balta1701-A

Correct. However, I will begrudge no Bears fan for being angry at Green Bay. GB now has to play next week, probably against the Vikings I think.

In case a specific thread needed to be posted as the FG went through the uprights.

I didn't say this earlier. Yes I'd absolutely consider a 3 year deal for Reid. A lot of it would depend on his interview/evaluation of what he's going to do with Cutler and who is going to take over that defense. But yes, I'd count him as a major option

Both Reid and San Diego have said they're not interested currently, for whatever that is worth.

Did you watch the team this year under campbell? Or last year under Hanie? This team was 7-3 before Cutler got hurt last year, and couldn't even come close to winning a game without him until the final game that didn't count. I don't know who the backup will be next year, but if Cutler were to miss 1/2 the season, I have very little confidence in them winning a game without him.

If he gets an extension, it's because the Bears pulled together, won 2 big playoff games on the road, and wound up at least in the conference championship game, if not the super bowl. If he's in his 3rd conference championship since 2006, and maybe 2nd super bowl, ok, add 2 years, the team pulled it off. Be honest, even the people who despise him would be pumped about that kind of playoff run.

A groove, to me, is not a WC round win, even if it's on the road. I think they'd keep him after a WC win, but with how this team started the year, with the talent on this roster, the only thing stopping them from being a conference championship team is themselves.

Ownership can't be this dumb. If they extend him, then they're a Cutler Concussion away from buying out an extra $10 million next offseason. They'd have to know that. One concussion and this becomes a 3-13 team, barring a personnel overhaul. If they let him go now, they're on the hook for $5 million. If they leave him as a lame duck and he wins big, they win big and make money off that, and have to pay him a million or so more per year. If they extend him and the team collapses, they're on the hook for the entire extension. The worst case scenario next year for ownership is extending him.

If you're not going to let him go in as a lame duck, then you have to replace him unless they make the title game.

WTF was that McCarthy? You send your offense out on 4th and 11 and call TO before your QB can even attempt to draw anyone offsides?

May as well use this thread if anyone wants to talk about the vikes/pack game. Good start overall for the Vikings. Early points and Packers couldn't move the ball. Packers should win a challenge early, but it's a silly challenge. Best he gets out of it is 5 yards, but it burns an early challenge.

I could see them maybe, maybe keeping him this year if Emery wants to and if they do make the playoffs. But they'd be keeping him on the 1 year deal. I think a Championship game is required for an extension.

No way.

That one I really didn't mind. It's a big 3rd down, the playcall is in, Cutler is at the line and he decides that he doesn't want to go up against the defense he sees on the field. When you have a lead and it's a third down, take the TO and make a playcall you're happy with.

Big run Forte!

Run the ball twice, get yourself 3rd and 4, then you throw the ball into double coverage down the sideline trying to get 20+ yards. Why?

There could have been a defensive holding penalty on that throw too, that made a big difference.

Somebody tie Marshall's shoe.

That's 3.

A first down quick slant route to Marshall. YAY!

Hard to believe the Lions would have been held to only 10 points this game. 20 might still win it, but shutting down Calvin Johnson just isn't easy.

Yay, thanks to the Giants blowout I get the 2nd half of this game. Now the Bears just have to make sure that blowout doesn't matter.

Seriously, prior to this year, how many LB openings have the Bears had?

The Bears will be able to significantly add to their cap room by dealing with Hester as well, although they may subtract some on extensions (i.e. Melton) if those get done. Peppers has a particularly high number that might be alter-able in a new contract as well, IIRC.

One other issue is that DT isn't really a position that racks up numbers, particularly for a 3-4 defense. In a 4-3, sometimes you can use them to attack the QB, but really, that's a run-stopping position first and foremost. The most effective 3-4 DT in the league might not make the pro bowl, because teams would just give up on attempting inside runs.