madlithuanian

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/...cket-increases/

I don't really like it. i feel we need some veteran presence. Although, if we cant get one, this shotgun theory may at least enable us to find 1 great WR in the process. Then, it may be worth it. I don't see then doing this though.

DENIED!!!! Shady-a$$ Bears!!! I spent over a half hour going through the site picking out items. I then went to pay. This was easily with about 4 minutes to spare on the deadline. Went through and past the paypal set-up, then was asked for my billing address. I supplied it, then got an error on my phone number. It said just numbers, no characters. Which I did. So I did it again. And again. And again with a different number. And a gain. Probably about 20 times. Then I got frustrated and went back for a moment, only to have my order revert back to the original prices. I just sent off an e-mail to customer service explaining my problems. I hope they respond. How convenient to allow all that and then stick a wrench in it long enough to deny me. Shady.... This may be my last attempt to buy anything ever again from them directly. Thank you for the head-up regardless, but you may want to let your contact know that it all seems like shady business practices to me right now.

Much thanks! Such a tease though! Almost all the gear I want is the traditions line!

Exactly! The average hardcore fan is LUCKY to go w/o paying a king's ransom! I've lucked into getting ticketmaster "day of on-sale" tickets about 3 times in my life. Once we paid for club seats at the gate on gameday. ($250 a pop) Another time we bought scalped, and they ended up being fake, and lost about $150 per person. Cariagslist a few times and StubHub a few more. Although I don't think raising the price really hurts the average fan. In fact, it may help. By attempting to reach market level (which is what the sites and scalpers sell at), you eliminate the middle-man, and the fan can purchase directly from the stadium. When prices are set artificially loo low, the profit incentive to too high for others to not swoop in and buy up what they can. This same thing happens in the concert business all the time.

I would tend to agree. We really don't know Emery's MO at this point...but given Smith's input ("raft defensive players please") and the glaring need at WR... I don't see OL being addressed to this extent in FA. I could see a lesser player for less money, but not the numbers you are mentioning.

Exactly. As long as tickets actually selling on StubHub are higher than face value, expect face value prices to rise.

Same here. Although I wouldn't mind a look at Dreesen in lieu of Shockey.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/...r-they-cut-him/ Anthony Adams praises the Bears after they cut him Posted by Michael David Smith on February 28, 2012, 11:47 AM EST Getty Images Bears defensive lineman Anthony Adams was released this week, but he has no hard feelings. In fact, Adams told Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times that he still has warm feelings for the Bears, loved his time in Chicago and completely understands the business decision the team made. “I don’t blame them,” Adams said. “I probably would have done the same thing.” Adams also took to Twitter to thank everyone who made him feel welcome during his five years in Chicago. “Thank You Chicago!! Thank you to all of the coaches, all of the players, all of the former greats, and to all of the die hard fans,” Adams wrote. “Special Thank You to Richard Dent for allowing me to wear #95! I did not feel comfortable wearing it, but you were so cool about it! You all have been phenomenal to my family and my growth! Chicago will always have a place in my heart. It is the city that loved me for 5 yrs! It is the city where I witnessed the births of my 3 children! It is the city where I won my first division championship! It is the city of great food and even greater people! I have never witnessed so many fans who love the players the way you do – win or lose. It has been a honor to play for you! My family and I will forever cherish all of the relationships we built and I hope this will always be a place you will let me call home! Beardown Chicago! Let them know why you’re wearing the crown!” And that’s how to leave a job without burning any bridges.

Your plan would be a dream scenario.... Something tells me, we will fall short of it.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/...012-to-do-list/

I guess more of my comment is generic..."fast DT as a first pick". I know they are not quite the same, but I just thought of Tommie Harris. They say our strength is predicated on that player, as Sapp was for TB. I wonder if the thought is that this guy could be "that guy". Not saying I want it per se...just more thinking that this is a scenario that would resemble a lot of what was done in the past. We now have Emery, so no one is certain the kind of sway Smith still wields...but given that he interviewed Emery, I imagine his sway is still pretty big. I agree with your assessment on the guy...seems like a combine story only. I just fear this kind of pick...ala pool jumping guy.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/...ary-individual/

Do you think a long term deal would save space this season? Or more so in future ones? I simply do know know enough about the cap...

Yeah, that's pretty much how Mullin described it w/o coming all out and saying it regarding the Smith MO. I fully agree with your assessment.

At least he recognizes it now... Better late than never.

Watching Moon Mullin on Trib live last night, he suspects the Bears will go WR in FA, then draft a pass rusher for Smith. I'm not sure what his track record is for predictions, but it makes sense given a lot of what we know... It basically makes the assumption that Smith needs to get more for his D, and puts in a solid WR for the O. Thus, both sides of the ball are addressed. Sadly, that means the best best we hope for is an OL in FA or in rounds 2 or lower.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/...t-this-weekend/ Bears, Forte will meet this weekend Posted by Josh Alper on February 24, 2012, 10:31 AM EST Reuters Contract talks between the Bears and running back Matt Forte will get underway at the combine this weekend. Albert Breer of the NFL Network reports that the team and Forte’s representatives will discuss a long-term contract in advance of Forte becoming a free agent. Forte’s made no secret of his desire for such a deal over the last year, but nothing happened while Jerry Angelo was the team’s General Manager. These will be the first meetings on the topic since Phil Emery replaced Angelo earlier this month. Coach Lovie Smith said Thursday that he expects the two sides to come to a deal. “Knowing that Matt is going to play his football for the Chicago Bears — so you start with that,” Smith said, via Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times. “In time, hopefully we can get an agreement that suits Matt and [the Bears]. And I think it’s a matter of time, and that’ll happen eventually.” If the two sides can’t come to a deal before March 5th, it seems unlikely that Forte will actually hit the open market. Franchising Forte would cost the team $7.7 million, a number that works given their expected cap space while leaving them money to address needs at wide receiver and the offensive line as well.

I'd be beyond thrilled!

You know, I was having a perfectly nice day until you brought up Matador Omiyale... Buzzkill!

Same here. There's a difference in "it'd be nice to have a Finley" vs "we really need a Bowe or V-Jack"!

If I find that kind of analysis, I'll definitely post it. But, as of now, I only have the smell test. What Manningham brought to the Giants and what Williams brought to us was very different. Stats don't tell the whole story. I make no bones that Bennett is a key WR for us. I think he's really the only fairly young legit WR we have. Sadly, I am excluding Knox in conversation because I fear he may never return to football. I just hoe the young man can lead a normal life. Hester is simply a wild card. Sometimes he does great stuff, sometime he does dumb stuff. The epitome of unreliable. I want a FA stud WR. Not in the draft personally. I want the bird in hand. For an OL, I'd prefer the draft pick. So, really in a nutshell, I think you and I are in agreement. We just differ in the extent of matters...

Compelling case for certain. However, I'm fairly certain if a similar study were done on WR's, we'd be ranked nearly as bad if not worse. I personally would love to see WR addressed in FA, and then take on best available in the draft with an eye on OL. We honestly have so many holes, than many a position would be OK to see. So much simply depends on what we do in FA. I feel that our OL, while still not good, can do OK. Our WR's...especially w/o Knox more than likely leave very little to be desired besides Bennett. We need to do something. And truly on both sides of the ball... Emery has his work cut out for him.

Spot on Pix. What else is Tice supposed to say?

I've been waiting for him to chime in...