balta1701-A

Given Brown's history I wouldn't do this, but I think it's also possible that the safeties on the roster are the ones the Bears open with AND they draft a new one....and use their IR/Redshirt year trick on him.

With the 21st pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Washington Redskins select: Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson. The Dallas Cowboys are on the clock.

Interesting on Kelly going to Tampa Bay. The Bills reportedly were strongly considering him, they really need a big receiver to go with a west coast style offense (all of their receivers right now are below 6 foot), but he went in for a pro-day, ran like a 4.7 40, and wound up blaming the conditions. I didn't like any part of what I read about that, so I went with a bit of a reach on the guy from Michigan State, who has a much better 40 time and might be able to be a bit of a kick returner also.

Sent him a PM last night, haven't yet heard back.

IMO, the problem with a Matt Ryan pick is it's basically an admission that you're not competing for the next 2 years. Most QB's take somewhere between 1-2 years even to start to reach the level it takes to play in the NFL, or more. The Bears would be grabbing BPA, yes, but would be basically admitting that they won't be competitive for Urlacher's last couple good years or for Harris/Vasher/Tillman's prime years, etc. If the team doesn't upgrade the O-Line and a few other positions, then it's basically time to trade off Urlacher and Harris and focus on rebuilding. That's what drafting a QB at 14 means to me...that it's a rebuilding time.

Whether they're perfect or not, it would take an awful lot for me to say that the Bears need to switch coaches only 2 years after a Super Bowl run. Overall, I think the impact that a coach has on a team is often vastly overestimated. They have to be either REALLY bad or REALLY good before they can have more of an impact than the players on the field.

Someone who knows the system better than I can chime in also...but I think it's also the case that trading Benson would render the Bears a big cap hit this season as well. I think the cap related reality is that Benson gets one last chance. Cutting him costs the Bears cap space, trading him costs the Bears cap space. Neither one is a smart option with how the league's cap is built.

ESPN is now reporting that the Bills, in desperate need of a WR to fit both their new West Coast offense, and their new young QB, stretched somewhat for Devin Thomas after their preferred WR, Malcolm Kelly, had a horrendous workout with the Bills, which he blamed on the quality of the field.

With the 11th pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills select Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State. The New England Patriots are now on the clock.

The post doesn't necessarily say he was so weak he couldn't beat out a one-armed veteran, it says that they made a decision that they were going to redshirt him and take their sweet time with him. If they consider that a valid development method, then it makes sense that they'd follow it.

ESPN is reporting that Buffalo is trying desperately at the last minute to trade down out of their pick and are willing to listen to any offers that don't involve them taking on a large salary.

I think the logical move from a financial standpoint is exactly what you suggest...but I think the Bears are actually trying to do a goodwill offer here. Above the value that they ought to be offering, fair market value, for a guy who is an injury concern.

I think given Harris's injury issues, that's actually a better offer than I think I would have made at this point if I were the Bears. If he wants to wait and push the team to use the Franchise tag, so be it. The Bears can just leave that offer standing and wait at this point. It worked with Briggs.

The worst move in draft history? I'd say that's just a bit of a stretch. I probably wouldn't have made the same move if I were in Denver, but it could well be that Shanahan is getting tired of having RB's who aren't dominating players like he'd hope they are regardless of his blocking scheme, and might go for a RB to take pressure off of Cutler. I was very surprised when they traded for Travis Henry for the same reason everyone else cites...they're so used to turning average RB's in to great ones, but the league and players certainly do change with time, and they might well decide its time to add a high skill level RB to their scheme.

If I was picking with the Bills in the late first I might be interested (although I'd want Johnson to approve the deal). Any way you'd be interested in a 2nd this year and a 2nd next year? And maybe throw in JP Losman?

If he wants Freeney money, I'd probably be willing to pay it, especially with the prospect of uncapped years coming up in the near future...but I don't think I'd want to pay it right now, not until I have more confidence in his recovery from injury. Use this year's cap space to try to cover the other issues, i.e. signing Hester, etc. Make Harris prove for one more year that he can stay healthy and has recovered fully from that disastrous leg injury. If he looks like he did pre-injury, give him that contract, he'll be worth it. If not, then you consider letting him walk. The Franchise tag becomes the team's friend in this case as long as they're smart enough to re-sign Hester, Gould, etc., beforehand.

And Bears Nation breaks out in tears at the 7th pick... Interesting. Denver, the RB creation factory, drafting a RB highly.

There has been a trade. The New England Patriots have traded the #7 pick in the first round to Denver for the #12 pick, Cornerback Dre Bly, and selection #108 in the 4th round.

Anyone here know "The Prophet" or know how to find him? I've sent him a couple PM's letting him know he's on the clock. Anyone have a better option?

Let's be nice and give "The Prophet" a little bit of wiggle room on the 24 hour deadline...I'm not sure he knows we've started yet.

As far as I'm concerned, we go until the actual draft. How far we get depends on how rapidly people get in their picks.

Doesn't this suggest that the market for Briggs was even less than we thought?

So, I'm certainly not looking for a high round pick, but I'd like to note that JP Losman is readily available out there for any team that would be considering a QB in the higher rounds, and he's at a lower cost than the top couple guys on draft boards.

Um. yeah. Which team does Lebron James play for again? Wow. D'Oh. Fixed.

We now have a full roster. As of the time this posts, give or take a few minutes, Miami/Drunkbomber is on the clock. Call it 6:15 PM CST. The rules are...you have 24 hours to make your pick otherwise, just as in the normal draft, the next team in line can go. Please try to go faster if you're around. The less time each pick takes, the more we get in before the actual draft.