Alaskan Grizzly

Second tweet down. Kyle is impressed. https://mobile.twitter.com/ChicagoBears?ref...7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Interesting side note if you look at the retweet originally from Lester Witfong (about 8th down) says Mariani had no drops last season. 33 targets and 22 catches. So if I'm reading that right it means the other 11 (about 1/3) were misses? Ergo Cutler bad throws?

Tell it to the experts at NFL.com. I was just repeating what they wrote and trying to figure out why so many get excited about Hicks. The fact he's rated lower than some 'has beens' should make you pause.

So what about this Rob Housler guy currently on the roster? He's relatively young and had a year or two of semi productive play. Although in my reading up of him I can't tell if he's on the roster or a FA.

Again (about history with Pace) I ask why does the history matter? He wasn't a starter in NO just a fill guy. Pace hasn't been proven right with him yet. If he had anything to do with him to begin with. And as far as how he (Hicks) compares to Raji and Knighton I just read what NFL.com posted. Again there were more pass rushers (not just pure DLmen) listed ahead of Hicks. The troubled Aldon Smith (59) and long in tooth Chris Long - no pun intended (25). I also should mention that the aforementioned Nick Fairley (26) is still available who is listed as a simple DT.

So Freeman is that good eh?

Every one of those you guys listed; Jefferey, Royal, Wilson and White were hurt at some point in the last year or two. I'd say at least 50% of that group will be hurt again. Smart insurance signing. He's clutch and reliable.

This appears to be the situation on Jenkins. And Hicks.... https://mobile.twitter.com/JasonLaCanfora/s...415899250720768

The more I read on Hicks, the less I'm enamoured with him. The fact that he still hasn't signed makes me think he's either overrated or has a high opinion. And that they just resigned Unrein makes me less wanting him. He's definitely not a "must sign". On NFL.com and of the 'top 100 FAs available he's listed as #82. As far as just defensive tackles go he's listed behind my personal fav Knighton at #56 and BJ Raji at #48. If we're in the market for a pass rushing type DL there are even more of them listed ahead of Ayers. Must get - no. If we get, maybe.

So not sure if this is a good place for this but saw on NFL.com did their 4.0 mock and for the Bears picked OLB Leonard Floyd from Georgia. ?????? Does that make sense to anyone? Here's a quick draft analysis. The NFL network should replace Mike Mayock with this person:

If he signs any chance we could get him to yell: "This is Chicago!!!"

Trying to get Hicks makes more sense now.

Or Pace is bound and determined to prove that he was right about Hicks in NO. Given he came from a relative unknown school in Canada. (I read the story why he ended up there, no fault of his - should have been at LSU). Anyhow... Perhaps I'm slanted to having someone like Trevathan who has starting experience in a Fox led team versus a guy who has no starting experience. I understand the "similarities" you and others are trying to make between he and McPhee but still am not convinced. After its all said and done if he's signed, great. If not I won't be heartbroken.

A couple years ago shortly after Fox and Pace took over (John Fox: "I look forward to working with Jake.") there was much discussion of a trade to Tenessee in hope of maybe getting a deal for their 1st or something comparable. It didn't work for whatever reason. We know there was a shopping of Cutler if not overtly. I suspect the Titans realized that Cutlers contract was above and beyond what they wanted or could afford. Secondly and as TD has said, Cutler really hadn't proven himself to have earned the much, let alone the title "Franchise QB". Osweiller is sorta similar in that so far he's played 7 games and had one where he threw for more that 300 yds. The Texans are banking on that seven game performance to translate to long term Franchise QB. Many teams have made similarly poor choices in QBs after seeing them do a 'one hit wonder'. Matt Flynn and the Seahawks, Derek Anderson and the Browns, Matt Cassell and the Chiefs and our very own Bears with their putrid deal for Rick Mirer (or was it the Flutie deal that stunk more?). The very fact that Cutlers deal was so expensive for at least the first two years was a large, if not only, reason they weren't able to unload him. There is confidence (I suspect not as much as they're letting on) in Cutler at least playing the game manager role like he started to last year. And in essence be a placeholder until a legitimate QB comes along. Will we see who that is this year? Maybe.

Soo....to play devil's advocate. What is the draw for Hicks? I don't quite understand all the hype...am I missing something? When in New Orleans he played with Junior Galette and Cam Jordan and was credited with a fair number of tackles and 4.5 sacks his second year. But last year went to the Pats and was relegated to a back up role until injuries put him in the starting lineup. Now, NE doesn't seem interested any more. Makes me want to ask why? Is he a value FA or are we just excited about him because he once played for NE? I know part of the draw for him is that Pace is 'familar' with him. But from what I've read (mostly NO fans of the past) weren't all that enamored with him. IMO, if we're simply looking for a value FA choice for DT we should consider someone like Terrance Knighton. Someone who is familiar with Fox's defensive scheme and has proven effective while doing it.

Fair enough but I was thinking more with the Bears and somewhat qualified it with 'much'. Since on the subject, same could be said about Jaquizz (injury history)...

Sure, doesn't mean our team should disregard the idea of drafting an RB. That's all I'm saying.

I think it would be a wise investment. Not much injury history and shown he could be a good slot receiver. Probably not much use as a STeamer though. Considering that Thompson showed some promise in the return game, is younger and they just resigned Bellamy could make Mariani expendable.

Is it April 1st yet cause otherwise that's a cruel joke? ????

In another post I agreed with Bradjock that the Bears could still look to draft an RB. Probably not in the early rounds (although I wouldn't totally hate it). But I'm not sure that going after an RFA on the offensive side is a good idea. If they do that it should be for another key piece to the defense.

Agreed. Not that I don't like Rodgers but the best he's done is 764 total yds (362 rushing and 402 rec) in 2012. Not really shown that potential (or increased) since then. Granted he's a good piece to the ST but maybe not enough to keep him long term. At this point not sure how Perry will add up in all this. And this time last year we were all certain Carey was going to be cut.

So for your consideration, how about a later level FA in Terrance Knighton? Had a down year in Washington last year but thrived in Denver under Fox and Del Rio. Would be a Ted Washinton, Keith Traylor type DT.

Kentucky has a 3-4 and Nevada a 4-3. If I recall on some reading I had done I thought Denver brought Marshall over (after being drafted in JAX) with the intent of using him as an OLB. I may be mistaken.

Technically speaking Marshall came out of college (Nevada) listed as an OLB and has had some experience in the position. Or, as someone else mentioned, Trevathan is more a coverage LB which would make sense in his being able to play OLB if need. And still technically speaking, Trevathab was listed as an OLB also coming out of college. So what's to say they couldn't bring he and Trvathan and still draft an ILB (Jack, Ragland or Lee) too? After DL and LB you need what; one safety and maybe a CB? I see maybe bringing in Ayers could fill the DLine up sufficiently. On the offensive side you can draft a need player (OL or even QB) and still get a few quality FAs to boot.

Agreed. The fact that Fox was coach when he was drafted is almost like a he re-drafted him. There must be something good that he saw coming out of college (Kentucky) which has proven him (Fox) right. In a brief snapshot of him, he's a former 6th round pick from Kentucky. Kentucky is apparently part of the SEC (who knew?) and Trevathan actually was leading the SEC in tackles for a large part of two years. So he's no slouch. Now the question is, would you still go for (the other) Brandon Marshall? I would. And still draft an ILB in the early rounds. I think it would be awesome to have a duo like Trevathan/Marshall paired up again.

Do it. He'd be a great add