Pixote

I think it is going to depend on just how good Emery is at sorting out this big mess we call the "Draft". Every year big name 1st round picks flop, later round picks become future HOF caliber players. It is such a crap shoot. I am more interested in how Emery handles this draft than any draft I can remember in the past. He has impressed me in FA, I hope he continues to impress me in the draft.

If there was a chance to grab the top OLT in the draft, I would trade big time with either spot, but WR can be filled later, not even sure if Blackman or Floyd will be the better or the two, not sure what DE would be the best, etc... but franchise caliber blue chip LOT prospects usually, not always, but usually come from the top of the draft.

Fantastic, did you signup to the league I created? I do not see your team listed? I hope we can get a dozen or more forum members to take part in this, we have done this type of event in the past with great success with various members tallying the results by hand, just thought it would be cool to use this interface and get a shot at a trip to the SB.

I have a feeling Emery knows we need to add bodies to the OL. My guess is he is waiting to see how the chips fall in the draft and if we do not get a chance to get good value in an OL selection we will wind up signing someone in FA like the one of the two we had in for a look, both of whom had worked with Tice in the past.

Great to have you join the league, I will bet that one or more of us will be far more accurate than the "so called" experts. Good luck!

I agree, I would like to see at least one quality OLman in FA and one in the draft. They do not need to be pro bowlers, would be great if they were, but even if the two were above average OLmen that can help give Tice alternatives to use in case the status quo fails to live up to what would seem to be high expectations.

CB Janoris Jenkinsis an extremely talented CB, a Pro Bowl Man-to-Man cover guy who will undoubtedly be a great player, IF IF IF IF he can stay off of drugs IF he can keep his "weenie" under control IF he can find an NFL club gutsy enough to give him a shot 4 kids with 3 different women? Bounced from the Gators, winds up in a Div 2 school and still doesn't "get it" I just read a piece on NFL.com saying many have taken him completely off the draft boards and others would only take him in the 2nd or later. I am curious what you think. Certainly, the Bears, running the cover 2, would have no reason to gamble on this guy. If he were this great a prospect and played DE or LOT then the gamble might be worth it?

Excellent, I was thinking it was going to be a one man league, LOL. I am always lousy at this, but I will give it a shot. Towards the end of the first round someone usually picks a player I have never heard of from some small Division II school.

I can't believe it, typed in the password wrong, corrected it in the original post.

I started a league for us at NFL.com. I have not entered my selections yet but will soon. Let's see who among us is the "Draft Guru" or "Draft Prognosticator" LOL NFL.com has a great interface to use free and you can set up private leagues, which I did. The link is : Predict the Pick League Name : TalkBears The Password is : Url54acher Free to join, just need to register with NFL.com if you are not already registered. Hope you guys sign up, this is a slick system they have, real nice interface, and it will be a fun competition among members of the forum for bragging rights, no prizes, just for fun. ( The NFL.com does offer prizes. If you join you may win a trip to New Orleans for Super Bowl XLVII if you have the top entry! ) Let me know if anyone has problems logging in.

Another pre-draft visit, do not recall seeing this in the thread so thought I would throw it out to you. OK for a mid-late round pick but no sooner do to injury history, IMO. Oregon State DB Hardin, projected as a Safety prospect: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/footb...0,2719358.story

Url did not sustain major damage to his knee, did not require surgery, and I see no reason to wave red flags in regards to his health. We do need to get him extended, resigned, beyond 2012, this is his last year of his contract. Which is why I would have worked on his contract before Briggs. I would have thought that would have been a priority over Briggs, who had a year remaining after 2012.

Is it possible, maybe, ...... I see no reason they did a one year extension unless... Drum roll please... It was to rework his contract to free up cap space to resign Forte before the first voluntary camp opens up on Monday???? Or to sign a free agent that wants more than what remains in the pool????

There are a lot of teams looking for OL help, A LOT! There area lot of unemployed OLmen waiting for the phone to ring. I suspect in some cases the OLmen available are wanting unrealistic paydays. I think in others injuries, age, or lack of skill sets are the reasons the phone does not ring. I suspect the Bears & Emery, despite what might be said to the press know we need to make "some" changes to the OL. I do not think for one minute this area will be ignored.

In the "botched" trade with Baltimore last year in the draft it would have cost us a 4th rounder to move up from 29th to 26th. I am assuming if we tried to move up from 19th in the first it would cost more than moving up 3 spots from the 29th. To move up a few spots in "Blue Chip" territory my guess is it would take a 3rd minimum.

I read Hayden had been talked to by NO also, suspect he decided to stay away from the mess down in the Dome.

I think you will see a lot of short term deals as they project a huge increase in the Cap within the next 2 years and players agents want to be sure to cash in when the teams have more money to spend. IMHO

Williams, for the right $$ why not? Depending on his work in camps. Last year we were hoping he would be our missing link, a #1 WR. We found out quickly he is not a #1 WR. We have a legit #1 now with Brandon. However, for depth on the team, he would be a decent sign, again, low $$ contract.

My guess a very cheap no risk contract, this is the time of year teams pick up a bunch of camp fodder and see if any of the cow chips morph into roses. ST is the key here, just another guy to look at, I wouldn't sweat the signing.

According to the Bears website in the questions answered it did say it was the better of the 2 picks we gave up, the one from Carolina.

The Bears have made many offers to Forte over the past year or so and all from what I am understanding were very nice offers, would have set the man up for life just on the guaranteed money alone, yet Matt continues to want more than offered and turns down all terms given by the Bears. Now, I am sorry, but if he was offered, as was indicated above, 30 Million with 15 Million Guaranteed, what the hell is his complaint? Maybe he wants to try and up that figure but how in the hell is that showing disrespect to him? Then the Bears sign Bush and that is disrespect? Many teams employ 2 RBs and quite frankly, after all the mileage that has taken place on Forte since arriving, we better damn site lessen his load or he will never be able to finish out his next contract.

He will probably be a starter in Seattle and be voted to the Pro Bowl.

I suspect after the Bush signing he knew he was going to be out of here and my guess is he just did not want to go through another relocation. He certainly could have contributed somewhere if he had wanted to continue playing. I hope he does well in his future and that he and his family can now enjoy more time together.

I suspect in the past there has been a lot of this going on. I doubt any will be going on in the future after the penalties just levied against the Saints. I also doubt the NFL will dig deep into the past for additional examples to be made, they just spoke loud and clear, thunder struck louder than Thor's Hammer and we still need to see what will happen to the players involved. I think Vilma might get the biggest hit in that it is known he put 10k into the pot. Does anyone have a list of the players who are involved and will be disciplined? Hopefully many moved on to the Packers and Lions LOL.

I have heard you say he didn't like contact when healthy. I never saw any indication of this and was curious why you think he was gun-shy "before" getting hurt. I am lost as to why you say this. Now, after the injury, it is always possible he will not be able to shake it "mentally". It does and can happen to any player after a major injury like he had. No idea if the kid will ever make it back on the field, but not giving up on him.