DABEARSDABOMB

Makes sense. Awful.

Re: 09 - 11, how does that compare with the league?

I'm guessing this is probably Trestman saying, I'm not that bad, look at what I can do with Claussen, he isn't that bad. Or on the flip side, maybe Bears brass things Claussen will stink and it will be more evidence as to how bad the coaching was and thus give other teams looking at Cutler more hope that they can fix him? Otherwise it really doesn't make a lot of sense. One alternative theory I have is, Bears think Cutler is going to stick around, but they want to at least send a message to him to really shake him up and let him know his schtick can't continue so that he's more ready to accept a new coach? I don't know, might be grasping at straws here.

Dilfer?

This is surprising. I wonder who is pushing this. I wonder if someone is saying...before you dump Trestman, at least give him a shot with another QB to prove himself or if Trestman has finally spoke up? Would be very interesting to be a fly in the wall at halas hall.

I absolutely agree 1000% with what you are saying. I think it is hard for that coach to make that decision purely based on film and without having worked with the QB, though. I think the only real decision a coach could make is say look, I like his tools but he needs to work on x,y, and z. I can talk to him up front and get a gauge but until we go through an off-season and a season together, I won't know for certain. After this year I will know and in the meantime I don't buy into any of the QB's in this draft anyway blah blah blah.

It seems to be that if anything, we should have taken more of a hard line stance and done the same to Briggs / Tillman / Peppers and basically cleaned house so the new coaching scheme had their chance to put a stamp on things without veterans already placing blame. That seems to be what a lot of experts would think would be the right approach. To me I think there is a fine line between that and you need to know the character of those leaders and how they respond to change / handle change and also the personality of the coaches and track records of winning players over, etc, to better make that decision.

I believe if you trade him, you benefit from the cap perspective (12M in savings) but also I think we get a legitimate cash savings, which would be huge in the eyes of the McCaskey's and might help influence them to spend some more money on a coach / front office tandem, etc.

You really couldn't make this stuff up.

Rumor out of Washington that Snyder is interested in Cutler and is considering swapping picks and sending us Kirk Cousins for Jay Cutler. I presume he is tired of drafting QB's and figures that would give the Skins a bit more stability. For us, Cousins is someone we could at least utilize a bit while we use the Redskins pick to draft a franchise QB (if think he is in this draft). Obviously no deal is going to be made now, but man that would be awesome!

Honestly...I don't know that I can give the Bears that much grief over Urlacher. I think in hindsight we should have done the same thing with our other veterans too. I think having Urlacher around might have only been worse (unless of course he was entirely bought in to the new scheme, etc). I also will still point out that no other team in the league thought he was worth it as well. Love the dude and he was clearly a great leader and controlled our lockeroom and did amazing things but when it is near the end, not much to be done. We probably could have handled the seperation with more class though.

Personally if that is the case, I really don't see why they don't do it. I think the problem is, you fire him and than turn the show over to Kromer (can't do that). You turn it to Tucker? Can't do that. You turn it to Joey D? Can't do that. Only thing you could do is turn it to someone like Hoke as a reward for his loyalty (but is that really a reward). When everything is on fire, you probably just stick it out till the bitter end of the season. But I certainly have no problem doing it now...at least than we don't have to worry about the Bears coming out and shocking the world and winning two consecutive games and the McCaskey's getting cold feet.

This is not a good sign for Emery.

I think our coaching dysfunction will actually help us in that category as I think other teams will be convinced it is a Bear issue and that they can win with him. Plus, if you are a team with a good defense and solid offensive playmakers, picking in the middle of the 1st round, you really don't have great odds at hitting so have to look at the FA market. Jay will most certainly be a guy that can be moved. Not saying we will get some great picks for him but I would be stunned if there wasn't a taker for him, not in this league.

I agree with you on all points and I certainly wasn't saying Tucker is good. He isn't but out of all of our coaches, I will at least give him some credit for actually getting some effort out of our players. It really says something that the guy who has headed up our franchise worst defense is the best of our primary coaches. Pathetic.

Agree on Emery but I don't think anyone would complain if Emery was let go.

Absolutely. On a sidenote, if somehow Emery is saved, you have to think it would be in his best interest to make an impactful hire and probably a safer hire (vs. going way outside the box on Trestman) which again, would point to the logic behind an aggressive push at Harbaugh (or dare I say it Dungy / Cowher / Gruden). I just don't know if any of those other guys would be interested. It really would depend on their views of our overall talent level any one of the guys mentioned bring with them an instant culture change, which is really what we need.

Where literally the entire board agreed on something? When it came to other coaches / players / personnel moves, we always have a healthy debate. I think this is the only time in the history of the site, I can remember everyone being 1000% on board with a move. The way I see it...if we are all on board, than maybe, just maybe, Bears ownership would be too. PS: I'm an optimist, so no matter how bad the situation for our franchise, I figure you got to find a way to somehow see humor in this mess! This humor happens to be talkbears harmony during the holidays!

I actually give Tucker credit. Defense, as bad as they are, always seem to be trying. I think a lot of that has to do with fact you have more young guys who are really playing for something, but you learn a lot through that and I will say the one thing that makes me willing to give Emery a benefit of the doubt (I haven't said I would give him that) is that each of his draft classes appear to be deeper and better. This pats years looks like its got a chance to be something special (from an overall depth perspective..we'll see what Fuller ends up turning into).

Please be true..please be true!

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2014/12/16/gab...g-hasnt-worked/ Fantastic article with a lot of insight he has collected from his contacts in the organization. I highlighted a couple key quotes below but this really is a must read and Gabriel hits everything right on the head. I keep saying, a lot of stories are going to come out when the Trestman era ends and they aren't going to be flattering.

Yeah; Forte looked done as well. He even sounded done when you heard his postgame quotes. I really can't blame the guy either. We have one of the best all-around backs in the league and are not taking advantage of it.

Doesn't name names but clearly Marty B was one of the few guys on the offensive side of the ball who was playing hard and playing with price. That much was evidence. He went on to mention he wasn't going to name names but that the guys in the lockeroom know who he is talking about. Obviously you can presume he's talking about Jay but I think it likely goes beyond that and goes to other guys on the offensive side of the ball, including coaches, etc. We really are a dysfunctional mess and to be frank it is probably better off that way as it really is the only way we will see some form of significant change this season (vs. having to go through all of this mess again next year).

Oh I think we agree...I think the "Are you kidding me" was in reference to talking about Cutler's stats (not your post but overall). I thought Gruden was hillarious...he ripped us to shreds and than Tirico's sounded like he was choking when Gruden called for the Bears to make a QB switch? Tirico was like, John, are you serious, the Bears should bench Cutler? It was classic. I love Chucky.

All I want for Christmas is new Bears management...new Bears management!!! (e.g., president, gm, and coaches).