jason

Enlighten me. Why is Manningham such scum? McFadden seems to have gotten into just as much BS, hell, probably more.

If they could all be Boy Scouts, that would be nice. But some times you have to take a chance on a kid who might have some problems. I suppose you would have passed on McFadden as well?

I would argue that the Bears' second biggest need was actually OG.

I hate that line of thinking. In many cases it's true, but in many other cases it's just plain wrong. The saying, "Too far into the forest to see the trees" comes to mind. These guys do this so long, so much, with nitpicking on top of insignificant details, that they can talk themselves in and out of decisions that they'd normally not make. How many times have you talked yourself into a decision because you got your mind set on something, rather than taking the obvious choice? Get hung up on something that sparks your interest, and the next thing you know there is a poor choice because of something minor that just happened at the right time. What I know is what I have seen. I know the players I have focused on when watching the games. And a lot of the times all this extra crap gets in the way of seeing how good a person is at just playing football. On top of all this, let's be honest...the Bears' management has pretty much sucked at picking offensive talent. So, I'm not so sure they actually do know more than the average avid football fan. Do they have more resources? Yes. But that doesn't mean they make the smart/right decision.

I think that's what I dislike the most about the Forte pick: it signals the end of Benson. Not only that, but it severely limits the carries for Wolfe. Essentially it's making two high round draft picks worthless. I really think that if the Bears did serious upgrading of the OL, Benson would have progressed, if not even fulfilled his promise. I just don't like it. Just like the Benson pick, I think it's a huge mistake when considering other needs on the team. I hope the guy does well, turns into the next superstar RB, and tears the league a new one. But no matter what he does, I'll always think that RB wasn't a high enough need. (All of the above can be disregarded if it turns out that Benson's injury is much worse than has been let out.)

Colt Brennan....hahahahahaha....that was classic. I like the kid. Hell, I want the Bears to draft him! But drafting him in the third is REEdiculous. He'll easily be available in the fourth, more than likely in the fifth, if maybe in the sixth.

I'd just like to note that if I have "dogged" Forte, I'm dogging him more for the fact that I didn't want the Bears to draft a RB high, and I have pretty much dogged the Mendenhall insanity (4th RB picked) since day one.

Agreed. When the Bears came up in the second, the pickings at OT were very slim.

I wouldn't mind that either Pix. Are you that sold on Josh Johnson? It's quite possible that he might drop to the 4th rounder.

My only reply to this is that Benson looked unstoppable behind his massive Texas OL. I don't hate the pick of Forte, but I don't like it either. I think that, barring an untold injury to Benson, there's a really good probability that the upgrading of the OL could have allowed us to revisit the same optimism that we had when we were posting Benson videos all over the board. Now, there will be a RB controversy, and Benson is sure to be even more moody.

I'd love to see either Roy Schuening (OG), Dennis Dixon, or Mario Manningham in any combination for the Bears. My preference would be a combination of Roy Schuening and Mario Manningham. That would be outstanding.

This I agree with. Either the Bears need to be a balanced offense or a running-team. If they want to claim to be a running team, then Williams wasn't necessarily the pick. I honestly thought we were going to get Otah; he's a mauler. And Albert has the potential to just crush people. Williams was the safe pick, however. He's ready now. I think that's why they went after him.

I much prefer Forte over Ray Rice, but that's just personal preference. I saw Rice one time this year, and despite the fact that he looked good, he didn't look like a home-run threat. Forte appears to be more of a home-run threat, despite the fact that he isn't one either. I just like the home run hitters a lot more than the grinders...to each his own.

