ASHKUM BEAR

Alexander has also battled through injuries the past two seasons and after signing the big contract, he lost a little desire. Now, if he wants to be a player, he'll have to prove himself again. I'd be content on giving him an incentive laden contract that won't cost us much to cut him and that will reward him if he reaches certain milestones. Give him a one year deal, at least it's insurance if Benson can't rebound from his injury.

Actually, Russell is project to shift to RT after it was reported he was badly out of shape this offseason.

With the 48th pick, the Atlanta Falcons pick a CB with return abiltiy. Justin King CB, Penn State. Philedelphia Eagles on on the clock with the 49th pick

I think it's everything being thrown at us that's really starting to anger us loyal fans. This team as a whole is starting to look like it might just need to be blown up. With football starting to buzz again, me as a fan would like to hear these players are hungry to redeem themselves and the front office is ready to add the right pieces through the draft to help bring the team to that level again. But all were getting out of the media is the unhappiness of the team. We've read about Harris, Urlacher, Briggs, Hester, and now Gould all unhappy and most of them are skipping the voluntary workouts except for Hester. I know its voluntary, but not showing up to me says that they don't care enough about the team or there goals. Right now, this team has nothing going for them at all. Questions at every offensive position (QB, RB, WR, T, G) and now we have our best D players which should be the leaders of this team threatening the only positive we have to look forward to. If there going to be unhappy and show there displeasure by not showing leadership by being at the voluntary practices/working out as a team, we will never reach our goal. The Bears front office have said they want to get all of these guys taken care of and they want to take care of there own. Negotiations take time which is understandable. These players also have to realize that theres only so many gum balls in the jar and if they all want the most, they all won't be able to dip into the same jar. I hope we can get this all behind us quickly and this team can get together and focus on winning. Otherwise, like thread was titled to hell w/ it. Blow it up.

Also, he can be a returner if the "unhappy" Hester wants to test the Bears and hold out.

With a new QB to develop, the Falcons want to make sure he's protected. The Atlanta Falcons pick Carl Nicks OT Nebraska

If the Bears draft goes as planned and they get there OLT, QB, RB, WR in the first 3 rounds and when there 4th round pick is up and these two are available, who should the Bears take? Josh Barrett S Arizona St. 6-2 223, 4.34-40 (4.34, 4.30, 4.43) Very athletic for his size, 4.35 speed at combine, in the box safety who can tackle and deliver the big hit, plays the run very well, high football IQ, and a team leader, also can drop back and cover. Tom Zbikowski S Notre Dame 5-11 211, 4.44-40 (4.44, 4.40, 4.58) Hard worker and team leader, has a high football IQ, plays the run very well, in the box safety, cover skills need some work, makes plays when he gets the ball, excellant special teams player. Both players have there flaws, but could be the SS the Bears cover-2 could use. Tom Zbikowski has Chicago ties and could become the fan favorite as he seems to be the John Lynch type of safety. His ceiling isn't as high as Barrett's, but his floor isn't as low. Josh Barrett has the speed that JA/Lovie covet. He's an amazing athlete in the mold of Sean Taylor. He could blow the roof off of the ceiling if he matures/develops, but he has potential to bust more than Zibby does. At the least, Zibby could be a backup SS but be a ST ace where as Barrett would just be a back up S as he has no history at playing ST. So out of the two Safeties, who would you take. Someone help me make a decision b/c I like them both. For all those saying Zbikowski is slow, a 4.44 40 time is really not that slow and how fast was John Lynch?

The Atlanta Falcons biggest needs are DT, QB, OT, CB. They feel they got possibly the best DT in the draft and if he gains his full health, they possibly could get the next Warren Sapp type of player in Dorsey. There draft board plan is playing out as planned and the have shown a lot of interest in Deleware QB Joe Flacco. With the 34th pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcon select Joe Flacco, QB, Deleware. With pick 35, the Kansas City Chiefs and Brletich are now on the clock..........

Great to here he's back! He was really missed last year and his leadership/emotion will be a big boost. The way he played in preseason and the SD game makes me think he can be bigger than T. Harris on this team(blasphemy), but he has to first prove he can stay on the field. JA might have two DT's to sign after the 2008 season if DD can stay healthy and play like he is capable of.

