[Introduction thread]

If there's going to be a "who are you" thread for the people from BearsTalk to ID themselves, then as one of the mods here, I'd like to add this thread as a place for everyone to say hello. Welcome to this way of organizing the words "Bears" and "Talk"! I'm one of the guys who came over from Soxtalk when this board was created, and it'll certainly be nice to have some new minds around here to pick!

[Beekman or Metcalf?]

I think you can make a similar case when it comes to cutting down Moose's time. They obviously will not hamper with Berrian's playing time and Bernard is in a contract year and it would be a horrible decision to take away from his final season and would possibly be something that causes burned bridges and would eventually prevent the Bears from being able to resign Bernard (ie, him not playing would hurt his stats and lead him to getting a smaller contract on the FA market). The question is do you gain a lot more by playing someone like Hass (obviously Bradley should play more, because this is probably his last season with the Bears if he can't show some flashes these last couple games) or do you server Kyle better by keeping out the steady veteran presence (ie Mush).

I think that after the last game, one thing the Bears really need to do is to get this Devin Hester guy as much playing time at WR during games as humanly possible. He seems pretty good. He caught a few passes last week, and for some reason people seem really intimidated by him. The work might be useful for him, even if it's only Orton throwing to him. Perhaps they could get into one of those rhythms together.

 

Seriously, if Hester is going to play WR for this team next year, and if he's as big of a threat as they think he can be, go crazy with him the last 4 weeks for playing time. Stick him in as many sets as he can, and if nothing else let him practice.

[Grossman willing to return next year]

I think the bigger question is whether the Bears believe they need to really upgrade the running back position or if they feel that upgrading the offensive line can do enough to at least make the running game serviceable (obviously if they have the ability to bring in a very good RB they will do it, but I think the offensive line has to take priority with either a RB/WR being taken in the 2nd round).

I'm going to join in the group of people saying that the Bears have no need to spend a draft pick on a RB this offseason. If nothing else, I think almost everyone here can say that the play of the Bears O-Line was uniformly bad this year, and I've seen enough poor running backs look good behind a good O-Line to say that there's no reason to blow more cap space on another RB. On top of that, over and over again we see teams finding a RB off the scrap heap, undrafted, or late rounder guys, and when you stick them behind a solid O-Line and give them a decent passing attack they go crazy.

 

IMO, if the Bears see a QB they really like in round 1, I'd be willing to accept that. But this is supposed to be a deep year for O-Linemen. Keep Tait as your core, take whichever LT remaining when you draft sits at the top of your board unless somehow all the potential first round guys vanish befor ethe Bears pick, and give some strong consideration to spending the cap room on a guy like Faneca, to give you some veteran peaking muscle on that same side at the guard position.

 

Give both the QB and the RB a solid O-Line and see what happens.

[Grossman willing to return next year]

Rex has continued the 08 season talk now surrounding the Bears with this statement.

"I'd like to be back here if I'm wanted back here," said Grossman, who endured heavy criticism last season despite helping the Bears make the Super Bowl. "We'll see what goes on."

 

The Bears are 5-8 and out of the playoff picture. Grossman, a first-round pick in 2003, said he wants to be somewhere where he can compete for the starting job.

 

"I think you're always proving yourself, and I definitely would like to be in a situation anywhere where I'm competing for the starting job and show what I can do, and just kind of improve and take the experience that I've had throughout the last couple years and build upon that," he said.

 

"I know I can play good football, so if I'm in a position where I can compete next July, I'll be happy."

Well, he'd certainly have the chance to compete for a starting job in Chicago. The question is, would he be happy to do so on a 1 or 2 year deal?

[Orton to Start this week]

Well, if the old threads are gone, figure I might as well revive one or two of them on various subjects.

 

Tribune.

Impatiently, Kyle Orton has waited for another opportunity.

 

The third-year Bears quarterback couldn’t mask his frustration about not playing in a game that mattered since the end of the 2005 season. But Orton’s aggravation turned to elation Monday when coach Lovie Smith told him he would start against the Vikings on Monday night in Minneapolis.

 

No one has promised Orton anything beyond the next game, but he is fully aware of how a strong performance could bode well for his future.

 

“I’m going to let my play speak for itself,” Orton said, “and I figure if I play well and win football games, it will be my job.”

 

Orton was speaking about starting the final three games, of course. Yet the Bears turning to their third starting QB this season would indicate shifting the focus toward next season. Orton could play himself into at least contention for the starting role in 2008, although it is unclear whether the Bears intend to re-sign Rex Grossman or shop the free-agent market.

 

If Orton proves himself worthy, he could be a bargain. His base salary would be $460,000 next season.

 

“Most of the guys on our football team have had the opportunity to prove what they can do, except for Kyle,” said Smith, who refused to admit that the evaluation period has started. “I’m excited about what he can possibly do for us this coming week.

 

“He’s a smart football player. He has a strong arm. … Our guys have played with him, so they know what type of player he is.”