jason

Nice pipe dream, but we all know it's not happening. I wish it were.

I mentioned the Bennett throw. Granted. There was pressure on the Knox throw. Considering he's the franchise, I'm quite sure that the coaching staff has given him guidance to be EXTREMELY careful with any sort of pressure.

This is, yet again, a game in which it looks like the Defense is playing pretty well, but the offensive ineptitude - almost exclusively a result of atrocious play by the OL - is going to get the Defense tired. That fatigue, along with the relaxed natured of the cover-2 and the minimal pressure it creates on the QB, will result in points for the Redskins. Unless something changes, the Redskins will pull away late.

What the freak has Cutler done wrong this game? Other than that square-in pass to Bennett that was obviously off, he has had a hand in his face, a collapsing pocket, or a shoulder pad in his chest on every play. At a certain point there is literally nothing he can do when all five linemen are getting blown up.

The "Olsen as an OT" thing is effing ridiculous.

I'm content with Knox, Bennett, Aroma, and Hester. That's a very fast, very explosive group. And Bennett has some of the best hands in the league. I also think you're selling Iglesias short. The simple fact is, if the 6th rounder is a gamble (which it is), the gamble is better placed in a position of need. It's just common sense.

For more examples...take the two hits in this video. The first is on Cribbs. Harrison lowers his head to make the hit, and it's at about sternum level when it starts. I'll admit this one is close. But the second one, in which he destroys Massoquai, is something almost completely unavoidable. He was aiming at the WR's chest, maybe lower, and when impact is imminent, the WR ducks his head to protect himself. How is Harrison supposed to avoid this possibility? Other than aiming for the knees, that is.

You don't even understand the pussification comment. It's not about the player not being able to take the hit, and being a pussy. It's about the powers that be making the game a softer game, less of a hitting and tackling game.

Which is why I thougth the signing was a bad one. I talked to a Seahawks friend this weekend after the game. He said that he'd LOVE to have Taylor there. Anyone on their roster worth looking at?

You're smart enough to interpret what I actually meant. Please spare the baiting. You know as well as I do that WR is a very low priority for this team because of their strength, depth, and financial investment at that position. Because of those factors, and possibly others, a WR drafted in the later rounds is nearly guaranteed to be cut. Therefore, the pick would not be a smart one. Given that the Bears: 1-Can't create a pass rush 2-Can't block anyone 3-Can't seem to stop opponents from passing successfully Due to the above, and the abject play at those positions, the odds are much better that a player drafted at one of the positions you mentioned would have a shot at making the team, and possibly contributing.

If that play happened today (let's say Clay Matthews slams Farv to the ground in the exact same manner Martin slammed McMahon), the offending player would face the largest suspension ever handed down by the league. I'm willing to bet it would be nearly an entire season.

You're getting all circular with this debate and making little sense. Simple: 1) Hits like the cheap shot on Heap? Fine + Suspend 2) Hits like the explosion on Jackson? Tough shit, it's football. If you happen to knock that player out with a LEGAL hit, and that player is gone for multiple games, so be it. That's the risk of playing football. After all, isn't that essentially what the Saints did against old man Farv last year? You keep hitting a guy until he doesn't get up, until he risks bad play by staying in the game while hurt, or until he gets gunshy enough to affect his play. That attitude has been around since football was created. Intimidation the basis of the sport; cheap shots are not. If a cheap shot takes out an opponent, then it's up to the league to determine the equitable punishment. Is that punishment insufficient enough to deter cheap shots? Perhaps THAT is the real argument here.

A better analogy would be buying a log cabin home and surrounding it with termite hills.

I doubt that at that point there will be a CLEAR CUT, guaranteed, best talent available. Therefore, picking up a guy who is guaranteed to get cut is, in fact, ignorant. The OL, DL, and Safety shelves are nearly the same as at Old Mother Hubbard's house, and you guys want to keep stocking the shelves at Food Lion.

I don't know if there is a "missed tackle" stat, or perhaps a number of broken tackles, but I've seen the Bears tackle just as bad as other teams in the league. Maybe even worse. I don't know what games you are watching. There have been numerous times that Briggs has gone for the hit over the form tackle. On this, you are generally correct. But I don't think Desean Jackson scored on the video above, nor will he score this upcoming week. Cause - Effect. If anything, Kolb should be fined and suspended for exposing his WR like that; he's an accomplice.

Very good point. This is a risk vs. reimbursement situation. Easier, safer, more secure job = generally less pay Harder, dangerous, volatile job = generally more pay Them's the breaks.

You clearly didn't read (or just simply ignored) my replies after you read the word "pussification." I said that head-to-head cheap shots like the one on Heap should be penalized. The others, the "devastating" hits, are just part of football. Go up top, reread my posts.

Maybe you guys prefer this: Or maybe this:

Your agreement in this case, if you're comparing it to Cutler's situation, is ignorant. Cutler got hit repeatedly, and none of them were cheap shots. Hell, none of them were even "devastating" shots like the one Desean Jackson took. It was just accumulation, and his head bouncing off the ground. Does it suck to watch a Bear go down to injury? Yes. Is it part of the game? Absolutely.

Yes. Pussification. Hard hits are part of football. Period. What's next? Is the RB not allowed to duck his head when running ball? Will all hits have to come between the shoulders and the stomach? Concussions are a horrible side-affect of incredibly massive, muscle-bound men running into each other at full speed. IT'S FOOTBALL. Altering the very essence of football too much is a massive change that will either ruin the NFL, or cause players to hold up for fear of fines (which is stupid). BTW - If Hester goes down, I would not be happy. But I wouldn't be upset about it if it was a legal hit that just crushed him. Part of the game. You have to separate the rose-colored glasses from your face to properly view this issue. The videos I posted above state my case. If they fine the hit on Desean Jackson, then it's a pussification of the game.

I like the draft except for the bolded part. If the Bears pick a WR in the draft this year, it will be completely ignorant. It's perhaps the least needed position on the team right now. But, to be quite honest, if the trade DID go down, and the Bears DID get two first rounders, I would want two first round offensive linemen. OT and OG would be nice.

Yet another person who sees it, who gets it. Martz? Are you listening? Lovie? Do you care? Angelo? Will you draft OLine?

Repeat...ignore.

It's knee jerk pussification of the league. Period. Anyone who disagrees either hasn't played, has forgotten how the game is played, or has personal stake in the concussion business (i.e. Hoge, Waddle). Helmet to helmet? I'm fine with that. Suspend it. "Devastating hit?" If that's fined, they might as well break out the flags. Fine this: Don't fine this:

I'm watching: -The guy who has decent blocking skills when compared to his OL counterparts. -The guy who gets open, but doesn't get the ball because Cutler is under a pile of defenders -The guy who has made tough catches in traffic (like last week's seam route), but doesn't get many opportunities I don't know where the "quits on a ton of routes" comes from. I haven't seen it. The guy has talent, and when used appropriately the flashes appear. I'd say who are YOU watching?