AZ54

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/footb...0,4882964.story First they say they are content to fill their MLB void via their current roster now they consider luring a retired MLB back to the game. Nothing serious here in terms of negotiations but I wouldn't be surprised if Dallas reached out to Urlacher's agent.

Interesting because I had to think about this for a minute. I've always been a Tillman fan and so I'll stick with him as my favorite. My favorite player through the years has always been on defense but if he continues to grow into his potential Kyle Long may take over once Tillman retires. Another player on the long-term horizon for me is Will Sutton but that is largely because I've been watching him play for years and I'm optimistic about what he can do on our revised defensive front.

I may be an exception but I really don't see Briggs as a leader other than by his performance on the field. I can't find the article right now but he had some quotes recently that made him sound happy that someone else was taking over the play calling responsibilities. He's a quiet guy in some ways who just wants to come in and do his job. He is definitely respected in the locker room but I can't recall many players saying he was a coach on the field always getting guys into the right position ala Mike Brown years ago. Briggs was pretty clear last year that he wasn't comfortable making the calls in the defensive huddle. By popular vote the majority here would trade him for a 2nd Rd pick. Those who wouldn't trade him at all are all-in that we can win the Superbowl this year and see no reason to take a risk. I said initially that if things were looking good with our young LB'ers in training camp I'd accept a 3rd but a 2nd Rd pick would close the deal for me before training camp.

With Dallas losing Sean Lee for the season I'm wondering if anyone would consider trading Briggs to Dallas? There are no rumors so this is purely my fantasy league. We are dealing with Jerry Jones who is known for his desperation moves and Briggs is a natural fit into Dallas' defense. Right now there is no way I'd do it solely because I think we can compete at a high level in the playoffs and there is too much risk in all the young players. However, if SMC and Bostic are looking good (I'll assume DJ Williams is "good") and the coaches think guys like Greene and Christian Jones will be decent backups then I'm open to it. We can't know that now, or rather the coaches can't, so this is more likely a training camp deal. Briggs is near the end of his career but should have a couple decent years left in him, giving Dallas a reasonable ROI if they decide to extend his contract a bit. If the young guys are looking good early in training camp and JJ offered a 3rd Rd pick in next years draft I'd take it. I'd accept the deal for a lower draft pick if a good veteran safety showed up on the FA market and we needed the cap space to sign him. In that scenario we'd have a weaker LB corps (young and improving) but a stronger safety group balancing it out. Maybe a decent DT shows up on the FA market as well making it a 2 for 1 deal with regards to the cap space. On the negative side, (if accurate) right now Over the Cap says we have $6mil in space so that isn't a need. The only reasonable contract extension that I can see is Jeffrey and that, with 2 years left on his deal, would be very unlike the Bears. However, if they did roll the dice and tried to get him early on a reasonable deal (should he hit the Pro Bowl again) it could set us up for a much better cap situation down the road. After looking at everything I'd say a deal is unlikely but I wouldn't be surprised if there hasn't already been a phone call from Dallas to Chicago just to ask what if.

Stinger has picked up the slack somewhat but where oh where is Grouchy?

Context is key here IMO. Lots of good pieces to go along with Cutler as well as good coaching and play calling add up to a better QB. What's most telling is that this is data largely predicated on the first part of the season when everyone was still trying to figure out where to go and what to do. He came back and played horribly while still injured (or re-injured) and then later in the season he was just ok. At that point later in the season the defense was so bad it was almost impossible to try to compete. Nonetheless, we haven't yet seen what he's supposed to be as a player. Hopefully a second season in this system really pays off. $20million says the Bears believe it will.

Only surprised to see Jennings moving inside to nickel back. Losing Hixon on day 1 is bad news from one day of practice and for him the 3rd time on the same knee. I scanned the photos of practice and a few guys stood out. It's photos and really means nothing other than seeing those who might be out of shape. http://www.chicagobears.com/multimedia/pho...590eb39a6#start Most have already seen the new SMC. Garza looks like he hasn't left the weight room in 3 months. Greene also seems to have added some bulk and Ford looks ripped. Will Sutton has noticeably trimmed the extra weight and that's good news for both his quickness and stamina. OTOH Ratliff looks like he's had too many biscuits and M.D. Jennings doesn't look strong enough to survive a full season playing safety in the NFL.

That's not good. It's going to be tough to work out as usual but OTOH I know many people who have come back from shoulder surgery and rehab with more strength and flexibility.

I'm sure he would have preferred to be in Denver.

$15mil guaranteed for Houston's 5 yr deal seems excessive? Compared to what contracts?

