Bearstalk

http://chicagobearsfanforum.com/blog/?p=251 The Bears The Bears have added a new scout, presumably to help out on the east coast. Just so you'll know who (else) to blame. Cedric Benson is back at work. No word on why he missed a day but we'll cut him some slack because it's not a crime. As far as we know... David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune makes a legitimate argument that Devin Hester could be among the biggest losers in the decision to opt out of the CBA. Thought playing offensive line was the dirties job in the NFL? Come inside the mind of Israel Idonije of your Chicago Bears. Elsewhere Presumably the vot to opt out of the CBA was u…

http://chicagobearsfanforum.com/blog/ The Bears Brad Biggs blogs that Mark Bradley had arthroscopic surgery earlier this month. He's questionable for the start of training camp. This makes Brandon Lloyd's acquisition all the more important. He was running with the first team. * Biggs also reports that Dan Bazuin is not at Halas Hall. No word on why yet. In other news: o John Tait is lining up at right tackle o Danieal Manning is back at saftey. Manning also is lining up at nickel back (not good news for Ricky Manning). o Terrance Metcalf is lining up wit…

http://chicagobearsfanforum.com/blog/?p=253 The Bears * The Sun-Times’ Mike Mulligan isn’t buying into any reasons for optimism right now. With Mark Bradley out he would certainly seem to have a point. He sees little reason to have any faith in Brandon Lloyd given his history. He also points out that a lighter Cedric Benson doesn’t necessarily mean good things for a power running game. I have to say that I agree with the first but I do have some hope for Benson. I really don’t think those 10 pounds he lost are going to make that much difference in his power and he did look out of shape last year. Hey, its May. Let the optimism last whil…

http://chicagobearsfanforum.com/blog/?p=254 The Bears * Brad Biggs blogs that Cedric Benson has was in court yesterday but not for boating. He was in for a speeding ticket. At first I thought, “No big deal.” But hen I read that he was fined $510 and given supervision. That was some serious speeding. * Count Rashaan Salaam as one of those who isn’t buying into the idea that Cedric Benson finally gets it. “They’ve given him everything,” Salaam said. ”But they’re getting tired of him. I have the most respect for the Chicago Bears organization for sticking with this dude. They are really looking out for Cedric Benson, treating him like he’s…

http://chicagobearsfanforum.com/blog/?p=256 The Bears * Very slow news time for the NFL. So ESPN's John Clayton fills the gap by listing the top seven non-moves of the offseason. You guessed it. The Bears were near the top. 2. Bears don't improve passing offense Coming off their 2006 Super Bowl run, the Bears naturally had to stick with Rex Grossman at quarterback. But the offense dropped to 29th in the NFL last season. Since then, what the Bears did to fix things looked like a caulking job at old Soldier Field. They invested little money to improve the offense. Grossman and Kyle Orton were re-signed for backup salaries ($3 million a yea…

http://chicagobearsfanforum.com/blog/?p=257 The Bears * Former Bear Roosevelt Colvin is claiming interest from the Cleveland Browns and the New York Jets. Michael david Smith at profootballtalk.com thinks it might be a ploy to drum up interest (and I agree). * Bob LeGere writes a nice piece on Bears new/old WR Marty Booker. On the QB "competition": "Dude, in my career I've had like almost 20 different quarterbacks (17 actually), so as far as adjusting to anybody, that's not a problem," he said. "That's the least of everything." Booker might or might noot have the savvy that Muhsin Muhammad had but its pretty evident h…

http://chicagobearsfanforum.com/blog/?p=258 The Bears * Larry Mayer answers an interesting question on chicagobears.com. In the "fair" camp competition between Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton, how will the Bears simulate the pass rush? The question is significant because the perception is that Orton stands in against the rush better. Here's the answer: The defense blitzes and rushes the quarterback in training camp, but as you mentioned, they’re not allowed to make contact. The quarterbacks are taught to unload the ball when under pressure and find their “hot” receiver when blitzed, but there’s truly no way to replicate actual game conditions. I …

Points of View, May 31, 2008 http://chicagobearsfanforum.com/blog/?p=259 The Bears * The Chicago Tribune's David Haugh has a nice take on Brian Urlacher deciding to show up for mandatory workouts. Showing up simply represents the best negotiating ploy for Urlacher, who still will be seeking a new contract Friday when he enters Halas Hall. If he is cleared to participate fully in practice, this would give Urlacher a great opportunity to disprove any doubts about his back and surgically repaired neck. Nothing backs up Urlacher's words that he has recovered well from neck surgery and got in shape in Arizona than showing it on a practic…

I like the look of the cover, they went with Troy Polamalu & Larry Fitz in the first dual cover we've seen. Nice look to it and the splatter effect on the box looks pretty good. I am going to make my own custom one so the selection of the two doesn't bother me. Thoughts? Credit to AlterEgo of VSN on finding it http://www.virtualsportsnetwork.com/forum/...ead.php?t=17340

I just read another article on a site I love for unique information I do not see anywhere else on the internet. It always comes across as legitimate and not clickbait. Ryan Griffin. Have you ever heard of him? I hadn't. Yet, it turns out that this was the guy Poles brought in as a veteran mentor for Caleb instead of having to pay a veteran Quarterback a respectable salary to sit behind him on the bench. Griffin has quite a history. Has spent two seasons with Brady, two years with Brees, was a 10 year veteran, and a great locker room leader. An interesting article (and a short and quick read) that proves more than ever, to me, that Poles is quite crafty and thin…

Courtney Cronin wrote that Ryan Poles is getting a contract extension to align with Ben Johnson.

