AZ54

Only because Forte hasn't signed an offer that would have guaranteed him more money so your premise is wrong. FWIW, Forte is guaranteed $7.7million while Shea is guaranteed $7.5million.

Didn't Tampa pick up Okoye? So both teams swapped Dlinemen they weren't happy with.

I am not expecting big things from Jeffrey this year either. I do like his size versus a guy like Broyles because I think it helps him compete quicker in ways Broyles can't. If I take it they are equal on route running and recognition of coverages, then I still like Jeffrey because he can go over the top of CBs to catch passes. Even if he doesn't run the route correctly there is still a window of opportunity for him to make the play. Jeffrey will also be a bigger factor as a blocker in the running game than a guy like Broyles, and he seemingly did well at that last year.

Disappointing. I really wanted a solid third guy for our rotation as I view Toeaina as an adequate 4th guy to come of the bench as needed.

Rodgers was on that same treadmill all season, but I liked that. At least now we'll have SMC and Peppers chasing him down from the corners and I feel better about our chances to catch him. If a slimmed down JWebb can be a half step quicker sliding his feet (after the snap of course) then we'll be ok. Can't say I'm optimistic.

Exactly. I agree, Cutler didn't ask for privacy or, as you correctly state he'd have bought it. He just flipped a guy off who was hanging out harassing him. Each have the right to do what they did and like I've said it's a non-issue.

What law did Cutler break?

That is true. I expect Jeffrey to have his growing pains too as he learns to run routes he never worried about in college. I am more confident in Jeffrey's ability to go after a contested ball than I would be with Broyles. I much prefer to let Broyles try to beat us than Megatron but yes, he'll be effective for them but he's not a game changer IMO. Had they added Kendall Wright who has proven to be more of a downfield threat then I'd say we got problems.

I'm not that worried about Broyles. WRs from spread offenses don't do too well early in their career in the NFL. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/939686-...a-major-concern "many of those receptions were bubble screens, quick slants or other short-yardage passes?" He hasn't been a threat all over the field and he'll find things a little bit different with NFL LBs bearing down on him on those quick slants.

The problem is Harris cannot do any more than that so if someone gets injured you are in a bad spot. I see the Bears waiting this one out before calling Harris. Or if they do sign him they will still be looking to replace him if some vets get cut this summer.

I am also very impressed by his words.

You might want to look into some of those legendary players and their lifestyle before making a comment like that. If someone is harassing Cutler, and hanging out in front of his house all day is harassment IMO, then he is right to use his freedom of speech to tell him off....or flip him off. Urlacher had an illegitimate baby with a stripper. Do we burn our jerseys? Briggs trashed his Lamorghini on a freeway and ran off...time to sell season tickets? If you want to go back to the days of the '85 Bears the stories just get worse. Go back further the Bears storied history and you'll find guys like Ditka who was no choir boy when out on the town. Why even think about anything throwback? With that expectation for everyone I think you will find it hard to support any sports team anywhere. t succeed at these sports these are ultra competitive people and there will always be those who carry it over to their private life too.

All of the points in this thread seem to add proof that you are better off focusing on having a really good Dline (less likely to be injured, more talent available to draft, better impact on running and passing game when considering combined) and don't invest a lot in the safety position.

A little Jimmy McMahon in him. Will we have moon shot one day?

This is too easy.

Until we can use that cash to find a better player I don't see us making any dramatic changes. Hester's contract is going to get rewritten by next offseason. He will never see that kind of cash. He is now our 4th WR, brought in for specialty plays and a great PR, rarely used as KR and we signed Weems to do that. I love the guy and want him around long term but not at that price.

3) I wouldn't say we revamped the secondary unless you simply count all the new names. Talent-wise I was hoping for a bit more but we'll see if the two vets hold up. 7) Trade Briggs and that's complete?

http://www.chicagobears.com/multimedia/ I was watching his highlight tape on the Bears' site (above link) and I have to admit he has one of the most impressive plays I've seen from an offensive player without the ball. On one TD play at the 37sec mark he gets three blocks, falling down on the last one but gets right up and goes after a 4th block but can't quite get there. I am guessing this is what the Bears saw from him, not so much his inline blocking but his open field blocking. Forte should love this and again, it's one more reason to put the contract difference into an incentive because it is now more likely to be earned. I like what Clutts did for us last year but he isn't anywhere close to the athletic open field blocker Rodriguez is. Nor is he as good of a receiver but he might be a better blocker between the tackles.

