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He may have. I just wanted to see the effort. Going into the preseason, there was alot of talk of Turner wanting to come to Chicago and/or links to him coming here to be back home. I have no doubt that Forte will be a player that is loved in Chicago. His blue colored attitude appeals to alot of people. It will drive him to play harder and better then players with a similar skill set. Turner on the other hand is a special talent with his speed and size. I think Forte will probably not break 4 yards a carry this year. That's not because of his talent or anythign else. It's more about the line and there unabllity to open up holes for the running game last year and this preseason. The I told you so's was just me kidding tho. I don't think I've ever broke one out, and I'm reserving it for when Booker shows he deserves his roster spot. I argued with alot of people over bringing him in in the offseason before he signed with atlanta and it being a mistake to not bring him in for a look after he had signed.

Yep, I sure was a Benson fan. I still think he would do as good as any other running back on the team this year. Last year was the line that caused him to have a bad year statistacally imo. Despite my faith in Benson being a competent back, I felt Turner, however, was the type of special back that JA was talking about when he let Atrain go. I remember alot of arguements with people over him during the offseason. Only Walter Payton twice in 77 and Sayers once in 68 have broke 200 yards as a Bear. I'm not claiming to be a GM. It wouldn't take much to outdo this team's staff on offense tho. There's only a few players I've felt were special and were must have's recently in FA. I wanted Drew Brees, we got Brian Griese. I wanted a young Plaxico Burress and we got Mushin Muhammad. I wanted Faneca and we got, well I don't know who we got. I wanted Michael Turner, and we'll see what our RB's do in comparison this year.

How many more games till I can say I told you so about Michael Turner to everyone that said he's not special and not worth looking at this offseason.

6th all time yards 5th all time catches 1at and 2nd single season catches Most consecutive games with a catch 3rd in yards for a single game Tied for most 1000 yard seasons

Seems like no matter what topic I read here, I read something about cutting Marty Booker? I just don't get it. The guy set almost every receiving record in Chicago Bears history in the time he was here. He's back now. No, he didn't light up the league while he was in Miami. He did probably match about what any receiver had did here though during that time with comparable QB''n. If the Bears were going to cut underachieving veterans based on preseason games, then basically the whole famed Bears defense would be cut. It was out of the coaches mouth that his roster spot was safe. They had what, like 8 more receivers they had to evaluate this offseason. He didn't play into there plan then, and didn't get to shine. I hope all the Cut Booker, Booker sucks, and so on commentors are ready for some crow when the season starts. I'm not saying he will make the pro bowl. I'm not sure this team is built to send any receiver to the pro bowl right now, but I am sure he will make many people here get out of there seats many times during this season. His history here alone warrants a whole hell of a lot more respect then he gets here now. His short career in chicaco arguably the most prolific offensive career on the Bears since Walter.

I think it will be Booker Davis and Hester. The staff knows what they have in Booker and he didn't have to compete. Everyone else was competing for a position, so I'm guessing he will start for sure. I think Davis won out the second spot with a stellar offseason. I could see Hester playing a bit in alot of 2 WR sets cutting in either booker or davis' time just for speed. I'm just not sure when you will see Lloyd. 4 WR sets it looks like they would go with Bradley because of his speed or Bennett because he is a rookie.

I was mad when they signed him to a decent sized contract and gave away a 3rd round pick for him. I was more pissed after the Denny's incident. Then McBride moved up to the starter in his rookie year over Manning because of injuries, now it's nice to see that POS out of town.

It's not hard when you only focus on defense. I know in the past they have brought in the occasional player ie. Moose and Tait. This year however, there was hardly a position on offense that wasn't a glaring weakness. They spent a first round pick on a LT and put money there. Other then that it was bargain prices for players like Booker and Lloyd. I imagine the over all money spent on offense last year compared to this year has went way down. Look at the money taken from the offense compared to money spent on it. Griese, Brown, Miller, Moose, Benson, and Berrian. Ne contracts would be Orton, R. Davis and clarks extensions, 1st round Williams, 2nd round Forte, Bennett, K. Davis, undrafted free agents, league minimum Lloyd and Jones, and then Booker at like 2 million a year. Grossman got a contract for 3 million, but I imagine that would be comparable or less then his original deal from last year considering he was a first round pick QB. Edit: I forgot about Hester's extension, but not sure how much of that goes on affense and how much goes to special teams...

