CrackerDog

Hell, even though we disagree on TO and your abilities as GM, I still enjoy arguing with you and expect it'll always be in good spirits. And dude, you shot yourself down on being a good GM when you admitted missing on Urlacher. Sheesh. The guy is going into the HOF and you wanted who instead?

Ha! Pix, I wish we could kinda do a reverse "It's a Wonderful Life" where we'd see what the Bears would look like in 5 years after Jason was hired as GM. He clearly thinks he's got the right stuff, I'd love to see the results... That's all I'm sayin'.

PS. If TO has anything left, why isn't he heading up north to Canada instead of playing with the retards in the arena league? They pay better, there's more of a chance at "redemption" up there and he'd actually be playing better quality competition. PSS. I fully expect you to drop a massive "I TOLD YOU SO" on all of us if TO happens to sign somewhere in the NFL this year and he behaves himself and plays at a reasonably high level. I don't care. As I sit here today, with what we know right now, he isn't someone I'd bring to my team.

What do you think signing Marshall is? The Bears addressed WR in a big way this off season already. And he's probably all the head case one team can handle! At least he's got some history with Cutler that should help keep him on track. And to your point about his skills, nobody here is granting you that point either. If you look at the film there appears to be some modest burst left on certain plays but I wouldn't call any of that compelling evidence. You're seeing what you want to see. And even if he's capable of being our #2, with his recent injury history, is he a guy you can count on for more than a few weeks before he blows out another part on his OLD body? I won't even go into the character issues and team cancer concerns which you've already conceded. So basically what we're saying: Do the math dude. Stop trying to suggest that we're all whiners that then overlook gems you see just sitting out there waiting to be picked up. You can't polish a turd and he's one of the biggest turds in league history. I fully expect a meltdown of massive proportions from him when he runs completely out of money. And I hope it's big enough to keep him out of the HOF, because I for one, don't like it when dicks like TO make it in.

You missed a few good ones... Alan Page, Jim Miller, Eric Kramer, Julius Peppers, etc.

Jason, nobody is buying your "Other than that Mrs. Lincoln how was the play?" bullshit. You have to grade a player on everything, period. If he still has the legs and athletism to play NFL ball, he doesn't bring enough to the table to justify the risks. This dumb SOB might commit suicide in the middle of the season! He's an idiot and if you want him you can have him play on Jason's XBox Bears. The Chicago Bears don't need him.

Amen

Obviously most people take character into account. I guess you don't. And no, I don't think you can say he's got the body of a 25 year old. That's silly. He's a beat up late 30's washed up receiver until he proves otherwise. And I don't see him getting that shot. No GM in the league agrees with you. Not one. He did push-ups in his driveway all season last year and nobody called. Poor baby.

Early in his career, before he proved he couldn't really contribute as a WR, we could've gotten a high enough pick to justify trading him. Now with his salary basically requiring a contribution as a WR, his diminishing output and the rule changes in the NFL, we wouldn't even get a 3rd for him. So, no, I think we hang in there with the guy, see if he can develop as a slot receiver this year and hope for more fireworks on ST. To me, as a fan, his presence on the field still adds more thrill to the game than anything a late round draft pick would bring. I hope he continues to produce on ST and eventually retires a Bear, with all the records. PS. I don't think Hester has much upstairs. So, with a new offense this year, and all the learning it will entail, I don't see him producing much on O. I hope I'm wrong but if I'm not and that's obvious in camp, they should cut their losses ASAP and just use him as a return man. Get his focus back on what he does well and we might just see him light it up again.

Moot. Sorry, pet peeve. Regardless, I don't agree with Jason (or you totally) on this. I think he's not getting looks because his talent has slipped while his high opinion of himself hasn't appropriately adjusted. Anyone else would be humbled by what's happened to him over the last few years. Not TO. He's just as big an asshole today as he's ever been. And no, he isn't better than anyone's #3 in the league. That's dumb, Jason. He hasn't proven he can even perform at an NFL level since people wrote him off. Even the Bears SHOULD be able to find WR's who are better than this fossil, no matter their history of not being able to draft or find FA help on the offensive side of the ball for most of my adult life. Hopefully the new sheriff will prove more capable than Jerry. Marvin Harrison walked away from the game after 2008. He's only one year older than TO. And he's never been an on-field distraction like Jason's top free agent choice. Randy Moss played for three teams in 2010 and totaled a whooping 28 receptions. He didn't play last year. He's 35. THIRTY-FIVE!!! TO is 38 and has played 15 years, 16 if you count last year when he sat. Harrison only played 13 seasons. There's absolutely no reason to believe Jason, who hasn't seen TO perform any more recently than the GM's in the NFL have, that this douche has anything left in the tank. And when you add his history to the mix, it's ludicrous to even consider adding this cancer to your team.

