ASHKUM BEAR

""On this page only, one person who backs Briggs in this case said "we'd be crippled without Briggs" and then another, who also sides with Briggs, says "then let him hold out." " It was in reference to Brian's post about how it hurts the Bears either way by letting him walk or sit out. I wanted to point out letting him get his way would probably hurt the team more by letting players know thats all they have to do.

Maybe, but it hasn't stopped Sproles or Harvin, and Hester is just as gifted. Hester makes too much to only handle ST's, they will find a way to use him on offense. Maybe they'll use him strictly out of the slot, which would also benefit him.

Giving into Briggs demands hurts this team. If he gets his way, then the next child is going to try that antic. The Bears will be firm and fair with all their players. His complaints/openess probably hurt any chances of seeing a raise this year for sure. We can trade him, but we would lose too much value. If he sits, which I highly doubt we also lose. But the other players will see that signing a contract means you honor it. That is the best way to run an organization IMO. But to go back and look at the trade thought, it would have to be a 1st or 2nd. I couldn't part with him on a 3rd and I can't see any team giving more than a 3rd. Briggs knows his timeline in the NFL is getting short and he has no chance getting another huge signing bonus. I also heard he got used to making the extra money in the front loaded contract and is overspending his budget. He put himself in a bind and this is an effort to get out.

Its just not about comparing the body size. Its about using his ability to make plays in the open field. I'm not talking about using him to hand off and run up the gut like they did with Wolfe. Look what Forte can do in the open field with screens and pass plays. Thats all im considering. Bring him in on 3rd down packages as a change. Hester hasn't taken that next step at WR, he seems to have trouble getting seperation and learning routes. Plus he won't be carrying near the load playing that role and that should help his legs in the return game. Maybe look at Harvin, he took 52 hand offs, but came out of the backfield on screens or designed pass plays. Sproles had a larger role and took 86 hand offs and was a huge part of NO's success. It's a thought I hope the Bears consider, but that all depends on the FA's and draft picks they bring in. If the Bears bring in enough WRs to demote #23 to a fourth option, I hope Tice can finds other ways to use his abilities.

Why would Hester not be tough enough but Sproles is? Also, most recommendations that I have seen suggests Hester as the #4 WR. Basically taking him off the field all together. I think playing that change of pace position puts him in a similiar place to how Harvin gets used at times and Sproles.

Imagine if the Bears got Devin Hester in the right position from the get go. He's failed at DB and has never lived up to the #1 WR that the Bears envisioned. Maybe if he was used primarily out of the slot he'd do better, or maybe not. But I think using him like Darren Sproles would've been the best way to go. Return specialist and change of pace RB. Hub Arkish brought this up and I thought this would be an excellant thought to consider. RB is alot easier to learn and Devin should grasp it pretty quickly. He would probably be open more often than not coming out of the backfield and being a check down or screen option. Combine comparison of the two- Devin Hester: height: 5-11 weight: 190 40 time:4.35 20 time:2.59 10 time:1.54 3cone: 6.78 20yd shttl: 4.2 vert: 38 broad: 10'4 Darren Sproles: height: 5'6" weight: 187 40 time:4.47 20 time:2.62 10 time:1.55 3 cone: 6.96 20yd shttl: 3.96 vert: 33 broad: 8'9"

Let him sit if he chooses, we have his contract. He can whine and cry all he wants. I remember Jamar Williams having great stats whenever he got to play for an injured Briggs.

I wonder if I started this rumor with my last post "crazy draft thought" lol My only intention was to show that we have the ammo to do so. If we did, I wouldn't be too upset b/c this would fill a major need with a prospect i think is a can't miss. It would cost a lot, but how many picks were blown anyways by this organization. Whether it was picks made by JA or the coaching staff not bringing them along. It's not gonna happen, just draft chatter to get people interested.

I listen to 670 the Score a lot and they have Hub Arkish on all the time. I was surprised the other day when he said if the price is right and the Bears don't over spend, he would go up and get a play maker like Blackmon. He suggested 2 firsts and a second? I still would hate to see that, but we all know that we are in desperate need of a big time WR.

