Pixote

Hell Yes, I'd even sweeten the pot if necessary. He'd be awesome added to Sweat on our DL.

IF I had received that PM, I would have responded in a very positive manner immediately. Thank you for the kind words you said. BUT, I didn't receive a message from talkbears that a PM from you was waiting for me to view. I'm sure I didn't, you're sure I did, at least now I know what you are referring to. To put things into proper perspective, a lot has been going on that has been very distracting to me. Who knows, maybe I'm spacing out. I'm still struggling trying to regain my mobility after fracturing my back last year. You said this PM was sent in February? After my daughter passed away last year, I swore I prayed, I never wanted to go through the loss of another child. Unfortunately, God didn't listen (I'm beginning to wonder if there is a God). My son David died of heart failure the last week of this past January. He was only 48. There was a period when I withdrew from everyone. It wasn't until a memorial service was held for David by his surviving siblings just recently that I began to 'heal.' Because of my back injury, I had been unable to visit my son for over a year before he died. That being said, please, any parent reading this, never stop hugging your child and telling them you love them. I don't care if they are 8, 18, or, 48 years old. If they pass away you will regret not having reassured them of your love one last time.

So any time I disagree with you I should expect you to accuse me of picking on you? Should I remain silent if I disagree?

I never got it. I get PMs from others. I always receive an email letting me know there is a private message, with a small teaser and a link to read the rest of the message. I never got an email from Talkbears telling me you sent me a PM, so I honestly do not know what happened there. Maybe it got snagged by my spam filter? I usually make a brief check before I empty my junk folder. Didn't recall seeing it there. I have received notifications of a private message waiting for me to read, clicked on the link, and found no message. I assumed the sender deleted it before I went to read it. But it has been well over a year since I had that happen.

I never got a letter (I assume you mean private message since you don't have my email addy). If I had, I would have responded. The hand shake, seriously. I took it as a fun response, but didn't think you expected me to respond.

I didn't accuse you of being paranoid until after you said I was picking on you when I was not picking on you! That's paranoia.

Didn't we just have this conversation a week or two ago? You said you understood when I said I am not a person who is aggressively confrontational. We even shook hands (over the net) and agreed to move on. PHX, you can't tell people their opinions are stupid and then get upset when they disagree with you and claim they are picking on you. You can't claim people are getting personal when they disagree with you and constantly insult them because of their "stupid opinions." If you can disagree with other posters' opinions, then why does it upset you when a poster disagrees with you?

Like I said, stop being so paranoid. I disagree with many (at one point or another or all) posters occasionally. No one has ever accused me of flaming, trolling, gaslighting, or picking on them except for you. You tell everyone they have a right to their opinions, but then insult them by telling them their opinions are stupid. But if anyone disagrees with you, holy shit, they are picking on you.

I'm not nitpicking on you. I'm tired of the comparisons to Fields by EVERYONE. Not just you. I can understand before he was traded. I can understand shortly after. Hell, I was kind of okay with it up until the draft. But now is the time to move on. I loved Justin Fields. I will be a fan of his for as long as he plays in the NFL, as long as it isn't against the Bears or their interests. But it is time to give it up. (And it's time for you to stop being so paranoid, thinking every negative is pointed at you.)

You know what, I am tired of the comparisons to Fields. He's history. I want to compare his strengths/weaknesses to Mahomes, Hurt, Allen, Jackson, etc... Why not start worrying about how he will compare to the top 5 instead of a QB who is no longer on the team?

I just read an interesting article on si.com stating there has been misinformation about CW's fumbling issues. We've been talking about his 30+ fumbles in three years of college. According to the quote below (I assume it is correct), he really hasn't had nearly as much a problem holding onto the ball as the good old internet pundits have cried. I will have to check it out. But if true, one less thing to worry about.

No offense, but the tape sucked. LOL By sucked I mean it didn't really prove much at all. Whoever compiled the tape tried to find every play that Williams stayed in their pocket and passed. Was all of those games this past year? I know some were duplicates from a different angle. I certainly didn't try to count the number of plays, but if you said a hundred, I believe you. The problem is that he was 266/388 at USC last year. So you are touting this to show he stays in the pocket with an awesome quick release, but only for less than a third of the passes he threw? 100+ out of 388 passes? We've all seen his highlight films. I actually prefer them. That is the Caleb Williams the Bears coaching staff will be working with to correct his issues when playing with big men, not college boys.

