Alaskan Grizzly

You're right to a degree. Not everything is Cutler's fault. It wasn't his fault that he took the multi-year deal based on his "body of work". What is his fault is that he didn't at least act like the money he was paid. He didn't take an active leadership role. Didn't produce eye popping numbers. Didn't lead our team to a playoff game, let alone a SB. Granted I don't think all that ails the Bears is the fault of one person. Cutler is largely to blame because he hasn't produced. Briggs is partial to blame for not giving a s#*t this year. Trestman is largely to blame (at least I think) for thinking Cutler was elite and encouraging the team to buy in. Emery is largely to blame for either agreeing or forcing the issue to give Cutler the money. Stein is to blame for negotiating it. The ownership (and fans) are to blame for believing all of it. And as far as players not liking the fans and "freaking them" please remember this is the same base that torched Urlacher for acting the same way.

Can't say that I agree totally. But then again, we (nor the team) were afforded the opportunity to say otherwise. It's speculative at best. McCown was given a "similar" set up in regards to some talent around him but not the same system he succeeded in. If Clausen "lights it up" as some folks (I'm not one of them) are thinking he might then we will truly have to ask ourselves 'what could have been'? Something else to remember was that Cutler could have easily been franchised last year to see if he was truly worth the money they paid, yet they chose to go all in. Who's decision was that? Trestman, Emery? I think it safe to assume this isn't one we can blame on Tucker. Sorta like "Rex Grossman is our quarterback". Remember how ridiculously funny that was (said with heavy sarcasm). Two comments to this section. First, if the Bears actually draft Winston I'm done with my Bears fandom. For me to admit to that despite decades of following the Bears is painful to even suggest but if they were to actually pull the string on a deal like this then I will be convinced that the Bears have sunken to new low. To a low only rivaled by the Raiders. Secondly, I don't know that Holmgren is quite the genius that you and others portray him as. Ron Wolf (GM when Holmgren was hired as HC) was already considering to make a trade to Atlanta for Favre. Holmgren admits he had to do his homework on Favre and after studying him a bit, realized it was going to be a project. About three years after Holmgren had been in GB there was a discussion amongst the coaches to either go with Favre or Brunell. Eventually they went with Favre and Holmgren told Favre he had his support. * - "Coachng Confidential: Inside the Fraternity of NFL Coaches." - by Gary Myers. Now I think in this case it was either that Holmgren was lucky or good at evaluating talent. The fact that he couldn't get any QB to produce in Cleveland as he was able with Favre or Hasselbeck has me wondering. Maybe this is Trestman's last ditch effort to legitimize his credibility and show that he can get it done with lesser talent. If he does go 2-0 to finish out the year with Clausen as the QB what then?

Funny, was going to post the same thing. My how accurate Brian Billick was. Maybe he'd be interested in coming back to coach?

How about this: instead of going all in on a first or second round QB , look at a proven 4 year starter from a Div 2 college (ala Flacco) or a later round diamond in the rough (ala Brady or Russell)? I think we've witnessed how horrible our staff can invest in what they define as a "franchise QB". Rather than listen to all the experts and buy into the hype, actually do some homework and find that player that can maintain the offense for years to come? SCOUTS AND EMERY LISTEN CAREFULLY. Do what you're paid to do and scout the players. Mariotta is more a success due to the system at Oregon moreso than Oregon is good because of Mariotta.

I might be able to consider that...IF he were a rookie or second year player. But if you consider his "body of work" and winning only one playoff game...don't think so. And consider this. Right about the time he learned of his diabetes he was either in year 3-4 of his career. About 1 year (or so) removed from his sole Pro Bowl appearance. He knew he had been having issues previously but wasn't diagnosed until later. He may have to consider retiring from the NFL if it is affecting his play that much. It certainly isn't healthy to continue.

So now the question is, what happens if Jimmy does McCown-like well? I don't think that he will be but 'what if'? This is potentially a 'what could have been if we'd started him sooner' discussion which ends with knowing the defense stunk it up enough that I don't think it would matter who was starting as QB.

Or treat some of your current leaders with better respect. Like in the dealings with Urlacher. Rather than give him an ultimatum of a deal, actually negotiate and see what it would take to keep him around. IMHO, that would have gone a lot further in the keeping the defense intact than would have much else. I identified that Emery was an egotistical fanatic early on by recognizing many of his moves as self-serving and putting his mark on the team. As this article pointed out the trend for both Emery and Trestman was to ignore conventional wisdom and tread on the institution of defense that defined this team for so long. And that started with the ouster of not only Urlacher but Lovie too. And continued by essentially ignoring the other established leaders of the defense in Tillman and Briggs. Do you think that Marinelli would have stayed to be the defensive coordinator had he known that Emery and Trestman were going to give the team its due diligence? But since they did not, he instead took a less titled position with the Dallas Cowboys. That should have spoke volumes of where this team was headed. If you choose to 'clean house' be ready for what we saw this year. A team that is truly the definition of re-building.

How about someone like Pasquolini (sp?)? Maybe can the whole shooting match then allow him to run it in the interim with an emphasis on putting his mark on the D. That way whoever comes in as HC can decide if he's someone that he would like to keep as DC? Not sure what position Hoke can cover as he seems to have been more a 'bit player' over the years as has Coach P.

