AZ54

I think the wheels are falling off their bus. They are losing so many key players in one offseason it's hard to replace them all. Replace LT with first pick or DE? The smart choice is the LT as that has highest probability of success. This is Detroit.

$5mil/yr too much for me. If we get Urlacher for a value similar to what Roach signed for I'm ok with it...shorter term of course. That's probably still a bit higher than his play warrants but he is a better leader for the defense and getting players lined up before the snap has value.

Maybe the real deal here is that we took Carimi out of the equation at tackle? We're all focused on Webb for obvious reasons but the reality is this team signed a LT, moved Webb back to RT where he'll compete with (they hope to re-sign) Jonathan Scott. It's not that difficult to read between the lines here and IMO they are telling us Carimi is either an OG or he's quite possibly not on the roster. Part 2....yes why not put a healthy and durable Bushrod at LT (we know the other options and their risks) thinking you can get a very good OG to park next to him in the draft? So yes, I'd say we plan to do just what New Orleans had setup....very good OG next to average LT. Our GM has already stated his intention to drop back in the draft. This from a guy who holds secrets so tight he makes diamonds. There is some good depth at OG heading into the early second round. QB is a very likely target around 20 IMO. Lance Louis...are we that eager to have him back? Or will we take him back for the right price but we're content to move forward with Carimi and Brown at OG with a rookie thrown in the mix? My thoughts were that we had to have Louis back but I'm now doubting the organization sees it as that much of a need.

I think this paves the way for the Bears to sign Urlacher for another year (likely a 2yr deal the team can get out of). Roach got $3-4mil/yr and there was no way the Bears would go there. Roach was an ok player but he wasn't worth that. I might be in the minority but I prefer having Urlacher leading the defense (I don't think he'll be as hobbled as last year) than Roach....for the right price. I expect Urlacher to get a deal done within the next couple days and I agree LB will be one of our first two picks.

I watched the Bennet press conference. A couple things stand out. 1) He clearly stated he had to grow up and accept his role and he learned to do that after a couple seasons and then started to excel as a blocker (his role). 2) He clearly stated he never wants to be the second guy...always wants to be #1 option. During most of the press conference he was all smiles but in the instant he made this statement his face changed to a serious and focused expression. (about 1/3 of the way into the video on the Bears site). Body language gives away much of what we really feel but it's usually just the small glimpse that tells the true story. I think there's more to his desire to be a good player than what is being made of his dinosaur and Harry Potter quotes in the media. I think we're going to be happy to have him here.

That would be a massive amount of luck.

I'd bet all three would like to know how healthy he is and how that relates to the Bear plans in the draft or the rest of FA. They can look for free.

Stats in sports are not really statistics in the true sense...we've had this conversation before. Just one example is the oft cited stat that Brees gets rid of the ball on average about 1sec quicker than Cutler. Ok fine, but with no standard deviation we have no idea of the distribution of those populations. Or are there two populations in the data...one where Brees has very quick 1-2sec reads, and another distribution where he has 3-4sec reads? I look at the PFF blocking stats the same way. Maybe Bushrod had as many rushers get past him as Webb but did Bushrod completely whiff on the block as Webb occasionally does? Some of this is about consistency. Everyone on this board has watched Drew Brees drop back sometimes as much as 10 yards from the LOS and hold onto the ball a long time before throwing. The fact is that New Orleans would take some deep shots every game and those plays take time to develop. Certainly Brees is far better at quick releases than Cutler is, but I think his offense is better designed for it as well. Hopefully we'll be adding more of that element to our passing game. Hopefully Cutler will learn to take the quick underneath read when that's what the defense gives him. For me, when Phil Emery and (by default) Kromer say that Bushrod was better and more consistent than Webb I'm trusting them (not that I have a choice). Is Bushrod an elite LT? No, but then again we didn't pay him elite LT money which would have been closer to $10mil/yr so I think both sides understood that. I'm also trusting that they are able to design an offense that can make better use of his 3 sec of pass protection and have Cutler get rid of the ball than what Tice and Martz did the past few seasons.

He barely played and still got hurt...won't be missed.

I think we wait for value now. Hopefully a player like Moore, who hasn't been active yet in FA, lowers his $$ expectations and we can add some depth and insurance in case Louis doesn't return, or in case Carimi can't play OT or OG. I would love to know what the coaches think of Brown's performance last year and his future on the roster. Is he OT material or OG? Is he worth keeping around? We won't hear anything on that until we get past the draft.

From the highlight video I see a guy who can go up over the top of defenders to make catches, can adjust to make the back shoulder fade, knows how to find the soft spot in a zone, and can make some diving catches. His speed doesn't look that great but he's fast enough to work well against LBs and good enough of a receiver to be a threat down the middle or on the outside. Is he a one year wonder or was he just wasting on the bench behind a Hall of Fame player in Witten? Stephen A. might not have liked him but I bet Eli is going to miss him.

I think Fluker remains on our short list for RT.

I like this. Now we truly have an average Oline player which is a Bears fan's way of saying UPGRADE. Bushrod at least is good enough that if we have to help him in some games it can be done. Versus Webb who can't figure out the delayed blitz and stunts. I'd say the draft still remains wide open for us in terms of drafting a RT (Fluker) and an OG.

Good choice, mid-priced FA but versatility fits the need very well. Combined with Rodriguez we should have a good tandem in pass catching TEs.

He couldn't run...that's why his stats were down.

No clue why that guy is still associated with the Bears.

For the draftniks out there I thought this might be worth reading. The article breaks down performance trends versus draft position. For example, OTs drafted in slots 1-13 have the highest success rate of being a 5yr starter at 94%, and a bit surprising to me LB is right behind them at 90%. . http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Diggin...babilities.html

If the Halas Hall janitor (just kidding) can't figure it out that's amazing. Supposedly there was a tweet from Lou Cannelis that the Bears have continued to talk with Urlacher's agent but I don't follow Twitter so I have no clue if that's just old news from the offer Urlacher's agent submitted. Either we are doing very little tomorrow or we will be in the news non-stop with all the moves we have to make.

....and an Oline to open holes?

After reading some articles and listening to a lot of "insiders" thoughts on the Harvin deal one thing is clear: Harvin is a big risk for Seattle given the contract he wants. His problems, or rather the team's problems with him go much deeper than what has been stated in the media. Like any new marriage I expect everyone to be all smiles while the honeymoon lasts. We'll see what happens once Percy gets paid.

Yes, I expected that to happen on Monday but all we have so far is:

If we draft Cooper or Warmack there's no need for that. I'm not advocating that we cut Garza, I think he's very valuable to our organization but I don't view him as a player we couldn't replace and live without. I don't see it happening but right now with this new regime in place (including Emery here too because now he has "his" coach) I'm not ruling anything out.

I'd be fine with Greg Jennings catching passes from Ponder. Mike Wallace with his speed and ability to get on top of the safeties, who have to be worried about AP first, would be more concerning.

I watched some highlights of Austin last night. He's going to be a good player but he's no longer who I want with the 20th pick. If it's between him and Eifert at that point (assuming all Oline gone) I'd take Eifert.

What is Garza's cap hit? What's his contract? He might be more expendable than we think.