jason

Without that pesky salary cap, and the RICOCKULOUS contracts first rounders get, this is a great idea. I'd hate to see the stars go, but it would be interesting to see what could be done with that kind of first round firepower. On the other hand... SCREW THAT! If the Bears had the 9th and the 10th, then they might as well trade Tait away for something, and pick up Otah AND Clady! And we STILL pickup Rachal in the third!!! Hell, Benson could turn into the league MVP with an OL like that!!! NFO FOR BEARS GENERAL MANAGER!!!

That's what I thought. I hate reporters. I hate reporters (aka columnists, aka WTF ever) almost as much as I hate greedy athletes. The way I figure it, it goes something like this: Pro Athlete > Snake > Reporter > Greedy Pro Athlete > Keanu Reeves

Easy for me. I like Z. He's tough, and could fit in well. I think his measurables are not the same as his football measurables. I don't know much about Barrett. But for a guy to have that much going for him, and still be considered a mid to late rounder, that makes me think of the old saying: Look like Tarzan, play like Jane.

This garbage has gotten out of hand in the NFL. I think there needs to be much more severe punishments available to owners for these greedy ass, insubordinate players. Miss a practice? 10K Miss two? 100K Miss three 500K And so on... Since they are so damn worried about the money, maybe if they started to take a hit in the wallet they would start showing up and shutting their mouths. Speaking of that... Bad mouth the organization or anyone in it? 10K Twice: 100K Etc. And don't give me this freedom of speech nonsense...if anyone in any other job constantly made public the fact that they were unhappy with their salary, intimating that the employers have underpaid them and/or are cheap, that person would get a pink slip.

Given Urlacher's history, and the fact that he seems to shy away from the media in absolutely every way similar to this, something doesn't seem right. I agree with barnesat; there is just simply wrong with this article. It's too forward. -Threatening to retire? Highly unlikely for someone who seems to love it so much and hasn't made a fuss up to this point. -Demanding more money? This is possible, but I doubt Urlacher would take the media route given his track-record and loyalty. He knows he's the face of the team right now. -Threatening the hold out? If anything, it will be to rest up and save a battered body. We'll see when all the offseason stuff roles around, but I doubt it. -NFL "insider" who says what Urlacher is "doing" is a joke? How often do the NFL "insiders" make statements this harsh? Almost never. How often does the "insider" turn out to be some guy's cousin who works as a janitor? Quite a bit of the time. -The speculation of a players' revolt if he doesn't get paid? Come on...that's the straw that broke the camel's back. The verbage is wrong. The wording is too strong, tense, hostile. I think this is a test piece to see if the fans would react the same way as they have with the Briggs and Hester situations. I think this is a fabrication to see the reaction. Urlacher may be negotiating a new contract, but I don't think this is even remotely close to the truth. It's basically Jemele Hill from ESPN ghost-writing for the Sun.

My sentiments exactly. Smith in the 3rd, no thanks. I'd rather see the Bears fill up the OL depth with a stud OG that is sure to be there. Like you, I think it's very possible that Rachal or Schuening will be there.

I don't hate them for their contracts. Like you, I'm just jealous. What I do hate them for, is their greed. They get these multi-million dollar contracts, and they don't honor them. They get all their money up front, and then cry and whine about being underpaid. They turn down millions and say that they are offended by the offers. It's as if they all forgot what it was like to be un-rich. I feel that the honoring of contracts is just like a contract you or I would sign. That's why it's a contract. Sure, money goes up, and people get raises. But it's just that all too often, these guys want extraordinary raises, whereas we get a small percentage. If they do well, they should get a raise, but what they typically ask for is ridiculous.

I believe that a lot of the time, if you want to get the true superstars, you have to take more chances than the Bears do with high-risk/high-reward guys. I'm willing to overlook all the problems a guy has (as long as they are relatively minor), when the guy is destroying other teams on the field. It hasn't been too long ago that I mentioned on the other board that it was a distinct possibility to get both Randy Moss and Terrell Owens. I was roundly criticized for even the thought. I guess that's how many fans feel. I, however, am willing to sacrifice all for a Super Bowl and a great team. I could care less years from now if someone said, "Yeah, but you guys had a team full of thugs and douche-bags." Just like Cowboy fans of today, and their multiple championships to celebrate, I am pretty sure I wouldn't care.

