AZ54

The season is just too long for a single back to carry the load anymore. It's not just a question of 16 games either, the goal is to make the playoffs and that means 18 or 19 games. There will be exceptions to the rule but those exceptions haven't lasted long after their big season. Even the Vikings Adrian Peterson, who is still a beast, is slowing down already, that's obvious to me early in the year but especially in the playoffs when a LB ran him down from behind. You need at least two good RBs and they both need to share the load.

I think the Bears supported Forte finishing his degree at Tulane but I have no doubt he went there with a solid workout routine. Perhaps his effort in those workouts wasn't what the Bears expected? There's no reason to think the Bears weren't in contact with the trainers at Tulane to check on his progress.

Teach him to be an OG let's not waste development time moving him around. Besides if it's a short yardage situation you can always put anyone at TE as long as they report in as "eligible".

Good luck with that prediction: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/footb...0,5957798.story . Running back Adrian Peterson is expected to move on after eight seasons with the Bears. Special teams player Darrell McClover also became a free agent. We haven't even replaced him with a special teams monster yet. Oh wait, we did with that linebacker Shaw who tore it up last year on coverage units. Before Shaw even arrived Peterson had fallen way down on the list of special teams performers.

I think we all have doubts about Peppers desire. For me it comes down to one question: Does he really desire to be in the Hall of Fame?

IMO Dez likely wants some assurance from the club that if he's not in their plans he'd like to get released as soon as possible so he can find a new home. He's still a solid productive player and will find a job if we let him go. He was a great signing as a FA considering the production/value we got out of him over the years.

I like the quote I just heard on NFL Network...I'm paraphrasing a bit ...."the last time we saw the Cardinals defense they were getting destroyed by New Orleans." Consider that and the fact they had DRC, a Pro Bowl CB, on one side yet the Cards still ended up next to last in passing yards given up in the playoffs and 23rd in the regular season. Heck we were 13th in pass defense. I realize there are many factors in determining how well a passing defense played but you have to consider this performance of which Rolle was a key factor when evaluating his contract demands. I can't see any reason he's worth the $7.5mil/yr the Giants just paid him. As odd as it seems I was more worried about overpaying Peppers if we signed him yet I feel better about that money and the value we'll get in return than I would had we given Rolle that contract.

I'm not upset at all that we passed on Boldin. What I would like to point out is how cheap he went (no first round pick here!) and that tells you what teams around the league felt his value was and it was nowhere near what his value was on this message board. Baltimore will get a few good years out of him for sure and his contract extension was not as high as I expected he'd demand. It seems even Anquan came down to earth on his true value. I agree with Bradjock that we did more to improve our team today than we could have if we'd have made the same deal for Boldin and we still have time/opportunity to fix the FS position which has more value than putting Knox or Aromashodu on the bench.

I don't think Taylor is anything more than a 2 yr contract for us. If he's still performing after that we keep him around but otherwise we're free to move on. If I'm not mistaken Taylor is pretty good at picking up the blitz or sneaking out on a quick hot read and that's a key in this offense. Garrett Wolfe will still be the third RB for us because of his special teams play unless we get lucky and find some decent UDFA which is possible with RBs.

At this point in his career Forte already has to start thinking about his next contract. One good season and one subpar season does not turn into a huge signing bonus. Now I feel he has a legitimate threat to compete with too. While I don't view Taylor as a full-time RB he could end up with the majority of snaps if Forte doesn't get his act together.

another thread about how the Bears ownership is cheap or too cautious to pull off big deals. Two years in a row we have gone after and signed the top players available. In that span we now have acquired a top tier QB and top tier DE plus today they went after the best RB and TE available who fit Martz's system and got those two deals done before I even sat down to eat lunch. Peppers was signed before I got to the afternoon coffee break. Wow! You can argue over the quality of the players, bad decision etc. but to say they are cheap I just can't see it anymore.

