DABEARSDABOMB

Is Ronald Curry available? I really like him as well. I don't think he is a #1, but he's a pretty darn good target either way. I also should indicate it seems as if I'm one of the only people that believes Berrian is fully capable of being a #1 wide out in this league (note that I'm not saying he'll be a Chad Johnson, but he's good enough to be a #1 in this league).

Berrian has indicated that he may take less money to stay in Chicago but I also think he wants to know what the future is going to be in terms of the offense (in regards to the coaching staff, the qb, and the front offices commitment to bring better talent in on the offensive side of the football).

The one thing I wonder is what happens if a couple top notch candidates end up being available, would the Bears reconsider keeping Turner when Cameron is out there (and Cam runs a system I really like). I understand that firing Cameron is because Parcells is going to want his people in there, but he really really got a raw deal.

I agree on Manning. He took off when McBride took over as the 2nd CB and Manning was allowed to just worry about one position (safety).

I'd give him borderline #1 money but not full fledged #1 money. Still, I think the drop down to Berrian and any other Bears WR compared with Briggs to Williams is way more extreme (and this is coming from someone who believes Briggs may very well be the best OLB in the league).

I think I saw enough in Tommie late this season to say he's going to be healthy and that they should extend him this off-season as opposed to waiting any longer. This problem means the end to Briggs.

I really like Porter, but I also really like Berrian. Heck, I'll be honest, I'd love a core with both of those guys because you'd have some massive speed on your receiving corps (and Moose would make an oustanding slot guy with Hester being utilized a ton in what could be 4WR sets). Of course financially the Bears won't make that happen as it would cost a fortune to sign Berrian to his deal and than sign Porter. Still, if the Bears lose out on Berrian, Porter is where I'd go and you could make a case that Porter is a better player than Berrian. One difference is Porter has had attitude issues, hence his one reception in 06 (when him and Moss were busy whining/arguing with the coaching staff).

I think it is dissapointing that Alex Brown does this but I really can't blame players in this case because they sign a deal that is good on there end and they can't really opt out of it, but the owners can opt out 24/7 if anything happens to such player. However, I don't think Brown has played to the point where he should get an extension, nor do I Think he will garnish the value it would take on the trade market for the Bears to be willing to deal him. Alex Brown should have started this season (we all saw how superior he is to Anderson the past couple weeks) and I just hope the Bears realize what they always had in Brown and stick with him (Brown and Ogunleye are complete ends and while Brown may never get 15 sacks in a season, he'll get good pressure, tips, play the run outstandingly, and make plays).

The defense was as big of a reason for the complete collapse as the offensive problems. In fact there were many games where it was the defense the failed to stop 3rd down drives and ended up blowing leads. Bottom line, sans the special teams unit, this Bears team didnt' do much right until the final 2 weeks of the season.

Welcome aboard and good post.

Do you mean Peterson and Wolfe?

Pretty sure the Bears will bring in another back to compete with Benson/Peterson. Unless of course the Bears feel that Peterson is starting material and they will go with a competition involving Benson/Peterson (however, given this years season long performance I don't see that happening). The one thing I wonder is when it comes to Wolfe, how are the Bears going to prevent teams from just knowing it will be a passing down with him in (eventually they are going to figure out that for the most part he's been an ineffective rushing the ball, although amazing receiving the ball).

I understand the uses of Gilmore because he is a stud when it comes to blocking as a TE (so in certain situations, especially non pass, going to pound the heck out of it, I don't mind going with Gilmore). However, I also think we need to do a lot more with Olsen lining up as a TE and than splitting him out wide as a wideout (I think if the Bears really move Olsen around, you'll see so many more mismatches out there and when you factor in having Olsen and Hester eventually on the field at the same time defenses could really have some trouble; Especially if the Bears improve the line and have a top 12 rushing unit, which I think they are capable of having next year if they have a good off-season).

