Bearstalk

Apologies - I was traveling in rural parts from Friday-Monday (with family) and during that time an issue with our server (not the server company) popped up. Basically - the database maxed out (I keep a lot of back-ups and needed to trash a bunch of legacy back-ups). It started happening last week intermitently but wasn't aware of the broader issue. Unfortunately - I was traveling in remote parts starting Friday so was NOT aware and when I became aware, well, I wasn't about to cut a rural vacation with my family short (sorry guys - but priorities). But yesterday I dug my car out (it was burried in 2 feet of snow from the storms we got on Friday night / Saturday w…

...but CJ Stroud is a better passer than Justin Fields...

I spent time doing some mocks and lots of trade down scenarios and subsequently started scouting deeper into the draft. The first thing that I seemed to notice is that DT talent seems to be lacking in this draft. I could be wrong but my sense is that after Rd 1/2 there isn't a whole lot of depth. There are round 2 DTs like Gervon Dexter I have no desire to draft because he's so slow off the snap. That just leads me to think FA is the way to go for fixing DT this offseason and we can focus draft picks elsewhere. I like Drew Sanders at MLB. He's got some baggage, or growth areas, since Alabama kept him on-ball but he looks pretty good off-ball in these highlight…

Both QBs were drafted in 2020. Last year the Jaguars had the second most money in FAgency to spend. They had picks, 1--20--65--70 took edge Travon Walker, LB Devin Lloyd, OC Luke Fortner, LB Chad Muma. In Free Agency : Brandon Scheff (all pro OG), Oluokun ( ( leading tackler in 2021 NFL), Fatukasi/ DT (above average), Kirk/ WR ( high #2 ), Zay Jones/ WR, Evan Engram/ TE. They needed to rebuild their OL and WR, add playmaker. Sound familiar? They added 2 starters on their OL and Kirk, Jones and Engram. We have more work on defense but offensively we have already started with bringing in Claypool in the mix. The key will be what Poles doe…

Poles is going to address who he wants to keep before going into free agency. David Montgomery Poles already said he loves what he brings to the team: work ethic, leadership, toughness. Because of a gluten of RBs, he'll sign for a team friendly deal. Say 4- 27 mil with 14 guaranteed / last year void able. Essentially 3- 20 mi Cole Kmet. Poles called him a blue chip player say 4- 37 mil 16 guaranteed He brings back DHC 2- 5 mil Tevor Wesco - vet minimum Josh Blackwell - vet minimum Armon Watts- vet minimum Byron Pringle- 3 mil with no guarantee_( will let him prove himself)

5yr-$100M deal, $60 in guarantees. The Ravens had $52M, that is now almost cut in half for just Roquan and does not include Lamar Jackson..... Roquan becomes their 2nd highest paid player behind Ronnie Stanley.

Wasn’t sure where else to put this so I started one. Probably means we’ll see more of Sanborn(?). Think they’ll add anyone else, anywhere?

We knew what this season was going to be. Within that thought there were varied growth and win expectations from the Bearstalk family and media experts. This will be the single biggest off-season the Bears or maybe any other team has ever had. Do we know of any team has had the number one pick, an emerging QB and 120 mil to spend? Do you expect playoffs, winning record or vast improvement? What gives Poles and Eberflus the thumbs up?

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…

This team sucks in multiple areas, but has enough talent to surprise opponents. Several games were close. A few breaks here or there and this team is easily around .500. However, being around .500 every year is eventually what got Lovie fired. Nobody wants that again. So, the team needs to pull off a Herschel Walker trade IMO. But how much is too much? On the PFF Draft Simulator, I got the following: #2 for Detroit's #4, #18, #49 (2nd) #4 for Pittsburgh's #13, #33 (2nd), and a 2024 RD2 pick #13 for NYJet's #17, #48 (2nd) That's two 1st round picks and a whopping four 2nd round picks, not to mention the extra pick in 2024. This is t…

With Cole Kmet still only 23 yrs old, I took a look back at how the current top TEs looked before they turned 24 and I was pretty shocked. Right now, Kmet has 33 more receptions than the next best TE before the age of 24 and he needs only 68 more yards to pass Pitts (on IR) for the most yards by an (active) TE before the age of 24. If he gets 2 TDs, he would also tie Njoku for the TD lead with 9. Did you know Kmet was this productive at that young of an age? If he averages the same number of receptions and yardage he had last year (60-612) from 2023 until he was 34 (Kelce is 33), he would be in the top 5 for receptions by a TE (all-time). With that projected yar…

There's an outside chance the Bears get the first pick but, they need help from the Texans. Not happening. So with the 2nd pick What you are doing?

With Peterman starting and half the team on IR, this is probably going to be an ugly game. It may also be the last game for Montgomery in a Bears uniform. That is also probably the case with half the players on the roster. I expect some big turnover this offseason as most of the 1-yr contracts didn't impress. Viqueens 38-13 Peterman with 3 INTs, and we will probably see some Boyle.

I caught a Tweet this morning that said Virginia McCaskey turns 100 today. Apparently she is the first NFL owner ever to do that. Happy birthday Virginia.

Julian Edelman was a solid NFL player but, does he deserve a NFL documentary before Hester?

It's the right thing to do. https://www.si.com/nfl/bears/news/hip-injury-cited-as-reason-justin-fields-will-miss-final-game

https://www.audacy.com/670thescore/sports/chicago-bears/report-equanimeous-st-brown-bears-reach-1-year-extension

The playoffs are upon us. Congrats to all the teams that made it to the 2nd season. The bracket is set, 1 and 2 are on byes, 4 plays 5, 3 plays 6. 1 - Fields of Dreams 4 - PapaBear --------------------- 5 - The Mad Lithuanians---------- 3 - Nips&Tips--------------------- 6 - SAVAGEw/LOOSEMORALS!--- 2 - Nopper In other news, I need to know how we want to address absent managers. We had a manager not update their lineup basically all season, including thru byes and IR, which gave some other teams some free wins and impacted the playoff positions. Since this is a pay league, I want to ensure everything is as fair as possible. Any suggestions …

The Bears lost 31-30 the last time they played. Fields had over 300 yards of total offense and 4 TDs. Fields should pass Michael Vick's single season rushing total in this game (28 yards), but needs a big game to have a chance to pass Lamar's record in Week 18. Still funny to see him 7th in the NFL in rushing considering he missed a game. With Herbert now in his 2nd week back, he should look better, but it will be interesting to see if Claypool plays. The Bears defense will have their hands full, Detroit is good rushing and passing. I feel like this will be another high scoring affair, but the Bears will not have enough to hang with Detroit (sounds c…

I feel like comparing anyone to Mahomes is not fair, especially Fields. I don't think he will ever get to that level. However, I still think he can be a top 10 QB with top 5 upside with a higher floor than most other QBs due to his escapability. I don't think he is going to be a perennial 300yd passer, which will keep the national media narrative going. I don't know what the obsession is with Fields. He was the 4th QB drafted and not even in the top 10. The spotlight should be on Lawrence, Wilson, and Lance. Case 1 - Lamar Jackson has started (and had 10 attempts) in 49 games in his career. In 24 of those games (basically half), he failed to throw for 200 pass…