He got waived http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=An9q...t&type=lgns Bears waive injured LB Wilson Aug 22, 5:40 pm EDT * Buzz Up * Print CHICAGO (TICKER) —The Chicago Bears waived injured linebacker Rod Wilson on Friday. The fourth-year player was carted off the field late in the third quarter of Thursday’s preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers. He suffered a broken right forearm after making an awkward tackle on 49ers running back Thomas Clayton. A seventh-round draft pick out of South Carolina in 2005, Wilson was a key member of the Bears’ special teams the last two years. He was third on the club with 16 special-teams tackles in 2007.

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Here's an article from March of this year, a little of San Fran signed him. Martz had seen enough of him in Detroit to think he is starter quality. http://www.sacbee.com/100/story/782007.html

Wasn't he a beast over in NFL Europe? I remember reading your updates from over there and really wanting to see him play in the preseason. I never got to though because of all the other QB's here.

Yea, I saw the "Roy" video too. Well I'm guessing that's where you are coming from, because alot of the points you make are ones that he did. I have to call BS on the whole thing. More Rexcuses was all I saw. One thing people are forgetting is Orton hasn't always been known as a "Game Manager". In fact, he was more of a gunslinger in college. He came into the NFL and was forced into the starting roll around the third preseason game if I recall. The original plan was for him to be the third QB behind Rex and Hutch. Rex got hurt and Hutch got booed off the team. When you have a rookie in the NFL that played in a somewhat gimmicky offense in college, you can't just force the whole offense on him when the third game of the preseason comes around. He played in a dumb down offense. Except for the Cincy game, he didn't do much to lose games and the Bears defense got us by. Orton did more to adapt to what the Bears need to win games in his rookie year then Grossman has going into his 6th year. Since then, Orton has had time to learn the offense and work on his game. I'm not saying that he is going to come out lighting the NFL on fire. I don't know what he is going to do. Could this staff actually develop a QB? Does this offense have weapons? Can the line hold? Did Orton develop? Only time will tell. He's only played in 3 games last year. The only games he's been in his rookie year. This year he is getting a fresh start. He's should be more prepared then then he had any other years. This one he was in a QB competition, knew in the offseason he was going to be able to compete for the starting job, and should be primed and ready to start the season. If anything, beating out the guy he's been third string two the last couple years should give him a real boost in confidence. What do we have to base that he is just a Game Manager on? If you ask me, the ability to manage a game, find your check downs, and so on is a hell of a trait. Peyton Manning can manage a hell of a game. He can do alot more. Now that Orton has that moniker of "Game Manager" he earned as a rookie, we'll be able to see if he can be more. Being smart as a QB is never bad, and if he can find a balance between his rookie "Game Manager" title and his college "gunslinger" title, maybe he can be something good. Rex was never able to find that balance.

