ASHKUM BEAR

Ballard also declining interview with Eagles. It seems pretty clear were he is going.

Kordell wasn't good enough to have a new contract offered to him. He didn't cost 2-1st round draft picks either. I only support Jay because I think it would be foolish to get rid of him until a capable replacement can be groomed. There are no perfect candidates that will ever hit FA, teams do not let go of those players. We hold the #7 pick and there still isn't a qb worth that risk to groom into a franchise qb. Hopefully by the 2016 draft, there will be one. How Jay needs to be handled is not to coddle him, he starts getting careless with the ball, you sit him.

But will also hold every QB record in Bears franchise history.... Love him or hate him, the Bears haven't produced better

Ray or Beasley would be easy. The draft would make so much sense if we had that D because I do not like our choices in our current scheme. Round 2 good chance to grab a ballhawk FS or If Peters CB or Oakman DE falls.

Just think, we could have had Bowles already. If only they chose Arians over Trestman lol. 3-4 is possible. DE-Sutton, Houston, Allen, NT-Ratliff, Ferguson, Paea OLB-Young, McClellin, Washington, Bass ILB-Bostic, Jones, Greene CB-Fuller, Jennings S-Mundy, Vereen

That list is fine, but the Bears need to be searching from the best teams imo. Teams that have long term success. Sounds like they will hire someone from the above list. I would like to see them add guys from GreenBay, New England, Pittsburgh etc. Nick Careio 39 years old, Director of player personnel could be a Theo Epstein? Well, Ballard interviews today or tomorrow. In 4-5 days, we should have a better idea.

I have not seen this guy mentioned, any thoughts? Alonzo Highsmith-Green Bays Senior Personnel Executive Yes, he is the former RB. Been a college scout for Ron Wolf since 1999. He has been building GBs roster the past 15 years. He knows the Bears pretty well and can share what he has learned from inside GB. Being Ted Thompsons right hand man and understanding players put him up on my list.

I like the draft, I would consider a LB at 2 though. I would think one of the top 4 may be available. You have Shaq Thompson, Denzel Perryman, Benardrick McKinney, and Erik Kendricks. Grasu or Dismukes at Center would be wise and that is still drafting oline early. Between Mills, Ola, Groy, and Leno, one or two will develop and step up also.

2016 draft, give me Alabamas Derrick Henry. He will be a beast

I'm in for Collins or Thompson. Collins for his leadership, he is in charge of the defensive huddle. Thompson, I know he plays to win and gives extra effort and an athletic freak. They said he is as good of a RB as a LB. edit: Just read Draftteks 4 round mock - This will keep the Oline guys and defensive guys happy 1-Landon Collins S 2-Erik Kendricks LB (also available: Marcus Peters CB) 3-Reece Dismukes C (also available: Todd Gurley RB) 4-Corey Robinson RT

Albert Breer ✔ @AlbertBreer Follow Seahawks DC Dan Quinn interviewed with the Niners last night, will interview with the Jets and Bears on Friday, and Falcons on Saturday.

I agree. Make it hard to refuse and make a statement. Phillips has no right to be the President of the Chicago Bears. That is "The Chicago Bears", George Halas's team dammit. There is no seriousness of winning or becoming a top down football structure unless the old failing top comes down first.

With our current roster, I don't see how we can add more to the DE either, possibly DT if Paea is not re-signed. It would be a luxury pick or we will be cutting players creating more dead cap. I can see finding a cheaper FA to come in on a one year deal if Houston/Young/Washington are expected to miss a portion of next season. This roster needs 2-Safeties (starters or depth), 1-MLB(starter), 1-CB-(starter/nickel/depth), 1-TE (depth), 1-C (starter/depth), and 1-QB(#1/#2 vet) Until this team has depth at all positions, we cannot afford to cut under performing vets or failed draft picks. This stems back from 10 years of bad drafting.

tidbits: I was more thinking of Sherman, Chancellor, and Maxwell being 5th/6th RD picks. Browner was an UDFA. KJ Wright a 4th, but Bobby Wagner a 2nd. We know Earl Thomas and Bruce Irvin were 1st's. Being a Bear fan, when has 3rd RD picks ever amount to anything, LoL. Basically, the 2013 Superbowl year, Michael Bennett was on a 1year trial contract and Avril was signed on a 2 year deal. Kevin Williams joined in 2014 and Michael Bennett, and Cliff Avril have re-signed/extended their contracts in 2014, after the Superbowl win. *Seattle didn't start winning until Russell Wilson (3rd RD) came in 2012. That might be the key to their success. Defensively, they were ranked high in 2012 with Gus Bradley as DC (Quinn was in Florida) #1 Pts, 4th in yrds, and 5th in TO's. Bradley was then hired by Jacksonville for HC in the 2013 season and Seattle brought back Quinn. In 2013 their D ranked 1 in TOs, Yds, and Pts allowed, followed by 2014 4th in TO's, 1st yds, and 1st tds allowed. Jacksonville under Gus Bradley have not improved much defensively and still hover the 25-29th area, but their DC is our very own Bob Babich, hence Bradley was a Monte Kiffin guy. Gase very well may be a good OC future HC. Having Manning who is the smartest/hardest working QB I've seen does help. After watching at least the last 2 years of Seattle, I have said as early as last year that I want our D to play like theirs. That D style is new, fun to watch, and proven to dominate.