I'd be more than happy to take Mendenhall like that if the opportunity like that presented itself. So we get a top 10 prospect at RB by moving up and it cost us a 3rd this year and next which the 3rd next years value equals a 4th (by trade charts) {this obviously won't happen though} 1-14 Chris Williams OLT - may not be a road grader, but a finese pass blocking OT. 1-25 Rashard Mendenhall RB - IMO the best RB in this years draft. Benson will really have to step it up to prove he's the man 3-90 Mike McGlyn G - Starter quality G that made Otah look good. Some say he is the better NFL prospect out of the two 4-110 Josh Barrett SS - Fast, Athletic, hard hitting SS that Lovie/Angie love for there D 5-142 Colt Brennan QB - Young cocky QB, maybe like McMahon ? 6-175 Keenan Burton WR - The Bears brought him in for a look at and like this kid 7-222 Jacob Hester FB - The Bears just couldn't resist a man named Hester 7 comps (TE , WR, CB )

Jake Scott the G from Indy who signed with Tennessee? Nah, I think I'd rather have Jake Long. (just busting)

I like seeing this much better: Devin Hester #4 for this current all time mock. 4. Oakland Raiders – Devin Hester, WR/KR. No, this is not a misprint. Al Davis is that far gone. "Who is the fastest player on our board?" Davis asks in the war room. When Lane Kiffin starts to answer, Davis puts his finger to his lips as five armed security guards surround the second-year coach, place him in a straitjacket and lock him in the broom closet. The last thing Kiffin says before his mouth is gagged is "Yo, Adrian," and no one knows whether he's talking about a halfback named Peterson or paying homage to Sly Stallone

If I remember right, Lovies/JAs plan was to bring in players to help improve our 3rd down efficiency. Olsen was the first step of the plan, and finding a RB that can be brought in on 3rd down and be a threat on screens/draws was another part. The major part that they both didn't realize was that w/o a push up front from the oline, none of this would matter.

-Beekman might just have an edge on any drafted G right now unless it's Albert's. -What would you think of shifting Kreutz to LG and putting Beekman in at C. Beekman has that versatility, and may be able to make a snap with out fumbling the exchange. -I still have G as a priority, but I think there's bigger fish to fry right now (OT, RB, WR, QB) and then (G, S, DT, Heres my priority for the draft: RD1=OLT (I'd happily take a chance at B. Albert - and if he can't make it as a LT he will be a probowl G) RD2=QB Chad Henne (I'd prefer to trade down a little w/ this pick) RD3=RB Matt Forte RD3=WR RD4= OG/S

I don't think Beekman was ever competing to beat out Ruben Brown. Lovie has a policy that if a player can practice during the week, he can play. Blame it on Lovies system, but since Brown won the job in TC it's his unless he really blows it or ends up injured. With Brown, he played injured until he shut himself down on his own. I question why Beekman didn't get a shot when Metcalf failed so bad that they put St. Clair over at guard. There must be a reason and I really don't think it is he a terrible player. Maybe he was the teams #2 Center behind Olin and if Olin went down, they needed someone to fill in.

Sorry guys, I wrote this myself. It was not a PR fluff, just pointing out that the Bears were redshirting Beekman like many other Bear draft picks. So many write him off like he is not even in the mix of things. Go back and read what the scouts had to say about him coming out of college. This kid is a good kid that plays with a mean streak. I still want to bring in another guard, but it won't be any higher than a 4th RD selection IMO

Exactly. Since Rusty has joined the Bears, they've been redshirting players. The Bears have been redshirting the players were they have depth to do so (Bazuin, Okwo, Williams, Dvorecek) and with Beekman, he was mostly inactive until they sat John Tait for his ankle injury. I don't think it's a coincidence we've been claiming IR on so many draft picks, but a strategy to let these players develop there bodies for the NFL to help avoid future injury. Most scouts had Beekman rated as a 2nd RD grade, he did slip to the 4th, which was probably due to his strength, but if he does commit to the program and comes back stronger he should be able to compete for a G position this year and IMO he will beat out Metcalf.