August 18, 2008 Orton chosen over Grossman as starting quarterback By Larry Mayer LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The suspense about who would line up under center Sept. 7 in the season opener in Indianapolis ended Monday when Kyle Orton was anointed the Bears’ starting QB. Coach Lovie Smith cited several factors in choosing Orton over Rex Grossman, concluding a widely publicized competition that began in the spring and continued into the summer. Kyle Orton has compiled a 12-6 record as a starting quarterback in three seasons. “To come to a decision like that, we’ve taken a lot of things into consideration—last year, how we finished the season, OTAs, training camp, preseason games,” Smith said. “In the end it comes down to a gut feeling that you have, and I feel good about Kyle leading our team.” Smith informed Orton of the decision during a meeting Monday. “Obviously I’m excited,” said the 2005 fourth-round pick from Purdue. “I want to try to make the most of it and win football games. This was one of my goals going into the season. As a team, we’ve got a lot of goals to accomplish and this is just the start of it.” Orton conceded that he’s happy a decision was made and it will allow him to better prepare for the season, especially because Bears starters are expected to play into the third quarter in Thursday night's preseason game against the 49ers at Soldier Field. “It’s a relief and now it’s just all about the unit and knowing what everybody’s going to do and just kind of tailoring things to the way that we like it,” Orton said. “I think I’ve continued to get better in the preseason, so this will be another step to take. We’ll get a lot more playing time this week and just try to get ready for Indianapolis.” Entering training camp on equal footing, Orton slightly outperformed Grossman in two preseason games, compiling a better completion percentage (63.2-56.5), yards per attempt average (5.21-5.13) and passer rating (76.4-66.9) while connecting on 12 of 19 passes for 99 yards. Grossman has completed 13 of 23 passes for 118 yards. Starting against the Chiefs and coming in off the bench versus the Seahawks, Orton won the competition without directing the offense to a touchdown or completing a pass of more than 17 yards. His five preseason possessions resulted in two field goals and three punts. Orton closed with a flourish Saturday night in Seattle, operating a two-minute drill with efficiency. He engineered a 10-play, 51-yard drive in just 1:34, completing 5 of 7 passes for 43 yards to set up Robbie Gould’s 39-yard field goal with :21 remaining in the first half. Under constant pressure from a fierce Seahawks pass rush, Grossman failed to lead the Bears offense past midfield on five possessions. His only turnover in two preseason games came when he was drilled in the back by Seattle defensive end Darryl Tapp, leading to an interception. Asked to expand on the variables involved in making the decision, Smith said: “There were a lot of things from completions to turnovers to just the feeling we have on who can manage the game the best for us. The good thing about evaluating both Rex and Kyle is that we’ve had a long time to do it. It’s been quite a few years we’ve had a chance to see both guys played.” Orton first staked his claim to the starting position late last season when he completed 43 of 80 passes for 478 yards with 3 touchdowns, 2 interceptions and a 73.9 passer rating as the Bears lost to the Vikings before closing 2007 with back-to-back wins over the Packers and Saints. Prior to playing in Minnesota, Orton hadn’t stepped on the field since compiling a 10-5 record as a surprise starter as a rookie in 2005 when he was elevated from the third string after Grossman broke his ankle and Chad Hutchinson was released.

There were quite a few WR's available looking back at the list. Bryant Johnson was just a guy I really wanted. All though I wouldn't call any studs and don't know what they are getting paid, here were some available. Antonio Bryant Darrel Jackson Bryant Johnson Justin McCareins Jerry Porter Dante Stallworth Javon Walker Like I said, not the best ever, but some names worth giving a shot. There's also a bunch of other receivers that people kept mentioning that I didn't list.