Yeah, I wonder if Jones ends up getting less money than someone like Michael Turner because Turner has more "potential", since he hasn't started and some team is thinking they have a serious sleeper who will be a stud (based on the production Turner had backing up Ladanian). Jones on the other hand, eventually got replaced by Marion Barber (whose a darn good back, imo) and maybe some teams will not pay him big money since he isn't a star, yet he is still a very quality back who would give the Bears a boatload of depth and give me tons of confidence (plus it would allow the Bears to completely forget about taking a RB in the draft, since you'd have Peterson/Benson/Jones/Wolfe).

With the 14th pick there should be a good offensive lineman aboard and if the Bears did want to go for a QB one of Woodson/Brohm/Ryan will definitely be around (not that I'm implying they should take one of them). There is also a chance that a team at 18 or 20 may be interested in moving up to get there guy as the Bears probably would be able to get a similar graded tackle at 18 through 24 or so that they could get at 14 while picking up an additional first day pick. I think we'll have a better idea of the Bears plans pretty early because I think they'll be agressive in FA (plus I think BB will either be resigned before FA begins or probably be gone because he'll end up getting a ton of money on the full open market). I feel similarly about Briggs. It will be tough too because the Bears will have two key FA players in house and at the same time likely will be going hard after one of the major free agent olineman (and being able to land that many guys in a close span when the FA market begins March 1st is going to be really difficult).

Weird, I'd have thunk that the Lions two wins over the Bears would have pushed us ahead of them and given us the 14th pick. I hope we win the flip and get the 14th pick.

I would not be opposed to bringing in Julius Jones from Dallas. I think he is starting material and has started in this league in the past and would be able to compete with Benson with Peterson being used a ton in potential split back sets (where you have a major threat in throwing the ball to Peterson).

I'm sure Angelo and Lovie have already talked about this. As soon as the season was over (ie, when the team was eliminated), the front office and coaching staff had to begin planning for next season and my guess is they had an idea a week ago of whether Ron would be gone or not. They've obviously decided to keep him and I'm going to hope that the move pays off. The Bears definitely need to upgrade the line and potentially the skill positions on offense and I'm going to be interested in seeing how they go about that this off-season.

I figured i'd be the only one picking the Jaguars. I honestly think the Pats go to the superbowl but I have the Jaguars as the only team that can beat them. I think the Jags with a physical, run oriented attack, could go into a cold New England and really take it to the Pats. In the NFC I have the Packers finding a way to make it to the superbowl and honestly I have no idea who I would pick in the Pack/Jags game, but I'd be leaning towards the Pack because I'd love to see Favre win one and than go out on top (meaning next year, the Bears can forget about the Pack, LOL).

McGowan is a decent backup and I have no problem with him filling in when a guy is down but I definitely don't want the Bears counting/expecting him to start anywhere on the field next season (except on special teams). I like the way he plays agressive and how hard he hits but I'd like to think there are better options out there (in terms of starters).

The main objectives for Ron Turner this off-season (or the new offensive coordinator) are going to be to devise more ways to get Hester involved on offense (mainly just so he can be out there for a lot more plays and that way teams will have to eventually play off him allowing some of those gimmick reverse type plays to work), an improved rushing attack (and this will start with a new oline) and a way to devise more schemes that utilize the Bears TE's (Olsen/Clark).

I would agree, but he had an amazing season and his team didn't even make the playoffs. Brady has an impact with a ton of touches and really has more of an impact on a game. Same with tons of offensive players including LT, Willie Parker, Brian Westbrook, etc. Player of the year for the Bears...probably, in the league, not by a long shot, imo.

I think it is pretty incredibly what he has done in a two year span. I also think it is amazing how good of field position the offense seems to get at all times thanks to Devin. I really am excited to see what he can do when he's on the offensive side more and just how much better our offense should be next season in general (hopefully they can take advantage of that short field position and eventually force opponents to kick to Hester more often). Bottom line is that this was a pick I ripped from the get go, but there is no denying the type of game changer Devin is and I truly hope he can keep it up for an extended period of time. I also want to give a boatload of credit to Dave Toub and the rest of the guys on special teams because the Bears do an incredibly good job of blocking on the returns.

I don't buy into the curse crap, but I doubt Hester would be on it. My guess is you see Romo on the cover.

So are we locked in at the 15th pick?