Alaskan Grizzly

It sounds to me like the market is already 'testing him' with the Titans firing the first volley. I get this feeling that the money will be available elsewhere if Jay wants it. Pretty certain the Bears won't/can't match what some of the other teams will offer. It will come down to Jay holding true to the "home town" deal he proposed before. And for what its worth, I'm still of the opinion that Emery's ego is large enough that if Jay's camp says he wants to do this or else...it'll be "or else".

Similar to how going into Detroit game 2 this year, Trestman could have said 'you know Jay, it was only a few weeks ago that you were hurt pretty good against Washington.' 'If you look like you're struggling, I'm going to pull you so Josh can go in there.' 'He's been doing good in helping out, so there is no need for you to make your injury worse'. But instead and when the second half started (it was obvious to anyone watching, Jay was in fact physically struggling) we hear: “I didn’t want to take (Cutler) out unless he felt he couldn’t do the job. I thought it was a very courageous performance throughout. And then at the end I took him out (only) because I knew he would have to run around in the two-minute drill.” (source: Toronto Sun). Yet this was after Cutler admitted that his play faded from the hot start that he had. Yet he wouldn't admit to it until almost 2 mins left in the game. I might add, dissimilar to your example, the team did/does have something to play for...this year. Which is that much more painfully obvious now that the Bears are tied with Detroit for playoff viability.

Mad, you sound like a jilted girlfriend. Don't overreact and say that I was suggesting that McCown is overall better than Brady. You need not protect his history. What I did say is that McCown could be better than Brady , if only for one game against one team. It was in response to SCR and in that context alone. But if for stats alone whether they be "lies" or no, McCown, at the moment, IS better than Brady.

But you also admitted that Baltimore and St Louis were decent defenses and Josh performed admirably in both games. You're talking about the same Cleveland Browns that lost to Jacksonville Jaguars (28-32)? I think Cleveland is the anti-thesis of what Chicago is. They have a dominant defense and crap offense. At least in the QB and RB role. Which should play to our team's favor. Remember that Denver also held Brady to zero scoring until the second half and they (Denver) still managed to lose so.... I will hold judgement on how well McCown is to Brady until he actually plays the game. If McCown produces better than did Brady then I will say 'yes' McCown is better, if only for a day. Isn't it true that McCown is trailing only P. Manning in QBR or some similar stat? In that regard, he is better.

To be fair, and perhaps play the "devil's advocate" wouldn't it be apt to judge him as the "Franchis QB" vs the "Backup starter" and be appropriately "burned" if he doesn't at least put up respectable numbers? Trestman actually may be the one that bears most of the burden for making a choice and sticking with it. Make no mistake, this story (outside of Halas Hall and the fans who do pay attention) makes for a dramatic QB controversy story.

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.