In the last 3 seasons, the Bears have signed or traded for at least 37 players, I am sure I missed a few. Of all the trades and free agent signings, I have 5 players that have exceeded expectations based on contract or trade value. Who did I miss? I know you can't hit on all of them, but it feels like there are way too many at the bottom. Super long post, but let me know if you think this looks accurate? This group exceeded expectations: 1. Moore - has been as close of WR1 as they have had since Alshon and Marshall 2. Edwards - great LB signing 3. Billings - underrated DT 4. Byard - huge upgrade from Jackson 5. Taylor - for a 6th round pick? …

This is not a result of Ben Johnson, Caleb Williams, or anyone else but Ryan Poles. You can't continually lose on trades and under draft year after year. 2025 Draft picks in the first 4 rounds have literally contributed zero to this team in 2 weeks, and the Bears had 5 picks in the first 4 rounds. In 2024, he drafted Williams #1 and Odunze #9, which were a wash. Most had Williams going #1 and Odunze at 8. He did pass on Brock Bowers and Thomas Jr to go with Odunze. Also passed on every other QB for Williams. Right now, even after a great game for Odunze, it looks like those both were the wrong picks compared to players picked after them. We still have to gi…

This may not sound like a big deal, but TE was an issue last year after Kmet, and the Bears needed 3 on the 53-man roster. This really upgrades TE3 from the likes of Chase Allen and Jake Tonges to Marcedes Lewis.

It may not be the most popular route to go, especially because Fields is such a great leader and teammate, but this group has won 10 games in the last 34. A 10-24 record. Fields is 8-22 in those games and 10-30 overall. This is not a tough decision. There is no way Fields returns. For Flus, you have to win the Division before you do anything else. He is 2-10 in the Division. I could care less about the improvement. It was clear it came from player acquisition and health, not some Flus magic. The Sweat trade and the players coming back from injury turned the defense around. Playing CAR, ATL, and ARZ helped. Also playing MIN with Dobbs. They are 1-3 in the last 4 game…

There's a lot to talk about in the coming year but lets look at the good things that's happened in his first two years He took a terrible cap situation and turned that around in one year. We had the most cap space last year and top 9 this year. I think he cuts Whitehair and Jackson and adds 20 mil to our cap putting us top 5 . That's a win win. He took an old roster and ate lots of dead money to put us in a good space.Losing always comes with those decisions. In free agency he added ( core team players) Tremaine Edmunds, Demarcus Walker, TJ Edwards, Andrew Billings, Travis Homer, Karli Blasingame . In trades he got DJ Moore and Montez Sweat. In …

Worth watching for insights on the plan.. https://www.chicagobears.com/video/ryan-poles-discusses-dj-moore-free-agent-signings-press-conference He holds to his valuations/performance as well as scheme fits (i.e. Orlando Brown) Ok to pay top dollar for young high performers (relative to their peers) who fit scheme and needs and that's why we signed the two LBs. Also explains backing out of negotiations for McGlinchey when price got too high. He is on a multi-year plan to build a sustainable winning organization. (translation - fans might be in more of a rush) Therefore avoid overpaying for the quick "need" fix. This will leave some gaps (i.e.…

Worth watching if you haven’t. Some takeaways: The Bears, right or wrong, are much more comfortable with D line than we are. I’m not even sure they went into the draft with it as a priority, though I expect they’ll see the need to add there today to shut people up if nothing else. They also pretty clearly were not really enamored with this DL class, which is probably why they signed so many DTs in FA (as I had been theorizing). Don’t expect there to be a big competition at C unless Jones really blows them away. The plan is clearly to start Bradberry. They see Shemar as DE, not DT. He was mentioned in the group of edges with Montez, Dayo, and Booker. I don’t necessarily …

Would you rather have Velus Jones (WR), Claypool (WR), Wright (RT), and Dexter (DT) or Jalen Carter (DT), Rashee Rice (WR), Sam LaPorta (TE), and Abraham Lucas (RT)

Since we're near the season end, lots of social media talking about the mistakes Poles made this season. Drafting V Jones - 3rd round wasted pick. Paying to much for Claypool. 34th pick. Botched the Ogunjobi grab Failed to get Ryan Bates as a restricted FA. Did I miss anything? Fans have expectations that a GM makes all A+ moves and never makes a mistake. The best in the league screw up a lot, but they do is make enough good moves that makes them winners. First I think he hired good coaches that teach, probably doesn't look good with a season ending 9 game losing streak. The next few years will show it. Secondly he created great c…