AZ54

That might be the best comp for him. He's not extremely agile (as Floyd is) but he has very quick feet and the power to get an edge on a blocker, and then around them. For me he's just a quicker and stronger version of Pernell McPhee.

Sadly I have a full time job and a family so I'm not going to research case law on Workman Comp as it relates to NFL player claims. Every single case is different so expecting some standard answer as to WC benefits paid, number of years, etc. is not realistic. Some things to know: Much of what is paid in disability claims has long been established by the courts. Lose a finger at work and you'll get whatever the going rate is ($10k maybe $20k now). Lose an eye and the payment you will get is also somewhat standardized. In general those things don't stop you from working. If you become permanently disabled in a way that prevents you from working (i.e. going blind) you will get workmans' comp (WC) checks the rest of your life. What is being debated is how much should be in the check. You won't get full pay when on disability. If I remember it correctly somewhere in the articles it said generally payments would be 2/3 of your paycheck. Let's just use that number. Now there's a middle ground where you are disabled enough that you can no longer work the same job (NFL RB) but you can hold other jobs like UPS delivery driver. Say you were a UPS delivery driver ($75k/yr) and lost both legs and now you can only work at a lower paying office job at UPS ($40k/yr). Illinois law says UPS must pay you some of that salary differential as part of the workers comp. You won't get full pay but maybe 2/3 of the difference. Difference is 75k - 40k = $35k. Per the law you will receive WC differential pay of 2/3 of $35k = $25k annually. On top of your new $40k salary you will receive WC $25k for a total benefit of $65k. Current Law: For an NFL player who can't play RB anymore the wage differential from say $10mil/yr to $40k/yr is about $10mil/yr. The Bears will pay that player $6.6mil/yr until he's 67 years old. New Law: Injured player gets $6.6mil/yr until he's 35yr old, after which he'll get $25k/yr just like you or I would. To answer questions 1) the WC check an NFL player would get after the age of 35 would be similar to what any other person would get. If the player graduated as a nuclear engineer and could no longer do that work then their WC check might be higher than the football player who graduated with a leisure studies degree (as many players did when I was in college). 2) The WC check and NFL player gets up to age 35 will include about 2/3 of his projected NFL salary. Keeping it simple, if he were making $10mil/yr then he'll get $6.6mil/yr until age 35. 3) WC checks are paid by companies. Small businesses will likely pay premiums to an insurance company so they can spread the risk (tough to handle a big payment when you have 5 employees). I'm not sure about this, but I think for small companies some states also setup a fund they can pay into. From my experience large companies are almost always self-insured and pay claims directly off their bottom line. It's cheaper. It is the same with health insurance. They will likely pay a company to manage their WC claims just like they pay a health insurer to manage their health care claims. Blue Cross or Aetna never pay my medical bills, my company does, they just write the checks with the company name on it. 4) Regarding premiums, if you are self -insured as the NFL teams surely are then there are none. You just pay out claims. No claims equals more profit so they have incentive to keep players safe. 5) Even self-insured businesses could set aside or allocate money for claims even if there are none. The money just goes into an account they don't touch except for future claims. It helps to keep the WC payments stable between good years and bad years. 6) A company with lower WC claims and higher profits is actually good for the state and tax payers. Many people cry about the fact the NFL doesn't pay taxes but that's because teams pay the taxes themselves as their own profit loss center. If the Bears make more profit then they pay more taxes to the State of Illinois. Most citizens will think that's a good thing. 7) Injury settlements, which you seem to think are bad for players, are actually largely standardized based on WC case history just like injuries for any of us losing a finger. It's fairly settled case law and that is why players and their lawyers negotiate it a bit but quickly settle. You can waste a lot of money paying lawyers to sue but probably won't get a dime more, might get less, and then have to pay that lawyer from your winnings. Unless your state is running it's own insurance company for small businesses, which I'm not sure of, then there is no tax payer money involved in WC regardless how long the claims last. Even then the states aren't that stupid, if there is a bad year and they need more money they will raise premiums. If a business goes bankrupt then certainly there will no longer be a WC claim paid and the individual could then fall back on disability paid by taxpayers. Another business will never pick up someone else's WC claim. Therefore taxpayers have an incentive to help businesses like the Bears stay in business.

Stinger was right. It would appear Palmer, Fitz, and Arians are all tied together for one more run at it. That's still a plus for us because there is no way I can see a team so intent on winning now using an early pick on a QB. The first 3 rounds should net a player who starts or helps in some way.

