madlithuanian

Agreed on all counts!

I now am looking at the comparison differently...and it makes sense now. Yeah, I watched that game...and thought it was fixed. But I also thought I was too involved rooting for Arvydas Sabonis (who happens to be Lithuanian). My thoughts are now back to it being fixed. Yep...the problem with the NBA is they don't make the ref's transparent...you can't ask them questions really. Nor have you seen a huge mandate come from Stern saying star players won't be treated differently, games will be called the same whether it's the 1st minute or last minute of a game, etc... It leaves too much to be contemplated by conspiracy theorists... Especially when the results seem to point to ratings favorites,etc...

You know he won't name names...so asking him to do it is silly. The guy could very well be full of it. But there does seem to be some merit to it. It is from PFT,etc...so take it for what it is. But it does lend some weight to the overall "CB isn't liked in the locker room" theory. The incentive would have been to get TJ the starting spot without giving up carries to a guy that has no heart...that no one likes. Do I agree with it...no. But, I sure as heck understand it. And, having played in high school, I can tell you that this kind of junk went on then...and from I hear, the pro mentality isn't all that much different.

Given that...it still is a good thing.

I could be wrong, but I thought he showed decent signs of being a good CB. Maybe my recolection is off... But he certainly wasn't injury prone. Oh, his off field issues are huge! But, I think he's viewed as a better athlete/player than Benson. Especially at CB, where good ones are very tough to find. Thus making him a more attractive risk.

I see how you're trying to connect the dots...but I don't think you can quite compare. I do think there is a cheating difference. One, an individual takes performing enhancing drugs that will skew only his numbers...and still may or may not make a difference in the outcome of a game. Albeit still cheating... Then there's refs who literally do or do not make calls to truly determine the outcome of a game. One is a far more blatant and despicable form of cheating... that is the refs. It's also because they are placed in such a trust position. Players, in some eyes, just need to do whatever it is to win. Ref's are supposed to be objective. I do think it's happening to some degree. What that degree is, I can't say... But, there just seems like there is too much fishy-ness in the NBA. I'd like to think that home teams just get better calls, as is the case in most sports. But some of the allegations just seem to spot on to believe it's pure coinicidence. I really don't think the league is in on it. Or maybe at least the top brass. Maybe a lower tier league official is doing it to get a bonus,etc... Greed led to it regardless. If a ref is doing it on his own, he's getting paid. If the league is doing it, it's to generate more revenue. It's always about money.

That's the best arguement for him I've read! It just seems like a reach...

Indeed!

But Pacman performed on the field...and in a position that's pretty hard to find FA's...

Very true... Our coaches need to utilize him better than running him up the middle in out own end zone...

First off...glad to have you on board ElmhurstMarcus! I also pretty much agree with you take... The only change would be if we added a vet. Then I see (let's just say Kevin Jones for example) as the Deuce role...with Forte getting more and more involved as the season progresses. Wolfe still playing the Reggie role...

http://www.profootballtalk.com/category/rumor-mill/ BEARS DEFENSE WASN’T FOND OF CEDRIC BENSON Posted by Josh Alper on June 11, 2008, 10:40 a.m. Cedric Benson may be convinced that the police in Texas have him in their crosshairs but his problems with uniformed groups didn’t end when he crossed the state line. According to Jay Glazer, Benson was not well-liked by his teammates on the Bears either. He went on Dan Patrick’s radio program yesterday, via MJD at Yahoo! Sports, and recounted a tale from the 2006 training camp. Thomas Jones and Lovie Smith were feuding and some Bears vets felt that Benson was getting handed the starting job prematurely, an idea they couldn’t get behind. “Hell, one year they tried to hurt him to make sure that Thomas Jones was going to be the starter. That’s how bad it was with that team,” Glazer told Patrick. When Patrick asked if he got the information from a Bears player, Glazer responded “No, it wasn’t a Bears defensive player. It was about ten of them.” That’s enough to drive a man to drink his sorrows away.

At least he's got the cheerful smile down for once!

You just made my point! Butkus partoied his butt off...and didn't get into trouble! And yes, it is different times. But that's also something Benson needs to account for. We live in a fishbowl and all eyes are upon him. Especially after what just happened weeks ago! I can say we're better because I think Benson is not good. I never said definitively... But I do think we are better without him. If you've ever played at any level, bad character guys soil a locker room. Especially bad character guys that don't perform on the field. We're not talking about Tomlinson getting a DUI here. He looked nice in camp in shorts...but it's different in pads,etc. The guy has not shown me anything on the field that makes me think he'll be exceptional or even decent. He's completely unreliable regarding injury issues alone. The dude hasn't made it through one season without some kind of major problem. I can't rely on that. I want better. We placed our bet with Forte instead of going after someone like Michael Turner. So be it. Le'ts see what he's got. For the record, I would have traded Benson for a pack of bubblegum last week. At least we now all be chewing gum. Ask nfo, I've been pining for ridding ourselves of that cancer for quite a while... I was ready to eat my crow if he would have done something positive for the team, but it looks like no fowl in my diet regarding Benson. I personally would have preferred we traded him before the draft for a 4th rounder and then drafted Mendenhall...but that's another story... I follow where you are...but I think you're basing too much on potential rather than history. At least with Forte, there's still potential. Legit potential. And hope.