Hmm…wonder what the odds are for the Bears to make the playoffs, win the division? I'm headed to Las Vegas in early August so I might have to put some money down on these bets.

I'd say he understands that as well. His comments that he really wants to just stay at one position so he can learn it, master it, indicates some level of frustration with his past assignments moving him all over the field.

I don't get the whole Forte is "tired" complaints. He had 363 touches last year, 2nd only to Shady McCoy who had 366. Payton was usually in this same area in terms of touches but had a few seasons where he got around 400 touches. Payton was elite and sits in the Hall of Fame for that reason. McCoy is openly campaigning for less touches this year so he can have fresh legs in the 4th quarter. Forte (and Payton) should have been tired at times. I think he's doing plenty of good hard work for the Bears on the field and I'd much rather have him take a quick break than be too tired to adequately protect Cutler, or himself.

…add in that Christian Jones' coaches put him at DE where he sucked too.

I don't know if Briggs is a definite to be gone but I think his next deal, if it's with the Bears is a 1-2 year deal. A lot depends on Briggs of course. If he goes Urlacher-style and demands big money then he's likely gone. If he goes Tillman-style and accepts a more realistic deal based on current performance then he'll be here. Knowing he must play with a shoulder harness does not give me confidence in his long term durability.

At the moment Bostic is being told he needs to slow down because he keeps over-running the play. That's a good thing.

I've been thinking the same….what are our targets going to be next year? Cap space will be used. Expect Jeffrey to sign an extension and locking in Marshall sort of sets a target for that contract. Will we sign De la Puente to a long term contract? I agree with Ashkum that S is likely our top target heading into next years draft but I wouldn't rule out a big spend on a FA safety if one is available. Early in the draft I expect we'll just go best available. It would be great to see our young LBs step up this year and take that off our to-do list.

Marcus Trice highlights. Instinctive player, good tackler, not sure about his speed looks a bit slow and not the tallest player.

Senorise Perry highlights. Very good speed for a RB and he's good on special teams both coverage and returns.

Shea McClellin. Nobody has worked harder to prepare for this season and I think it shows up on day one of training camp.

You just had to go there. Next some smart ass will bring up the trade for Rick Mirer.

Part of Forte's problem is that he makes what he does look easy. Don't misunderstand me because that is a huge compliment. He just goes about his business, sets up blocks, finds the hole to cut into and goes. Everything just looks so smooth but when we step back and look at the big picture we (Bears fans) all know there aren't that many guys that can do all the things he does as well as he does them. When I see the Top 100 Players on NFL Network with Eddy Lacy ahead of Forte it validates that point. People like the bruising runner who breaks the tackle more than the guy that avoids the hit altogether.

I don't do the FF stuff, but I'd say make sure you have a good 2nd RB on the roster because Charles will be injured again this year for the very reason you described above.

The contracts may be more of a formality in terms of there is a bracket but that hasn't changed the fact that every year many teams don't get players signed until well into the summer, and a few are signed just before camp starts. If it is so easy then why aren't all the other teams signing their players at this rate? What's happened is the Bears now have a solid reputation among all the agents that our contract offers will be fair and we aren't looking to save every nickel. They know they can sign early and that even as other players sign their deal will still be a good one for their player.

This is where "analysts" like to say everyone, and average fans like me, missed on Burfict. I personally don't think I was wrong on him. He was lazy and very undisciplined as a player his last year at ASU. Then he's doing nothing much but smoking marijuana prior to combine and fails his drug test there, after telling everyone in his interviews he was using the drug regularly. You cannot separate the player he is today from that harsh lesson he had to go through during the draft process. It did one thing nobody in his years at ASU was able to do….knocked him off his pedestal, motivated him to work hard, and stop using marijuana. There are many examples in sports where that "event" had to happen before that player woke up. Cris Carter comes to mind as another example. Kyle Long had his issues as well during college. If during the draft process Burfict was still rumored to be a 1st-3rd Rd pick, and then been selected there, I doubt he'd have gotten the message he needed to hear. I'm really glad to see Burfict realize his potential. It's a great lesson for young kids who have talent and don't think they need to work hard, or follow the rules, to succeed. If kids are lucky they'll have an adult early in their life who has the courage to deliver that message (i.e. high school coach) when they don't toe the line. Too often adults are more interested in their own success and look the other way making exceptions for the elite athlete. I hope Burfict is using his platform to relay this message to kids. http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2013-11-2...layer-ray-lewis IIRC I didn't want to use an early round pick on Burfict, perhaps a 6th or 7th and certainly would have accepted a low risk UDFA contract. I'll live with that decision.