Throw in the fact the Jets just hired Cutler's old friend Jeremy Bates as QB coach https://www.newsday.com/sports/football/jet...acks-1.13082874

Garoppolo will cost both picks and a somewhat significant bonus on a new contract. I don't think he'll get what Cutler will earn per season. If he's on the Bears I certainly hope not. Osweiller's contract is not the benchmark for a 2nd contract on an unproven QB, it's the benchmark for failure. Tyrod Taylor may be a FA as well but it's hard to say where teams see him vs. Cutler. The Houston Texans will be in the mix for a vet QB. They have many pieces in place on their defense and offense. Making the playoffs without Watt and without a QB they have to think if they can just get average play at QB they'll be in a very good spot. They have just $25mil in cap space and re-signing Bouye is a priority for them. That will take at least $10-12mil. What if they offer a 3rd Rd pick and Jonathan Joseph? I saw that last year the Patriots tried to trade for Joseph so he might be someone they are willing to give up in order to free up some cap space, $6mil. Again, it's a deep class for CBs so they can feel confident about finding a replacement.

Every time I read something from PFF I read it as if Cris Collinsworth was saying it, and it puts it all into perspective.

http://www.walterfootball.com/nflrumors/freeagency 2/1: Carson Palmer has moved his family out of Arizona and sold his home. - Mike Jurecki, FOX Sports Palmer hinted at retirement, and this is an even stronger sign. Palmer could still return for one year, but no one should be surprised if he hangs up his cleats. -Walter 2nd source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/...out-of-arizona/ I said it before but Bruce Arians does not have the time before he wants to retire (or has to due to health issues) to rebuild with one of these rookie QBs. If Palmer is done he'll want someone who can play now. He's got two options: Romo and Cutler. Romo's contract carries a cap hit of $24mil and two more years on the deal, which precludes a trade. Arians can wait until he's a FA but then Romo can make his choice and that could well end up being Denver. Plus Romo has serious back injury question marks. Our man Cutler has much friendlier cap hit of $16mil in 2017 and $17mil in 2018. What will Bruce Arians give us for Jay Cutler? If Pace can get a 3rd Rd pick out of it then it totally changes his draft options. Trading our 2nd and 3rd Rd picks is enough to get back into the late 1st Rd should he like one of the QBs there (Kizer?). Trading both 3rd Rd picks can net another 2nd Rd pick where there is likely to still be some very good talent on the board: That could be 3 picks in the top 50.

What do layman's Workers Comp rules have to do with a change in the law regarding professional athletes? The law will still pay athletes permanent disability, should they need it, as equally as it would to you or I. Here's the text of SB12: http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/100/SB/PDF/10000SB0012lv.pdf 16 For accidental injuries involving professional athletes 17 that occur on or after the effective date of this amendatory 18 Act of the 100th General Assembly, an award for wage 19 differential under this subsection shall be effective for the 20 expected remaining duration of the employee's professional 21 sports athletic career. As used in this paragraph (d)1, 22 "professional athlete" means an individual whose employer is a 23 professional athletic team that is based in Illinois, 24 including, but not limited to, any professional baseball, 25 basketball, football, soccer, or hockey team based in Illinois 26 and who derives the majority of his or her income from playing SB0012 - 34 - LRB100 06318 KTG 16356 b 1 athletics for the professional athletic team. The expected 2 remaining duration of an employee's professional sports 3 athletic career shall continue until the employee reaches the 4 ageof35orforaperiodof5yearsfromthedateofthe 5 injury, whichever is later, unless the employer or employee is 6 able to successfully prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, 7 that the expected remaining duration of such employee's 8 professional sports athletic career has a shorter or longer 9 duration.

Here's some chatter on Kirk Cousins...just not for the Bears: http://www.walterfootball.com/draft2017.php "...it's being speculated that Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch will go hard after Kirk Cousins and Jimmy Garoppolo. I can't imagine Cousins leaving Washington, but Garoppolo could be dealt, and Shanahan previously said that he likes him a lot. The No. 34 pick in this draft should seal the deal. " Right after this statement (in his mock draft) he now has us taking Trubisky. I agree, there's no way Washington can let go of Cousins so they won't let it happen. But this Garoppolo thing is very interesting in light of the Bears being reported as ready to go after him.

No point talking about a player you won't have a chance to sign. Berry might be in that same category.

