BearFan PHX

totally agree with all of this. Poles seems to be drafting high character guys, and he doesnt seem to have to be sacrificing anything in the talent department to do it, othert than maybe moving on past Jalen Carter. And with the way Wright played last year, it makes the point moot, because Wright is a monster. I feel like Poles was actually trained under people and a system that understands how to do this, as opposed to some guy playing fantasy football and trying to put together a winner for each year with not enough to do it. There seems to be a PLAN, and all the pieces are falling into place too. Good time to be a Bears fan.

yeah I cant wait to watch it! I think the cameras arrived at Halas Hall today, possibly yesterday, so this all makes sense. I'm gonna be very interested to watch Eberflus' chemistry with the players. He sometimes feels to me like he is nervous, antsy or insecure, but thats in the social settings. It's possible that once the relationship turns to Xs and Os and specifically football things where his knowledge, experience and role is clear that he is more comfortable or alpha. Maybe kind of like the player who is soft spoken and sweet in interviews and turns into a bloodthirsty monster only on the field. I've hoped to see Eberflus more in his professional role, because the behind the scenes stuff made me mistrust his leadership, but when hes ont he practice field and yelling, I might see the side of him Ive been looking for that would make Poles' choice in him make more sense to me. It cant just be calling cover 3, anyone can do that, so Im hoping to see the side of him that i just havent had enough chance to see to bring me around.

probably right, but i think when he was healthy Connor Williams was so much better than these two that if you think he's coming back to form, and the numbers work (to your point) then we would love to sign him. I just dont know when that would be, you dont want to pay big on a hope that he recovers.

I guess they were waiting for the cameras, probably asked to by the league. Both are signed. And Caleb didnt try to change the league after all. That was just narrative from before the draft because he didnt have a PR person countering anything so the stories went wild - probably from teams in the top 5 hoping to shake him loose. Anyway the nonsense is over. We have successfully navigated cutting Fields and drafting and signing Caleb. Hopefully now the business of winning comes front and center. And speaking of centers and fronts, I wouldnt be shocked to see us sign Connor WIlliams, another DE or both.

Williams just signed too - so it was for the cameras. Good

I had sort of thought they might sign together for the cameras. It doesnt really mean anything until Saturday, so they still have some time, and I still believe this is not going to be an issue, but if we get past Saturday and he is still not signed, I'll worry then.

^5 I do think that's a fine standard for inclusion.

lets hope!

agree, and given their high likelihood of being very valuable to us, the Bears are also unlikely to hold out for the small things that could be at issue. 1) Fully Guaranteed contract (Jayden daniels and a bunch of first rounders got this, bears can give it too) 2) offsets for being suspended due to poor off field activity (this is the Roquan holdout issue, again I dont see it here) 3) offsets if the Bears cut the player and then they sign a big deal somewhere else so that they dont double dip, and we get cap relief (if we cut them and they are still worth big money, someone would trade a 7th or better for them instead making this moot) so yeah, on both sides holdups would be silly. Plus, winning will bring a LOT more money to the players than holding out can. I think it's hard knocks playing with us.

of course until anything is signed sealed and delivered, there is the possibility of concern. whether it's a player or an offer on a house etc. but I would argue (as have others like AZ54 and Mongo), with no real information, that Odunze being unsigned means it's more likely they are waiting for hard knocks cameras to sign their deals. Its not the only scenario that fits the data, but I think it's the most likely. So, like you, I wont be concerned unless this stretches into a holdout. On the bright side, maybe Tyson Bagent or Austin Reed have some Brock Purdy in them? Imagine the haul we could get from Pittsburgh for Caleb? (kidding!!)

You never sign an injured player early, because you want to be sure they come back to form, and the longer you wait the more team friendly a deal you get. Im not predicting whether he will sign Connor Williams or not, but Im saying if he does, it's not surprising that he didnt do it yet. I dont think signing (or not signing) Williams will be about whether Davis or Jenkins can play. It's about increasing talent to the roster. When you see a clear upgrade, if you can swing it financially you do it. For example, if a top left offensive tackle suddenly became available on a team friendly deal for some reason, it wouldnt matter whether Braxton Jones is improving or can be a good starter this year. So yeah, you have plans, you agreed to go to the dance with Cindy Regular, but if Brittney Cheerleaderface asks you to go after, you dump Cindy. I mean in the real world you dont break your word of course, but in building an NFL team, you make the best moves you can and dont look back. No one is promised anything other than their contract.

