Pixote

If the free league is to remain active we will with out a doubt need new posters on the forum to join once the league admin kicks things off. We only had 10 teams last year although we would have preferred to have 12 teams to make it more competitive. Several of last year's teams have decided to not participate this year (Stinger & Bowlingtwig). I am just guessing since all team captains have not chimed in but my thought is we will need a minimum of 2 to 3 new teams to maintain a 10 team league, 4 to 5 new teams to bring it back to the optimum 12 team set up. Are there any posters, new or old, active or passive, that would be interested in joining the free league? Just trying to prime the pump to get things flowing. I would hate to see the free league shut down do to a lack of active teams.

I am still interested in the free league. Hopefully we can add a few new managers to bring it back up to a 12 team league. Dropped to 10 teams last year and I think Bowlingtwig indicated he might not rejoin this year. If that is true we would be down to 9 returning teams.

Since I really do not care for the options listed I vote to leave it as it is. If it isn't broke...........

A writer on NFL.com is speculating that it is quite possible that their backup QB will excel because of the great structure and coaching of the Pats and that as a result they will likely be able to recoup the loss of the 2016 1st round pick by trading the backup QB after the season is over for a 1st rounder. I know it does not have anything to do with this debate but I would not be at all surprised if this becomes reality.

Just read on ESPN he is out for the year with a torn ACL. What a nightmare, losing your 1st round draft pick for the year that fast. I hope we are lucky and do not have this type of thing happen to ANY of our players.

Want to read about a very smart CB who won by not being chosen in the first 3 rounds?

Yes, Immediately after the final pick of the draft all hell breaks loose Will be interesting who is brought in

Must admit, first head scratcher for me in this draft. Are they looking for a future replacement for Forte knowing he has a lot of past reps, age, and future contract issues? Can't really say as I obviously do not know their thinking but it obviously says the coaches and GM are not enamored with our present backups for Forte. Like most here I was expecting us to go in a different direction with our 4th rd pick. Jury is out on this one.

How can you form such a strong negative opinion of Pace in such a short period of time. He has not had a chance to prove himself a good or bad GM at this point in time. He is still wet behind the ears. That is what I do not understand.

If I were GM (good thing I am not, LOL) I would contact his agent, talk to the player, explain we understand his disappointment, that if he signs with us we will expect him to honor his contract until its completion but we would put in a clause that the first year he makes the pro bowl as a LOT we will rework the contract with an extension to a fair payoff for him. No pro bowl no extension guaranteed. I think that would be a fair way to go about it. If, however, on investigating the situation he is in, and I am sure all teams have done so, they feel there is a chance he is in anyway involved in the death of his ex girlfriend, then obviously we pass.

I think he indicated it could be a draft pick, an UDFA after the draft, or a FA cut from another team. He did say he liked taking a flyer on a QB every year but he was sort of vague as to the means of adding that QB. That was the impression I got.

Yep, heard it several times, said he would not sign a contract if drafted after the 3rd. That being said, would he change his mind? Even if he did, one good year and he would be a hold out wanting a new contract with 1st round money (my guess).

It was reported on NFLN that Collins' agent said that if he was not chosen in the first 3 rounds he would sit out a year and enter the draft next year. With that in mind anyone wanting him better dradt him before the night is over or else write him off for this year's draft.

Oh Come on Jason, give me just one good reason

I am sure this hold out coupled with the issues the Bears had with Bennett last August when he was suspended has a lot to do with the "rumors" I would not want to see him traded without getting good value but I can certainly understand Fox & Pace wanting to not only reload the roster with talent but also make sure all players on the team are "all in" and ready to kick butt.

I tip my hat to all of you working on this forum draft. We have attempted many of these mock drafts in the past and had no where near the success as you have with this one. Exceptionally well organized and everyone participating kept things rolling smoothly. Again, Great Job!

NFL Veterans Combine Participants Curious if any of this year's participants in the NFL Veterans Combine will make it to the Bears' roster. I looked over the list (link provided) and honestly was totally unimpressed with the list. Heck, I only recognized a few that were listed. Any of you familiar with anyone on this list and think they would be worth a look?

And it is also very easy for a writer to take liberties and say any damn thing they want to get pub and claim it was from anonymous sources.

If they were "current" coaches, of course, do not do a "Kromer" My understanding is these "opinionated" individuals are not with the team any more. There is no reason for them to not own up to their comments, again, IMO. I am just not one to give credence to "anonymous sources"

So a bunch of ex-bear coaches, who probably sucked at their job while in Chicago, want to diss Cutler but do not have the balls to say it in public, want the anonymity tag. I have always had trouble taking anything from someone who does not want to be named as the source seriously. They could be right, but if they do not want to be named, then they should just shut the hell up. Just my opinion. If they truly feel that way why not come out of the closet.

If this is true and they are asking him to take a pay cut despite the Bears having a good cap number MAYBE it is a sign that they are looking at some very high priced options in FA? Just a thought. If that be the case a lot of players would buy into it especially older players who would like to go to the SB before they retire.

I doubt Pace had the final say in the draft room, although I am sure he will be influenced by the system the NO GM used while Pace was there. One would have to believe although Pace had significant input into the decision making, there were occasions where the NO GM went in a different direction than what Pace would have done. This first draft will tell us a lot of what we can expect in the future. Only thing for sure, from past experiences, there will be some posters on the forum wanting to fire Pace as our GM after the draft because he chose players that they did not want and he skipped over some of their "must draft" list. LOL

Denver special teams are a bit hard to evaluate. Mile High helps produce longer punts with great hang time, longer field goals and lots of touchbacks on KOs. I think I read that Denver had over 80 touchbacks on KOs this year. Hell, our team didn't come close to having to kick off 80 times, LOL. So I have no idea just how good this guy is as the head honcho for STs.

I think the important thing to remember is that Pace is looking to structure his staff with people he can trust and knows will be on the same page as him when it comes to philosophies & procedures. Hiring someone who has worked with him for the past 10 years in NOLA seems a good idea to me.

Greg Knapp actually looks like an interesting option. He has some previous experience as OC and 20 years experience overall on the offensive side of the ball. I am just wondering why he has not been bantered about as a OC until now. He seems to have been forgotten by HCs looking for OCs over the past few years. There must be some reason?