BearFan PHX

Courtney Cronin's source is Jeff King. She's had exclusives from him before, and even attributed some to him. And I'm not saying Jeff is breaking rules, Im sure the Bears are good with it - most teams find a reporter that they can use when they need to put out disinformation before the draft, or spin on some negative publicity thing, and they "pay" for that by letting info out early to those same reporters in return. It means Courtney will sometimes have inside info, but it also means she wont be the one asking tough questions in the pressers either?

I'd have jumped at paying $15M for Linderbaum, I thought he was probably too expensive at $22M. I mean, I like the player a lot, so I might have found a way to make it work, but I get that cap space is going to do good somewhere else.

That works. Not sure we won't get an edge too. Could be a big name, could be mid tier?

So I guess now we're looking at Hendrickson or something similar (maybe a DT?). And we have picks to stock the defense. We will of course sign a bunch of cheaper free agents too to "fill holes" before the draft, but some won't end up starters by mid season.

exactly

I think youre making assumptions but there is no actual info yet on what we will do at LT. Im surely not saying i know anything about what they will do - the best Ive got is to look at some of the options that i am aware of. But for example, i didnt have any IDEA that we might trade for the Center from NE until it was announced, so i dont think any of us can truly know. So for Mongo to say he thinks that is totally fine - that's all any of us can do, but to take the statement from Roushar like it means we wont be looking at LT? I dunno about that. It didnt sound like a fact as much as a pat answer so as not to tip his hand. COULD we end up with Benedet at LT? Sure. But I dunno if we are at the point where we know anything for sure yet? Also I doubt highly that Trapilo could be back after 6 weeks? If you have a link Id love to read it, but my understanding is that it takes a lot longer for that heal. Of course, my medical knowledge is about the same as my understanding of automotive repair, so what the hell do i know? Only what Ive read. If you have something contrary to read, Id be happy to read it.

There are also different offensive systems, and a player might shine in one, and be a detriment in another? I've never seen tape on him (yet! lol) so i have nothing substantive to add about the player, but I do trust Roushar and Johnson to know what they're looking at?

You gotta figure between BJ and Roushar that they know what theyre doing. Also, PFF is random, and i put no faith in anything they say positive or negative. Theyre the ones that said Charles Leno was a top ten LT LOL And I dont mean they predicted that during the draft, I mean they RATED him that during those seasons where he was absolute trash for us. PFF means nothing.

Hes getting kinda old, so Im thinking like AZ54 is on this one - maybe he wants a ring? We arent gonna play him $20M, Id be very surprised at that, so he'd have to know that. Im just guessing here that if he was gonna stay on a team that isnt going to contend he wanted the money, but he might play cheaper for us? As for Byard, I totally agree with you Mongo, he did get exposed last year. I can see us keeping him for a year or two, but we absolutely need to get younger and faster on D, and Byard wont be here in 3 years, and possibly leaving sooner than that even.

I havent seen any film on him yet, so Ill hold back on offering an opinion, but i do trust BJ and Rousher to make a good choice, and he will be an easy player to get under the cap with a number under $7M. Obviously Linderbaum was the cream of the crop, but he was going to be very expensive, and so I totally get this move. Im personally surprised they didnt go with Connor Whateverhisnameis but i havent done any film study on them, and this was kinda under the radar, for me at least. Cool, one more hole filled.

That does make sense. The LT coming out of Detroit has a year left in him, and he and Johnson have familiarity. I feel like he might be willing to play cheaper for a ring? He had injuries tho. Johnson will know what he has left either way. I'd love to get Crosby too, but he is gonna be so expensive in cap AND picks. There are other Edge rushers too. And DTs both in free agency and the draft. So I can see us having options, including Crosby. But damn I would love to have Linderbaum. He's incredible.

Dalman = $10M (and possibly $14M if we can get some signi9ng bonus back) Edmunds = $15M Moore = $16.5M just those three moves opened $41.5M (possibly $45.5M) That's before some other expected moves that should bring in more space, and restructures etc. We have plenty of cap room if we need it. Maybe Linderbaum is too expensive, but he is probably the best center in football despite PFF nonsense. Just watch the film. He is truly incredible. Also, Detroit LT Taylor Decker has asked to be released and the Lions will allow it. Maybe reunited with Ben Johnson? He's also expensive though, but he is 32 years old, so I suspect he might just want a ring and be willing to play for less. We do have options!

Im not a huge Courtney Cronin fan, but she absolutely has shared inside info before. I recall you didnt believe it and you said she didnt have contacts then too, but it becomes circular logic if all her inside info is determined to be not real, then obviously it isnt evidence that she has inside info, but she does sometimes.

