Official 2010-11 NFL Thread

[Quin]

I'm amazed we try for Boldin at that price.

 

Would have liked to get Rolle too, that would have been a really good offseason.

[lostfan]

Why do some of you guys keep up this "McCaskeys are cheap" meme? Really that hasn't been true since about the 80s, maybe early 90s. Fact is Mike doesn't do much, if anything, regarding management, and Virginia doesn't do anything at all except collect dividend checks. In the last decade or so where Phillips has been running the team and Angelo has been GM, they haven't been known as bank-breakers like Jones or Snyder, but that doesn't mean anything especially seeing as how the Bears don't pull in as much revenue as those teams (and, really, Snyder is not the example you want to compare yourself to). Other than that they pretty much run the team like any other NFL team does, i.e., a business. No, the Bears don't usually go out and go after the top of the FA list every year and spend big money but how many times has there been a big name available, where the Bears had the cap space, and there was a clear position of need that management wanted to fill at the time (I will give you OL, but this is more because of a fundamental mistake on Angelo's part than a lack of willingness to spend money)? How many other teams actually do this? It's not a good way to run a team and you get saddled down with big contracts you can't get rid of.

 

Where there has been an opportunity/need to spend money and the Bears have it, they do... see some of the FAs they've given healthy contracts to (Muhammad, Tait, Miller, Clark), also see all the massive extensions they give to guys like Urlacher, Kreutz, Harris, Briggs (not an extension but that's just a means to an end), Tillman, Vasher, Hester, Cutler... actually I thought trading for Cutler at great cost and risk to the franchise, and subsequently extending him, would've put that idea to rest for a while since it directly contradicts that statement, but I guess not. Also if I recall correctly they ate some of Benson's contract, and probably Darwin Walker's too. Sometimes they even get very close to the cap because they like to pay out their bonus money early in the deal so they can cut players later if they want to - if I'm wrong on the Benson/Walker statement this is probably why.

 

I realize that me saying this isn't really going to have any effect, and I also realize that the signing of Peppers, like the trade for Cutler, won't change the fact that people will continue to blurt out "the Bears are cheap" when it doesn't have much basis in fact next year, as if these things never happened. I'm not really defending Bears management here, there are plenty of reasons to criticize them and there have been some bad decisions made, but not because they've passed up numerous opportunities to immediately make the Bears better and just chose not to because of the price tag.

Edited March 6, 2010 by lostfan

[lostfan]

I cant remember a time the Bears got out the company credit card like this

Last year. Hi, my name is Jay Cutler.

[lostfan]

You know, if all of this winds up going down, it's only going to take a few months again for people to start complaining about how cheap the Bears are.

They signed him and I bet come next year in FA when the Bears inevitably pass on someone the fans want, they will still say this.

[lostfan]

Honestly, the Bears should've been in on Boldin. Given the needs of the Bears starting WR > Backup RB. They should've traded for him IMHO.

 

Overall, if you're a Bears fan, you have to be happy. I just think they should've concentrated more on skilled offense.

Upgrading at WR would be nice especially another tall one) but it really isn't something that's a critical need. The need for depth, or, well, non-s***ty players in general on OL far outweighs that.

[DBAHO]

The best way to get success in the NFL though is to build through the draft and not overspend in FA.

 

This off-season the Bears can afford to do that because it's an uncapped year, so they can give out contracts with so much up front money and guarantees etc., but if you look at the successful teams over the past 10 years etc. the majority of their talent has come through the draft.

 

Obviously you brought up Dan Snyder Lostfan, and the Redskins are a perfect example of why you shouldn't overspend in FA. Jerry Jones used to be like that also, but he finally figured out that developing your own talent to fit your systems is the best way to go about it.

[lostfan]

The best way to get success in the NFL though is to build through the draft and not overspend in FA.

 

This off-season the Bears can afford to do that because it's an uncapped year, so they can give out contracts with so much up front money and guarantees etc., but if you look at the successful teams over the past 10 years etc. the majority of their talent has come through the draft.

 

Obviously you brought up Dan Snyder Lostfan, and the Redskins are a perfect example of why you shouldn't overspend in FA. Jerry Jones used to be like that also, but he finally figured out that developing your own talent to fit your systems is the best way to go about it.

Yeah, the bolded part is why the Bears have been failing, not because of what they do in FA.