It was just a scenerio to look at what we can possibly do. I really doubt he falls past the 3 or 4 pick and we may have to face him at Minny twice a year if Kalil goes before. Lets look at it if we trade down. If a team like Philly that has two 2nd RD picks at 46 and 51 would like to swap u[ to 19, I'd be willing to look at that and hope we can get a group like: 46 Mike Thomas OT Ohio St 50 Dwight Jones WR NC 51 Stephen Gilmore CB SC 74 Winston Guy Jr S KY 80 Sean Spence OLB Mia 111 Drake Dunsmore TE NW 142 William Vlachos C Ala 175 Chris Galippo ILB USC 208 Chandler Harnish QB Northern FA PICK UPS: Cliff Avril DE/Mario Williams DE - Vincent Jackson WR/Dwayne Bowe WR/Marques Colston WR 3-2nd RD picks: Thomas played LT at Ohio St and did well Jones didn't get as many opportunities at NC, but has size and made many big plays Gilmore has size/speed the Bears like and fits a zone D 2-3rd RD picks Guy Jr has speed and size but is still more of a project, plays well in the box and covers well in the open Spence is a little undersized a 6' but has a nose for making plays, would make a great WLB in the cover2 4 RD Dunsmore is a sleeper at TE, has great speed and a playmaker 5 RD Vlachos could step in sooner at C, opened a lot of lanes for Richardson. At 6-1, little undersized 6 RD Galippo in the mold of a MLB for the cover 2 under Kiffins USC D 7 RD Harnish - Local QB that doesn't turn the ball over, nice size and instincts.

Drake is the reason WR's die when they come to Chicago....he is the axe man

Question: would you trade the 1st, 2nd, and two 3rd's for Calvin Johnson? I know I would really consider that thought and think this Justin Blackmon can be a Terrell Owens or Calvin Johnson type of threat. If by chance Justin Blackmon falls to the 5th pick that will equal 1700 points on the trade value chart. Our 1, 2, and 3's will equal 1700 points. After watching the bowl game and knowing he wasn't 100% healthy and he absolutely destroyed his competetion shows me he will excel in the NFL and be a top 5 WR. Just a nugget to consider, we do have ammo to go up to pick #5. Also, I think he comes across as a good high character guy. How about Micheal Floyd, some Mocks have Carolina taking him with their 9th......that swap would cost us our 1, 2, and 4? How about staying were we are and taking Alshon Jeffery? (which I think once the combine is through he will rise and possibly pass Micheal Floyd) How about trading down a 5-10 spots and drafting: Dwight Jones 6-4 225 North Carolina Stephin Hill 6'5" 200 Geogia Juron Criner 6-4 212 Arizona or we can look at these moves to grab a OLT.....Kalil or Reiff or Martin.

There are also a few big name WR free agents available. I would not give up our first round pick or Lance Briggs. Briggs is under contract and he would be foolish to hold out.

Wonder if we hired him if he would want The Ravens D or Lovies D?

With TE, you may be right, but I still cannot see one taken in RD2....RD3 at the earliest. Jimmy Graham was RD3-95 in 2010, Jared Cook RD3-89 in 2009, Jermical Finely RD3-91 in 2008. It all depends on what offense we run. If Tice takes over and runs a version of Martz's offense, then we might not even draft TE at all. QB, we'll have to see what Enderle is about and if we are still going to try develop him, and finding a suitable vet to back up Cutler as the #2.

Also agree w/ Jason's pros/cons. I think Lovie does well getting a game plan set and sometimes they work beautifully, but more often than not most of our games are ugly wins. He probably has the highest tenure coaching staff and it seems we still have the same issues every year.

Whoever the Bears choose to run football operations, might have difficulty drafting in terms of taking players that fit a certain scheme. With Martz gone, I think offense will be easier. As for defense, if your the GM would you take guys specifically that fit the cover-2 or would you grab a player that would fit a more traditional style defense? Luckily our biggest needs are on the offensive side of the ball and thats were I would go heavy early. But if we fail to make the playoffs again next year, Lovie might just get shown the door and then we are stuck with players that might not excel in standard 3-4. Seems like we are back to square one when JA had to draft for Jauron. Heres one of the latest mocks online..... Draft Teks new 5 rd mock on left and who I would take on the right: drafttek......................................................me 1 Juron Criner WR ARZ 6-4 212...............Alshon Jeffery WR SC 6-4 233 2 Brandon Washington G Mia 6-4 320........Andrew Datko OLT FSU 6-6 321 3 Billy Winn DE Boise St 6-3 295..............Donnie Fletcher CB BC 6-1 198 3 Brandon Mosley LOT Auburn 6-5 305.......Ben Jones C Ga 6-3 315 4 Michael Egnew TE MO 6-5 242................Arthur Brown ILB KSU 6-1 225 5 Ryan Broyles WR OK 5-11 187................Jack Crawford DE PSU 6-5 264