I was looking at available EDGE players and noticed Emmanuel Ogbah. His stats are actually impressive, especially when you consider, from what I read, Miami switched defensive schemes two years ago causing his production to drop. At 30 years of age, 8 years of experience, 6'4". 275#, 35 1/2" arms, and 10" hands, he sure fits the part physically. I bet he'd sign cheap and would be a good upgrade opposite M Sweat. (assuming our scheme fits his strengths).

We need to address the DL before the season starts. Poles has done a remarkable job revamping our roster. However, the D is still missing the pass rush. We were, if I am not mistaken, last in the league in sacks last year, even after bringing on Sweat. We have a fantastic LB & DB group behind the DL, but they need to have the DL put pressure on the opposing QB. There are too many damn good QBs who will pick us apart if we cannot put more pressure on their QB. Hopefully, Poles can fill in the gap until we can add some blue-chip players in next year's draft. If he does, I agree 100 with everyone; 11-12 wins is a realistic goal. On a side note, If I'm not mistaken, the only players Ryan Pace drafted who are still on the Bears are: Larry Borom (pick No. 151, 2021 NFL draft) (I suspect will be gone before the season starts) Khalil Herbert (pick No. 217, 2021 NFL draft) (Now no longer a starter but a valuable backup) Teven Jenkins (pick No. 39, 2021 NFL draft) (A+ Pick when not on the sidelines because of injury) Jaylon Johnson (pick No. 50, 2020 NFL draft) (A+ Pick) Cole Kmet (pick No. 43, 2020 NFL draft) (A+ Pick) Talk about a GM taking on a monumental task! Poles is doing an awesome job. Now, he just needs to finish the job. 3T, Edge, Center.

There is an article on bearswire.usatoday that lists what they believe are the 20 best remaining free agents the Bears should target after the 2024 NFL draft. I definitely disagree with many they prioritize. I see no need to worry about WR, TE, or QB now. I am far more concerned with Edge, DT, OC, and OG. The trenches. Here is the list they gave: EDGE Yannick Ngakoue EDGE Carl Lawson EDGE Emmanuel Ogbah EDGE Calais Campbell EDGE Charles Harris EDGE Jerry Hughes EDGE Dawuane Smoot DT Fletcher Cox DT Hassan Ridgeway C Connor Williams OG Dalton Risner OG Mark Glowinski WR Tyler Boyd WR Hunter Renfrow WR Michael Gallup WR DJ Chark WR Jalen Guyton TE Marcedes Lewis TE Logan Thomas QB Ryan Tannehill

Or if the DC guesses wrong, it could be an 80-yard touchdown. LOL Roll the dice. ?

I can't say I'm impressed with the video. I hope his game against Texas wasn't his best game.

From the strengths and weakness I found listed (see copy and paste below) the only thing this kid needs is some mass & strength added to his young frame. I'm sure our teams' nutritionist & Strength and Conditioning Coach has already set up a schedule for him.

It will be interesting to see what Poles has up his sleeve. The guy has been a magician resetting our roster and making us respectable for the first time in many years. I suspect he will be watching closely UDFAs and players cut after the draft for help in the trenches on both sides of the line. OCs, 3Ts, and anyone who can protect our QB or sack the opponent's QB.

From a write up on the Bears site, explains why we drafted a punter:

Any idea what we gave up in trade? I wanted us to have a full slate of draft picks next year.

I can only assume that Poles agreed that the prospects in the later rounds of this draft were not very inspiring. LOL Without any EDGE or 3T he felt comfortable with, he went with the top Punter in the draft. I know many of you will be disappointed, but it is actually a guy I wanted on our team.

Out of that list, Booker would be my pick. However, I also love the idea of drafting Mo Kamara.

I watched Kiran's highlight video and, all of a sudden, had a mad urge for breakfast. I never saw so many pancakes being served up by an OLT. Then I read his interview on the Bears home site. I was blown away! Kiran is such an incredible guy, a true diehard Bears fan living his dream. Can you believe it? His chance encounter a year ago with Flus at a Golf Club, where he boldly proclaimed to him that one day he'd be sitting in his office at Hallas Hall. And now, he's living that dream. We can see he has the physical attributes. But when you pair that with his desire to be the best, you have something special. He talked about meeting with our OL Coach and how he was anxious to get to work. Braxton, look out—you better believe you have someone who wants your job! Love the pick!

I wouldn't be at all surprised if Poles isn't already working on a cap-friendly extension for Allen.