jason

I am decidedly in the owners corner. The thing that I always hear is "the average players' career is 3 years." So F'ing what!!! During those three years, even if they are the lowest paid guy on the team, they get the minimum NFL salary, which is something like $300-$400K per year. They make in their three years what many people make in 8-10 years. Cry me a river. I have a problem with this, but that's not the entire issue given that these guys are the product. I think where the problem arises, for me at least, is that it's difficult to see these BILLIONAIRE owners collectively making decisions that lose all of them money. I just don't see it. These people are, by and large, successful business owners who know about making money. They know about success. They know money, the bottom line, debits and credits. The players, meanwhile, are, on average, not very bright. Sure, there are some very bright guys, but it is my contention that many are idiots, and the percentage is greater than average. If one side knows what is right and wrong with a complex financial deal, it's my belief that it would be the owners. If one side is going to be greedy without knowledge, it's my belief that it would be the players. Overall, I have less of a problem with educated, previously successful business owners making money with a business venture - make no mistake, that's what an NFL team is. It's an investment. I just find it difficult to believe that all these owners would be making this stuff up. They know what it is to make money.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who hates the idea of signing Sims-Walker.

I like that Melton is bigger and still athletic enough to potentially excel as a 3-technique guy, but my problem is that the way Lovie's system works is frustrating explicitly because he picks 3-technique guys. Unless that DT is Warren Sapp or early Tommie Harris, the result is a guy who shoots the B-Gap and gets pushed wide...right along with the DEs who are wide of the OT on 98% of the plays in this scheme. Hence, what we have seen far too often with the Bears' defense under Lovie Smith, the opposing QB has a comfortable pocket to step up into and complete short and mid-range passes over and over and over again. I don't mind the 3-technique guys; I just wish Lovie and crew would make it a more balanced mix - along with various stunts - one that has more 1 and 2 gap responsibilities.

1. I used Marshall as an example because he came from a mid-major college and put up stats. 2. I agree about OG > OT. 3. If the Bears start off with a WR, I will be disappointed. So should any right-minded Bear Fan. 3a. If the Beats start off with a CB, then it's an even more incompetent decision than WR.

In my opinion, no. A draft pick is measured on personal and team success. If the player is not successful for the team who drafted him, then the player is a bust for that team. Benson is a double-bust in my opinion because I still contend, just as many of us did before he was drafted, that he was unnecessary at the time.

I agree they get more praise than they deserve, but let's wait to see what they do after this year's massive stock-piling of picks. They have a ton of picks this year.

Thank you. This is a very good find!

I understood the intent, just chose to go an alternate route. I can't think of too many players I specifically don't want. If the Bears pick the right positions for a change, that, in and of itself, would make me fairly happy.

Seriously. Emmitt Smith was a very good pro, but nowhere near the credit he gets. He made a career of running behind the best OL in possibly NFL history, and the majority of his monster runs were the direct result of holes that anyone on this board could run through.

Sigh, indeed. That draft would be atrocious. But go ahead and stay on the high horse. I don't care if you know Baldwin personally. The dude put up mediocre stats against mediocre college talent, and got skull-drug against mid-level SEC talent (i.e. UK). The odds are against him doing anything special in the NFL. If he put up better stats against the inferior opposition, like say Randy Moss, or even another Pitt receiver such as Larry Fitzgerald, then that would be another story. Besides, I would have hated it regardless of what WR they took in the first round. Starting with WR, DE, OT, OLB is a ridiculous approach to the Bears 2011 draft. A team's most glaring first and second flaws should be addressed before the third round. And make no mistake, the most glaring flaws are OT and OG.

I like the idea, but hate the whole "he might compete" angle taken in the article. I'd like for there to be more confidence that a FA will beat out one of the bums that nearly got Cutler killed last year.

Funny that he singles out Kreutz, but fails to mention the turnstyles known as Omiyale and Webb.

This is the worst one I've found, but I haven't done a ton of searching. http://newnfldraft.com/ 1st: WR - Baldwin, Pitt 2nd: DE - Romerus, Pitt 3rd: OT - DeChristopher, VT 4th: OLB - Robinson, Temple I hate it. Big East, ACC, Atlantic-10. Yuck. I dare you to find one worse!

