Pixote

Any idea what it was last year?

Unfortunately we selected, with the 5th overall pick in round 1, drum roll please, Curtis Enis!

I have mentioned before that I grew up in Delaware and was a huge Baltimore Colts fan growing up, with Unitas, Lenny Moore, Raymond Berry, Gino Marchetti, etc ... as my boyhood heroes. When they left and relocated to Indy, like many Colts fans, I totally abandoned the Colts. I then became a Bears fan back in the 70's when I married my wife and moved to her home state Illinois. I have no doubt if I had remained in Delaware I would have welcomed the Ravens with open arms and would have been a Ravens fan. For that reason I will have to pull for the "underdog" Ravens to win tonight.

I am missing something here, LOL, what the heck is the "Guy Code" Never heard of the term.

We really do not know how good Url will be this year if he plays for the Bears. He is obviously older but the diminished performance last year was more due to his injury not allowing him to prep during the offseason as he is accustomed to combined with not being able to play any in preseason. He was never able to practice much during the weeks between games. His conditioning was off. He never really got into "game" shape. No one knows if he will remain healthy this year. If he does I think you will find he will be worth every penny he is paid. Obviously, at a lower salary than what he has been receiving. I would be willing, if I were the one to call the shots, to pay him at least the amount equal to the average $$$ paid to starting MLBs in the league. If he would accept that I do not think you will find a better replacement for the same $$$.

I agree with you Jason. No, he did not have a great year in 2012. I know it, you know it, and HE knows it. If he can stay healthy this year I think we will see him return to form, however, probably 80-90% of his peak due to age. 80-90% of his "Peak" is awesome and much better than what we would obtain in FA or with a rookie, IMO, especially when considering the intangibles he brings. Yes, we need to develop a replacement. However, to say he should be let go, cut, thrown aside, crazy, crazy, crazy!

Just the way the new CBA that was reached was structured. I read that if there was an increase this year it would be minimal. NFL.Com Article Quoted

Interesting list of options. I read somewhere, I believe in an article on NFL.com, that players hitting FA will likely be disappointed as it is predicted that teams will not be prepared to spend big bucks on FAs this year due to the fact that the Salary cap is not expected to increase much if any from last year and a lot of teams are with cap issues. If this is the case hopefully the Bears can get some players, like OL help and a decent TE, in FA without having to mortgage the future of the team.

NFL.com has an article up about how a fake identity Twitter account has been targeting NFL teams as well, ie Redskins Article about WAS team players being duped by a fake on Twitter I think the truth is that there are disgusting human beings trying to dupe notable athletes, both pro and college. I bet this is a bigger problem than any of us realize. The situation about Te'o being fooled I think is just one that went public first, there will be many more come to light in the near future, IMO.

Is it because he does not like to settle for short gainers or because he cannot find a WR open? He threw a lot of shot balls to Brandon during the season because he knew even though he was covered, many times doubled, Brandon could still manage to get the reception. However, other wide receivers seem to fail to gain any separation to get open. I think it is more than a lack of ability of our WRs to get open, I think this was primarily do to poor play calling and play design. I am hoping Trestman can show enough imagination to help our WRs with his play calling to get them some routes to gain separation. Imagination, key word here, it has been awhile since our offense "fooled" anyone. It would be refreshing if Trestman can bring in a fresh playbook and weekly changes as previously mentioned to keep defenses guessing.

I agree with you, he has done everything he can to promote this "sideshow". If he had any value at all as a starting QB don't you think Jacksonville would be all over the possibility of signing this guy? After all, Jacksonville could use a QB and what location would be better than Jacksonville to have Tebow start? He would pack them into the stadium because of his fan base there. Yet Jacksonville has stated openly they are not interested in signing him.

The latest article on ChicagoBears.com had a few interesting points that to me was encouraging: I am really anxious to see how this translates to the 2013 season.

I think it is time for Cutler to step up to the plate. I realize he has been handicapped by inept OCs and a terrible OL but I still feel he has still, with this in mind, fallen short of what one could expect from a franchise QB getting the big bucks he is getting paid. I feel Trestman will provide him with the protection he needs and will be the best OC we have had in a long long time. If Cutler fails this year to get it turned around, I suspect he will be gone.

I think many of us who love smash mouth defensive oriented teams have been disappointed in the past that our team has not done better offensively to allow us to return to the SB and now that an emphasis is being made to improve our team offensively our defense may slide a bit. Bottom line is the win and loss columns, playoff appearances and making it back to the SB. Hopefully all 3 phases of our team will kick butt but for some reason I am feeling the offense will be on the rise and the defense may take a small step back.

New article on Bears Website, discusses new DC and other positions filled today. Mel Tucker hired as Bears defensive coordinator

I have loved it when I saw a team switch from a 4-3 look to a 3-4 look during the game, I cannot remember which team I saw do this, but it was very successful and really threw the opposing offense off trying to adjust. So even if we stayed primarily a 4-3 (which I think we will for now) I would like to see, in certain situations (must pass, long 3rd down play) a switch to the 3-4.

Looking at the past season, I would take Luck over RG3 and I assure you I am not a racist because of my opinion. I just feel that long term Andrew Luck will have greater success. Both certainly proved to be excellent QBs this year. But I still take Luck over RG3.

IMO bringing in Tebow would be just leading to trouble. I never cared for him in Denver, I thought he was a major distraction and useless in NY and would prefer not to take the chance to bring him to Chicago. However, I have faith in whatever Tressman & Emery decides to do (until they prove to not deserve my trust, LOL).

From their website: 2012 - Bischoff is in his fifth season with the Alouettes working as the running backs coach, the assistant to the Head Coach Marc Trestman and enters his third year as Special Teams Coordinator.

Of the 3 being mentioned I would prefer Trestman or Arians.

If we still had Lovie as our HC and Tice as our OC I would agree. However, maybe the new HC & OC will actually bring the Bears offensive schemes a new look that will utilize the TEs properly. If not, the Bears should have just stayed status quo.

LOL, I would hope he would not listen to me, I am wrong more often than I am right when it comes to being an armchair GM or HC.

I am not that high on McCoy. If you ask me all he did this year was carry the clipboard and the title of OC in Denver. Payton Manning this year, as he always has done, calls the plays he wants on the field. Who is going to argue with him? I am not sure McCoy would give us what we are looking for. However, needless to say, I could be wrong and if Emery goes that route that is fine by me, not that it matters, LOL.

My guess, purely a guess, is that Toub requested permission to interview with other teams due to either the uncertainty in Chicago as to his job security under another HC or because he was upset over Lovie's dismissal. I am sure Emery does not want to "show Toub the door".

Gannon: Trestman, Cutler would be good fit