Alaskan Grizzly

So your point is??? Please expound.

As long as we don't have a repeat of Detroit game #2. Where Cutler started to show signs of wear after the start of the 2nd half then expect Josh to bail out the team with only two mins to do it.

You could save yourself a whole lot of time by saying 'you don't play to lose, just to give your "bubble" players exposure/playing time' and gotten the point across. And that is my point, if you are wishing to lose then I question why. And for the record, you know nothing of what did or didn't contribute to Urlacher's career. He easily could have said he wanted to play and just as easily gotten hurt in a 'garbage game' by his own volition. It is just convenient to place blame on Lovie.

Nolo comprendo. EDIT: Connor, there was no implication of yours or whoever else suggested it "being a fan". I have no doubt "you're a fan" just why someone would wish for the team to lose just to get better in the draft. I don't get it, won't get it and really don't care to understand. If you want your team to lose to get a better draft pick...all I can say is 'aye carumba'. I should add that I would personally never want to be a teammate of yours with that way of thinking.

Agreed. I was listening to Gruden comment about how well McCown is making adjustments at the line. I am noticing in re-watching (and noticed before) that he (McCown) does really well at making pre-snap calls, if need. He did a bunch during the Cowboys game and some during the Ravens game. Some other "intangibles" are his looking off (progressing) his receivers. He doesn't 'lock on' but actually 'tricks the defense' with his check offs. Cutler hasn't always been real good at that. And even though given the option to option (play on words) Cutler doesn't make that adjustment as well...it would seem. One thing I have noticed they have both gotten good at is stepping into the pocket. McCown has some innate ability to adjust away from pressure, usually going the opposite way from it. Cutler seems to like to try and bolt out the top of the pocket whenever he feels the pressure. Not that its bad as he is a bit more mobile than McCown but sets him up for a harder hit straight on. Speaking of stepping into the pocket. Two of the amazing TD's that McCown has thrown this year were the one to Jeffery in the corner (when it appeared McCown was about to get blasted) and against GB when he threw a similar pass to Marshall, almost identical in trajectory etc, but to the right middle of the endzone. Both were reliant on McCown putting the ball up only where his receivers could get it and the receivers actually going up to get it and him almost running face first into the defensive line pressure. Pretty cool stuff.

Fortunately the one they did actually catch was negated by the def holding call. But I think it safe to say that most teams see what could happen even if you build a sizable lead and aren't able to maintain it. (Denver vs NE). In all fairness, McCown's numbers have been pretty similar over most of his games this year (suggesting they have'nt been as conservative as some suggest) its just that penalties have literally wiped points off the board in some cases. Sometimes more than once.

I for one believe he is genuine with the "home town" talk. He admits to being a former fan and I get the idea that he is liking playing for the Bears. One of the incentives being that the Bears have essentially built up to him. With the additons of Marshall and the hiring of Trestman he has to be convinced they are invested in him. That being the case, he could easily want to make more money and go elsewhere. But to which team? Would they offer him the same 'comfort' the Bears have been working towards? He has to realize he is not getting younger and has started to rack up the injuries, so would he risk that going to a team that pays a buttload of money for him only to not have enough to pay for his protection (O line) and compliments (WR and RB combos)? I think he wants to play at the earliest possible convenience. If for no other reason to prove that he is still viable.

I will agree that the Tampa 2 could be waning. Both Dallas and Chicago run it but don't have the people to support it any longer. However, not sure that your assesment of Lovie is quite right. An 84-66 combined record and teams looking for a new coach may prove otherwise.

I'll ask it again.... Josh McCown = Gannon 2.0? Nice work tonight Joshua!!!

My oh my that conservative play calling is killing us!!!! LOL!!

Your "bank on it" comments and diarrhea are similar in that they are warm and fluid.

I don't get how "fans" can ever think this way. No matter what.

Agreed. And for some odd reason I've been getting a 'vibe' that Hester will set the return for TD record tonight. If he does; "The Bears are who we thought they were"!

So, I understand that Tennessee is in a bad position these days but why would they specifically come out and say they are 'targeting Cutler'? I'm not sure why but I don't like it. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap200000029...ennessee-titans

Nice angle. And I'll agree. If the team comes and plays inspired tonight and they win, I predict they will make the playoffs. This is a big stage tonight . Not just for "survivor" status in the playoffs, but prime time (don't want to be embarrassed), Ditka's retirement, at home, BearFan 2000 and his dad will be there, and much more inspiration. Ditka even called out the team...maybe he'll be roaming the sidelines? This is it....win or done.