I like White in the open field. Hogan's limitations were completely obvious in the Super Bowl when someone actually decided to cover him, as opposed to the Steelers cover 3 zone.

I'm answering your question that was posed in two threads.... Or those other stars on your team inflate your stats. It's a little easier to get coverage sacks when you have 1st and 2nd Rd CBs/S playing behind you. You see less double teams when there are other talented DT/DEs around you, or a top 10 pick at MLB right behind you. -------- The combine will be important for separating these two. Both of these players have very good feet I think Thomas is a little quicker than Allen. I do think they are a little bit different players. Allen more inside, Thomas more outside but both have the skills to move around the front. Thomas at 280lbs moves very well and he can play LDE. From what I've seen he can do the same things on defense that McPhee does for us but probably be a bit better working inside as a DT. I think Thomas is quicker than Allen. Allen can handle the inside work better, or for more snaps, than Thomas but has good enough movement to get some work outside. --------- In reference to a team trading up for Allen I don't see it happening because I don't think there's much of a dropoff from Allen to Thomas. That's if there is any drop off, which may also be scheme dependent for the teams drafting them. If you add in the shoulder surgeries then long term reliability is a concern for Allen and should drop him a bit. Is that reliability risk someone a team trades up to #3 to get when they might very well wait and draft Thomas?

One analyst puts Thomas ahead of Allen. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2690513...-big-board-more

I don't have any data to support this but seems to me big trades into the top 5 of the draft are usually driven by one of the big 3 positions: DE, OT, QB. The problem is finding someone willing to trade up that high into the first round, which is very expensive in terms of picks. This is a deep draft at several positions and it's hard to say a team can't just stay at #8 or #10 and get a comparable player, or grab a very good talent at another need position. Every team in the top 10 picks has multiple needs so to trade up means they give up drafting a second starter with their 2nd Rd pick. Is it worth it to trade up for Allen when Solomon Thomas might be there at your pick? Adams vs. Hooker? Trubisky vs. Kizer vs. Watson? Want a CB...grab anyone in the 1st and you're in good shape. Nobody is coming up to #3 for an OT/TE/WR/RB/LB in this draft. Garrett would draw a ton of interest but if we did that we'd be stupid. It's possible we might find a trade partner in a team that really wants Adams but I'm not sure teams will find moving up to #3 for a safety to be a great value, especially if they think Peppers can grow into the role. This might happen with teams that are just behind us with picks 4-6, maybe as far back as Carolina at #7. After that its very expensive. OTOH it's a draft very deep in DBs, Hooker will still be available and his surgery is not that risky. I just don't see Adams as a player driving the trade market.

Between all the injuries (Goldman), suspensions (Freeman), he had little competition for this award but he is still well deserving of it. In fact even moreso because he was often the main threat for an offense to stop and he still produced. We need to use some of our cap space to sign him long term this offseason. http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1...9b-214afc006dd2

A few weeks ago I scanned a Patriots message board looking for insights on Garoppolo. One thing was obvious in the thread, most fans know Brady is not the QB he was a few years ago. Comments ranged from his deep ball isn't so deep and accurate to the fact he isn't nearly as mobile as he used to (and that was never great). He's still got the sharp mind and can read a defense like a fox but he's not at the top of his game. Patriots have more cap space than we do. If fans can see Brady's skills tailing off so can the coaches. There is every reason to believe if they felt JimmyG were the next HofF QB, or at least a Pro Bowl potential they'd be giving him a new deal this offseason so he'd stay around until Brady retires. Or they'd be easily getting more than a single 1st Rd pick for him. So that means JG is likely an average QB, one that they can find in any draft, or already did find in Brissett. I still see more potential in either Trub, Kizer, or Mahomes, and I definitely like Watson's pedigree over all of them. They each have a learning curve that is 12-24 months. JimmyG is more ready to play now.

I had no idea Illinois had any law like this. Basically a pro athlete can still makes millions after an injury even if they can work in other fields. Apparently the athletes and their union want these million dollar payouts to last until they are 67 years old. The Bears are saying professional careers, and thus professional career earnings, end at 35 years old therefore that is when the workers comp salary-offset benefit should end for any disability. I agree with the Bears. . http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2017/02/03/dem...mp-bill-passes/ Under Illinois state law, injured workers can claim disability benefits known as a “wage differential award,” a calculation based on two-thirds of the difference between the average salary they could earn pre-injury, and the average salary they could earn in “some suitable employment or business” after the injury. Most permanently injured workers in Illinois can claim compensation benefits until they’re 67 years old. However, legislation sponsored by Illinois Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) would end workers’ compensation benefits for professional athletes when they turn 35, unless they can prove their expected playing career would last longer than that.

