Alaskan Grizzly

It just occurred to me that Shaw and AJ played together at South Carolina. Or did they(?)

Personally think it's a great idea. Suspect Hoyer next?

I sure hope neither GB, Minny or Det get Fournette. Kids gonna be a beast in the NFL. At 240# ran a 4.51 / 40! Yikes

I don't think anyone's really suggesting they would prefer Foster over those guys, just that it would be cool to have him on the team. It's too bad we don't 'need' an ILB. Really though, how long has it been that we've needed a good safety? Since Mike Brown?

I hear ya for sure. But... they need other players in other positions. If only. You're right that Foster is one of them 'once in a few years' opportunity.

Not for nothing but I sorta wish we were in need of ILBs. Would absolutely love the idea of getting Bama LB R. Foster and Clemson LB Ben Boulware on the Bears roster. Talk about an awesome line backing corps. That would be snot jarring duo for sure.

I agree, for the most part. I think we have very capable veterans already on the roster. Those being Hoyer, Barkley and Shaw. What's more, they've all worked in the Gace/Loggains system already. And as we discussed not all that long ago, there was a list that identified the top three QB FA's. Of those two, Hoyer and Barkley, are on our roster already (the other - at the time - was Cousins). I have a hard time legitimizing the signing of someone else's backup QB or throw away IE: RGIII or Manziel without looking at what we got already. (As a sidebar: Anyone have some concern with all the connections to Cleveland we're starting to see with our offense? Hoyer, Shaw, RGIII, Manziel and Loggains have at one time all had exposure to Cleveland and somehow they've collected, or could, in Chicago. It makes me nauseous to consider). Anyhow, Hoyer's been down this road before. The "you get to be starter only if you prove yourself" role. That time being in Houston where he and Mallett had the battle royal for the starting position. Hoyer managed to win where he eventually made it to the playoffs before he fell flat. Anyhow, I'd agree that he'd probably make the most sense at least in being a game manager placeholder for the franchise QB draftee.

I'm beginning to wonder if this isn't more 'smoke and mirrors'. A few weeks ago it was Garrapolo. Yesterday it was McCarron. Now this? Are they trying to throw others 'off the scent' of their intent to draft QB in the 3rd or are they legitimately looking at all these backups?

I would hope they want to win now. I could end it there but started to think about how it was John Fox did it before. That is, how did he transform 1, 2, 3 win teams into super bowl contenders in the past? What was the common thread? Was there one? Oddly enough...there was. Looking at the Venn Diagram that is John Fox and a Super Bowl formula I noticed that each time he made a significant push for the Super Bowl he had changed Qbs from previous seasons. Not only that but it seemed they were retread QBs or backups in each instance. In Denver we know that Peyton probably had a lot to do with the teams turnaround, at least on the offense. But when he was with Carolina going in he had Rodney Peete who played ok the year before but in year two Fox decided to go with Jake Delhomme who until 2003 had been with New Orleans and been primarily a backup. We all recall what happened later that year with Delhomme as QB. I'm too lazy to see what was going on with his defenses in both Carolina and Denver but suffice to say both were pretty damn good. It would probably matter HOW the defenses got so good in both instances to make more sense of it. Did he build it through a draft or two like he's appearing to do in Chicago or just coach up what he had? Based on all that I suspect we'll see a QB like McCarron or *gulp* Garrapolo this year (and still maybe a QB drafted in later rounds as insurance) but suspect *gulp* Jason and others are right when they speculate he'll draft early and often for defense.

On the one hand I hear the name 'Osweiler' ringing in my head when I think of our team signing someone else's backup QB to be the starter. On the other hand Bill Polian thinks it would be a good idea to have teams consider McCarron their starter. (OF course he also thought Cutler would be the best FA available when available). I can't understand why Cincy is so steadfast on getting better than a 3rd or 4th round for him. They only chose him in the 5th round to begin with and it's not like he's lit it up in his 3(?) starts. Just good I'd say. I saw another article that proposed a 'player for player' trade. In this instance it suggested SF bring the idea of trading for McCarron in exchange for DE Armestead and a 6th(?) pick. Apparently Cincy is in need of some DL help. If we were to go that route do we have a player they might could use and a better draft pick? Say our 5th? Or maybe McCarron straight up for one of our 4th's?

