Lucky Luciano

i think you can add to the bad whoever is in charge of the replay booth for chicago. for whatever reason this happens year after year no matter who the coaches are. they throw flags on stupidly obvious calls and do nothing on calls that really could be overturned. the guys in the booth today should have been dragged out and thrown off the upper deck. the stupid NON CALL cost us 4 points. it was 3rd down and 1 near our 30. the running back was tackled for a LOSS and the refs give them a first down. it was so obvious even the announcers commented on it. i kept waiting for fox to throw the flag and nothing. it was a major mistake and could have cost us the game. the second STUPID call was throwing the flag on that sideline reception. what in the h e double l are these morons looking at? it was clearly obvious it was a catch. this cost us a critical timeout for absolutely nothing. just what are these guys looking at?

WHITEHAIR: i like this pick a lot. our interior line is now set for years to come and can develop together as young players. we either have the best guard in the draft with the possibility of competing/moving to LOT. this anchors long in his best position at RG. this means we have plenty of competition and depth for guard and center (larsen) if grassu doesn't pan out. we can take a year or two to bring whitehair up to speed if we need to. we have a stop gap RT which we can fill in next years draft or possibly fabuluje makes the stride we hoped for. we still have the question mark on LT. if whitehair fills in on that spot for depth or if he takes over the starting job we are a way better offensive line with a lot of depth. the first pick was still tunsil but this blunts the pain somewhat.

we haven't had a LOT above 'average' since jim covert was drafted in 1983. he retired TWENTY SIX freaking years ago. we have had every low to average quality, outcast, knucklehead and mispositioned player playing this slot since. why is that? because our gm or whatever the hell we have, was calling the shots or if not him emmery, angelo, lovie, wanny, jauron or some other stooge coach when we actually did have a top ten pick and couldn't grasp the importance of that position. i don't care what this tunsil was smoking or huffing in his gas mask, unless it was canisters of PCP, this was the pick. would anyone have turned down warren sapp or randy moss for smokin a dube in today's world? i sure as hell wouldn't so why did we pass on tunsil to play the 2nd most important position on your entire offense and the one greatest need on our entire team for over 26 years? here's a sad thought for all.... our offensive coordinator is in his first season at that position ever. he has no chops to stand up and say "take this guy you idiots!". so the guy with the loudest voice, fangio, says "i want HIM!" and we end up in the scheme of things with a freaking dime a dozen linebacker who we draft to add to the strongest position on the entire team. our new GM spent the entire offseason getting rid of blue chip players on offense (i know, i know that's my personal opinion about forte and bennet and i don't want to argue about it) and bringing in blue chip players on defense. we basically spent the moon in free agency on our defense over the last two seasons. did it need it? YES, it did. but this put us into the position to really draft a quality best impact player available which it turns out was on offense. and what happens? he either chokes or caves in to our defensive minded coaches. i understand if there is nothing there you draft defense but when you find yourself looking at a TOP fallen pick you desperately need and you will probably NEVER have a chance to draft that high again in 10 years you better damn well take him. do we? HELL NO!!!! now,,,, who do you think actually DOES draft tunsil? our FORMER offensive coordinator the freaking head coach of the freaking miami dolphins!!!!!!! i think i will go puke now.

either this tunsil has BUST tattooed on his forehead that was the freaking PICK!!!!!!!! we don't even have an AVERAGE left tackle and we pick a linebacker over a potential pro-bowl LEFT TACKLE. i am going to puke. i guess jerry angelo called this one in. this is a serious STRIKE ONE on pace. what an idiot. oh well, here we go again.

i am going to agree with you. haven't we filled out the roster with free agents for the DL already? i understand they may not be of this quality but how many roster spots do we use for this position? to swap a #11 pick for #20 seems pretty high especially if it comes with a $15 mil price tag. i would rather move up in the draft for an OLT than this move. if we could swap a 2nd and give up a 4th ok i could get behind this but it seems wilkerson is an albatross around the jets neck right at the moment. they don't have the cap space.

i am with you. if we can structure a deal that doesn't hinder our development in the future i have no problem doing it if the guy fits into our system.

well which CB's are you referring to?