Lovie stated exactly what I've been stating. We are not a two gap D. Our DE has one responsibility and that is to get upfield and turn the corner. If it's a run hold the edge enough to force the play through one gap. McClellin has the quickness to get to his spot first. Can he hold his ground on running plays we will see. It is my concern too but it's also something that he can work on. I think the limited production is a wrong statement as his production was outstanding, it was just all over the field. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=8786 Perfect fit: Smith is baffled that some observers are convinced that first-round pick Shea McClellin, a defensive end from Boise State, isn’t big enough to stop the run in the NFL. “First off, you have to explain that, how a 6-3, 260-pound guy is going to have trouble doing that,” Smith said. “Weight is one of the most overrated things that there is when you’re talking about a football player. You’re talking about strength and athletic ability more than that. “We’re not a two-gap, hit-guys-right-down-the-middle [defense]. We don’t play that style of ball. We’re get-on-the-edge, maintain-your gap. A defensive end that’s 6-3, 260 pounds can do that easily. So that is no concern at all. Shea, believe me, will be able to hold his own with the big boys that he’s playing.”

Arizona's Oline was good enough to get them to that Superbowl too and they were horrible. Even so they were within 2min of winning that game. That goes back to Jason's argument...fix the Oline and the rest will take care of itself. Yet teams have made it to the Superbowl with some question marks on their line. Pittsburgh made it to the playoffs with a ton of problems on their line last year. Even this past season the Giants Oline wasn't that good. How many sacks did Eli take last year? 28. How many hits? 72 I don't know where Cutler was at in sacks and hits before he went down but the 5 in 5 games (or whatever it was) is a valid trend. The Giants Oline led a whopping 3.5 yards-per-rush. The facts show it is possible to win it all without an elite, or top 10 Oline. Can you get deep into the playoffs year after year without one or will your QB turn to dust? That is a different proposition and Cutler and Big Ben answered that question...dust. Remember, we were in the NFC championship game not too long ago with a weaker Oline than the one we fielded last season. My point is merely that Pittsburgh hasn't always had a great Oline and that isn't necessarily the model for what we should do. Did they address that major weakness..absolutely. How many other major weaknesses did they have to address relative to our roster? DE? DT? LB? S? WR? I'd have gladly swapped our Hback for a good Oline prospect but I don't know if at that point the talent level warranted it (I don't really look at prospects beyond the first 2 or 3 rounds so I literally don't know). This offseason we have clearly added talent at the skill positions. If we can get some improvement from our Oline, just enough to be average we could have a very good offense. That remains a big IF but history says it can happen now that we have solid talent at QB, WR, and RB.

Someone called looking to hear if he was willing to fight for a spot on a roster and was he willing to play special teams. Maybe this was flag from his interviews and it was time to see if he had a change of heart. Even so that doesn't mean he would have been our pick. I expect we target several players as our picks come closer and then take the best of the remaining targets.

I like that with one exception...I don't want to see Alshon Jeffrey handed a starting job as our #2 WR. I'd like to see him earn it.

The Steelers have had two bad years with their Oline and last year got their QB beat up worse than anything Cutler saw. Saying this is why they are always a good team and we should be like them is a little bit off IMO. They shouldn't have let their line get that bad and all my friends who are Steelers fans have said as much. If part of their problem were injuries to Olinemen then it was equally as much a part of our issues. Lack of depth killed both teams Olines last season. Did they address it this year? Yes. We (somewhat to my dismay) chose to address our WR and DE deficiencies this year. Neither are serious concerns for the Steelers. Bottom line is we had many more issues to fix than they did. I think the Steelers are a better example of drafting ability when it comes to their defense. Their D is always a strength and it seems they always have the next young LB or lineman ready to step in whenever a key players leaves in FA.

New thread by TerraTor. I knew Terra wouldn't quit on us. Where else can he go for therapy on his favorite team?

Grew up in Chicago area west suburbs. Became fan as I was growing up and watching Walter Payton run guys over. That and the Bears, even if they lost, would play physical D and I liked that. I live in Arizona now and the 54 obviously represents Urlacher and the Bears great tradition of linebackers...as I said I love good defense in football. I loved Walter because he played RB like a defender and never shied away from hitting his tackler first.