Obviously we all hope he has better talent evalution skills for first round talent. But that's not my #1 hope for Phil. You all know I've been harping about the O Line for ages and I'm assuming we'll address it better than JA did in his years at the helm. But no, that's not it either. As far as my biggest hope for a difference from JA, I'd have to say I'd want better luck at avoiding injury-prone guys. I don't know if it was just JA taking flyers on guys with known injury issues or bad health histories, or just bad luck. So there you have it... Draft guys who will actually play some football for us. Sounds pretty basic.

True. But even that doesn't matter. The reason nobody wants TO is character combined with eroding skills. In this case it's all about skills. Either our coaches can develop them or we'll cut him. In TO's case, you can't coach up an old set of legs and you can't cure his mental problems. Multiple coaches have tried and failed. He's a malcontent and has no place on any Bears team I'll ever watch.

Bullshit. One of the guys you're talking about isn't getting a look from any team outside the ARENA LEAGUE. How much "infinite talent" do you suppose that guy still has?

Because as previously stated, he'll behave until he's had a good game or two, then he'll get upset about his paycheck and THEN you have a dilemma. Nobody gives a shit when an O Lineman is cut, particularly one of the scrapheap guys we're talking about here. It's apples and oranges, Jason.

I don't recall the Bears ever doing an open tryout but I may have just missed hearing about it. There's nothing stopping you from trying out for them without an agent. However, you need to get your foot in the door somehow. This is usually via some local coach calling someone inside the team that they know and making a recommendation.

I don't know a thing about these guys but they can't be studs given the one year deals they're signing.

Makes me happy we generally have clean good character guys and coaches on this team.

Not always a good thing.

I'd agree if anyone (but you) was mildly annoyed by this off topic discussion. I think most political stripes are in agreement on this issue now. Hell, Willie Nelson is the biggest pothead alive!

If beer is legal (and thank God for that) so should pot be legal. I don't use any drugs at all but feel it'd be hypocritical of me as a beer drinker to feel any other way. And from what I understand, beer is worse for my health. Power to the people! Ha

Ha! I'm just glad I didn't profess my love for the Marshall idea at time since he carries so much baggage with him. Let's hope for the best...

I just hope this isn't an indication of the new regime's stand on character. I know Jerry drafted some guys with questionable pasts but have to think if he'd have known about an issue this recent he'd have pulled out of the deal. I'm not saying that would be the right thing to do as I agree with most that this trade, based on talent alone, was a no-brainer. But I sure don't want to see this team degenerate into the Tice era Vikings (Love Boat, etc) or worse yet, the Bengals. The one thing that makes me feel a little better about this is Lovie Smith. I feel like if anyone can get into this kid's head, it would be him. And since everyone involved realizes this is Lovie's last year at the helm unless they turn it all around, there's definitely motivation for them to git er' done. With all of that said, the only thing I'd hate worse than a losing team is one I couldn't be proud of.

I love Floyd but most scouts are as high on him. Not sure if it's character or size/speed. If he's available and the Bears are still lacking a bigtime FA WR, I'd grab him in a heartbeat.

Ha, yeah, let's get Moss to come out of retirement too! Dude, every team in the NFL thinks the guy is done. Most fans think he's a tool and wouldn't welcome him to their team. Why do you keep harping on this? Oh, and are you saying there weren't established leaders on the Eagles? Jesus Christ! And all he did there was imply his QB was a quitter while basically tearing the team chemisty to shreds. But hey, maybe Garza can get to him. LOL

Ha! Very true. I think Tice is a moron anyway so I'd be OK with him leaving. And it would be comical as we see this team throw away yet another year. Ridiculous. You could've just left the peices in place for another season and then cut the whole cast of characters when and if the time comes. Now you're going to have an OC with a four year contract with a HC with a 2 year contract... No GM heading into the draft... Pathetic.