certainly not for someone who has only played 4 seasons. what i CAN attest to is in his fourth season he was an all-pro and pro-bowl player. whether elite or not it seems to me this guys career is on the rise with the potential to be better than any #1 CB on this team in recent memory or longer. as i have said in the past, it is HIGHLY unlikely to find a premium QB, OLT,, DE or CB at a young age in free agency every 10 years or ever. this would solidify our DB's for years to come and would leave our main concern this season at finding, most important to me, an OLT or possibly a QB on offense. this means if we wanted to we could even trade up for the left tackle we desperately need after filling key components in free agency on defense. now... that said, is he worth the money and what kind of reasonably friendly contract can stein come up with? unknown. we have the cash now but if it hurts our team in our rebuilding stage future then no, it's not the way we want to go. NOTE: the reference to these two players was to demonstrate that at the age of this guy is NOT a detriment whether you hire him or not.

i can't attest to whether the money would hurt us long term but as far as age? i don't see it. one of the bigger blunders we made in 2006 and in my opinion during the first decade of the 21st century, was not picking up charles woodson. this hurt us for one hell of a long time. woodson went to the packers at the age of 30 and played at a high level with them for 7 years in which at LEAST 5 of those years he was a verry good corner. age wise? he was in the probowl at the ages 32-35. champ bailey played a long long time also. whether norman is of the bailey caliber i can't say but it certainly wouldn't hamper a player coming in at the age of 28 (turning 29 in december of this year).

comparisons to 1985 are pretty much apples to oranges. it's a whole different game since that time not to mention i believe leslie fraser was a highly underated player.

i went in this order: OLT - this is the key to your offense. if you can't protect your qb's blindside (assuming he is not a lefty) it puts the entire season at high risk of failure. the OLT spot is one of the hardest to fill with a quality all-pro player. you usually have to draft these high in the first round to find one with that potential and it may be some time before we are able to draft this high again for a while. if you do not have the chance to draft the LT in your slot or move up to get the player you believe fills that need then you go another route. you don't draft a potential RT or G at this slot but hope you can pick up a diamond in the rough in the 2nd or 3rd who needs to be groomed for your future only IF you have quality coaching that can bring this to bear. CB - a pass rushing defensive end monster and a cover/shutdown cornerback have near the same value which is the highest value on defense. the shutdown corner cuts the field of play in half and at worst gives your defensive line that extra second to reach or disrupt the qb. again, like the above action, if the value is there at #11 or you have to trade up to get a player you project will fit this scenario this is what you do. otherwise go another route and try for that gem in a lower round that has potential to become that with good coaching if he has the physical and mental abilities to succeed in time. QB - although this is my 3rd choice it is the position of the greatest value in professional football. as it stands right now we are in a very good position with cutler to give us not only a chance to win it all but to draft a qb that can be groomed to excel in our future which is paramount. we don't have to throw this prospect into the fire if we choose not to. it looks like the top 2 qb's will be long gone before they reach us at #11 and trading up that far to get one of them is probably way to costly. that leaves lynch. if he is available at #11 and this staff believe he could be a franchise player in the future then the decision is between lynch and a top left tackle if he is available. the dividends might not pay off for a year or two but it is the smart choice looking down the road to our future. we probably will not be picking this high again for some time. it gives us the freedom to groom this guy over a period of years to slot into this position when cutler is done (i look at cuter lasting 2-3 years more tops). if lynch doesn't look like the future high quality starter then you move to the lower rounds for this prospect and still have the ability to bring him along slowly. it also gives us the advantage of having two qb's that can start, in time, on most NFL clubs. that means real value in trade scenario's where you can pull high draft picks from those other franchises if the need or desire is there. this is paramount if you draft a qb at this position: as a base, he must have the physical tools to succeed including optimum size. to go hand in hand with the physical side he MUST be mentally suited for the QB position. he has to have the ability to quickly understand what the defenses are giving him in a three dimensional window and make the correct decisions as to where the ball will go. this coincides with the ability to accurately throw the football with consistency. all of this is subject to whether the coaching staff you have is good enough to create the opportunity of grooming a qb to play in the NFL at a high level.

i don't believe that is true in this instance... He’s about to play in his second Super Bowl in his four pro seasons. And his consistently flawless snaps on punts, field goals and extra points are a big reason Denver is in the NFL’s championship game this Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. But behind that surfer-dude exterior is a perfectionist. Long snapper guru Chris Rubio says that Brewer is extremely athletic, not to mention consistent and automatic. this guy fills a serious need at a key position we are weak at since mannelley retired. he is young and has post season experience. he could virtually play at a high level for 10 years in chicago. in my opinion this is one of the better signings we have had this offseason.

