Alaskan Grizzly

Just so you know you're not alone, I stand with you in solidarity. I'm all in on the idea of trading the #1 but not as sure on who the QB should be. Daniels is definitely a consideration. FWIW in friends that I talk with who know football (not necessarily Bears football) seem to all agree that Williams isn't the guy. So there are a few still out there.

It does appear Swifty is starting to buy into Caleb.

When you say "consensus pick" how does one qualify? You mention that neither Young nor Winston were "consensus" because in the case of Winston, he had Mariota picked right after him. In theory if Williams is picked #1 and Daniels is picked #2 would that title still apply to Williams? Secondly I'm intersted in how you broke up your tiers especially with Mayfield and Murray being in the same one (or third tier if I'm reading correctly). Both those guys, and Williams, having been products of the Lincoln Riley offense. In fact here's how they all did: Mayfield (three years at OU*): 808/1157 12,292 yds (69.8 pct) 10.6 YA 119 TDs 21 INTs 189.4 rating Murray (two years at OU**): 278/398 4,720 yds (69.8 pct) 11.9 YA 45 TDs 7 INTs 203.3 rating Williams (two years at USC): 599/888 8,170 yds (67.5 pct) 9.2 YA 72 TDs 10 INTs 169.2 rating * Riley was the OC/QB coach for OU from 2015-16 then HC starting in 2017 (overlap with Mayfield) ** Murray overlapped with Mayfield in 2017 (at OU) so his sample size is smaller as a starter for the one year he was (2018)

This was more as a "for example" especially how subjective (aka guessing game) this all is. Sure I get that RBs are "devalued" but apparently enough "experts" think highly enough of them to rate them based on their raw abilities. Similar to how last year you reminded us of how the volume of throws that Bagent while in college should be considered in how he would do in the NFL. Interestingly, the subjectiveness is enough that sites like Sporting News and CBS Sports (links below) both rank MHJ as the number one player available over Caleb. CBS Sports even goes a step further and ranks the positions overall in comparison to their group. For example: DE Khalid Duke for Kansas State is ranked #1 in the position but #262 overall on their "Big Board of 390 players available. Wouldn't it be something if Poles bought into the idea of MHJ being enough of a prospect that he'd go with him over Caleb? ? https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-draft-prospects-2024-top-100-rankings-best-players/9a5959cd101d2a8c439568a0 https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospect-rankings/

Interesting take, that is if you use PFF as any sort of reliable ranking. Their 'Top 300 picks' show RBs as low as #227 on their list with a rating of 94.9. Compare that to Roshon Johnson (picked #4 at 115 last season) held a PFF rating of "80+ all four seasons" Samples of this year's group at RB: PFF #71 Jaylen Wright - HB Tennessee Rating: 91.0 PFF #207 Frank Gore Jr - HB Southern Miss Rating: 88 PFF #227 Isaiah Davis - HB South Dakota State Rating: 94.9 https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-profiles-top-200-draft-prospects

The one most intriguing to me is the Yale (OT?) kid. With him being Ivy League theres no doubt he’s not on anyone else’s radar but for some reason he strikes me as a ‘Poles’ pick. And that he was on the list early on is also telling.

Was looking at the Top 30 invitee list from last year to see any trends. Found they invited 20 players that played either Oline or Dline (if you count Edge Players). Of that 11 were Offense and 9 were Defense. That group included Jaylon Carter (Dline Georgia), Tyree Wilson (Edge-Texas Tech), Paris Johnson (Oline -OSU), Broderick Jones (OT- Georgia), Jervon Dexter (DT - Florida) and Darnell Wright (OT-Tennessee). There were three(?) invitees that were defensive backfield (to include Tyrique Stevenson - Safety Miami) and four WRs to include Tyler Scott (WR-Cincinnati). Another interesting nugget is evidently they can invite another five "local" players. Of that group they invited QB prospect Aiden O'Connell from Purdue (he ended up on the Raiders if I recall). NFL draft: Bears hosted these prospects for Top 30, local visits (usatoday.com)

This will be the measure for the season. Regression at the QB will not be well received

The casual fan will expect more. They will want to see a return on why you let go a fan favorite so quickly. Is it fair, no but is it expected? Yes. For as many people critiqued Justin for his faults the same, if not more, agree he wasn’t provided the same opportunity that Caleb (or whomever they choose) will have with this new team. I suspect there will be struggles but by the middle of the season I would expect the team to at least be .500 and make the playoffs at the end. I agree with Stinger that the Bears are in more ‘win now’ mode (or will be) with the selection of Caleb.

