madlithuanian

How I long for an agressive D! Bend don't break doesn't work all that well. You find it breaks often enough regardless. I'd rather go all out and get burned than sit back and watch them pick us apart. But I say that now!

Parcells is a guy who the exception. He is a brilliant football guy that can do that. Most other don't have his vision and skills. I do like your pitcher analysis. But if you've got a pitcher that everyone's figured out his pitch, how useful is he? I am in complete agreement with you on Babich v Rivera... And I somehow think if Rivera were left to his own, the D would have even been better.

Good points Grizzz... I'd be curious to hear your take on the VP candidate since she's in your neck of the woods. I'm personally not in the norm...as I am a moderate Libertarian. But I don't like Barr, so I'm leaning towards Obama. I can forgive him for being a Sox fan (as I side with the Cubs) But since we're all Bears fans, I harbor no ill will!

You've gotta know when to hold 'em, when to fold 'em... I think a 4-3 D can be played without it being cover 2. The drastic switch to 3-4 isn't needed. I really don't think the Lakers are running the same triangle the Bulls did. Maybe I'm wrong. I'm not sure the analogy is really that strong. You go to the well until it runs dry...it appears dry for us right now.

What agressiveness in camp do you refer to? Were there super secret practices that the media and crowds weren't privvy to that had guys tackling without pads and using knives and maces? Unless there were some serious CIA operatives working at Hallas hall, I think most every reporter out there confirmed the country club camp... Unless you think those reporters are on the payroll putting up more smokescreens to confuse our opponents!

So true Chile...but this coaching staff seems hell-bent on playing that scheme no matter the cost.

Dang...this has been the case since 8/21? That's like 2 weeks... And why am I not surprised there's no real info out there...

As much as I'd love Forte to become the next Walter...I do not think today's game allows for it. The only guy on pace to get near Sanders, Payton or Smith is Tomlinson, and he's already showing signs of wear. It's a different league now. Especially with the increased use of multiple backs. I suppose anything is possible...but I'm not betting on any RB to do that, let alone ours.

Yeah...I didn't get the need to stockpile late round picks...

Agreed. I thought we should have paid Faneca, brought in Michael Turner and then would have had a far freer draft... I love Forte, so maybe things work out for the best. But we could have landed about any player at QB, OL or WR...or still could have Forte even if we passed on Turner. I just see those picks at 1 and 2 could have been something better had we not had so many holes that could have been filled some in FA. Please don't get me going on Grossman...barring something miraculous, he needs to find a new home.

Because the Bears do not seem to be proactive other than in re-signing our own...

Fair enough! I guess I'm still on the fence of wther the team is cheap/unconcerned/etc... There just doesn't seem to be an urgency in bringing top level coaches into the mix. Or even bringing some top level players... Maybe the term I'm looking for is pro-active. It seems the team is always reactive.

Oh I still do. I can buy nfo's agruments, but I just FEEL the management is cheap. I just don't feel the desire for ownership to make a big splash and make this franchise elite.

We do? I'm certian we can say it about Urlacher...but I think isn't there some question still on whether Briggs is truly elite or elite because who he plays along side? I recall many here questioning exactly that when he tested the free market, and thus got a deal that wasn't so elite after all. But besides that...my premise is based on building for the future if injury/etc happen to the 2 we have. And if there is not top tier talent at those offensive slots you mention, passing on a guy of this calibur I think would be a mistake. Again, it's predicated on (for lack of a better example) that Laurinaitis is Merriman, and your OL choice is Mandrich, your WR choice is Mike Williams, your QB choise is Rex, etc... I'm talking BPA...with an assumption that Laurinaitis would be the BPA. I think you're taking this far too seriously... The draft hasn't begun and we don't have a clear cut top ten list, nor do we know where we are drafting. So until then, I like Laurinaitis.

That old site is gone. They changed their URL. Go straight to the Trib, and clickon "Sports". http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/

Is there a clear cut candidate Europe is hoping for? I would imagine it's Obama...but I'm not certain.

Good deal! I swear it's like getting ceell phone...back in the day, I thought it was just a frivolous item, that shold only be used when ou had a raod emergency. Now, I couldn't live without it!

Good ones are easy to come by, sure. great ones are not.

I just disagree on your depth analysis... 1. Jamal might be a good back-up but he is no Urlacher.. 2. Is Briggs only successful because of Url? Has that question been truly answered?

Point taken. Cheap may not be the term. Maybe dumb?

Agreed!

I can rattle off Dick Butkus' stats too. As they are also historical numbers. I need to see Brian play at a good level this season. His surgery isn't a guarantee that he'll be the same old Brian. I saw nothing of that "Brian" in pre-season... I sure hope I see the old Urlacher in the regular season! It's pure speculation... One that I don't want to see, but one that I'd be remiss in not considering as a possibility.

Just more fuel to the fire...

Oh I agree. But with the players the Bears don't appear cheap anymore. I think that's a given based on what we've seen over the past number of years. However, I think the verdict is out on the management. I think the accountant is making the calls right now. He's not necesarily Finks or anything. Something tells me he came at a much better price than a true guru. I don't think anyone would argue that Mikey and Wanny were horrid and beyond cheap...both with the team and the staff. I'm making the case that there is now enough leverage with the GM and coaches that the bears now spend on players. Also, it may have to do with hieghtened media scruitiny. Just a thought... We cut Wanny and ate some salary, but we also then hired Jauron on the cheap. I thnk the need for the GM was so overwhelming, that again a gun was virtually at their heads. I just don't see the ownership outting winning at all costs like many other franchises. I follow your thoughts on the training facilty, plane rides, nice eats,etc... My thought is regarding getting true NFL men for the job. Guys like Parcells are being woo'ed in Dallas, etc...and we always seem to bring in the cheap coordinator hungry for any HC job. Tell me this hasn't been the case even since before Ditka? It seems this franchise is just incapable or uninterested of making a big splash to do what it takes to get this team to be a winning franchise over numerous years. Maybe I'm wrong and JA and Lovie will kick butt this year. But, as I've mentioned before, I'm a betting man, and that doesn't look like a good bet. Maybe "cheap" isn't the right word. But I just see ownership just doing enough to keep things looking bright. To show a glimmer of hope. Not to actually cross the line between also-ran and winner. I'm just irritated by this team at the moment...bear with me. How we've fallen from grace so hard is true unexplicable... and I'm grasping at straws.

Wow! I can't believe you weren't aware of him! He was actually touted this year as a top pick, but chose to go for his senior year. He'll be coming out of college a very solid prospect...