CrackerDog

It may be true that they'll see a "savings" if they cut BM but these numbers aren't out of line for a #1 WR in league, IMO. So... I'm already on record as wanting to keep him but you should be able to get a team that wants him at that salary who would be willing to give up a pick or two, if you HAD to get rid of him. Like say, he said something disrespectful to Virginia or some such thing.

If they plan on moving him, leaking all this bullshit about him is the exact opposite of what they should've done.

The rumor is that he's their #1 going into the process. Talking heads on the radio have given him the job already but they're wrong as often as they're right. We'll see.

Dudes, I see a hell of a lot of "cut this guy" and "trade Forte" stuff here. And that's fine. There's always room for various opinions and cleaning house is always an option. Moving older players along is something this organization needs to learn to do so I get it. But let's not get our panties in too big a ruffle here. Most of us believed, going into this season, the Bears were on the right track and with a few key acquisitions to shore up the defense, they'd be a playoff team. What a difference a season makes, to be sure, but this team still has an awful lot of talent on offense. There are clearly some key needs to fill everywhere on this team but we're going to find out, I suspect, just how terrible this coaching staff was. I've got to believe better schemes, particularly from whoever replaces Tucker, will improve things significantly. So, sure, there's a lot to be worried about. We still have a McCaskey involved in picking the new leadership of this team. And we've got enough history with that family to be concerned. But you've got to admit it does seem as if it's being handled more professionally this time around. For example, they aren't letting an accountant make all the football decisions! So, let's give this a little time to play out before we cut Marshall and Cutler, trade Forte, tear down the columns at Soldier Field, etc. Peace.

Not a giant fan of Tommy but this is an interesting quote.

Bernstein is an idiot. He was the one that said the Bears were going to announce a major shift at the press conference about Ted's new role. Never happened. And then when it didn't happen it was all "Behind the scenes it's happening" so we can't confirm in any way. Whatever, I'll hang in there and see what happens. There could be more to BM's antics than is know publicly. If what's been released is it, however, they better not move him. Not everyone on a football team is going to be an angel 100% of the time. And when he's pissed about losing I'm right there with him.

I could warm up to this idea if someone were interested in giving us a 2nd rounder for him. But then, probably, only if the new HC and GM thought this was the best move given the offense they planned on running.

Dude's been a friggen boy scout for most of his stay with the Bears. I suspect the next HC will want his skills on the team and will be able to manage around BM's personality. The title of this thread is downright misleading.

I'll be surprised and disappointed if they move Marshall. He's one of the few assets we have on this team. And losing your shit over how poorly this team played this year is a POSITIVE in my book. If there's more behind the scenes I'm unaware of, OK. But if this is about his one tirade, that's bullshit.

Maybe, but if so, why did he hire his son as OC? If all these outstanding candidates are in his rolodex, how'd he end up with Shanny Jr? The dude is a douche egomaniac. I'm a no vote on Shanny.

I don't have any problem with older dudes. Just want a guy who can boast more than one playoff win in his last 14 seasons! FOURTEEN YEARS!!! If we got rid of Lovie Smith because he couldn't take us to the next level, why replace him with a guy with a worse track record in that area?

Not that it matters much but there's confirmation of this now. Trestman is visiting Tampa and talking to Lovie.

Cool. I like that logic. I'm not on board with Shanny as I don't think he's really accomplished anything since 1998. I do like the idea of having a guy here who instantly gives us credibility but I just think Shanny is too big a douche.

The Bears deep history at having great MLB's makes it hard for me to support going to a 3-4. But if the talent they put together warrants it, I'll live.