The reason I think it would have sucked just as much is that the Bears have other holes. To lose a 3rd rounder in a trade up for a guy who was considered the third best RB by the NFL teams (evidently), is just not smart. I saw Mendenhall several times this year on TV, but never got to see Forte. Mendenhall looked good, but never really blew my socks off. He looked like a guy who benefitted because of his college system and nasty, running QB a lot, IMHO. Good? Yes. Great? I don't think so. As far as Forte goes, he has massive stats and is apparently one of the best backs in college football right now. He benefitted from playing weaker opponents overall, but he killed them. I don't know why you assume he can't be an every down RB. To me, the general difference between them is a toss-up...and the Bears don't lose other draft picks.

That's why I said that there are many examples otherwise. However, on a different note, Walter Payton, and every player drafted years ago, is a bad example. The scouting and spotlight is much brighter and all-encompassing than back then. If Walter came out in today's draft, Mel Kiper would have been jerking off to his picture on ESPN - it would have been a no-doubter like maybe never before.

I love how all the Mendy talk happened before the draft, and then he doesn't even end up going as the second RB. OL was the biggest need, and was addressed. OL is probably the second biggest need as well.

By the way, the note on Tomlinson was to show that the Predraft grades and comments are often wrong. For all the things "wrong" with LT, he sure has turned out well and seems to have done everything opposite of his detractors. I don't like the Forte pick, but I suppose it's possible that all the "bad things" about Forte are wrong.

Luckily they have brains bigger than a BB and didn't make the move up for Mendenhall. Don't get me wrong, I don't like the Forte pick, but drafting up to get Mendenhall would have sucked just as much.

I'll tell you what guys, I love the Chris Williams pick. I saw him play twice this year, once against Mississippi, and the finale against Wake Forest. This is what I remember seeing/thinking: 1) He seems very fast 2) He almost always made the DE go really wide 3) He seemed like he had quick hands or quick extension of the arms once the Defensive player engaged. But this is the most important thing I remember from each game: He looked like he was playing against a little kid. I don't mean that the other person was smaller. What I mean is, when you are playing with a little kid, you can often do things that are ridiculously unsuccessful against adults. That is what appeared to be happening against two big schools with decent talent...one of which is an SEC school. He dominated. It was the equivalent to dribbling a ball behind a little kid, then making him turn, and then bringing it back where he doesn't see it. He was the And 1 Mix Tape of Offensive Linemen when I watched. This is a great pick for the Bears, and he'll probably start immediately. That should bring Tait to the RT spot, and upgrade two spots at the same time.

Love the first round selection...don't like the second round selection. I am just not a fan of guys from smaller schools who boost stats hammering weak opponents. There are plenty of options that prove this wrong, but more often than not a guy who dominates in a big conference is going to do better.

Yes...I made the thunder and thunder comment in regards to Mendenhall and Benson. From what I have seen, some hope for Mendenhall, but all realize that if he is drafted, he'll be sharing time with Benson. Neither is lightning, and I haven't seen the game or highlight video that makes me think otherwise. Also, if you think the poor OL is an excuse, you must not have watched the games last year. The OL stunk up the joint. Seriously, watch a replay if you have it. They were brutal most of the season. No skill position players - outside of hall of famers - do well behind a crap OL.

Oh. Also... I wish this were one of those pie-in-the-face videos and someone slammed a pie in Rosenhaus' face so hard that his nose were broken.

Completely agree. This crap will never end until the owners start to get tough with these dirtbags. Chad Johnson can sit on his ass all year and see how unhappy he is then! If I were the owner, I would teach Chad Johnson's dumb ass a lesson. I'd keep him until his contract was done, and fine him the maximum amount allowable by the CBA. I'd also go on a media frenzy - via my GM - basically saying that Chad Johnson not only hurting himself, but he's hurting my organization, and I wish he'd play. If that happened, the sit-out wouldn't last past week 4....and if the Bengals were losing due to poor offensive performance, it may end sooner.

It's a very good start. I'd love to see Albert in the first.

I'm at a state bowling tournament in Mobile, AL hoping to win some big money. Unfortunately, I bowl at 4pm (CST)...so I'll probably have to get the recap online. Here's to hoping the Bears don't draft Mendenhall in the first.