Lovie would be a logical choice especially being that he's from Texas. NFL Network speculated as much and threw in the idea of Cutler becoming the new QB if things broke down in Chicago.

I think one thing most can agree on is this. Trestmans system can apparently make decent QBs good and good QBs exceptional. Cutler was slowed by injuries but was progressing. Steve Young was right when he came out in defense of Trestman early on.

I'm with Mad on this...for the most part. Not sure that drafting high and trusting McCown to be the 'caretaker' of the position is the best angle. I would like to get a few more years out of Cutler, have McCown stay as the backup and draft a QB for that eventual lead role. If it is as good a class as many profess, surely a decent one could be had in later rounds? (like late 2 to late 3?). And another factor mentioned before (yes Mad it was you ... but I thought it too ) is that if we lose Cutler so could we lose Marshall. I don't think we could afford that right away.

Maybe factor in the injury issues too. That could weigh more than age. The stats that TD used to start this thread were compared to both Cutler and McCown this year. Who both had the benefit of playing with Marshall, Jeffery, Bennett and Forte.

First, I'm not sure I'd want my QB to take 'unnecessary' risks (which what you describe pretty much equates to). Secondly, did you not see the two TD passes to Alshon this last weekend? One for 80 yards and the second for 46? Granted there was some YAC there but not that much. The second pass was pretty much all air and near perfect placement for Alshon to do what he did. And this talk of 'conservative' play-calling sort of baffles me when in each of the last two weeks (at least) Alshon keeps setting new records in recieving yardage. when you're talking +200 yards a game, for one receiver, you're not talking conservative. The play calling has been conservative in the red zone yes. But if McCown was so 'noodle armed' wouldn't he be better suited for those short yardage passes? Instead Trestman has been trying repeatedly with Forte and Bush to only be blunted. I blame poor red zone management on that, not McCown's play. And for what its worth, for the last few years one of the biggest knocks on Jay is his inability to convert in the redzone. In fact somewhere I distinctly recall him being near the top in redzone turnovers. And McCown is 'falling off'? Really? 355 yards, 2 TD's and no turnovers is pretty good in my book.

Was just going to add an 'edit' when I saw your reply, so instead I'll just add it here. After seeing this article I saw it again in Bears.com and found that the way it was presented above was out of context. You are correct that what it appears to be is that he was simply outlining the negative side of franchising a player, especially QB, when there is such a high need to address other issues. Do you pay your 'franchise QB' for one year (at a high premium), hope that he takes a "hometown discount" for a multi-year deal or go with taking the money and running on stockpiling the D? Fair to say that I don't envy Emery to have to get to work once the season is over in the manner he needs. Now the fact that I allegedly "crush(ed)" him seems a little harsh but if my response was what you consider harsh, then "crush" it was.

This is a bad omen. I don't like that they are closing doors to possible ways of hashing out a contract. I think Emery would have been better served by saying something like 'all options are on the table (with Cutlers contract) and there are many issue to consider elsewhere (meaning defense)". Showing his hand this early puts both he and the Cutler camp in a corner. I question Emerys arrogance sometimes, as this is not the first time he's done this. Now, I understand why he did it..just don't agree with it.

Look at what you wrote. The difference between the two is that one is considered a 'Franchise QB' the other a backup. The fact that he has as nearly as good a record, in some cases better, as Jay speaks volumes. I never said that McCown should be the starter, just question the one we do have. If this experience makes Cutler better, then fantastic!! And for what it's worth I'm not sure why you're upset a backup QB is capable of making choices like this. Most teams would kill for a their starter to be able to do that.

Agreed. Especially when I see your stance on Lovie. That aside, Trestman made a good case for his choice. Looking at all the variables the 'safest' was to go with Gould, no matter the down. As Trestman pointed out the Vikings had just negated their own FG attempt with a penalty. With the way the Bears have been as of late, it was riskier to not try for the FG when he did. If anything I'll blame Trestman for the lack of discipline that has caused all the penalties these last few weeks. Not the missed FG.

I presume you're referring to the discussion that McCown may/may not had known about the possibility in having a free play. In which he haphazardly threw a pass that was intercepted. Although none of us can unequiviquoly say we don't know what McCown did/didn't know, we do know that thus far he hasn't made many mistakes. And this would be a rare occurence so the probability is that he made a mistake knowing it wouldn't matter. Case in point, right after he threw it he stayed on the field. Meaning he knew a penalty had been called and that it wasn't against his team.