 

I just brought up Jones because everybody knows he has a s***-ton of cash, not necessarily that he spends it. At the end of the day everybody has the same salary cap (in the past I mean, not in the uncapped year coming obviously)

[Dick Allen]

Why do some of you guys keep up this "McCaskeys are cheap" meme? Really that hasn't been true since about the 80s, maybe early 90s. Fact is Mike doesn't do much, if anything, regarding management, and Virginia doesn't do anything at all except collect dividend checks. In the last decade or so where Phillips has been running the team and Angelo has been GM, they haven't been known as bank-breakers like Jones or Snyder, but that doesn't mean anything especially seeing as how the Bears don't pull in as much revenue as those teams (and, really, Snyder is not the example you want to compare yourself to). Other than that they pretty much run the team like any other NFL team does, i.e., a business. No, the Bears don't usually go out and go after the top of the FA list every year and spend big money but how many times has there been a big name available, where the Bears had the cap space, and there was a clear position of need that management wanted to fill at the time (I will give you OL, but this is more because of a fundamental mistake on Angelo's part than a lack of willingness to spend money)? How many other teams actually do this? It's not a good way to run a team and you get saddled down with big contracts you can't get rid of.

 

Where there has been an opportunity/need to spend money and the Bears have it, they do... see some of the FAs they've given healthy contracts to (Muhammad, Tait, Miller, Clark), also see all the massive extensions they give to guys like Urlacher, Kreutz, Harris, Briggs (not an extension but that's just a means to an end), Tillman, Vasher, Hester, Cutler... actually I thought trading for Cutler at great cost and risk to the franchise, and subsequently extending him, would've put that idea to rest for a while since it directly contradicts that statement, but I guess not. Also if I recall correctly they ate some of Benson's contract, and probably Darwin Walker's too. Sometimes they even get very close to the cap because they like to pay out their bonus money early in the deal so they can cut players later if they want to - if I'm wrong on the Benson/Walker statement this is probably why.

 

I realize that me saying this isn't really going to have any effect, and I also realize that the signing of Peppers, like the trade for Cutler, won't change the fact that people will continue to blurt out "the Bears are cheap" when it doesn't have much basis in fact next year, as if these things never happened. I'm not really defending Bears management here, there are plenty of reasons to criticize them and there have been some bad decisions made, but not because they've passed up numerous opportunities to immediately make the Bears better and just chose not to because of the price tag.

 

 

I still think Michael plays a lot bigger role than is being let on, but you really can't call them cheap anymore. Obviously with a salary cap, there were limitations with the types of players they could sign. Once the cap is lifted, which team spent the most money? They now have quite an extensive list of some very highly paid players. Briggs, Urlacher, Peppers, Cutler, Harris. I think Robbie Gould is in the top 3 or maybe even #1 for highest paid kickers.

 

They still need a safety and another offensive lineman pretty badly. I'm sure these areas will be addressed be it in the draft or opening the checkbook again. I think Bears fans should be really excited about the prospects of 2010.

 

 

[maggsmaggs]

What about going after Kevin Walter, he's a big possession receiver for the Houston Texans, he's a UFA, and is highly underrated. Oh and he's also from Lake Forest. Would be a great fit IMO. He's not a #1 but I don't think we'll need one if Martz spreads the offense around. Aroma, Bennett, Knox, Hester, Iglesias, and Walter would be a solid core for Cutler to work with. I do agree before we make any moves we need to shore up the OL (mainly LG), whether that's trading Olsen for picks we can then use to draft one or signing a FA. Shore up the OL, sign Kevin Walter, wait for a bargain in FS (fingers crossed for Atogwe) but Sharper should suffice. That would be a great offseason.

 

He gone...

 

The Texans' five-year contract with Kevin Walter is reportedly worth $21.5 million total, with $8 million guaranteed.

The package takes a step down from Nate Burleson's (five years, $25M with $11M guaranteed), but possession receivers make less than vertical threats, so that was expected. A strong argument can still be made that the Texans got a better deal. Walter has been way more consistent than Burleson.

[Kyyle23]

Last year. Hi, my name is Jay Cutler.

 

Making a trade for a quarterback still on his rookie contract is not the same as dropping 120 million dollars on 3 players. Sure. they extended Cutler, but it is still a reasonable contract.

 

And I am not saying the Bears /McCaskeys have been cheap, Im just saying I cant remember a time that they went out and acted like the Cowboys on the first day of FA signing. the only thing close I can remember is the Ted Washington/Robert Traylor offseason

[MattZakrowski]

Last year. Hi, my name is Jay Cutler.

