jason

Um, it's incredibly easy to argue against Tavon Austin if he's there. Again, this is about three options: 1) Pure BPA 2) BPA based on positions of need in order of need 3) Positions of need regardless of BPA There is no freaking way in hell one of a handful of very good players from the Bears' positions of need are not there. You've mentioned three likely targets. There are several others. If the Bears are just using #1, then maybe it's a reason to draft Austin in the second. But I would hate it. #2 is the only relevant drafting strategy in my mind, unless, of course, you already know someone is going to turn into the next superstar (nobody knows this).

So where is "#4 speed receiver" on the list of needs? I'd say, at the very least, the following are ahead of that need (in no specific order): 1. LT 2. RG 3. C 4. LG 5. MLB 6. SLB 7. TE 8. Backup QB 9. CB

He wasn't JUST a deep threat...which is what is being discussed. In the past he was asked to do much more than be a #4 who JUST serves as a deep threat. We've all seen how Hester handles a limited plate, and how he handles a full plate. Hester with a limited plate = Best return man in history Hester with a full plate = Runs backwards on punt returns Let's take some stuff of his plate and just let him be the guy he was in the first few years with the Bears.

And, yet, he's done pretty well for being such a horrible receiver. He's done much better than what a #4 WR would be required to do, which is make plays that are "few and far between." I understand saying the dude isn't a #1, or even a #2, but you're making it out like he's actually retarded or handicapped. Please familiarize yourself with his stats. Talk about someone who doesn't own a TV. It's as if you missed the average of 36 receptions per year since his rookie season. Now you're being extra stupid. Wallace is considered a #1 because he does much more than just run the go route. Have you even watched a Steeler game?! You've got to stop with this ridiculous comparison nonsense. I'll go ahead and so you can enlighten yourself, but nobody is even remotely insinuating the two are the same. Hester would be required to do very little as the #4. His job would be to run fast. That's about it. They may ask him to run a deep post or something like that, but essentially his job as a #4 speed guy would be to threaten the safeties. He most certainly has the speed to do that. And GTFO of here with that Kellen Davis BS.

Great research. Nailed the concept.

Please. Quit being stupid. You might be able to run fast, but you would look like you have on cement blocks for shoes compared to Devin Hester. Is Hester a good WR? No. Does Hester have good hands? No. Does Hester have good enough hands? Yes. Can Hester run by a secondary? Yes. Would a secondary have to respect that in case Hester catches the pass? Abso-freaking-lutely. What sc is saying is pretty easy to comprehend. Coach: "Devin, on this play I want you to run as hard as you can up the seam so you occupy a DB and threaten a safety." Hester: "Duurrr...OK." Pretty simple stuff. Cutler uncorks one to Hester every other game or so and the threat is guaranteed. Hence, the field opens up.

This is one of the better offseason scenarios I've seen. Having said that, I'm curious who you'd envision as the starting OL in that scenario? I'm guessing... Bushrod - Jones - Garza - Louis - Carimi I'd be very happy with that since I think it's too early to give up on Carimi's first round talent. Quickly... -Louis - Repeat: contract too long -Skov - Rotates with Url, starts his second year -Rambo - Pushes for starts year one -Fauria - Pushes for starts year one -Foltz - Cool name

Safety battle from those scrubs? Forgive me...

You know what? I'm pretty much saying we have to go OL in the first, or second, or both. There is an absolute ton of top shelf talent on the OL this year, the likes of which we may never see again.

I think the difference is, you appear to separate the two concepts of BPA and need, when, in reality, virtually no team does that. If you have 4 or 5 ranked needs going into the draft, where 1 is the most important and 5 is the 5th most important, you have to factor that in as well. If the BPA happens to be from your #5 position, and no other player from needs 1-4 come close to #5's rating, then you probably go with #5. But grabbing the BPA even though he's at position #9 of need doesn't make a lot of sense to me. One, because there's a greater chance he doesn't start and doesn't have a high impact. Two, you have too much money invested at one position. Three, even if that player does start there is a decent chance he won't be able to excel because players from position 1-5 are still going to suck. BPA only takes you so far when you need 22 guys to fill a roster. This ain't the NBA where one dude can absolutely carry a team.