I’d guess it’s sheer speculation if at all. Didn’t see anything about it. But did see some mention of him (as a suggestion) to go to Raiders and Broncos. There were some rumblings I saw a few weeks back of the Bears possibly being interested in Justin Herbert. But I think that was more bored sportswriters than anything.

I believe the next known meeting is the "Top 30" one scheduled where Williams (so far not Daniels) and others will come to Halas Hall. I have read elsewhere that speculation is that McCarthy may get an invite too. So far the list only has three players listed on it but obviously will grow more in the coming days.

Cool short clip of Allen doing his part and going to work. https://www.instagram.com/reel/C49bt-xMiro/?igsh=MWVpYXk1b2R6dnowbw==

Agreed with making it a part of the game instead of an afterthought. I think why the changes occurred before had to do with player safety due to 'high speed impacts' etc. But the NFL may have over compensated in this instance. Glad to see they adjusting accordingly.

Fair enough. And when you receive a contradictory response, you can’t take it personal and go out of your way to call it “dumb” or “inane”. Talking football sometimes is like playing it, you gotta get dirty to do it right. ??

Wasn't quite sure what you meant by this but assumed you meant Poles doesn't necessarily have to get the Bears to 'winning' by his third year. I would disagree...a little...in that after the team went 7-10 and 4-3 after Justin returned, the team would certainly have to show some form of improvement and at least start the season .500 or better in the first half. IMHO.

He is the best prospect, as you say. There have been other 'best prospects' in the past, some have worked out, some have not. Right now and unequivocally, he's not the best NFL QB ever. Could he be? Sure, but right now he's not. This is the "stuff" that causes you to get cross-threaded with a few here. Myself especially. When you excuse my opinion of how I see another prospect not named Williams you right away assume its some sort of left over Justin "stuff" and that it's "dumb". As I had said a few days ago, each of the top 3-4 QBs all have individual qualities that the others do not, and some have more than all the rest. Nothing wrong with looking at our potential franchise QB candidates through varying prisms. And this is where the divisiveness starts to seep in. Again, you suggest you were early on the bandwagon and now all the writers are 'catching up to where you are'. Sure, you are in the majority but you're not the one that discovered Williams nor probably are you the first to cast Williams in the positive light here on this board. These are not in fact..."FACTS". Actually you contradict yourself by saying "No one can predict the what the future holes for Fields or Williams" and then declaring Williams is better than Fields "right now" because again, Williams has yet to play an NFL down. And truthfully, just because Fields struggled with our team doesn't mean he will always struggle. And until Justin retires, the book on his NFL career isn't finished yet where Williams' is just beginning.

Indeed.

Didn’t a good number of the staff go to McCarthy’s Pro Day too? Bears and Pats only teams to have HC, GM, OC and QB coach there. Or was that more for the other 17 players eligible?

Yeah I’m having a hard time buying into his antics, contrived or no. There’s some underlying ‘thing’ that just doesn’t give me comfort in knowing he’d be the best for us. Never mind I’m still not believing this “generational talent”. He’s good but not generationally better than others already playing or even some of his collegiate peers.

Agents, which he doesn’t have. And speaking of, was going to comment on the physical thing. Within the ~450 pages of the CBA there is probably something that outlines the requirement of members having a baseline physical to ascertain any potential pre-existing conditions. Like with most unions and/or benefits associated, there is a requirement for life insurance to have that let alone all the other ‘benefits’ these guys would be afforded . Looking at the 2020 CBA (for example) article 39 and 40 address medical care and providers (to include the clause that all players will submit to a pre-season physical - Art 39.8). Article 41 even addresses workman’s comp. So I would think it behooves both parties to participate in these tests. And Johnny Manziel and Brian Bosworth.

Amen brother!

A preview for JJ McCarthy’s Pro Day. Good pocket presence, good scan of the field and tight window throw. Oh and a cool background song… https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4yGjriL1nh/?igsh=dDM0eWh2a3l1aDc5

Ah apparently I misunderstood the question.