Josh Beekman Resurrects When the Chicago Bears selected Josh Beekman in the 4th round of the 2007 draft, most fans were very pleased with the selection. They thought they got a player who was projected to go as high as the 2nd round in the 4th round. Jerry Angelo started the process of injecting youth into the aging offensive line. The Bears had high expectations for the 2008 season, especially on the offensive side of the ball. No one expected the Bears offense to recess like it did, and a big factor was the breaking down of the offensive line. Players played injured until it was time to fold the cards. Ruben Brown played most of the season with a torn shoulder, literally trying to stop defenders with one arm. John Tait and Fred Miller both sat out games due to ankle injuries. They played through the injuries even though it was evident they were a main reason for the poor showing on the offensive side of the ball. When the Bears decided to insert John St. Clair and Terrence Metcalf, many were questioning why not give Josh Beekman a shot. Was Beekman another one of Jerry Angelo's awful offensive line picks? There must be a reason why Beekman didn't see one snap during the 2007 season. One reason for Beekman's absence was his strength. He posted 24 reps on the bench press at the combine and since he's undersized as it is at 6-1 307, the Bears wanted to see him get stronger before putting him against NFL caliber players. Beekman was basically redshirted like fellow draftees Dan Bauzin and Mike Okwo. Jerry Angelo has a knack for drafting players and hiding them for a year and Beekman was no different from any of the others. With a year under his belt training with Rusty Jones, Beekman will enter the 2008 season ready to compete for a spot on the offensive line. He will most likely be competing against Terrence Metcalf for Reuben Browns vacant LG position and may have the edge on the 6 year veteren. The Bears still need more youth for the offensive line and will look early in the 2008 draft for an offensive tackle. The Bears would like to find there LT to solidify there line for years and this is the best draft in recent history to do that with. With Beekman now in the mix, the Bears need to replace Reuben Brown is not as high a priortity, but don't rule out finding another guard talent in RD4 like they did with Beekman to add competition for Garza for the 2009 season. Quick Josh Beekman facts: -Beekman started on the Amsterdam (NY) varsity football team as an eigth grader, playing defensive line. -2006, received the Jacobs Blocking award for being the most valuable blocker in the ACC -Honored with the Scanlon Trophy, the highest honor given to BC senior football players that exemplifies scholar, athlete, gentleman, and friend. Josh Beekmans website

I will consider, since it won't be my $$. I'm looking for a franchise player to lead my team at a certain position (wink,wink). Since RD1-9 (1360), I may offer you my RD2-34 (560) + RD2-37 (530) + RD3-63 (250) + RD6-172 (22.6) 1360 for 1360.6, but I won't know for certain until your on the clock. Any other takers, I have a lot of assets to wheel and deal with.

The Oakland Raiders select: Darrin McFadden RB w/ $$ already heavily tied up at DT and Al Davis's tendencies of taking blazing fast offensive players, McFadden will team up w/ Russell to form a 1 -2 punch.

With the 3rd pick, Atlanta Falcons select: Glenn Dorsey DT LSU Oakland is on the clock!

I don't think we'll have to pass on him. I really believe he will be gone before #14. He may even go higher than McFadden according to some talking heads on ESPN/NFL network. Teams that might take him. NYJ if DE/DMcF is off the board, Cincy if DT is off the board, Denver if DT/DE is off the board?, or Carolina.

Atlanta Falcolns- Here are my picks and what there worth: RD1-3(not available) , RD2-34 (560), RD2-37(530), RD2-48(420), RD3-68(250), RD3-98(108), RD4-103(88). I'm willing to package some picks to move up if I really covet a player.

I'm all for that also. I think we should move down in RD2 if we were to go RB. The only guys IMO I'd take #44 would be: 1-Brohm 2-Baker 3-Flacco 4-Henne? Move down to 50-60 and take: 1-Henne 2-Chilo Rachel 3-Roy Schuening 4-Matt Forte

I'll take Atlanta (many picks in the top 100) and Oakland. This should be fun