Alaskan Grizzly

Even in the few games Cutler performed in last year he still favored BM over most any other receiver. This despite AJ having a pretty remarkable year with a "mediocre" QB like McCown throwing to him. The line was solid and he had the same advantage that McCown did. Now if he's able to put it alltogether and realize there are others besides Marshall able to catch maybe, just maybe his talent will show through. He's on an extended contract, going into year two with Trestman and a relatively solid oline. The excuses are few, the opportunity...plenty.

Oh yeah...there it is. I coulda swore that it was under it's own heading. That's what I get for reading first thing in the morning..... Wonder if it's more like the motivational visit that Ditka did last year? But yes I would be good with Singletary as DC or at the very least, LB coach.

Wasn't there a separate post with pics from the first day of OTA's? Where did that go? I was going to ask, for those that may make it to see some of these practices, how did players like Christian Jones, Fendi Onubun and Willie Young look?

That's more like it! Spoken like what I expect a true New Yorker to sound. Your being cordial threw me for a bit. Kinda like when Cracker Barrel gets all mushy and stuff. We sound like a bunch of angry old men...

Just watched "Monuments Men" last night. Good flick. And appropriate.

Haha... Gulf of Mexico... Good one. Hawaii and Alaska are connected by a land bridge so when the tide is out you can walk in between. And don't forget, we can all see Russia from our back yard.

Interesting thought about Maranelli. As much as it pains me I'm kinda glad things have gone the way they have. Personally losing URL and Lovie was painful but they have both moved on to better things. And after all is said and done so too shall the Bears. After watching Marshall's presser about Trestman makes me think the Bears are on the verge of something special. Especially on O... Which is weird for Chicago. The D will probably be fine. I can't imagine they'll be any worse then last year. Really what did they lose? For what they lost they gained in players like Houston and Allen. And from the draft I feel one or two of the kids will probably make some noise. Should be a good year overall.

Oh you mean like the time when I thought you were a douche? Oh you're right that wasn't an original thought. Disclaimer: I don't mean to be jerky, just feeling sassy. The weather has been exceptional up here. No harm meant... Except to those directly affected. Mahalo hoapilis!

Nah none needed. I understood. You're right, Jason can be a dick...but so can I at times... Ask Stinger. He's my personal shrink. I've gone round and round with Jason before. But from time to time I agree with him. Hell I even agree with Terra sometimes. Hence why I have a shrink.

Well played sir.

Fair enough...Like my 'well educated" colleague Stinger would say; "woulda, coulda, shoulda". But to you I say, good points. Peppers didn't 'buy in'? I hadn't heard that.

This talk of fantasy world coming from someone who was an active participant in the mock drafts. I wouldn't normally waste my time with a reply but knowing you would: You're a lout. Psychoanalyze that.

That was only proven because he didn't play last year. Hypothetically, if he had what would have happened? Jason's points (and I agree) were that the defense probably would have been better aligned for the plays they were defending. I'm fairly certain that 'fumble' by Rodgers late in the season would've been better handled. Brian probably would have outperformed both Williams and Bostic...last year. Because, as Jason pointed out and I've said before, a degraded Urlacher is better than many 'mediocre' linebackers. Buuuuutt..... As Adam said had Urlacher not left the team when he did, where would he and the team be today? The dominoes probably would have fallen different. No Allen, no Houston...who knows what else. True. But I didn't buy his jersey until after he left the team. Same reason I have a Payton and a Butkus jersey. Same reason I'll someday own a Tillman one. They are part of Bears lore and it's history.

x2. I think SMC will be this year's AJ. And, similar to Lemon and MadLith I think that Wilson will have some noticeable impact. With Trestman's knack at offense and if Wilson does perform through camp and preseason we could see some interesting offense scheming.

For the record I'm good with it. I think the lynchpin in this instance (between Bears and Bucs comparatively) will be McCown. I think losing him from Chicago will be more an impact than him playing for TB. Again one of my "X factor picks" being Cutler. If he (Cutler) does well and stays injury free, then things will go ok. *knock on wood*

So riddle me this... What sense is there to the reasoning behind signing a QB and converting him to RB and drafting Carey when the team already has Ford? Draughn, I feel, will probably not last past OTAs. http://dawindycity.com/2014/05/15/2014-chi...ing-backs-line/

I'm not sure how to take this. But since I'm paired with a couple rapscallions in Jason and Terra then I believe a "bullocks" and "rubbish" are appropriate for your comment.

I think the x-factor to next year's success will be either Cutler or Mel Tucker...or both.

If only...I can barely get in a 30 minute run every other day. Wish I could devote the time..... Of course my body would probably reject anymore strain than what I barely ask it to do now. Oh to be a professional athlete..

I'd agree. Coming out of college he's listed as an LB/DE. That makes me think he's more suited the OLB role. It'll probably come down to him or SMC...at some point.

I can't read the link. It's stuck in the upper border .

After looking at a few clips on him, his mechanics are a little flawed. He tackles high. I wonder if its not a combination of his height (6'4") and/or the new 'heads up' approach to tackling? Heads up almost forces the tackler to hit higher since you really can't effectively drop your shoulder to do an effective tackle. I remember "back in the day" when I played in HS (our measurements are similar) I was always accused of 'bear hugging' people to the ground. I never really drove through tackles. Seems he does a lot of that.

Was reading a story in the Bleacher Report on "Top 10 undrafted free agents who could be a major contributor in 2014" and former FSU LB Christian Jones (now Chicago Bears) was mentioned. (Sorry can't post the link). According to some links in the story he was once a higher touted player but "failed a drug test at the combine" and dropped in stock as a result. Comparisons were of him to the Bills Manny Lawson. Anyone heard of him? I like what I see. Maybe an eventual starter in place of Greene or if SMC fails miserably at his conversion?

Can't say the 'need' is as bad as it were at the end of the year for a rookie to step in and start. Tillman will be back from injury (how long remains to be seen). The d-line (absent all the draft additions) is a lot different looking. You have Allen, Houston, Young and Collins and Ratliff will probably start the year as opposed to how things went last year. The l-backers will have another year under their belt (I think Bostic will come back this year and will look forward to meeting Bridgewater for a 'reunion'). And as someone pointed out before Mundy isn't necessarily a slouch and Conte might be good with the right front seven. So you see there may not be a need for the current rookies to have to step in and start. Although of the group I predict Vereen and Fuller will be before the season is over.

This times two (bolded). Most will blame your first line on the "Lovie influence" but how do you explain all the dissatisfaction on this year's #1? My thought is, and will continue to be, Emery is egotistical. Thinks he's smarter than most and will do most anything to be right. Having Tillman come back after what happened to Urlacher surprised me. But maybe that was more on Tillman's character than Emery learning from his mistakes.