the bears in 2001 they have gone 69-59, and had only THREE playoff appernces, granted they did appear in a SB but 3 playoff apperances in 9 years is pretty bad, and most GM's would have been fired by now, way better GM's than him have been fired for way less, lucky Jerry the McCaskey's like him.

To be fair Angelo didn't have full GM powers until the 2004 season Jauron had a stipulation in his contract concerning the control of player decisions. So that has to be kept in mind when deal with Angelo. So since Angelo has had full GM powers the Bears are 45-35 with two playoof appearances and a Super Bowl birth.

Also, Angelo has had more "hits' than misses in free agency. Guys like Thomas Jones, John Tait, Ruben Brown, John St. Claire, Roberto Garza all come to mind. Sure he has had some misses but every GM does. The biggest issue Angelo and the Bears have had under Smith is the ability to internally scout players accurately and the ability to adapt to changes during the season and play who needs to be played.

 

[Saluki]

Josh Bullocks? Didn't he lose his job to Kevin Kaesviharn last season......

 

[FirstTimer]

Mini camp starts this week.

A few notes from Chicago Bears.com

-Made it before the draft this year so the new coaches could work with players and so the front office could look at the roster once again before the draft

-Zach Bowman moving from CB to FS. Interesting move especially considering his injury history but it would give us a guy with some good cover skills at the safety position. Something that has been severely lacking for years.

-Earl Bennett is going to be given a chance to win a starting job opposite Devin Hester(who shouldn't be starting anyways...)

-Frank Omiyale will be working at left guard......Just make him the right tackle opposite Williams for Christ sakes.

-The Bears circle jerk over Caleb Hanie continues. The team really likes this guy and thinks they found a diamond in the rough last year by signing him. Smith is "excited" to see him. They expect him to compete for the #2 job.