BearFan PHX

Youre right that if Fields balls out this year, he will absolutely save himself. But right now it doesnt feel like they're still deciding, it feels like they think it aint gonna happen, and thats pretty much where i am now too.

Thanks Stinger - I hadnt seen it written anywhere, so thats very helpful. To me, If Eberflus hugged him, thats a different signal than the one it seems were getting from the press conferences, so naturally im very interested to hear it. And I dont believe it any more or less than anything Im reading too. It's all possibly crap. It's just WEIRD and there has to be a reason?

Well I still want to know whats up with Williams, but i get your point, hes no longer the Chicago bears' problem. And to the rest of whats been said - yup we are screwed.

It's true that any actual conclusions about what specifically happened are all conjecture. But the way the team is reacting is real, and it isnt how they would behave if this was just a health issue. So something is up - but to guess exactly what that is would be impossible right now. All I know is that it isnt just a regular health thing.

Right, so no one (that Ive seen so far) said that Eberflus hugged Williams, or that Williams was even there when Flus got emotional (if that even happened).

not being snarky, really actually just curious - can you find me a link that says that Eberflus hugged him and that Williams was there when he cried?

Here's from an article in the Sun Times: "When Bears defensive position coaches spoke to reporters Thursday evening, they were clearly uneasy when Williams’ name came up. “I’m just excited for the game,” said linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi, who had worked with Williams since 2018 when both were assistants under Matt Eberflus. “My focus is the game. That’s where my mind is right now.” and "When cornerbacks coach Jon Hoke was asked if there were well wishes for Williams given that he said in his statement he was resigning to attend to his health and family, he replied, “Yeah. I’m sure. Absolutely.” Safeties coach Andre Curtis said he was “not qualified” to answer questions about Williams." Where are the "hes been a big part of our team and we are going to miss him" or even "we wish him the best" NO WHERE. And they arent sad they are uncomfortable. Something awful is going on. https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2023/9/21/23884751/bears-dc-candidates-dave-borgonzi-jon-hoke-alan-williams-matt-eberflus-defensive-coordinator

I think a good part of it is that the offense cant make first downs and the defense cant stop anyone, so they get fatigued on defense, and start playing from behind on offense which makes it even harder to make first downs.

lol you made me snort.

(almost) all agree. I wonder though if they were sure Fields wasnt the guy. I suspect they wanted to see what they had with him. I don't think they are purposely setting him up for failure, but i do think that his failure tells them that they need a new QB, and I do think Poles had that possibility in mind when he made the trade with Carolina, looking at the 2024 class rather than what was available in the 2023 group. He may even have thought that there is a good chance Fields wont improve. But i dont think they are holding him back on purpose at all. But maybe Im being naive.

Logically, you're right. There is that possibility. But if this really was a health situation, they'd be clear about that and remove all the swirling speculation that is a distraction. It'd be easy to say "this really is just a health thing, and we wish him a speedy recovery" but they don't say that, and not saying that speaks volumes in corporate-speak. I don't KNOW anything. That is true. But at the same time, I've watched enough corporate statements in my life to be able to read between these lines. It's kind of glaring. There is no way this is just cancer or something. Or let me put it this way - if it IS just cancer or something like that, then everyone at the Bears should be fired for how poorly they are handling this message. At this point the organization is taking actual damage, and it IS their job to protect the organization. That they cant do that is a huge signal.

For sure. I think Wright has been playing well, and the OL hasnt been as bad as reported. I dont love Patrick and Whitehair, but that's because of injuries. I expect some tinkering on the OL too. But the whole team isnt terrible, they may not have gelled yet, and they have holes - like a lack of consistent pass rush - but on paper we are a much better roster this year for sure.

I agree with you about Poles. But Getsy and even Flus are on the hot seat for sure.

Thank you! I was wondering about that. I figured Peterman was going to the practice squad so i was super confused. THis makes sense. Now find one that explains Williams LOL

exactly. a-freakin-men. If youre concentrating on making the reads int he order youre supposed to, and playing robotically, then you gotta start looking for other open receivers. The answer isnt to devolve back into a running back.

we can always count on you for the awesome stats adam, thanks once again. And damn that is brutal.

I dont know how much the Chiefs will win by, but I do know that if they needed to beat us by 24 points to win, they would.

If you notice, everyone now, including Poles in his press conference today, say that Halas Hall was not raided, and say nothing about Williams' home. That's not an accident. Something is up.

So I just read Ian Rappaport's twitter thread on this, and he says that the FBI did not raid Halas Hall, and Peanut Tillman was not part of this etc - excpet he said nothing about whether Williams' house was raided. So far the only person refuting that that I know of is Williams' lawyer. If this was a pure health thing, then why didnt the Bears already know about it? And why the resignation? I really think there is more to this story.

yeah all the (relatively) benign explanations dont really fit. something is up, and I can make guesses, but like Stinger rightly says, I dont actually know crap. But something bad is going on here, more than just a health scare I think. But again, I admit Im guessing.

I agree with this. Leave Wright where he is, developing him is most important.

nope - I have the same (lack of) information that you have. I thought the denial of Halas Hall being raided did not include a denial of his home being raided so I was going with that, but now that has been refuted too, so I have nothing. I hope he's OK. I still "feel" like there's more to this story, but I freely admit I have zero actual information.

It is good that Azumah said it wasnt true. Youre right about players having representatives. But it seems like if it's a health issue, that would have been announced earlier. I fully admit i dont know anything more than anyone else here does - but it sure does smell fishy.

I think the raid tweet on Halas Hall was fake, but it may be that it wasnt a raid, just the FBI took his computer with the Bears agreeing. So not a raid per se? We heard that Tillman broke the news to the Bears brass, so that sounds legal. Then I read here that Williams' lawyer was on the score denying that its legal, but if its not something legal, why is his lawyer involved? Also has anyone refuted that Williams' house was raided? All we know is that this is crazy.

yeah, I guess Bagent will be #2 unless we are in the midst of some crazy secret QB trade?