Bearstalk

Here we go, the first playoff game thread since January 2011. We have knocked GB and MIN out of the playoffs, and now get a chance to knock off the champs. Our defense is elite and our offense is balanced and efficient. I feel like we are going to finally unleash the full offense next week for the first time. I think we win handily and the defense creates a few turnovers. I am praying for good officials and no BS calls. Bears 27-13

dam Schefter @AdamSchefter · 37s 37 seconds ago Filed to ESPN: Rams close to trading QB Sam Bradford to Philadelphia for Nick Foles and draft-pick compensation, per sources.

Hopefully we can take advantage of this beat up back field to the tune of Bears 30 Eagles 21 http://espn.go.com/blog/philadelphia-eagle...roups-for-bears

I think this is complete BS speculation by Clayton. The Bears are building something good on offense and Howard is a big part of that. At this point we have legit playoff aspirations and will need Howard to get some tough yards. https://bearswire.usatoday.com/2018/10/09/philadelphia-eagles-chicago-bears-jordan-howard-trade-jay-ajayi-injury/ Former ESPN insider John Clayton told Sports Radio 94 WIP in Philadelphia that the Eagles could be eyeing Howard as a trade target.

Seems like a possibility...

The Larry Fitzgerald-to-the- Eagles trade scenario takes on new intrigue daily, with a report surfacing Friday that the Eagles have submitted a trade offer to Arizona to obtain the Pro Bowl wide receiver. The Cardinals and Fitzgerald have hit an impasse in contract renegotiations, according to The Arizona Republic, which also reported that the Eagles have offered cornerback Lito Sheppard and wide receiver Reggie Brown as trade bait with hopes of forcing the Cardinals to deal away the wideout if they can't reach an agreement to restructure his contract. A league source confirmed to The News Journal that the Eagles have proposed a trade to Arizona, but the source …

Yea he has been out of the league a few years but I guess he had some great workouts for Andy Reid...wonder if he was ever a thought

Philadelphia Eagles ‏@Eagles 9m9 minutes ago #Eagles acquire 8th overall pick from Miami in exchange for LB Kiko Alonso, CB Byron Maxwell, & 13th overall pick. Maybe another QB selection?

will we see Earl Bennett this week returning kicks? Regardless if Hester is hurt or not, we could at least use a reciever

Thought I heard on the Score that Ear Bennett was asked to take a cut and declined so he has been released; $2.4 mil cap savings.

I've always thought he was a solid #3 WR and with the Browns need at WR I'm a little shocked by this. Perhaps his connection with Jay made him look a whole lot better than he really is. With Hixon done for the year I wonder if the Bears bring him back. I don't necessarily see the need, but apparently the Bears do since they signed Hixon/Morgan to begin with.

I just read this blurb on PFW (which isn't to be confused with PFFFFFFFFT): We hear second year Bears WR Earl Bennett, a third round disappointment who admitted that he struggled last season to learn the Bears' playbook, looked a lot more sure of himself running routes at the Bears' first minicamp this offseason. Heading into the draft, Bennett appears to have a tenuous hold on the No. 2 WR spot behind Devin Hester and ahead of Rashied Davis. What do you want to bet that with the addition of Cutler, Bennett becomes not only a lock for the #2, but a breakout performer this year?

@adamjahns 2h #Bears say they're still evaluating Earl Bennett for a concussion. He wasnt at practice today. @BearReport 2h Earl Bennett is still being evaluated for a possible concussion.

Profootball focus did a study of the top rated WRs and there catch rate. He tops the list for the last 3 years with a .0315 drop rate. The worst was Roy Williams(thank god he is gone) with .1435 % drop rate. Marshall finished with (in three year span)a .1155%drop rate. He did have shitty QBs in Miami,so I guess we can look for improvement.

http://www.statesman.com/sports/content/sp...5/0515earl.html Earl to Cedric: "Take responsibility" Campbell says Benson needs to be careful of the situations in which he puts himself By Randy Riggs AMERICAN STATESMAN STAFF Thursday, May 15, 2008 Former Longhorns running back Cedric Benson says he's innocent. But University of Texas legend Earl Campbell says Benson shouldn't put himself in a situation that might require him to claim his innocence. Benson was arrested May 3 on Lake Travis and charged with boating while intoxicated and resisting arrest. He and others have disputed the police version of the incident, but Campbell said Wednesd…

Given our situation where we really need help and leadership in the defensive backfield I'm all in on Poles kicking the tires here. As long as he is healthy and in shape I'm in...sign him. Considering the style of defense we're moving toward which is much more see-it-and-react is what Thomas excelled at we should be ok with him on the field. I'm not expecting him to be great but unless we draft a S in Rd 2, which is unlikely, his leadership and experience is going to be a plus over any other option we have. Earl was the heart beat of the Seahawks great defense. A 1yr rental to help us right the ship will help us if for no other reason than teaching the young p…

With the loss of Melton, DT just became a little higher priority for adding talent. I scoped out a couple mock sites and put a wish list together. This coming offseason will be a handful for Emery and Meltons injury just added to that pressure. Rd 1 Timmy Jennigan DT FSU 6-2 298 Fits the mold of a 3T tackle the Bears look for, quick burst, disruptive. Rd 2 Justin Gilbert CB Ok SU 6-0 194 CB with size and experience. Rd 3 Hroniss Grasu C Oregon 6-3 294 Quick/athletic, also a great run blocker for Oregon's fast paced attack. Chip Kelly will also be looking for his anchor to make the line calls. Rd 4 Barrett Jackso…

In my mind I see Bears doing following: Free Agent Starters: FA center (Falcons or Colts centers) FA guard (Chiefs guard is the big swing) DE (Chase Young is my big) FA guard (Zeitler) Depth moves: Depth DT (lower cost - but run stuffer type for depth behind Billings / ensure flexibility in draft) Depth WR (Tim Patrick) Depth Oline (swing tackle and guard - my guess is Pryor is back) This gives Bears a TON of flexibility when they get into draft as interior oline would be significantly revamped with pass rush also upgraded. Allows Bears to swing a few shots but be in a position where they could develop as we…

We needed MIN, CAR, and DAL to lose. Well DEN is up 3 against MIN, CAR is being shutout by ATL, and DAL is up by 10+ against DET. So CAR is definitely a loss, MIN can still lose, and it looks like DAL will win easily. Let's go Broncos! How about the epic QB matchup with Jackson and Watson? Jackson has 4 TDs and is borderline unstoppable. Watson? Not so much. Thru the mid-4th, he is 18-29 (62%), 169 yds, 1 INT, 6 sacks, 1 FL. Watch the media on Watson, they will point to a bad O-Line, etc, etc. Nothing like Trubisky gets when he has a game like this. The funny thing is, Watson has had several games with less than 200 yards passing and several multi-turnover…

Spent the evening and I layed out the Bears current roster with their contracts expiration dates to get a look at needs. As I see it now, if no major injury takes place, the Bears may sit on the remaining cap to lock up Alshon Jeffery. Depending how the season plays out, the Bears will have major needs in the following: Defense 3-4 DE - McDonald, Jenkins, and Ratliff contract expires. That will leave Furguson, Sutton, Washington, and Dunn NT- Depth will be needed behind Goldman CB-Fuller on one end, Jennings I see as a nickel leaves finding a long term man cover CB a big need S-Mundys contract expires, depth behind Vereen and Amos will be a need OLB is locked …