I think cutting Edmunds rather than holding on to him for another week to look for a trade might mean we are clearing salary cap for something.

Also, we have now opened: Dalman $10M (or maybe $14M) DJ Moore $16.5 Edmunds $15M $41.5M (or $45.5M) on the cap, and just getting started. We do have money to go after a premiere pass rusher and of course you all know I would LOVE to have Linderbaum too. Especially if Thuney's years are numbered, like 2 left. Still to come: Edge, DT (x2?), LT, LB, S, CB, WR

Edmunds just got cut. I guess there were no trade partners, too bad. It was only a 5th, but it would have been nice...

Oh man, I'd trade Dayo and Jarrett for nothing just to get them off the books! That would be great, but does anyone want them?

that'll be the 2nd rounder we just got for DJ? And if we get another 2nd for Bagent, it won't sting as much? Here's a wild thought - what about 2 2nd round picks, Tremaine Edmunds and Jaylon Johnson for Crosby? Or put another way, a 2nd round pick, JJ, Edmunds and Bagent for Crosby?

Good point about Brown. i thought he was gonna go and then Moore was gonna go right after, but I guess Buffalo wanted Moore more, or didnt want to wait for Brown and possibly miss both? Crosby is gonna be expensive in trade and cap. I've been wondering if we wouldn't go with Hendrickson, or someone else, maybe a DT. I generally feel the same way you do about being careful with picks and cap room. But seeing how aggressive Johnson and poles were on the offensive side of the ball last year, and seeing as how we know Caleb is the guy. Maybe we will go all in, make a run, and get our cap locked in to a roster full of talent that we hope to ride for several years. It's risky of course. You look at Dayo, Jarrett etc - you don't want to go all in and end up married to guys who underperform their deals. But I wouldnt be surprised if we were aggressive around Crosby and Linderbaum. And then wed need some mid tier LT, and DT, maybe a safety before the draft. Do all that you've got a hell of a team, but you're married to them all for several years, so you have to be sure theyre gonna be studs for you. With all the talk from Crosby maybe he really does want to come here and get a ring. One thing's for sure, with Caleb and Johnson we are becoming an attractive place for high end free agents to want to go.

amen. I wouldnt let him go (this year) for less. As we clear cap space, and load up on ammo, you gotta figure this defense is going to look very different. And that really puts us in place to be serious contenders for the Super Bowl this year, and beyond. Finally!

Yeah, win/win. I'm so happy we got a 2nd for him. THis is honestly better than I thought it would be, and I was in favor of this move before when i thought compensation could be less. I think this is going to be a very dynamic offseason. I cant wait to see the roster opening day!

OK, Ive had enough of this bullshit. I will say what I want when i want. Dont like it? Suck my dick. I am sick of being kind and watching my language while you act like a total dick. I took endless crap from you about how we arent going to trade DJ Moore. But we did. Youre wrong about EVERYTHING we disagree about, over and over. I will state my opinion about whatever the hell I want to. Maybe you should listen and learn something you moron. You dont know shit about any of this, so if you dont like what I say, then just shut your f*cking mouth. From now on when you act like and asshole, youll get it back - we are back to this because youre such an ass. I tried being civil, but it has to go both ways. If you or others on this board dont like it, they should encourage you to shut the f*ck up about me? Got it asshole?

Dude, this is a discussion board. We are here to discuss football. I dont need to call Poles on the phone and try to get him to listen to me, thats insane. Why would he listen to any fan? But that doesnt mean we cant talk about stuff here, thats what this forum is for. Please cut that out?

I guess, but to me, Linderbaum is like another guard, the way he can get into the second level so quickly. I dunno if anyone watched his highlight tape, but he is something special for sure.

There is always cap space to be created. When a player like this becomes available (and it's RARE!) then i think you do what you have to to make it happen. I think he will need a 4 year $80M deal. Dalman was getting $14M a year. This guy is worth $6M more. Now I am with you, we NEED to retool the defense. I wouldnt say sign this guy at the expense of the defense. I still think we will make a lot of moves on Defense. But to add $6M a year to our projected cap to have this guy replace Dalman seems right to me. There are ways to create as much as $80M in cap room for us this year. $65M seems more reasonable. But either way, there is room for Linderbaum, an expensive pass rusher, and more mid tier free agents as well. Dalman opens up $10M this year, and Edmunds another $15M. Trading DJ opens another $15M, that's $40M right there before you even start digging or restructuring. I think we should go get him. He's as good at center as Thuney is at guard.