I'm so sick of hearing that. He really didn't hold on to the ball too long in normal circumstances. It's just messed up perspective from Bears' fans who were disappointed with Jay, and the offense. How in the hell can anyone honestly say he held on to the ball "wayyyyyy too long" when he almost never had time to get to a second read. Aaron Rodgers holds on to the ball for ridiculous amounts of time while waiting for his 2nd, 3rd, 4th read. Cutler doesn't do this because he rarely had time to do so. Every once in a while? Sure. But unless you consider holding it beyond the first read when the first read is blanketed as holding it way too long, then it's just BS. The next time Cutler has consecutive plays where he has a comfortable pocket that allows him to look at a 2nd or 3rd read will be his first with the Bears. As for the rest of your post, I agree. The RBs will play a much larger role in the passing game this year.

Agreed about WR.

For old time's sake:

So, no real change from last year, and the Bears still have Marshal, Jeffery, and Bennett as the core WRs.

I'm normally in favor of the talented player with issues, but F this guy. He has always been an on-field trouble maker, and a punk.

Yes. I like Carimi. I like him in a "don't give up on your first round talent because he had an injury and wasn't completely horrible"-kind of way. Scott was not good. No Bears offensive lineman was good. Average is the best adjective permitted when describing any of their performances last year. Going into the year with Webb (whose best year is still subpar), Scott (a journeyman who has proven he is not very good), and Carimi (a 1st rounder most on this board despise) is not ideal. Adding a 4th rounder from a virtual non-football school like UAPB doesn't get me all warm and fuzzy. Emery agrees; he almost drafted OL ahead of Alshon last year. Most certainly not, check. You have more faith in URFA Louis (horrific injury for a guy that size) and yet another late round OG than I do. No check. I agree that Garza is declining, and Jones won't be there in the third. But Frederick or Schwenke could very well be there in the 4th. It's not even a 100% OL issue. I don't like drafting two WRs. I think that's stupid because the Bears still have Marshall, Alshon, and Bennett...a very good core group. I don't like drafting a LB in the 1st AND 4th rounds. This team has been defensively oriented for quite some time. It's time to give the offense a chance to win some games. Sorry, I just don't like the draft.

This.

I don't have the time or desire to crunch this, but it would be interesting to pair up the FAs with the teams in the most dire salary cap situations. If I were GM, that's a nugget of information that would always be in my mind.

If it's only those four on the Bears' radar with that grade, then it absolutely has to be Cooper. Period. And, in my opinion, Ertz shouldn't even be in the picture with the others. TE in the first?

Beatty doesn't excite me, and I consider just about any draft that doesn't address OL in the 1st, or 2nd, or both, a poorly planned and executed draft that doesn't adequately address the 1st and 2nd biggest problems with the Bears.

There you have it...OL, OL, OL. PFF basically just said all the players on the Bears OL suck. This offseason should be very OL heavy...like it should have been for the past several years.

Obviously hate the draft. Two LBs and two WRs?! C'mon.

This is why I don't want to go to games any more. http://espn.go.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/id/...ticket-prices-a $80 for the cheapest seat in the house?! And that's before some asshole scalper gets his hands on all the other tickets and charges a 50% markup (if I'm lucky). So, take the family and you pay a couple hundred, plus $20+ parking, plus $50 or so for grub/drinks. No thanks. I'd rather watch ALL the games and sit in the comfort of my home.

Why does everything have to be so elementary all the time? Jeez. If you have access to an online resource of every time Hester had the ball in his hands, I'd love to see it. I'll gladly break down the film. In the meantime, the plays I mentioned demonstrate he still has lethal speed. What he lacks is the vision and decision making. Having said that, I don't disagree with the production angle you and AZ bring up. Hester has done little to warrant his salary the past two years.

That's a poor logical jump. I was getting my hair cut yesterday by a lady at Sports Cuts who said she wasn't a sports fan, tuned out the TVs most of the time, but was completely sick of the Teo story. I bet a lot of those voters voted the way they did for the same reason.