sounds like an excellent choice. the next patrick mannelly? here is some info on him: OZY - http://www.ozy.com/rising-stars/aaron-brew...st-player/67679 Denver Broncos long snapper Brewer isn’t completely anonymous, though. He’s good at what he does, but it just so happens that the epithet most commonly following his name is a little less desirable than what gets attached to Manning: Twenty-five-year-old Brewer was once dubbed “the worst player in the NFL.” But don’t feel too bad. Brewer’s earning more than $1 million a year playing a position that requires him to be on the field for only a handful of snaps each game. He’s about to play in his second Super Bowl in his four pro seasons. And his consistently flawless snaps on punts, field goals and extra points are a big reason Denver is in the NFL’s championship game this Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. “No one cares about the long snapper, but it’s a position of paramount importance, because it changes the whole perspective of field position,” says Wayne McDonnell, an associate professor of sports management at New York University. At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, Brewer would stand out in most crowds. But on media day, he easily blends into the chaos. His long dirty-blond hair streams out from a “Super Bowl 50’’ cap as he listens to teammates get interviewed. A Denver TV reporter sticks a microphone in Brewer’s face and proclaims, “We have never talked to this young man,’’ and then moves on after his questions elicit a few quick self-deprecating answers. But behind that surfer-dude exterior is a perfectionist. Long snapper guru Chris Rubio says that Brewer is extremely athletic, not to mention consistent and automatic. “Being a long snapper is almost like being a professional free-throw shooter; you’re doing the same thing every time,’’ Rubio says. “Long snappers have to be like a sniper — you have one job, and you have to do it well.’’

well then what's the reason? what's he not buying into? he gives effort, shows up to mandatory camp, plays hurt and starts games, says positive things about the bears and so on and so forth. what do they want from this guy? the absolute only thing i heard about is him holding out on VOLUNTARY training camp because he wanted more money. if that is what they are making a decision on dumping him for they must be living in a bomb shelter/cave. that is how the nfl works these days.

the guy was playing games with broken ribs!!! doesn't that say enough of what a team player he is???

have you even heard what he was asking for? even if he is asking to be paid like a top 5 TE isn't that because he IS? we keep referring to FA and paying what the prospects are worth. well we HAVE a guy like that and now we want to dump him because he wants to get paid a comparable salary? dude, we can't just keep dumping quality players especially on offense. we have no proven horses in the stable. neither ONE of them were on the same page. it was a completely NEW offense!! and it can be said of almost every receiver that they are not ALWAYS on the same page. so you would want to take away one of cutlers ONLY proven offensive playmakers left on this team to roll the dice on a freaking 4th round draft pick at the same position? seriously? how bout we trade kyle long for a couple of picks. then we could draft 2 players and hope they are as good too. yikes, it seems like some kinda fever this time of year where everyone wants to dump the old and gamble on the new for no apparent reason.

i just don't see it. he has not disrupted the locker room, he hasn't come out with a crazy press conference about insane nothings and hasn't threatened to kill anyones children i have heard about. so what is the beef with this guy? he just wanted to renegotiate his contract? sorry but this is really a good comparison. url was starting his peak decline, similar in age and similar in rankings per position. in FACT url still had a number of years left on his contract after we gave him the moon upfront previously when he wanted more. so if you want to talk about greedy bennet doesn't come close to urls demands in my opinion. i just see no reason everyone wants to get rid of a high quality player with no serious problems in his prime for pie in the sky!!

i agree with you. this guy is a top 10 TE in the NFL. why get rid of him? the guy is a tough player. plays through injury, he is not injury prone, he can block like a demon, he is a true redzone target, he has at the least good hands, he is not old, he is not a locker room cancer, he has no substance abuse issues and he works well in the community. why trade him and have to draft an unknown who we HOPE can be half as good as he is when we need to draft players at other positions. quite frankly we don't have anywhere close to enough quality players on this roster so why so eager to let him go? because he wanted a larger contract and held out on voluntary practice? so what. so did urlacher. how many wanted to trade him at the time? we have the money... pay the guy.

i agree with you. since george was given the keys to the franchise i believe he has been the one calling the shots and mikey is really out of the picture unless proven differently. i was commenting on mikey's role prior to george. all through the angelo era mike was calling the shots just not taking the heat from it which he left to sweaty teddy. phillips was the media punching bag taking the hits for mikes decisions.

i hope that answer is tongue and cheek. little mikey may have 'looked' like the gardener at halas hall but his status and power in the organization and on the board was the same as it was before and after the mcginnis screw up. that was proven when ted phillips had to refer to asking/saying mike mccaskey approved of getting rid of angelo at a press conference i believe. in other words it was the same ole same ole before curious george was given the reins. i have hopes he is doing it right (he seems to be).