The Seahawks have talent, but alot are later rounds picks and cheaper FAs. Give that to their GM. They are great because of the home field 12th man and their defensive scheme (coaching), Wilson was a Bevell project that has a perfect scheme to enhance his talents. It's about coaching fellas, having a good combination of GM down to position coaches. I like the defense better than their offense, thats why I want Quinn.

Vereen deserves a chance, but I don't think he will be anything special. I would have him compete with a 2-3rd round pick. There are many ways to go about the draft, I can see it going 1-SS-Collins 2-LB Thompson, Kendricks, McKinney, or Perryman (one has to be there) 3-FS Durrell Eskridge, Anthony Harris, Derron Smith Vereen might wind up being Nickle? The middle of the D has been soft since Urlachers glory days, this would be a big help.

Denver has been stacked with talent the last couple of years. I will pass Give me Daniel Quinn DC Seahawks-DL specialist

I kinda like this class of Safeties, but all after round 1. If we took Collins rd1, I wouldn't hate it because we are thin at the posistion. My Ranking (I prefer FS) Collins SS Holliman FS Eskridge FS Derron Smith FS Anthony Harris SS/FS Jaquiski Tartt SS Kurtis Drumond FS Cody Prewitt FS

The best part is Marenelli chose Arians and Arians didn't even want him.

He has some flaws since this is first full season of starting but I would welcome him in RD2 or 3.

This time frame you are using is when Lovie Smith was awarded his contract extension and power of player personal. Just like he has now in Tampa. Here is an article from the Chicago Tribune: "The Bears missed the playoffs in five of Smith's final six seasons after a post-Super Bowl power play when Smith began exerting the type of influence the Bucs just granted him. It was February 2007 when Smith, armed with a new contract, proclaimed "trust me'' after firing defensive coordinator Ron Rivera. A month later, Smith pushed to acquire safety Adam Archuleta. Later, he endorsed Devin Hester as a No. 1 wide receiver. Lest we forget linebacker Jamar Williams, who supposedly made Lance Briggs expendable."

I think with the depth at oline and players developing (Groy, Ola, Leno) we can select later round guys again in this draft. Kromers philosophy of inside out protection will be gone, so moving Long to LT/RT is a possibility. I would like to find a RD4/RD6 Center, I am not as sold on Grasu/Reece as draft boards have them 2nd or early 3rd RD prospects. Improving the defense though the draft is one option, which can go like this. RD1- Landon Collins S RD2- Benardrick McKinney ILB RD3-Durrell Eskridge/Anthony Harris FS RD4- Eric Murray CB RD6-Brandon Vitabale C/ Mike Matthews C Or rebuild the defense through FA, and improve the offense like: 1-Toddy Gurley/Melvin Gordon RB 2-La'el Collins/Tyrus Thompson/TJ Cummings RT 3- Reece Dismukes C 4-Ben Heeney LB 6-S Issaiah Johnson S 7-CB Wayne Lyons CB

Before any moves are made, below is the list of players under contract and the year they become a FA. C-Garza 2016 G-Slausen 2018 G-Long 2017 G-Ola 2017 G-Groy 2016 OT-Bushrod 2018 OT-Leno 2017 OT-Mills 2017 QB-Cutler 2021 (2017) QB-Fales 2017 RB-Forte 2016 RB-Carey 2018 RB-Perry 2017 TE-Bennett 2017 TE-Annen 2016 WR-Marshall 2018 WR-Jeffery 2016 WR-Wilson 2017 WR-Mariani 2016 WR-Bellamy 2016 K-Gould 2018 P-O'Donnell 2018 DT-Ferguson 2018 DT-Sutton 2018 DT-Ratliff 2016 DT-Dunn 2017 DE-Houston 2020 DE-Allen 2018 DE-Young 2017 DE-Washington 2017 DE-Bass 2016 LB-Bostic 2017 LB-Jones 2017 LB-McClellin 2016 LB-Greene 2017 LB-Lattimore 2017 CB-Fuller 2018 CB-Jennings 2018 CB-Louis-Jean 2017 CB-Mitchell 2017 S-Mundy 2016 S-Vereen 2018 Biggest needs:2-S, CB, MLB, TE, C, RB

Only 16 players under contract for next season. Not much to cut but alot to fill.

That is possible. How quickly can they identify 3-5 candidates and make a decision? I also wonder if they are open to the Phillips position being open if someone like Ozzie Newsome can be swayed into a GM/President position?