Even more reason to question this. Of all the players you listed the only one, so far, that has worked out (in the place of the listed players) is Jordan Howard. Heck they thought Langford was the answer and the reason for Fortes departure. But then along came Jordan. Did Pace just luck out? I mean when you look at the other players; Bennett, Marshall, Jeffery and Cutler either gone or potentially gone you have; Miller, K. White, Meredith(?) and a player to be determined in their place. Of those two (Miller and White) have an even worse injury history than AJ. So again, should we start questioning Pace's judgement going forward or is there something he knows we don't?

Something just doesn't add up. Not to say Cutler was/is a good player but the team is suddenly looking at losing two franchise difference makers with nothing in return. Sure AJ has had his injuries and Jay can't seem to remain consistent but they are no doubt cornerstone players. If not in Chicago with another team. But to lose them both; again with no compensation doesn't make much sense. Something is going on and we're missing it. Pace isn't that naive...right?

Agreed.

But in theory, wouldn't you want to pick a higher value QB then assume the team will tank? Making it more realistic to pick at the top the following year and get the 'franchise QB'? As opposed to building up the team through defense and presuming they have a better record due to the defense being that much better? Weren't they rated somewhere in the top 10-15? With a scrub like Hoyer, Barkley or Shaw playing just good enough the team could find themselves in the middle to later part of the 1st round and out of contention for the earlier round draft spots. Besides that, holding out hope for next year has too many variables that would make me nervous.

I think everyone knows the team doesn't plan on going forward with him. Those that may have an eye on him will wait to see if any interest is garnered. Remember this isn't the first time he's been 'shopped'. A team like NE could consider it (extremely high possibility of no) if they were to lose Garrappolo (and get draft picks in exchange) then losing a sixth or seventh in a trade wouldn't feel so wasteful. You know NE does have a knack for turning turds into stars so why not Jay? Of course this is a wild hypothesis and more of just a 'for example'.

Ha ha very ? Not that anyone will believe this but I do hope he goes out somewhere in style. Perhaps he'll get signed on with a team as a backup (Tennessee?) and makes it to the Super Bowl before he hangs it up? I really didn't hate the guy, just the way he played most times. Wasn't there another thread about this somewhere? I still think the Bears are gonna end up releasing him in the end.

Saw something where this has been the case since about mid-January. If you believe earlier reports, this isn't the first time he's been on the market since Pace and Co. have been in town. Jay hasn't done much in the stat department to really help himself and now is coming off two injuries last year. The most recent being a shoulder injury with surgery(?). I won't be surprised if the Bears don't end up releasing him.

Not for nothing but according to the article below, of the current FA QBs, the Bears have two of the top three already on their roster. Not sure why signing someone like Foles would be a good move. Instead of bringing in a Foles or Garrapolo; re-sign Hoyer and Barkley to 1 year "prove it" deals then have them compete with Shaw and drafted QB. https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-2017-f...agency-tracker/

I saw that Ryan Clady, Marshall Newhouse and Mike Remmers could also all be available. Of those three Newhouse might be the best value.

One thing to consider is that neither Wentz or Prescott were rated very high going this late into the offseason last year. Yet Prescott proved he was probably rated higher than the 4th round he was picked in. And although not earth shattering, Wentz looked legit as the #2 overall. Just goes to show that you might not be able to nail down where these guys rate overall. For the record, I'm still a Watson guy. He's got more to offer than just field performance. Intangibles I believe they call 'em.

Speaking of Garrappolo and in regards to 'unknowns' in the QB FA market; AJ McCarron is being talked as a potential candidate. Wanna say some time ago Bill Polian spoke on this and of the two chose AJ. Oh yeah here it is: http://sportsnaut.com/2017/02/bill-polian-...2017-nfl-draft/

Apparently he (Kush) didn't get the memo from the NFLPA about not signing with the Bears.

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At the risk of being 'douchy' and about NE not signing players to big contracts; this article says otherwise. http://www.patspulpit.com/2015/7/16/897626...cts-for-players So with that rumor dispelled, about this contract thing. With having the Franchise designator looming couldn't Chicago work some deal with AJ and his agent to a tradable friendly contract knowing teams like NE could come knocking? And what's to say AJ wouldn't accept less knowing he could potentially go to a team like NE? Perhaps it's spelled out somewhere in the CBA that this can't be done but what's to say it isn't at least thought of? (Did i mention I know nothing of NFL contracts and draft value?).

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