Things with which I disagree Michael Turner: Would have been overpriced for a relative unknown He asked what we would have done. Personally, I think he is a special player. It's not something the team needed to do, but something I would have looked into. The Bears may have gotten some kind of hometown discount, but probably not since he went where the money was. Bryant Johnson: Pointless considering the fact there is a logjam at WR right now, and the OL stinks so bad that there could never be a valid evaluation. Agreed, but I would have broke the bank to bring in Faneca, looked at other free agents and drafted some OL. Bennet and Monk wouldn't be on the team. Lloyd would have never been brought in. Bradley would have been gone by now. My log jam would have been Bryant Johnson, Bernard Berian, Hester, Davis, Booker and Hass. Bernard Berrian: Best WR last year, but not a #1, and not worthy of the tag. Watch him suck this year for the Vikes. We differ on this, but we'll see how he does this year. I always liked what I had seen from Berrian. Derek Anderson: See Michael Turner. Overpriced to get him. Sell high, buy low...not the other way around. I don't think the price was too high, as much as the team needs so much. I wouldn't have paid the price, but looking at the Bears QB history, it would have been tempting. I would have addressed the QB situation most likely by signing Culpepper. He and Orton could have fought it out in camp. All along, working on the QB future that I drafted. Chad Pennington: Abso-friggin-lutely not. He would be worse than Rex or Orton with this OL. His noodle arm would have done nearly nothing except throw INTs under pressure. At least with the two we have there is a chance of a ball squeezing through a window. I never have gotten the Orton and Grossman are better then Pennington because they can throw the ball harder/faster. It may sound like I am spending alot of money, but here's how I would have gotten it. A) Grossman would have never been resigned and Orton would have never gotten his extension. As big as a fan as I am of Dez, he would have never gotten his extension. C) Ricky Manning Jr. would be gone. D) Hester would have had to wait for his extension and prove he was worth a comparable contract to what Berian signed. That was just a ridiculous amount they signed him to IMHO. E) Briggs would be gone. I like Briggs, but you can't put all your money in D, if you want some O too. Between using the money to give him an offense, and another LB getting paid, it may have kept Urlacher from wanting more money... I think that would have freed up enough to bring in Faneca, sign Culpepper, bring in Bryant Johnson and possibly look at another linemen or 2 in free agency. The main jam I would have been in would have been thanks to Benson. I would have drafted OL in the first and Brohm in the second or vice versa. Unless Forte fell to the third, where I did want him drafted, I would have drafted Oline in the third and another round too.

http://www.detnews.com/2005/lions/0509/18/C13-318580.htm That's an old article from 2005, but it gives a pretty good explanation of the practice squad. Any player on the practice squad is considered a free agent and can be signed at any time by any team.

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Not worth that kind of money, IMO. Maybe not, but he was our best offensive player. The Bears may have been able to work out something long term later. Wasn't Hester's contract similar in money, and he hasn't even proven he can play WR yet. Probably. Need to see what that signing would've done to our cap space and if we could've done everything we did this season regarding our own guys. I would have taken Fanneca over resigning Briggs in a heart beat. I wouldn't have given Grossman a 5 million dollar contract or reworked Orton's deal to similar money if bonus's are met. Money could have been found there. Brohm is making news in Green Bay as being outplayed by the guy they drafted in the 7th round. Besides, Hanie is the next Tony Romo. Brohm may turn out to be a bust, he wouldn't be the first player I wanted, or the last to be one. The simple fact is they didn't bring in anyone in to groom, so it will be that much longer we have to wait on one to develop if they do. Hopefullly Hanie is the next Romo, he did show some nice stuff, but it wasn't part of the "Plan". I'm not so sure how available he was. I'm pretty sure he had the franchise tag on him before he signed a deal. He was available to anyone, it was just going to be pricey to get him. Can this team really put a price on a good QB? My main thing I don't like about Anderson is his low completion percentage. Which also happens to be a thing I like about Pennington. I think he has like the all time highest completion percantage, or among active players, or something. Could be. But he came available pretty late in camp and was signed pretty darned quick. Rex is probably better on paper, IMO. Depends on what you are looking for I guess. If you want to throw bombs then Grossman is a better choice. IF you want your offense to stay on the field and give your D a rest, then Pennington would have been a better choice. Completing like 65% of your passes is nothing to scoff at. I think it could be the possible ideal fit for a team with a D as good as this. I think it would help the young group of WR's development too. LT is an issue. Benson had to be dumped. He had his chances. If he's so great, why isn't he on a roster? Who knows. It may have to do with the suspensions he will get or people just think he sucks. I'm just speculating he wasn't that bad as he was pretty good every year before last year. The other RB's couldn't do much either. I'm not dissing Forte as much as I don't think he offers anything more then Benson did other then catching the ball, and Benson may have been better in some areas. I guess time will tell on that one. I'm not in love with Ron Turner either. Amen!! Edit: On Michael Turner, I just felt he was a special back.