i have to agree. if there is a QB that LOOKS like a future franchise player in a couple of years and is a value at the #11 spot you have to take him regardless of cutlers future with this club. most QB's shelf life hits the wall around 34 or 35 and with all the punishment cutler has had to endure with our previous lame excuse for an offense i don't look for him to last much more than that. we HOPEFULLY will not be in a position to draft this high again for quite some time so NOW is the time to pull the trigger unless the prospects (which i don't have a clue in regards to quality and potential as i don't watch college ball anymore) don't look like those quality type of players. the only other prospect i can see would be nearly as high as QB is left tackle. that is the only exception i would accept, again, if the quality of the LOT is there. if not go defense. certainly not a RT unless that is the best option for quality left to us. that dictates looking ahead for the real health of this franchise unlike the 'win it now' or 'who is most likely to start' player agenda of lovie and angelo for 10 years.

i have to agree. he did not look good at times and looked really bad at others. i'm not sure strength is going to help him in regards to getting pancaked or pushed back like it was a TE blocking a defensive tackle. the missed blocks CAN be due to being a rookie but by game 16 he is basically not a rookie anymore. i will cross my fingers that he can turn this around by next season but i wouldn't bet the farm on it. we need a replacement in the wings if he fails and hopefully someone bigger.

first: where did this guy supposedly get the hard data from in regards to the time the balls were measured, whether one teams balls were wet or dry, how each ball and each TEAM stored the balls in in what manner and so on. this is pure hypothesis on his part making the scientific data he is spewing in regards to THIS instance meaningless. some questions surely arise... do they store the game balls in an open containers? in other words the assumption by him is that all the balls were wet and that could alter PSI? if so, that is nonsense from a common sense standard. NO team is going to store game balls subject to play on the field open to rain and elements unless they are stupid. second: if it does not really matter what the PSI is then WHY DO IT??? why chance the risk of being caught cheating or changing it if it does not matter to TOM BRADY? do YOU or ANYONE really believe a ball boy just decides on his own to change the PSI of a game ball the patriots and TOM BRADY are going to use in a real game?????? its ridiculous to assume so. third: tom brady was instrumental in getting the rules changed a few years before in regards to the balls HE uses during a game. HE was instrumental in the changes. so to believe he (or ESPECIALLY bellicek) would not know what the rules are implemented in regards to football condition is ludicrous. fourth: this franchise has been CAUGHT cheating in the past. billy was censured and fined. the pats lost draft picks. it has been inferred in the media that the pats have been cheating since bellichek came there in 2000 or whenever he arrived. that means that the environment exists for the pats to lie, cheat and steal from the rest of the NFL. their OC, mcdaniel, was almost assuredly involved in cheating in new england and the complete moron tried it again when he was with the broncos. all involved with that franchise are under the cloud of cheating and had to do it better than anyone else yet this shows up again when this team is vying for another super bowl ring. to me it invalidates EVERYTHING this franchise has accomplished since billy arrived. ALL the superbowl rings are questionable. ALL the records and stats are questionable. THAT IS WHAT CHEATING DOES!! it destroys all reliability in legitimate or NOT accomplishments. it throws the NFL into the same category as all star wrestling. the NFL and especially it's fans are the losers. as far as i'm concerned they could dissolve the entire franchise and bar it's execs from ever having anything to do with the NFL.

understandable? not even close.

i usually wouldn't comment on this but wow.... was that a disgustingly stupid game. i'm not a big steelers fan and was going for the bengels but changed my mind by the time it was over. cinncy deserved to lose. from the idiot fans in the stands to the imbeciles on the field it was a black eye to the entire NFL. take in mind i detest rapesemburger but puleaase, it was bad enough cheering the injury but pelting any injured player being carted off the field with half full water bottles? that i don't believe i have ever seen. shame on the bengel fans, you are completely without class. may it be another 20 + years before you win a playoff game. and just how STUPID are the players on this team? they had the steelers beat not once but TWICE!! fumble like that? yikes!! then the late hit by #55 on that receiver was beyond believability. the game was nearly won. all they had to do was limit the steelers to short gains and run out the clock. he decides to KO a receiver after taking 2-3 steps in a wide open field right in front of the refs??? and pac man jones? he decides a 15 yard penalty to bring the steelers into position for a 'long' field goal isn't enough? then proceeds to pick a fight in the MIDDLE of 2 or 3 official's with a freaking opponents coach and turn it into a 30 yard penalty??? he needs to stick to taking dollar bills away from strippers in vegas and leave playing pro ball to someone with an IQ larger than their shoe size. all in all it was a disgusting performance by both teams but the bengels certainly beat out the steelers by a mile. if it was a badge of honor to be dumb AND stupid - cinncy and it's fans win it hands down.