jason

Actually, I disagree. I think the Bears ARE close. I think that coaches and coaching philosophy have held them back. Hell, they barely missed the playoffs last year, and that's with coaching that is widely regarded on this board as insufficient - I think it's worse than that still. So, if they missed the playoffs with horrible coaching, it's safe to say they would have made it with competent coaching. Add in the fact that there were a few injuries, and the Bears got nearly NO good breaks as far as turnovers are concerned, and it's not difficult to see them taking another step forward and being a solid team with deep playoff aspirations.

If I'm forced to take a WR, it has to be Maclin. Anyone who would choose another WR over Crabtree or Maclin simply hasn't been watching college football. With that said, I might just choose Duke Robinson.

Great find daa84. It's just too bad this coaching staff doesn't realize the potential languishing on the bench.

I just am far too pessimistic, and a Bears fan for far too long, to think that adding a FA WR will create aerial greatness. I'd be happy that the team attempted to address the weaknesses, but I am completely convinced that this staff would waste, either through negligence, stubborness, or utter incomptence, any WR talent brought to this team. As for Bennett deserving minutes...we sure don't know since he never saw the field. But it's hard to imagine him being worse than the performances given by the WRs who were on the field last year. And that doesn't speak well for the Bears' coaches.

Before listing my picks, I hate the idea of picking up a RB in the first three rounds. Hate it. I wish it weren't even listed. As for my picks, I don't see how Maclin (or Crabtree) could be passed if he fell to the Bears. 1. Maclin - Tough to pass 2. Herman Johnson - Absolute must shore up OL now that not addressed in 1st 3. Fenuki Tupou - See Johnson pick 3b. Byrd CB/S - Awesome player I also like the idea of following my mock draft very closely, but it doesn't seem like as much bang for the buck as what was otherwise available: 1. Robinson 2. Loadholt 3. Byrd 3b. Have a look at which WR is available (not listed)

The more I think about it, I'm not sure it matters who the Bears sign or draft at WR. The guys they sign will have to fight for minutes with people who don't deserve minutes. The guys they draft will sit on the bench behind the guys fighting for minutes, and the guys who don't deserve minutes.

No. Because, just like the 2001 season, it's possible for the players to look good, and the team to get wins, despite the fact that the coaching is horrendous. I believe this staff is borderline incompetent, they mismanage talent, they evaluate like they're blind, and they make game changes slower than Keanu Reeves attempting to recite the Architect's speech from the Matrix.

HAHA. Fair enough. Hell, you've almost convinced ME with points 3-7.

DING DING DING!!! WE HAVE A WINNER!!! Aside from hoping he does well because he was a classy guy, I hope he does well so the Bears current staff looks utterly incompetent, which I'm convinced they are very close to becoming.

Sorry, man, but stats don't work like that. Vegas makes huge money at the roulette wheel on people who think that a 37:1 odds over and over again eventually makes the odds greater than 37:1. You can't add them up. It's the same crap percentage every time, exclusive of the other rolls of the ball/dice/draft pick.

Yeah, but if you look at the last 10-15 years or so, the Yankees have been in the playoffs more than any other team. Once you get into the playoffs, it's a virtual crapshoot. All the teams there are good, and you may just run into a team that is in stride, while you have a rough spot. The playoffs are funny like that. Or, hell, in baseball you may run into a team that has two stud pitchers - like Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling from the Diamondbacks a few years ago - and just can't beat those two guys. If the NFL goes into the no salary cap era, the Bears will become the Kansas City Royals.

The bold part is what pisses me off the most. You'd think these morons would learn from what they saw the Celtics do last year. I wonder who is happier: Scott Williams - 5 or 6 championship rings playing beside MJ - multimillionaire Allen Iverson - 0 championships - multi-multimillionaire

No disrespect intended to Omiyale, because he was playing behind two beasts in Carolina, but I really hope he's signed for backup/depth purposes. If he's signed to start, it's bad. Come to think of it, if he's signed for that much to sit the bench and be a platoon player, then it's probably not that good either. I fear that the Bears will go into next year with another mediocre line at best, filling in crucial spots with Omiyale and St. Clair, and the offense will once again be fairly stagnant.

I'm less irritated by the owner/team for figuring a way to circumvent and manipulate the salary cap, and more irritated with Albert Haynesworth being yet another player in a long line of completely greedy asswipes. Tennessee could have signed him to multi-millions, but he had to be the TOP paid player. He had to go for the bazillions, even though the megamillions are offered where he is already at. There is very little loyalty in today's sports world, and it's aggravating that in times like this, these players willfully fight for a cherry on top of an 285lb. sundae.

Laurinaitis? I mean, he's good and all, but that would be a ridiculous first round pick for the Bears.

You seriously went with a RB in the third round? This is actually a good idea, but the selections are far too limited.

Interesting, semi-humorous article about the Bad-Rex portion of Rex Grossman. Good Bye Bad Rex

It's just too bad the Bears didn't draft Big O last year, and Big O this year. That's an OL set for years to come. As for Oher vs. Smith...I don't know. Smith seems like more of a possible stud, like Walter Jones or some other OT that dominates for a decade. However, he also has a lower floor with his recent madness.

If Andre Smith falls to #18, and the Bears don't pick him, I'll be livid.

You misunderstand nfo...I'm just being silly. It's the Madden dream that will not come true. On the list of things the Bears need, I put "trading for an All-Star MLB" somewhere around 93rd. I also think that the system we run is horrible for the play-making MLB.

My answer to that: Mike Brown in his first year OR Daniel Manning in his first year Seems like an obvious choice. You ALWAYS go with the stud who is just a little slower, versus the track star who is missing football skills.

Unless it's in the second round, then the answer should be no.

I know it's not going to happen because of the money involved and the fact that he wouldn't want to come to Chicago, but how awesome would it be if Ray Lewis signed with the Bears? Urlacher - Lewis - Briggs (HOLY SHIT) The other oddball idea about this is moving Urlacher back to his college position of Safety. --I don't want either to really happen, but what do you guys think? Is he another one of those players that you all don't want because he's a bad guy off the field?

Players who could drop because of injuries: Brian Orakpo - hamstring Rey Maualuga - hamstring Michael Crabtree - Injured his foot Players who are just stupid Andre Smith I see a real possibility that one of these guys could fall to the Bears.