Deserves to be paid amongst the league best what?! Return men? WRs? I admit that I absolutely love Hester as a player. He's possibly the most dangerous guy in the game. HOWEVER, he still doesn't know where to line up on offense when he's in there. So, other than a return man, what can the Bears judge him as? What can they pay him as? To me, this screams of a pampered athlete with an asshole agent renigging on a contract yet again. It's funny that they always want to renegotiate halfway through the contract for some obscene difference, but the team's can't dump them without losing out. It's also funny to me that the majority of the contracts are front-loaded so that the guys get the majority of the "X million per year" contract, but want to renegotiate after the big years are behind. This is the kind of stuff that makes average joes like me hate athletes. Honor your contract. If you want a raise, fine...here's your 3% a year.

Hate it. For as many people think that there are so many holes, to trade up to get Mendenhall would not be that good of an idea in my opinion. Especially if we have to give up the depth picks that would be the core of our draft. I'd much rather get a RB in the 3rd or 4th, and keep the draft picks as is to fill up with depth and other holes.

I'd be shocked if we aren't at least 4-3.

What it should have been if the other picks played out relatively similar: 1) OT Chris Williams - or Branden Albert if someone is going for the upside pick. 2) WR Devin Thomas - This pick shapes the rest of the draft. There should be a ton of talent left, but it's possible a certain position is sucked dry. In this case, it appears that the top-end WR talent is still there. I don't like the way the draft played out for the Bears, but at this point I think Thomas is good. 3a) OG Chilo Rachal - Possibly the best OG in the draft 3b) RB Matt Forte - Solid RB pickup in case Benson drops further 4) OG Mackenzy Bernadeau - I don't mind this pick. Either that, or more OL depth with T Kirk Barton from Ohio State. 5) S Tom Zbikowski - Sure, he has his faults. But to get him in the fifth round is pretty good. He is a smart, tough player, and could very well start over most other guys on the team. At least he understands angles and tackling. 6) QB Dennis Dixon - This guy pretty much had the Heisman wrapped up, and was a slightly slower Vick, but with more accuracy before the injury. This is a HUGE upside pick. 7) This is purely for depth. DT, DE, WR, maybe another OL is what I'd go for. Whatever floats JA's boat. On a side note, I wouldn't mind it terribly if the Bears picked up Dennis Dixon in the 5th, and then grabbed Jacob Hester in the 6th.

Aside from pretty much the first round, I hate it. I will be upset with Felix Jones in the second when there is Forte in the late third. And I won't even mention the fact that Chris Johnson is better...and several other better values later. I will be upset with JD Booty in the third when there is Josh Johnson, Brennan, Ainge, and Dixon still out there. I would despise this draft.

I wouldn't mind seeing him in a Bears uniform. He's tough, has a good head, hits fairly well, and can be used on special teams - specifically as an up-man when teams try to pooch short to avoid Hester. The one down side, however, is that he's slow. He just doesn't seem to have the top-end speed to keep up with the WRs. If he bites the wrong way on a move, that's 6 for the other team.

Why is he obviously not going to be a starter or a change of pace back? I believe it's incredibly short-sighted, and possibly a bit on the hater side of things, to assume that he can't fill the change of pace back role...let alone the possibility of becoming an every down back. Surely isn't his blocking, receving, speed, or moves...because he rivals or exceeds the other RBs in each department. You pose a good question, however. IF the Bears draft a RB in the first 4 rounds, Wolfe may well be squeezed on carries. I happen to think that drafting a RB in the first 4 rounds is a mistake in most cases (considering the Bears' draft this year). Why do you think he is so ill-equipped to run up the middle? Is it his size? Or is it the limited action he saw last year that has shaped your opinion? IF it's the action last year, then surely you realize that nearly no RB could gain yards effectively between the tackles with a broke-down, ineffective OL. Give him an OL that actually blocks efficiently, and I believe Wolfe (and just about any RB who has the talent to make it to the NFL) can do well. So which is it? Do you dislike having Wolfe on the team because: 1) He's a little RB 2) He didn't produce last year to what you expect, and wouldn't with more action 3) He doesn't fit the system/coaching

Welcome back Grouchy. We are nearly all frustrated with how the coaching staff develops and uses players. Benson on a sweep! Wolfe up the middle! Muhsin Muhammed running deep! Where is Olsen in the red zone? Why is the screen so impossible to coach and execute? Etc., etc., etc.

Let's also not forget that they are things that the first round talent Cedric Benson greatly struggles with. Benson makes nearly nobody miss. Benson falls down with very little contact; he takes less for his size than Wolfe has shown. And he's not a real reliable blocker.