Say it ain't so! A month before all the real talk begins and we're the front runner willing to give up the farm for Garoppolo? This is far removed from Pace's style in the last two off-seasons where we knew next to nothing of his offseason targets, at least until about a week before FA started. Therefore I tend to agree with others that we're either driving up the auction price early so people get out of the bidding (not likely) or we're hoping that our "strong interest" makes other's get in and commit early. If Pace's real target is a draftee and he can help either Cleveland or SF (more likely) trade for JG all the better. Things I think I know: Arizona: Palmer might retire. Bruce Arians wants to go back to retirement but with a Superbowl ring. He thinks he's got the roster to compete (true). There is zero chance he wants to go forward in 2017 with any of these rookie QBs. If Palmer is leaving we should expect AZ to be all in for Romo. If that fails, do not be surprised one bit if Arians makes a trade for Cutler. He wants a QB who can threaten a defense with the vertical passing game and he's got a defense that can cover up some of those INTs, which they did for Palmer many times. Job one when Arians landed in Phoenix was finding his QB and he went hard after Palmer. I don't view JimmyG as a fit with what Arians wants to do. A trade for Cutler also means the team can use early draft picks on players who can contribute this year. That's significant for a playoff caliber team that might lose Calais Campbell and Jefferson, in an ideal draft to replace both. Cleveland: With two picks in Rd 1 Garrett is too obvious a choice for them to pass up. They are likely to go QB with their 2nd pick, or at the top of the 2nd Rd. If they were willing to go through last year's disaster they will wait for their QB next year. No trade for JimmyG, grab a 2nd Rd QB to give a glimmer of hope to fans. SF: no clue. New GM who has never made personnel decisions, new HC who is working in Atlanta. They both will have time to find the QB and so might view next years QB options as the best move. In the meantime they can acquire a legit blue chip prospect in the first Rd and a solid player in Rd 2. Don't completely rule them out when it comes to Cutler although that's likely a post-cut and post-draft decision. JimmyG could be a solid option for Shanahan so if we're really interested they could be our main contenders. Jets: Like Chicago there is a bit of desperation setting in here. Drafting another QB after so many failures, and in this class with no player ready to start in year 1 will not help the GM or HC. They will want to pursue Romo, he'll want to stay away. I won't be surprised at all if this is where Cutler ends up. He's good enough to get a team well over .500 if they have a good defense. If the Jets use their draft to focus on players who can contribute in 2017 then they might buy themselves a couple more years. A trade for him means they can walk away from Cutler whenever they want to. No way Belichick trades JimmyG here. Houston: Another landing spot for Romo? Maybe. Not a lot of cap space with $25mil (need to sign Bouye) but I'm sure they could find a way to make it work if they really want to. I think this could be a legit landing spot for Cutler. A trade for Cutler is likely best for them especially if the Bears eat the roster bonuses (not sure if that could work). Again, excellent defense and they just need a guy to be good enough to fit the ball into Hopkins hands on his bad routes; or go deep to FullerV and Cutty has the arm for that. Trade for JimmyG likely means handing over another big bonus to a QB after failing last year with Osweiller. Super risky! Buffalo: Another new coaching staff. Is Tyrod Taylor out? Good defense, some pieces in place on offense. If they move on from Tyrod I could see Cutler landing here as well. I could see them grabbing a QB in the 1st Rd too although at #10 there could still be some excellent prospects for them to consider. Fournette? No way Belichick trades JimmyG here. Denver: Romo, Romo, Romo. They can get one more good shot at the Superbowl with that defense if they can get their offense back to respectability. Elway knows that's not happening with Paxton Lynch or Trevor Siemian at QB. Cutler is not an option. If it's Superbowl or bust for Elway then JimmyG is too much risk. I don't view Glennon as much of an option for any team. Tyrod Taylor would be and any team interested in Cutler would likely view these two as equal options albeit with different talents and negatives on the field. Taylor will command a signing bonus, perhaps similar to the amount JimmyG will get. That money usually equals more commitment. I'm gonna need some popcorn in March.