Thanks for making my point. If Rolle is that great as a FS he wouldn't have to have a premier pass rush in front of him. He's better than what we have but I don't even think he's worth the $6mil/yr the Cards offered him.

You are saying we should pay Boldin $9mil/yr (that's what he wants) and give up a very good player who still has upside for him? That will make our team better? Boldin can't run away from anyone but he can still break tackles with his strength. Once again I will state that while I love the way he plays the game he has only had ONE FULL SEASON in this league. He has missed the majority of the last two playoff seasons due to injury. At some point for $9mil/yr you would like to have the guy working for you late in the year. He's just not worth trading for. If he was a FA that might be worth discussing but he's still not worth the $9mil/yr he wants.

That statement goes way beyond smoking. I'm not sure what it takes to be that enamored with all the drag routes Boldin runs but I'm pretty sure it requires a chemist to make it.

If Rolle wasn't happy with $6mil/yr I don't want him. I've seen enough missed tackles from him.

These are good times to be out on the Western side of the country. I'll be surfing the rumors at 10pm.

Release him in June and who has money left to sign him to a big deal? Then the Bears turn around and try to sign him to a lesser contract. It could be a cost savings move. Of course it's an uncapped year so there would significant risk to it but they could try it. It's not like Harris fits into everyone's scheme and his play and attitude has been really poor the last couple years. How big would his market be that late in the summer?

Excellent point!

Mays would be better at OLB than FS. He's a freak athlete but coverage is not his forte. With all that athleticism if he wasn't covering that well in college there is no reason to think he'll get better in the pro's. I'm sure some coach will think he can coach him up at FS.

Perhaps all that was said was "can I call you at midnight Friday?". 'Yes, you can".

If we trade Greg Olsen for Boldin it should be the end of JA and Lovie, and I'd pull that trigger now before the draft. Olsen for Brandom Marshall I can agree with but it'll take a lot more than Greg Olsen to pry Brandon Marshall out of Denver.

I'm very curious to know what Tice thinks of Omiyale. I know he said he liked him when he first came aboard but where does he think he belongs? We won't know that until after the draft or it would give away our intentions. After the initial press conferences it's clear the team has gone into lockdown in preparation for FA and the draft. Even the potential signing of Ruskell to run the personnel department is not getting much PR. Is there a job search to replace DePaul or not?

Peppers could easily be great for another 5 years IF he wanted too. I suspect he's just after his last big payday and then it's time to kick back and wait for retirement.

Just to clarify: Rolle as a FS is often late to the play, and as Bears fans we know what that's like. Most of his INTs are the result of tipped passes not from him reading a play and jumping a route. He's more consistent that DManning for sure but he's also not nearly as athletic so he can't run with the faster WR. Did I mention that he oftens completely misses on tackles? Would he be an upgrade for us seeing as we don't really have a FS right now? Yes, but only if it's for a reasonable salary for a mid-level player. He is not anywhere close to the long term option we'd all like to see at FS. I tend to think he's asking for way more money than I feel he's worth and that fact the Cards aren't even trying to negotiate with him seems to validate that. If he's hanging around weeks after FA begins then he'll come down to earth and might accept a more reasonable contract.

I understand that but it's part of my point. If he was that valuable to the Cards they'd be seeking to sign him to a longer term deal, if Rolle was asking for reasonable money. That's why I feel he's asking for the high end of salary and they'd rather not waste their time and take the ir $4mil cash and give it to someone else. To answer a question from defiantgiant: ex-Bear front office man Rod Graves is behind the Cardinal contracts. They don't always get hit with huge escalator clauses though. However, he got screwed when he put the huge escalator in Fitzgerald's contract for making 3 Pro Bowl's. How often does a WR make 3 Pro Bowls in his first 4 years? OTOH they have had more contract issues with guys they've been good too and re-did their contract after just two years. Anquan Boldin (twice) and Darnell Dockett (twice) and both of them do nothing but bit** about their contracts.