 

...which meant they wouldn't have to pay a 1st round pick for two straight years.

[fathom]

So Boldin met with OUR team officials?

 

Yes, last offseason

[EvilJester99]

Its too bad the Bears couldn't have gotten in on the Antonio Cromartie deal instead of the Jets.

[iamshack]

Yes, last offseason

So the trade was agreed upon, and our team officials met with Boldin, presumably to hammer out an extension, and they walked away after the meeting saying 'scrap the entire deal,' and that was the end of it? And then they proceeded to give their blessing to acquire TO?

 

Bizarre.

[fathom]

So the trade was agreed upon, and our team officials met with Boldin, presumably to hammer out an extension, and they walked away after the meeting saying 'scrap the entire deal,' and that was the end of it? And then they proceeded to give their blessing to acquire TO?

 

Bizarre.

 

Had nothing to do with the numbers Boldin was asking for. It had everything to do with his attitude. I know it's crazy in relation to TO, but the person that told me this would know.

[lostfan]

Making a trade for a quarterback still on his rookie contract is not the same as dropping 120 million dollars on 3 players. Sure. they extended Cutler, but it is still a reasonable contract.

 

And I am not saying the Bears /McCaskeys have been cheap, Im just saying I cant remember a time that they went out and acted like the Cowboys on the first day of FA signing. the only thing close I can remember is the Ted Washington/Robert Traylor offseason

True, I can't either, but I also don't know of any time where the Bears had a player of Peppers' caliber come available at a position they had a hole on at the time. Maybe Alan Faneca, but he was well into the wrong side of 30 and the Bears already had a lot of old ass linemen that year (plus, Angelo is clueless with OL). They went after Archuleta and Randle El before Washington swooped in and paid them ridiculous money but those were just the best players available at the time, not top-tier players, plus they (stupidly) traded for Archuleta anyway.

[nitetrain8601]

Had nothing to do with the numbers Boldin was asking for. It had everything to do with his attitude. I know it's crazy in relation to TO, but the person that told me this would know.

 

I find that hard to believe. If it wasn't for the numbers and the Bears already had agreed to a trade, what could he have possibly said at one meeting that would cause them to scrap a deal for a top 5 WR? Especially agreeing to then go after TO, which they didn't from the outside looking in. It doesn't make sense.

[Balta1701]

I find that hard to believe. If it wasn't for the numbers and the Bears already had agreed to a trade, what could he have possibly said at one meeting that would cause them to scrap a deal for a top 5 WR? Especially agreeing to then go after TO, which they didn't from the outside looking in. It doesn't make sense.

If anyone thought he was a top 5 WR right now...he'd have been traded for more.

[Chisoxfn]

Who's slated to be the Bears RT ATM (I assume Williams is moving to LT after the release of Pace).

 

IMO, the Bears need to bring in at least 2 new O-Lineman in order for Martz's system to have any chance at being successful.

 

Doubt you'll get a starting RT in the 3rd round of the draft, but getting a C or G there is certainly possible.

Williams has been the starting LT since about Week 13 and he did a good job over there and got better every week.

[Chisoxfn]

I think later on this off-season the Bears will look into grabbing Owens.

[Kyyle23]

I dont have a problem with Owens as long as it is 1 year. Its the second year that Owens is anywhere that he starts causing trouble

[southsider2k5]

So what do the Bears do now for the O-line? Do they try to steal someone in the draft, or do they chase another FA?

[nitetrain8601]

So what do the Bears do now for the O-line? Do they try to steal someone in the draft, or do they chase another FA?

 

Draft. It's supposed to be a somewhat deep class with good, but not studly prospects. Bears would be smart to go after Owens later on.

[knightni]

So what do the Bears do now for the O-line? Do they try to steal someone in the draft, or do they chase another FA?

Chad Clifton's about the only decent UFA OT out there and he's getting older.

 

http://www.footballsfuture.com/freeagents.html

[jenksycat]

The McCaskeys cheapness means we keep lubbie and his crew of idiots around for another year instead of eating the money and starting over. You waste another year since the team will still suck ass, then you have your lockout and then you start rebuilding in '12. Spend some money in FA to appease the majority of your fanbase even though your team will still fail.

 

Chicago Bears: The Cubbies of the NFL