Pixote

I have to agree, the longer you wait to sign these two guys the more it will probably cost you. Once they get close enough to smell free agency you always take the chance that the price goes up. It is going to take some big money as it is to extend these two guys.

Thanks guys for confirming that. The new channel lineup I will receive when I downgrade this Tuesday will include TBS & TNT. I was thinking that I remembered the Chicago Games on the local Fox channel when telecast on NFL Network, which I will also receive, but just could not remember.

I have always had a TV Package with NFL Network. I am thinking of downgrading my services as it is just too expensive. The package I am looking at does not have NFL Network. I will miss watching these games as they are generally good match-ups. However, my main concern is the Bears game with the Packers in week 2 on Thursday Night Football. I cannot remember, the Bears games in the Chicago area, if they are on Thursday Night Football on NFL Network are they also broadcasted on the local TV Affiliate? Anyone in the Chicago area that can answer that question for me I would appreciate some feedback. I am really strapped for money right now and may have no option but downgrade services. I sell event tickets online, including all sports events and concerts, but sales are slow.

I have been following this thread, although sometimes I must admit I need to take some Tylenol afterwords. I really have only learned one thing from this ongoing "differences of opinion", never try and argue a point with Jason or Wesson unless you want to wind up with an unresolved disagreement and a "agree / disagree" concession.

It is extremely unusual for a stellar return man to repeat his success year after year. Many times you have a one or two year wonder and then they drop off the face of the map. Is it possible that using Hester a bit less on STs do to his use as a WR has actually benefited him and helped him continue his effectiveness instead of diminishing it? I hear a lot of people questioning if we hurt his production as a KR by using him as a WR. I am not sure if that is 100% true.

I have, as all of you, read a lot of reports about the camps thus far, and it seems that Jeffery is always mentioned as being held out more than once do to "leg issues". The first time was cramping, no big deal. Since then they always say a "minor injury". He participates some, but is held out a lot. Is anyone else getting a bit concerned? Or is this just being very cautious to make sure nothing happens to the kid before the start of camp in July?

The "ONLY" thing I can say I heard which was not a total surprise but yet seldom mentioned is that in his opinion we should be more concerned about the DT position than the OL. He is concerned that we only have 3 DTs and that they may not be as good as billed.

I have to agree. If the defense is on the field less, because our offense is sustaining drives and chewing up the clock, this helps the defense immensely. Let's face it, our defense has done a heck of a job considering how long they had to be on the field. If instead of 35 minutes a game on defense they were only on the field for 25 minutes, meaning our offense gives us the advantage in time of possession, it automatically makes our defense much better statistically. (and a fresh defense will theoretically stay healthier).

It would appear you are "Very" easily amused. Was this authored by MJD?

My guess is both teams took one look at him in OTAs and said to themselves, "He looks and plays a lot like Webb of the Bears." Then they cut him in the blink of an eye. LOL

I saw this when he was signed by the Pats. Now if a FA OT is signed by Seattle, cut after a couple of weeks, signed by the Patriots, and then again cut after just 3 weeks, what does that tell us? To me that says bad health or bad attitude or bad skills, or a combination of same. Hell, he could not make it with two teams long enough to see Training Camp.

Some die-hard fans are unwilling to accept the fact that the Bears are no longer "cheap" and are willing to pay up to give us a good team. Those who acknowledge that we are not the Bear penny pinchers of the past always come back with a "but we spend the money unwisely", an argument that has some foundation, IMO. Emery is making moves to make sure we do indeed spend our money wisely, increase our quality of drafts and FA acquisitions, by overhauling the Scouting System we have had in place, and I am sure the additional staff and internal promotions cost the owners a good chunk of change. However, if successful, could indeed save them from wasting money in the future assuring better personel decisions. Here is a link to the article from the Bears Website

I love it when the reporters claim this concern of the Bears was leaked from within the organization. Bull Crap! First off, it does not need to be leaked, any team would have the exact same concerns when giving any RB a long term guaranteed deal. Second, I do not think for one minute this was leaked from someone within the Bears organization, I do not think Emery would work that way. Who gains the most from such a story? The Media, of course, who like us on the forum, struggle with things to write about this time of year. Gee, I wonder if the source who wants to remain anonymous could possibly be a member of the media? You bet your bippy it is!

I actually like all I have read about Brown and would not be at all surprised if he makes the roster and possibly eventually start. Now at what position, Guard or Tackle, I am not sure and only time will tell. If we had drafted him in the 3rd or 4th round it would have been considered a good pick and the opinions of many on the board would be different. Yes, he smoked some weed in College, but so what, hopefully he learned his lesson and will realize what is at stake now that he has a shot at the Pros.

They actually signed 3 more to try out, and my guess is the best man wins a spot on the bench to come in and give a starter a series to rest and then he is back to the bench, unless of course, he surprises everyone and is better than expected. Then the other two are probably back on the street. If a better option comes up later, someone cut from another team, I am sure we will take a look as well. Right now, we need bodies for camp.

The fact that we can even be discussing this topic is a credit to Emery. We have a darn good WR group now, not only a franchise QB but two backups I feel good about, and a 1 / 2 punch at RB with Forte & Bush that I love. Now let's see if they can put the pieces together for a decent OL. If they do we could be talking a top 10 Offense. (or maybe a top 5!)

You will never find a sports team, even if it is one from a religious institution such as Notre Dame, with all choir boys on the team. I believe the Bears probably has one of the most respectable bunch of guys of any NFL roster, but they certainly are not all angels. In fact many fans have complained when we did not pick up proven veterans in the past do to off the field issues, although recently some compromises have been made.

My Oh My, did I but ever do lousy on that trivia test you gave a link to. Maybe back in the late 90's I would have done a lot better

I must admit, I did not like it at all. IMO pretty lame.

I think a lot of times the rookies are forced into starting roles because starters get injured and we need to fill the hole in the lineup. It seems we have trouble keeping our Safeties healthy. So I am not sure they wind up with starting roles because our coaches think they merit the opportunity or just because they are the best option to fill in for an injured player. I am not saying it is always the case, but I believe it is more often than not the situation. To me it just means we lack experienced depth at the position so as not to have to force a rookie into a starting role he cannot fill properly.

Not Harshin' on you at all. Hope it did not come across that way. Everyone marches to a different drummer.

Don't worry about quantity, just quality. Some posters make hundreds of posts and all the posts are comprised of is one or two words or an emoticon. On occasion it is fine, sometimes that one word is enough. However, I look for posters that express an opinion or information they have come across in a well written dialog with other posters. Just my preference.

DaBearsShrine? I swore it was the BearsDen. You are probably right, God knows my memory does not serve me as well as I would like it to.

It was, from my recall, originally called the BearsDen and run by Jeff Timms, DaWebmaster, from Ohio. It moved twice that I recall do to different issues with the hosts (and renamed BearsTalk), and then finally found a home here and was renamed from BearsTalk to TalkBears to avoid issues with the last host. DaBearsDaBomb was kind enough to give us a new home. There was a lot of great people involved over the years, a lot of fond memories. I cannot remember exactly when I joined, but I know it was when I still owned a hobby shop in West Dundee and I sold it back in 2002 so it has been over 10 years that I have been hanging out here.

In addition, if Emery is drafting players with an eye towards the future replacement of Lovie, he is in effect playing a trap game, where players ignore the current challenge and looks towards a future game. If that is what he is doing he should be fired, not Lovie.