Honestly, Olsen did about as much damage as he did good while here. It always seemed like he would fumble or miss a block as much as he made a clutch catch. More Kellen Davis would be fine w/ me.

GM - what's your thoughts on the Reggie McKenzie (ugh-kelly? edit) from Green Bay? I think he'd be a quality choice.

I agree. I think if you're going to ditch an offense that the team was finally starting to get the grips on they should just start over completely top to bottom and that means Phillips and Lovie also gone. We all know what our weaknesses were and we all mocked drafted players that would've improved this team. Jerry or whoever was making the call failed to build this team the right way. If we would've of started to put the pieces in place with the Grossman pick, this team could be drastically different. They failed to address the OL and WR then. Not saying Rex would've been great, but he had a aging oline protecting him and maybe #2 WRs in Muhammad/Berrian. Benson/Jones if they couldve got along would've been a great dual threat. Many wasted picks and not bringing them in the right way. That's why I think they should fire Phillips, bring in a great football mind to be President, hire an up n coming gm, and find an offensive minded coach.

I know this won't be a popular thought, but I would rather see the Bears bring back Martz as OC than to put Cutler and the offense through another learning curve. I see no reason to install another offense when Lovie only has 2 years left on contract. We have an good defense & special teams, but a defecient offense. No matter what/who's system we run, it will always be defecient unless we invest more into it (and many have said this even back in the Grossman/Benson days) Martz's offense can actually be the missing piece to improve Lovies D if we can just get the right personal in it. Lovies D is made to excel when playing with a lead, which he mentions 17pts alot. Martz had an explosive offense in STL that helped out Lovie, but he is short the tools to work with here. So re-sign Martz, put him and Cutler in the FA/Draft room and bring in whatever it takes to make this offense a top 5 group. Let them grab a OLT with the first pick, WR with the second, and a Center with a 3rd. Go into FA and grab a Marques Colston or Reggie Wayne and a Carl Nicks if necessary. Use some later round picks to fill in defensive needs and well take our 3rd place schedule next year all the way to the Superbowl.

I'm going to guess that he meant to put "yellow" flagged. It was mentioned numerous times lately on the Score w/ Hub about how many teams had him flagged but they all said it wouldn't have stopped them from drafting him.

Depends on who's available...I figure when we draft as of now two OL prospects could be available Jonathan Martin OT and David DeCastro G both from Stanford. The kid from Iowa is mocking around 10 or above lately so its hard to say if we have a chance with him. We can also be sitting with Michael Floyd WR , Quinton Coples DE, or Alfonzo Dennard CB in front of us. Replacing Webb is my #1 priority. I think if everyone comes back healthy we would be better with: LT Martin/Webb? LG Williams C Garza RG Louis/Nicks RT Carimi

Which combination would be best for the Bears if this was their menu on draft day? RD1: Jonathan Martin OT Stanford Reilly Reif OT Iowa David DeCastro G Stanford Quenton Coples DE NC Michael Floyd WR ND Alfonzo Dennard CB Nebraska RD2: Dwight Jones WR NC Brandon Jenkins DE FSU Andre Branch DE Clemson Mark Barron SS Alabama TJ McDonald S USC Ben Jones C Georgia RD3A: Shaun Prater CB Iowa Coryell Judie CB Texas AM Kevin Zeitler G Wis Levy Adock OT OK St Tommy Streeter WR Mia Andrew Datko OT FSU RD3B: Cam Johnson DE Vir Senio Kelemete G Was Michael Brewster C Ohio St Nate Potter OT Boise St Marvin McNutt WR Iowa Casey Hayward CB Vand

I think it's past the time frame to count against this years cap, but I could be wrong