OK, I get the Cutler hate some here have but I'm never going to understand the coddling/catering references. I've been a Bears fan for closing in on 50 years. And in that time I've never seen anyone with Cutler's skills play the position. Jimmy Mac had way better leadership skills and there were a few other solid guys at the position (Miller/Kramer). Beyond that, we've had way worse QB's hang on year after year simply because it's not easy to find someone better. So, if you've got a someone better via free agency or in the draft, fine. I can live with the burn down the house philosophy to get a clean break from an unpleasant recent history. But frankly, just because you bring in a guy who might have worked with Cutler before (I'm not a fan of Shanny for other reasons) or you get him support in building the O Line, whatever, you aren't coddling the guy. You're building a better football team. Jay might benefit from that but beyond the personal reasons some may have to hate him, isn't something that benefits Jay technically good for us as fans? Shouldn't we want our QB to finish the games clean with great stats? Carry on...

No doubt he had talent. I'm just thinking about character. Not that you can always gather those things ahead of time but I'd like to see us draft a guy who doesn't cry when it happens. And then get into off field issues like Benson did. I was all for the Benson pick when it was made so I can't fault the pick, really. But unlike some here, I don't expect my picks to be as good as the "experts". I'd want our GM to know enough to avoid head-cases like CB.

Why? I guess I'm just not sure, didn't he have some success as a DC before getting a HC job? I'd agree he wasn't successful at HC but feel like he's got the fire I'd like to see in a DC. Frazier's probably the better answer, though. EDIT: Answered my own question. I guess he never did get a DC job, just linebackers. His fire is what I like best but if he hasn't been in charge of a full D I'm in agreement with you.

I recall Mike McCaskey had a vacation scheduled or some such thing and wanted to press ahead even though all the details weren't finalized. You could be right about those details, I just don't remember. But it was such a dramatic FAIL that Mikey was fired by his mother.

Is Mike Singletary available?

I guess he also scouted Cedric Benson too. On the "bad" side of the ledger...

JA made some abysmal picks before Lovie was granted additional say in the draft room, IIRC. With JA the record was mixed, as it was with Lovie. There were things to get upset about and things to appreciate with each. The overall results weren't good enough for either and so the organization moved on. And they picked two guys who were worse. IMO, we'd have seen a better football team with JA and Lovie still in place the last 2/3 years, respectively. That isn't saying much because I doubt we'd have been serious playoff contenders in either year but at least we wouldn't have been embarrassments.

I generally think Ryan is being considered, by the league not just the Bears, as a DC going forward. And in that role, I think he'd be solid for us. But if that's the case you've got to find someone willing to deal with him for HC.

Yep, they're called intangibles for a reason. You can't quite put your finger on a stat to show what you're seeing but you're eyes aren't lying. I was a big Cutler backer during most of the wars here about QB. I still hope he does something for this franchise but if they cut bait in the next few months I'm ready to move on. Jay isn't going to break my heart, one way or the other. But the proof is really in the results we've seen and I want a guy, no matter how bad things are going, who goes out there and grabs the team by the balls and wills them to victory. If not victory, at least to keep giving it 110%. That hasn't been Jay and I'm not sure if he's got it in him anymore. I think Jay would be good to great with a team that didn't need to rely on him as much as the Bears have had to under Trestman. That D and ST was firkin horrible! So, I guess we'll see. The next few weeks will really determine if he's around for the season next year. As the pieces fall into place, we'll know more about whether the new HC is a believer in Jay. And we'll also learn if other teams are willing to offer a trade for Jay. Frankly if teams expect the Bears to eat a portion of the contract I think we'll be watching Jay with the new HC (or his OC) calling the plays. And at that point, I'm going to be hoping like hell that Jason was right in having faith in Jay for another season. We all will.

I seem to recall his name was in the mix on one of our prior GM hires. Can't recall if it was during the last search or when we hired Angelo.

Ha! You're asking for it bubba. Lot's of Cutler hate here. As far as your analysis is concerned, you make a lot of good points. My issue with Jay is more one of leadership than stats. I know I shouldn't read so much into the way he carries himself on the field but it just translates, to me, into "I don't care" or "I've given up". As I've said, I can go either way on this. I want the right GM/HC hired and then let them make the decision on Jay. I see very little likelihood Jay isn't at QB for the Bears next year. And I think there's a chance, with the right system, Jay can be very successful. Certainly that's my hope.