Ouch and he ran that well in the CFB playoffs with a hernia? How fast is he when he's healthy? I agree Pace won't go this direction. I've been back and forth the last couple weeks between Hooker and Adams but yesterday I finally settled on the fact that Pace will want the higher floor and the immediate production and versatility Adams offers. Hooker is tantalizing considering the need for INTs but he still has some learning to do. Adams walks in day one and he's ready to play. Considering that most NFL plays are within 10 yards of the LOS that makes Adams the better value. I think both will be Pro Bowl players during their careers but for different reasons (INTs vs. TFLs). Despite all my blather about taking the QB with the 1st pick I think Adams will be our pick. Need and talent match perfectly. Pace waits to see which QB falls and trades up into the late 1st Rd, or takes Mahomes in Rd 2. Our defense is already performing near top 10-15 when healthy. Add the right FA piece at CB, Adams at S, rookie CB in Rd 3, and maybe more depth at OLB or ILB and we should be a solid top 10 D, if not challenging for top 5. We'll still have Callahan and LeBlanc for NB and outside depth. A 3rd Rd rookie and Hall for backup CB. Banks...whatever he decides he wants to be but he and or Hall could challenge Porter.

Pace has signed Josh Sitton for $7mil/yr at the age of 30 (Just saw him in the Pro Bowl) Jerrell Freeman for $4mil/yr at the age of 30 (Bears leading tackler almost double any other Bears defender) Tracy Porter for $4mil/yr at the age of 30 (Aug birthday) (Bears best CB even playing injured) Zach Miller for $3mil/yr at the age of 31 (Bears best TE) The youth movement is great for the future but to ignore the value of veterans who are starting the backend of their careers is wrong. The veterans he has signed shows he's not blind to that fact and their performance versus many of the younger players certainly backs up the argument. I think Pace will acknowledge that this offseason, at least with a few FA signings. I agree that over spending for big name players beyond the age of 30 is something we need to stay away from, at least if it requires a huge guarantee we can't get out from under. In this case I'm talking about a guy who might make as much as $1.5-2mil/yr, in a time when the average NFL contract (simple math - cap divided by #players) is about $3mil/yr. Nsekhe has been a career backup so he should have low wear and tear on his body. If he's good enough to challenge either Leno or Massie as starters then he should be on our radar. I can't vouch for him being that good, I was hoping someone had seen him play this year. If he is a player who can buy us a couple years to find and develop a good young prospect at OT then that's a good deal IMO.

Scanning around for tidbits of info and came across one comment from a message board where they liked Ty Nsekhe as a FA signing. Said he did pretty good when filling in for Trent Williams on the Redskins. Tweet from Junior Gallette: https://twitter.com/JovaisG/status/797842366040313856 "Ty Nsehke Would start Left Tackle on 80% of teams in the League so he's ready but it won't be easy against a Top tier rusher in Everson" Trent Williams gives him some praise here as well: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2...s-2-0/89217218/ He's 31 years old but was with the Saints in 2014 so Pace has some familiarity with him. Redskins have the exclusive rights to him but I suspect he'll want to test the waters and see what he can get before signing a deal. We'll have to give him far more than minimum wage but we're a bottom feeder who has to overpay right now. He might be a very good option and there's one thing Fox will guarantee is that he gets a chance to start which he won't have in Washington. Pace could easily work in contract incentives should he earn and hold onto a starting job.

That would be a great draft although I don't see any need for Boulware on this roster. He's a good football player but he's slow and has no fit in our defense or on special teams. Might as well take a flyer on someone more athletic. In the end there would be so much good young talent nobody would remember we picked Boulware.

For those who believe Pace will shy away from players with an injury history early in the draft, keep in mind that Jonathan Allen has had at least two shoulder surgeries and it's rumored there was a 3rd surgery that was not reported. Medical checks at the combine will be very key for his draft status and this is certainly a concern for a DT who is a little bit undersized. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2686747...de-in-nfl-draft

Scanning across some top 50 player lists and anywhere from 13 to 15 of the top 50 players in this draft are DBs. Depending on who's board you are using there's a few more just outside the top 50 as well including players like Melifonwu, Adoree Jackson (seen him as late 1st Rd pick too), or Quincy Wilson. The rankings among CBs are all over the place and have changed dramatically since 31 Dec. Jabril Peppers who was largely considered a top 5 pick now is listed in the late 1st and in some places early 2nd Rd (Jeremiah has him at 33rd overall). Bottom line is that we're in a very good spot picking early in the 3rd Rd if we still want a DB. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300000077...-2017-nfl-draft

http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/fox-has...ohnson-departs/