I hear ya...Dillon's not a superb choice. Nor would I plan on paying him much nor relying on heavy lifting. Henry's potential for another drug bust also makes me scared as well. I just still disagree that we are worse off... I was still not sold one Benson and his "new" shape,etc regardless...it nice without pads. But the guy is unreliable not only off, but on the field. I have no problem with venting! That's why most of us go here! There's nothing you can do about it...and it's not like it was Hester or Tommie Harris getting vcut. It was a guy that performed well only every now and then. I hate to say it, but I'm looking at this season as a quasi rebuild anyway. I don't see losing Benson and losing that much. We still have a suspect O line, very suspect QB's, very suspect WR coprs...and a coaching staff that can't figure out how to utilize 2 TE's... I guess I'm looking past this upcoming season as what we will have in place in 2 years. I want a good showing this year, but I'm very weary. I've lost a ton of hope in our coaches and their ability to adjust and grade talent. I follow...I'm just not real sure what Benson has shown other than when there's a big hole , he can hit it. To me, there are a bunch of RB's that can do the same. I do disagree in comparison to Tank. At least with Tank, I got the impression that he really liked and wanted to play football. I just don't get that with Benson. Hey, you and I want the same thing...we want the Bears to do well and win. I think they actually have a better chance of overall survival cutting out the cancer than dealing with it with a band aid.

Sorry...obscure reference. The dude looks like a rat. Literally. ...it's the teeth.

"I'd love nothing more than to win the Heisman" That pretty much means, he would want nothing more than the Heisman. That means he'd rather have the Heisman than world peace, finding alternate fuel sources, ending hunger in the world, curing AIDS...and winning the national championship.

I'm foaming at the mouth just thinking of it! You know we'd get at least 2 fumbles!

I like hard partying guys, choir boys, low keys guys...whatever...as long as they perform on the field and do not get in trouble with the law. I'm not looking for BOy Scouts, but nor am I looking for thugs and morons. Butkus kicked butt and never had any off-season issues. You wanna call him a choir boy? Singletary kicked butt and WAS a choirboy. Any problem with that? The bottom line is that Tank and Benson were booted for basically being stupid. Stupid people bring the whole team down. You want to be in a foxhole with moron if you're in the military? While not quite the same, it still is a team concept. Tank didn't really wow me last year with Dallas, and I don't think I'm going to go too far out on a limb and say Benson will wow me with whatever fool team he lands on. I think we are a bertter team without those guys. Tank opened space up for other players. Benson will open space up for someone else as well...or at least enable to more guys we currently have. WInning is everything...but I think bad distractions like Tank and Benson prevent you from winning. While they do have some football skill...skill alone isn't everything. Not to mention, there are other guys out there that have even more skill. (Alexander and Henry are both proven backs...for instance.) Far more proven than Benson.

You think Benson is better than Dillon or Henry? Granted, I'm grasping at straws a bit with Dillon, but if you read the full post, you'll see that my intention is to just bring a vet in for one season and mentor Forte while he gets his NFL legs. You can pine for Cedric all you want...because while you might not like the Henry or Dillon or Alexander choices, they are at least viable options. Benson will never again be seen in Navy and Burnt Orange. I could care less about choir boys either. Steve McMichael and Jim McMahon are among my personal favorite Bears...but when they were on the team, they performed and didn't get caught partying. Having the Bears staff insist that one guy is named starter give me about as much hope as the Captain of the Titanic saying it's just an ice cube... Ever heard of the concept of addition by subtraction? I think that this could be that case.

I see that... And I do agree...that would have been the most preferred statement. Regarding Dillon, I only want him for one season to mentor Forte. The bet is still on Forte...but DIllon could offer some OK number, especially near the goal line. Spell the rookie enough and then be off on his way after the year. And live in Chicago and eat at Gibson's...

My top 6 bets in order are as follows.... 1. Houston - could be worth the chance 2. Denver - Ratahan thinks he can turn turd into gold...but just brought in Pittman 3. AZ - I can see it...not sure enough about how the HC would like it 4. WAS - Something tells me they will try anything once 5. Detroit - if only to get more info about the Bears 6. SD - They just unloaded Turner and need someone to spell LT. WOuld almost work in similar fashion to the Bears w/ TJ

I hear ya... However, I just think unless the Bears pick up a vet...the "starter" will be AP. But I then see Forte getting more and more carries that by week 6, he's the starter. The wild card is Wolfe I think. He could be used by coaches better and maybe prove to be a huge value like Dunn. But that requires good coaching decisions and I just doubt that's a possibility for us.

Well, at least he went fast and hard once!

Point well made. We know we're dealing in dollars and cents here, but their are other hidden costs with having character problems on your club.