I dont think that signing the 2nd best C in the league would be second guessing his moves, especially when Bates can compete at guard where there are questions on both sides? It's more a matter of when Connor will be ready, and what kind of deal he needs.

all of this, especially Odunze makes me think this too.

I think that's right.

well reasoned. I agree that would be the move. Of course it all depends on what they think of Bates and Connor Williams' state of health and continued ability. But from what we know now, I totally agree.

I agree with you about us not signing Bakhtiari, and possibly resigning Ngokoue. I do think there is a decent chance we sign Connor WIlliams though. Especially if we have increased concerns about Davis and need bates to fill in there. Dont forget Williams is a true stud at center, and when you can add those kind of players, you dont let stopgaps stop you.

true. I dont know if he has accuracy off of the tee?

I dont think its a negotiating problem, I think Hard Knocks wants to film them signing, just like the league asked us to wait 5 minutes before making our #1 pick. I will be shocked if Caleb holds out.

I do hear some writers resurrecting the old "Caleb is selfish and wants to break the system" stuff, and i think that's an old narrative that proved not to be true when we finally met the guy in interviews etc. I feel like because Caleb didnt have an agent (and doesnt need one) he also didnt have a PR person, and so for a few months before the draft rumors flew wildly unchecked and unanswered. But now, now that we have "met" him, I think those narratives are shown to be nothing more than negative clickbait, and stories planted by lower teams hoping to wiggle him loose from us. I would bet strongly that Caleb wants to play and win more than he wants to fool with his unchangeable rookie deal? That doesnt mean that Stinger is wrong about his second deal though. He's gonna want the moon. And if he's earned it, we should consider ourselves lucky to pay it. Hopefully Caleb can bring us at least one Super Bowl victory on his rookie deal. Two would be better LOL

Daniels' contract in Washington is fully guaranteed. I think they will give that to Caleb too. Theres really nothing for them to argue about. The Bears should just give it, and they still get a bargain for the next three or four years, so I agree with you.

if it is that language, the Bears can just give on that point. It only applies if we cut him in the first four years. He cant leave, we'd have to cut him. Even a trade wouldnt trigger the language, just a straight cut and then he signs with someone else. I mean if Caleb wants to go, all a team has to do is offer a 6th round pick for him and wed take that over cutting him. Youd have to imagine that no one wanted him, but then someone DID want him, and paid him enough that itd make a difference to what we wouldnt pay. So youd need to have a scenario where 1) we agreed to cut him 2) no team offered even a 7th rounder (to pick up his rookie deal! theyd actually pay more if they dont trade to sign him) 3) they then paid him large enough money that the cap offset would matter to us it's such a tiny niche and so unlikely. I think it's much more likely that Hard Knocks wants to film the contract signings.

our back 7 are stacked, and we have Sweat and hopefully Dexter as impact players. We still need one more pass rusher, but this defensive roster is pretty damn solid.

I agree with all of this. The reasons to meet Williams are: In case he falls (not likely) In case a trade is available start your book on him for free agency in 4 or 5 years scout the player you want to go into the draft knowing everything, even if it's not likely, and you want to open your pro personnel file on the guy too Im watching episode 2 right now and there's lots of good Caleb and Rome stuff youll love.

Theres only three things they could disagree on in the contract. The rest is mandated. 1) When they get paid their money 2) whether we can recoup if they get arrested and cant play 3) whether they can double dip salaries if we cut them Honestly, if any of those is a hold up Id blame the Bears. Lots of players get all three their way. I did hear a rumor that they asked them to wait until Hard Knocks is filming to sign their contracts. That sounds more likely to me. Just like they asked us to wait 5 minutes before making our pick for TV. Also, if Caleb was trying to change the rules, he'd have an agent to do that. The reason he doesnt have an agent is that there is almost nothing to negotiate. ANd to the $100M or whatever the going rate for the best QBs is when his second deal comes along, if he's earned it, we will be lucky to have him and pay it.

Theres only three things they could disagree on in the contract. 1) When they get paid their money 2) whether we can recoup if they get arrested and cant play 3) whether they can double dip salaries if we cut them Honestly, if any of those is a hold up Id blame the Bears. Lots of players get all three their way. I did hear a rumor that they asked them to wait until Hard Knocks is filming to sign their contracts. That sounds more likely to me. Just like they asked us to wait 5 minutes before making our pick for TV. To the rest - YES - I cant wait!