Which is just one more reason why I don't like the idea of drafting a RB in the first four rounds, let alone in the first. Fix the OL and the entire offense will look better. Cedric Benson will look stronger, AP will look like more of a workhorse, and Wolfe will look faster. The WRs will look more dynamic and the QB will look more accurate. Fix the OL.

Agreed. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. And every year someone makes a wild move that throws off the course of the draft. And it is my opinion, that if this move played out in real life, it would go down as one of the worst trades and then picks in draft history. I believe every single draft "expert" would criticize the move (not that I really respect them). As an experiment, I went to three different Broncos message boards. To be quite honest, I was shocked to see some people thinking of going the RB route in the first. It validated the pick, somewhat. However, many more Broncos' fans criticize the move, pointing to the same thing I have mentioned. To each his own, I guess.

Also agreed. However, if he were given the 20-25 touches a game that Benson is supposed to get being the number one back, there is no doubt in my mind he would be more effective with this current OL. He'd find more room, more holes, more cutbacks, and more opportunities. And, eventually, he'd break some huge plays. Benson? 3-4yards, fall down. If the Bears upgrade their OL, then I think you have to give Benson a different look. He'd hit the 2nd and 3rd lines of defense enough to wear them down, and demoralize them...and that's when the effect of a running team takes over. Of course, I think if you put Wolfe behind a good OL, he'd put up good numbers too...but it wouldn't have the same effect.

Agreed. And if you look at the first video I posted, he has the ability to bounce off of would-be-tacklers. What he doesn't have the ability to do, however, and very few RBs in NFL history have this ability, is to bounce off one or two DT/DEs in the backfield. You gotta let a guy build up some steam. Warrick Dunn has never been a bruiser. Hell, I'd say he isn't really all that effective between the tackles. HOWEVER, he is dangerous enough if there is a hole there to squirt through and make a big play. I believe that Wolfe has this same ability, tenacity, and strength...especially after looking at his college highlights. Which makes the selection of OL in the first, and possibly second, that much more important and necessary.

What's your point? The entire purpose of a mock draft is to play it out, debate the picks, and see who may get a steal. When you throw in a completely unbelieveable pick, it throws off the entire course of the draft. Also, since this is a Bears message board, and I respect the group here more than most other boards/fans/mocks, I would expect a little more realism.

I respect the fact that you have reasoning behind it, but it is nonetheless a horrible pick. Maybe I was a bit harsh earlier when I said worst ever. I think that the Herschel Walker madness between the Vikings and Cowboys may have been worsee (in hindsight), and the entire draft for Ricky Williams was also worse (in hindsight). Either way, drafting Mendenhall when they have Henry, Bell, and Young is just insane...especially when you admit to targeting a DE and Ellis was still on the board. As for Cutler...I didn't think it was anything like this. Plummer never has been a very good QB, or a very trustworthy QB. Drafting Cutler was a pretty good move. Not to mention the fact that they were not nearly as stacked at QB then as they are at RB now (essentially three Grossman's at RB). Last but not least, I wouldn't say I "jumped to conclusions". I reacted to the selection. If I had said something before you made the pick, then I would agree that it was jumping to a conclusion. This is just disbelief at, no offense, a horrible pick when considering their team needs..

I can see the possibility of it happening, and wouldn't fault JA for making the pick. Everyone would give him a virtual BJ in the media for pulling the trigger on the "number 1 QB in the draft". HOWEVER, I would prefer he waits. There are several QBs who have serious potential (Johnson, Dixon, Brennan) and can be selected later. Personally, I'd love to see any of the three selected with the second third round draft pick or later.

By that reasoning, Warrick Dunn would have never seen the field either. When is Wolfe supposed to "prove" something?! Every time he got in the game, and wasn't run directly up the middle, he made plays. He juked, bounced off tackles, found holes, and made good runs. Aside from that, why can't he be compared to Dunn?! They are similar in so many ways...who else would you compare Wolfe to? How else does one make a comparison or guess about his potential other than comparing him to someone nearly identical in every way? If anything, he can ONLY be compared to a player like Dunn. So, what you are saying is, you have complete confidence in our coaching staff, and their ability to choose starters? I think just about everyone on this message board would have an argument to this idea considering the Bears' confusion at QB, RB, WR, OL, DE, S, and OC. By the way, the reason was probably that the coaches had some loyalty to AP, and they wanted to see if AP could handle the load full time, and because Wolfe was a rookie. When Wolfe got in, however, he did better than Benson or AP.