Pixote

This to me is a bigger concern, more important to the Bears success this year, than David Hester trying to strike it rich. I will be looking more at this and the development of the offense as a result than David "I am mad and I want my money now" Hester. Bears' season on the line

Thanks for the update!! Always great to get info from fellow posters attending practice. No fluff. Just facts!

Has anyone considered this? We all kinda agree he has not proved he is a number 1 WR. He wants to be paid as a number 1 WR. He knows the Bears take care of their own. He knows they were in negotiations trying to get a contract completed. Yet, knowing he was going to line up with the number 1 offense in practice and have a chance to prove himself as a number one WR he decided to holdout. Now why would he do that? The only answer I can come up with is he did not want to take a chance and prove he WAS NOT a number 1 WR through his show in practice. If he was confident he was indeed a number 1 WR all he had to do was go out there and show his stuff, dazzle everyone with his skills as a number 1 WR. He then increases his value in negotiations and if the Bears do not pony up he then has leverage by holding out. Seems to me he wants to have the Bears pay but does not want to prove a thing, just pay me the money.

Hell no. I paid big time for her first marriage (to a Colts Fan) and they got divorced after 8 years, then she married the Packer fan, told her this one I would attent but not pay for, LOL.

Think there would be any interest? I am surprised he was released. Other than Chambers who they picked up in a trade last year, their WR corps is kind of thin.

I am sorry, he should not get paid as a #1 WR until he has proven he is one. We all applauded Angelo for not paying Berrian #1 WR money when he hadn't proven himself to be one and let Minny overpay him. Same goes here. Sure, break the bank and give him the biggest ST Return Man contract ever written, but not the BIG BUCKS that a #1 WR would get.

We had a thread months ago speculating on the value of trading Hester. In light of him threatening to hold out for the season, and knowing we have several other players with excellent return ability, not nearly as much as Hester, but still could be effective return men, would you consider now trading Hester? Is it conceivable that we could get a #1 for him? Would a team give up that much to get the #1 return man in the NFL and the potential to be a top flight WR? If I thought he would be a season long holdout, I would say yes, trade him for a #1 or maybe a #2 & #4. I am just not convinced this holdout will last very long. Although it may hold back his development at WR, his holdout may shield him from injuries, decrease his load at WR, allow others the opportunity to show up at the position, and keep Devin fresh for his return duties. Could this be a good thing?

I agree, as much as I have wanted to see Hass get a shot, the numbers are stacked against him.

Good stuff, impressed with Forte's speed and Bennett's catches. If Bennett continues to show up like he did in the first day of practice, he very well might contribute on the field as a rookie as a #3.

Colston proved he is a number one WR. Hester has not. He can not expect the same numbers as Colston. I do not see how this can be used as a yardstick for Hesters new deal.

I do not blame him for wanting a raise. Hell, I want a raise, and I assure you I deserve one. However, his agent was in negotiations with the Bears, they were working out a deal, there is no reason to sit out of camp and disrupt the team, he is being a self centered jerk. Does he really think this will make the Bears more responsive to his requests? You do not piss off the boss if you are looking for a raise. I am sure Smith & Angelo are not amused.

LOL, love it, good one Connerbear.

The Bears were working on his extensin. He has no right to hold out in my opinion. Therefore, fine him every day he misses, stop all negotiations with his agent, and he can pout all he wants. If he wants the Bears to work with him he can get his arse back in camp. Screw him!

Congratulations!! Please tell, is your wife a Bears Fan? LOL My daughter married a Packers fan, so I have to ask!

How can we say he lacks mobility? The problem is we have NO idea what Beekman is. He could be a stud. He could be a dud. He has not had a chance to show us anything. Many on the forum criticize the Bears coaching staff for their player evaluations. If that be the case, his not starting in the past should be ignored as an evaluation process. Hopefully he gets on the field this preseason and proves to us what he has to offer us now and in the future.

He isn't pumped up, sweaty and in pads, so it may be deceiving, but although he does look to have some good strength, his arms in these pictures pale in comparison to TJ's. IMO

Bears still hope to sign top pick Williams A new article from the Chicago Tribune talking about Chris Williams & David Hester in regards to contract signings. No major news, but with all of us sitting around waiting, thought I would toss it to you.

I think Olsen & Clark become big weapons in our offense this year and will be complimented with a variety of role players in our WR corps. I do not think we currently have a true #1 on our roster (and I do not think Berrian or Moose were either). We do have some guys who may develop into a number 1 in a year or two. Right now, we have some #2s, some slot receivers, some possession receivers, & some red zone targets.

Agreed, I fully expect, by the time I get home from work tomorrow and log into the forum, Williams will be signed and JA will start the watch for cuts made by other teams that might include players worth bringing in and taking a look at. I doubt Hester gets his new contract because he wants starting WR money and he has yet to prove his worth as a WR. Hester would be better off waiting, proving he is a valuable WR, then seek his new contract. I am sure that is basically what JA has told him. If he is reworked now, he will not be happy with the new contract, especially after a year or two if he works out to be a #1 or #2 WR starter.

It is amazing we were able to hold onto Harris & Briggs and rework Urlacher's contract to boot. These three are outstanding players that I am sure many other teams were hoping we would let hit the market so that they could go after them. I think all 5 of the signings you mentioned, as well as others you did not mention (such as Vasher & Tillman) were all critical to the future success of the team. JA did a great job! I am sure he will try and pull off some more signings before it is over with, including another FA or two. I certainly, to answer your question, have no regrets, none at all.

On a side note, I am sure a lot of fans of other teams are wondering the same thing about the Bears, how the hell did they manage to lock up just about every key player on their roster that was worth keeping? We have probably inked more contracts in one off season than any team in the history of the league, with exception of a 1st year expansion team. JA, you da man

Like I said in reply to another post on Urlacher, I think Bill Johnson, Urlacher's agent, is also Chris Williams' agent. Maybe this will spur things along. Could BJ have been using Chris Williams as leverage to get Urlacher signed to an extension? (assuming I am correct and BJ is Williams' agent).

If I am not mistaken Bill Johnson, Urlacher's agent, is also Chris Williams agent. Is it possible this is what was holding things up? If BJ is Williams' agent, then he may sign very very soon, like tonight or tomorrow. Great to get Urlacher happy, IMO he deserved the extension. Now Williams and Hester and I defy anyone to say the Bears are cheap or that they did not kick ass this off season!

Rodgers was a 1st round pick, highly thought of, and they would never drop him from the team. Trade possibly, but he certainly would not be just cut loose.

First off, I do not think the loss of one player, as good as he was, will effect the play of our special teams units much, if at all. AP will be returning to the unit and we have some players that will fill the void just fine. Secondly, our OL should be improved, I know our position at RB is vastly improved, and you can't tell me the loss of two WRs who dropped as many passes as they caught will hurt us that much. I think our offense will be improved over last year with the talent we currently have and I am sure Angelo will be adding a piece or two to the equation before the preseason is over. Almost everything you gave as reasons for us to be 4-12, 5-11, or 6-10 happened last year and we were 7-9. Our schedule, as far as teams we have to play this year compared to last year, is softer IMO. We seem to have a lot of doom sayers on the forum. Have a little optimism, it feels good! I see a 10-6 in our future and a trip to the playoffs.