I wanted to see Michael Turner brought in, but he wasn't, Bryant Johnson was a WR I wanted them to look at, and I'm pretty sure there were a couple others. I think Berrian should have been tagged. We should have been in the Fanneca sweepstakes. Minnesota is a good example of what a good left guard can do to a team, and it scares me with what we have there with ours now. Brohm should have been drafted. If not him, they should have brought someone else to atleast start to groom. It takes a couple years to develop and we need to start that sooner then later. I really think they put too much stock in Orton and Grossman. Now, if they both suck, there isn't aQB waiting in the wings. Haine looked good, but he was brought in to be camp fodder not the QB of the future. It will just be luck if he turns out. Derek Anderson was also available at QB. I personally wanted one to groom in the draft, but I figure he is worth mentioning. Chad Pennington, when he recently became available, would have been a major upgrade over the QB's the team has now. I wasn't as mad that they didn't pursue him since with this line he would be hurt before the season starts. Instead, we draft a LT with a broken back. There was not anyother additions, just subtractions and shifting players. No QB was brought in to groom, there was just the subtraction of Griese. RB is a similar situation to me. I don't think Benson was bad as much as the line sucked. Forte is a player fans will like more, but doesn't seem like an upgrade to me. WR, I think we lost more in Berrian then we gained. Most importantly, some heads should have rolled on offense. I think Turner and some of his assistants should have been fired and replaced.

Yea, I was surprised at that too. I think the draft went something like....LT, Brady, AP, LJ, Braylon Edwars, Moss, Westbrook, Romo. Then it came back TO, Manning, Addai, Antonio Gates, Palmer, me with Stephen Jackson. It was a weird draft, a guy that couldn't be there wanted Braylon Edwards and Antonio Gates with his first 2 picks regardless...

Yea it's me, TravD, I've been pretty dormant from the board since the draft, just reading a lot and not posting. I threw my Bears hat after the Packers drafted Brohm and it laid there for a couple months. I was pretty excited about my fantasy draft tho with my friends. I feel I got some steals like Derek Anderson in the 8th round and Steve Smith in the 5th. 1st AP 2nd Stephen Jackson 3rd Whose your momma 4th Andre johnson 5th Steve Smith 6th Bears D 7th Cotchery 8th D. Anderson 9th Thomas Jones 10th Dwayne Bowe 11th Favre 12th Kevin Smith 13th Berian 14th Schefflar 15th Gould 16th Selvin Young

It's basically the same as a yahoo league except for all TD's are 6 points and a point per reception. I think the yards are different too. I'm going to have to work on some trades to straighten out my roster. I hate my TE situation and noticed when I got home that Anderson and Favre had the same bye week. Plus my Kicker, TE, Defense, and some of my best players are off on week 8. 1 QB 3 WR 2 RB's 1 TE 1 D/st 1 k

It's an 8 team league, usually 10 but 2 people no showed. 2 less people meant everyone ended up with a pretty good team. Here's my team by position... QB Derek Anderson Brett Favre RB Adrian Peterson (min) Stephen Jackson Thomas Jones Kevin Smith Selvin Young WR TJ How's your momma? Andre Johnson Steve Smith Jericho Cotchery Dwayne Bowe Bernard Berian TE Tony Schefllar K Robbie Gould Def Chicago Bears

I understood and agree. I started a long post, then deleted it and started over. I agree with you about the D. I remember back when Rivera was here that it was leaked that Lovie had decided to take more control of the D. After that the D started slacking off alot. Rivera was fired and Bablich was brought in. Other then the first game of the season last year, I wasn't impressed with the coaching on defense. My original post brought that up that I think the D will be better then last year because of no injuries, yet not as good as the Super bowl run due to the addition of Lovie's yesman. I think the supposed power struggle and differing defensive backgrounds of Lovie and Rivera helped utilize the talent on the D better, while straight Lovie bottlenecks it.