Part of why I was very pleased to see Buffalo do what they did this last week. And for what its worth, is there something on the horizon for GB? And not in the good sense. In the last two weeks it looks as though teams are starting to figure them out. Two weeks ago it was Atlanta (admittedly not a great team this year) who kept it close then this week Buffalo was able to humble Rodgers and crew. As far as cheering for Arizona I'd say yes. Their history lies in Chicago so I'm all for it. Although they are starting their third string Qb this week so it looks like we'll really see how good Arians is. For me I'll be cheering with my sister who is a big fan of the Broncos (and lives in the same neighborhood as Payton). I'd like to see him get one more before he retires.

Yep. I'd say yep he's partially to blame as the OC for what ailed the offense. But something tells me that he wasn't sold on Cutler early on and just decided to follow the lead of Emery and Trestman...-.as the OC. Trusting that either knew what they were doing. Werent we all fooled?

Sorry just trying to rationalize the whole thing. Only have the most recent coach to compare to and that happens to be Lovie. Shall I make up a fake name instead?

Facts about??? Did he (Kromer) or did he not speak out about "buyers remorse" on Cutler? And say essentially it was a mistake to keep him? I know I did...unless you missed all that from earlier this year. Or am I missing your point?

So maybe I'm confused. Going back to the Lovie days, most here would admonish him because his press conferences were bland and devoid of any controversy. People were upset because no 'open' discussions were happening about what was going on behind the scene. Save for a few outbursts from Urlacher time to time. Then this happens. Kromer essentially says what most of us (I know I have) have been thinking all this time. That keeping AND paying Cutler was a mistake. Tearful or not the fact that Kromer calls it like he saw it, I have no problem with. He didn't agree with the move and decided he'd had enough. Maybe he wasn't consulted and this is his way (as someone else suggested) to get out of working in Chicago? Who knows? It's obvious there is a lot of dysfunction but it's not Kromer's doing.

Agreed. I don't think its the system that's flawed. Primarily the user. Can't blame Kromer for being frustrated. We all are too.

Technically his career was over about four years ago when he was injured the first time in Denver. He was such a horrible signing. I remember when Clutts was with the team and how effective they were in having him at FB. Still can't understand why they went away from it. I realize that was before Emery's time but still....

Without looking at all the links, isn't this where RG3 came from?

A point I've made before. I totally agree that Singletary didn't get his due for what he did in SF. He pretty much built the defense to where it became what it was. Harbaugh continued the discipline and added the touch of his offense to finish the package. Big reason why I would love having both of them as coaches. The one big ding I have for Harbaugh is ridding himself of Smith for Kaepernick.

I'm with you on the BPA for round 1 in the draft. You can find decent OLmen in later rounds. Still have Bushrod, will have Long and DLP (hopefully) and maybe Slauson for at least another year(?). So it's not necessary to rebuild it just yet. Still have this kid Leno and maybe Mills will pull his head out. As far as the DL goes, I'd have to disagree. There are some decent players along that line. Young obviously is coming into his own and Paea has had a pretty decent year. (Didn't he lead DTs in sacks?). Then there are Sutton and Ferguson who I think actuall can contribute. Have to believe a lot of why we're not seeing good production from ALL these guys is due to Tucker's ineptness. And speaking of Young, wasn't he going to talk to Suh about possibly going to Chicago after next year? That's not outside the realm of possibility. For what it's worth I should also add that i think having Jared on the team at least for one more year would be great. They'll need his leadership with Briggs sure to be gone and the uncertainty of Peanut.

I think Singletary and Harbaugh would be a most wonderful combination. Rich with Bear tradition and both are extremely firey. It would be awesome. But either or the other would work in my book. Harbaugh and Singletary in that order. So what you're telling me in Tomlin is that youd be ok with a "mediocre coach " (meaning he hasn't made the playoffs in awhile and had one SB appearance before that) in coming to Chicago as the next HC? Oh, and the players loved playing for? Remind me again why the team let go of Lovie?

Singletary is back in the mix allegedly. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300000043...ead-coach-again

Why wait until the end of the season? I know "barring any signficant improvement" they'll reconsider but really? Why not let someone else run the D to the end of the season? Like Pasquolinoi? See if that does make a difference to help gauge next year. Good decision in letting Tucker go, bad choice on when to do it.

They also liked playing for Lovie. I just think Rex needs to work on his discipline. The Jets have been more a circus than not while he was coach. Wasn't he the one that wanted Tebow? I'd be ok with him being a DC first, either for Trestman or Harbaugh.

I'd say I'd agree to Harbaugh first then maybe Rex as DC before HC consideration. Not sold as much on the idea for him to be HC just yet. Don't want anything to do with Rob Ryan. His D the last few years has been atrocious. Currently 29th in NO and rated at the bottom in Dallas when he was there. *edit*

One positive for me is that I have Romo starting in our Keeper League.

Oh what a difference a year makes. Just last year our team trounced these guys and were firing on all cylinders (offensively) but here we are more convinced that will not happen again. Mad; the best thing for a game like this is copious amounts of hooch. I know I will.