The player I don't want: Mark Ingram. Reasons? 1) RB is not needed 2) He's not really that fast 3) I watched multiple Alabama games this year, and always was more impressed with the OL than the RB 4) Richardson stepped in and did just as well 5) He won the Heisman because of hype, not necessarily performance (Toby Gerhardt should have won and had better stats) 6) The entire team is packed full of future NFL players, and the opponents usually have at least a few less 7) He reminds me of Emmitt Smith, a player I was never terribly impressed with (watch a highlight film and you'll see a bunch of OL studs plowing holes) I admit that most of this may be because of #7.

He is too ugly to play for the Bears anyway.

Just for this video...

Lot of good points in this thread. First, I'd say that I don't like joining JA and Lovie like proposed. It's too simplistic. If I had to break it down, I'd put in in a few quick categories off the top of my head: JA's drafting: Average at best JA's FA pickups: Better than average Lovie's coaching: Average at best Lovie's rapport with the players: Better than average Extending on Alaskan Grizzly's thoughts, people in this generation to work better for the Lovie's of this world. Accountability and responsibility are of less importance than they once were. This is especially true of kids coming out of college right now. To put it simply, kids today are selfish and spoiled...more so than ever before. The professional athletes are even worse. They would rather have a coach who wants them to win, but gives them the "aw shucks, we'll get'em next time" speech after a loss...while on the way to get the entire team ice cream. The problem: The Ditka's and Cowher's of this world tend to do a better job at inspiring their people to work harder, to reach beyond their barriers, to achieve what they previously thought not possible. History is littered with these type of men leading others towards success. There aren't nearly as many Lovie success stories, especially when it comes to something as hyper-aggressive as NFL football, a game that is often compared to the exploits of war. Right now, lemonej is right, the Bears' are NFL middle class. With JA and Lovie I believe it's exactly where the Bears will stay.

1. defiantgiant's quote is what I responded to: "I'm not crazy about a lot of aspects of Baldwin's game, but he does bring exactly what the Bears' WRs are missing - a big red-zone jump-ball threat. I mean, his height/reach/vertical leap combination is in the same conversation with Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald. He's not as fast or shifty as either of those players, but he has the potential to be elite in red-zone situations." For that express purpose, it's stupid. If the dude is Larry Fitzgerald reincarnated, then it's not as bad of a move. I still hate it in RD1, especially given his production against inferior opponents. 2. Why is it that when there is disagreement someone always says chill out, or something similar? This is a civil discussion. If anyone is excited about it, it's you. Especially when considering the DA situation that makes drafting a WR in the first round somewhat illogical. 3. We simply disagree on whether or not Aromashodu got a shot and I don't think Tommie Harris cements the deal for the coaches. We saw what Aromashodu can do on the field when given a legit chance. He blew up. Then he got buried last year. I'd rather have a player who shits the bed in practice and then destroys the league in games, versus the opposite of that. Essentially you're using the inverse "Dez White Argument," a guy who allegedly tore it up in practice and then replaced his hands with bricks when gametime rolled around. Again, using logic, if the Bears WR did poorly enough that you think a WR needs to be drafted in the first round, then it stands to reason that they shouldn't have been playing the entire year when other options were present; others should have been given opportunities to at least see if they'd improve the offense. The gametime opportunity never came for Aromashodu. That means the Bears are either happier with their WRs than you and some others (my hope), or that they are incompetent evaluators or vindictive towards players (my fear). 4. Yes, doing mocks is fun. And you should notice I didn't say much about the rest of your mock. But, this is a message board, and the greater majority of content on message boards is debate. I'm debating your first round selection of a lesser-known WR, who you originally seemed to want because he's "elite in red-zone situations," from a smaller school, who put up average stats against average teams, and got completely shut down against the one SEC team he played against.

I didn't say mine was gold, but if getting a WR in the first round is done so the Bears have a jump ball threat in the end zone, then yes, it's garbage. Secondly, DA did not get a chance. What alternate universe Bears games did you watch last year? DA was in the doghouse almost the entire year, and it wasn't really fair considering one of the main things you want is a WR. If the Bears need a WR, then surely those who played didn't do well enough in your eyes, which means they should have explored the DA option. Which they didn't. If the OL is deep, it still has an upper crust. And that upper crust is much more important than drafting a tall WR simply because he ::might:: be able work in jump ball situations. Because as well all know, if the BPA presents itself later, JA and crew might just go after that player. Which means OL gets skipped til rd.3. Wash, rinse, repeat. To say that there aren't really talent differences between the first, second, and third rounds is so utterly ridiculous it's not even worth addressing.

That may be true. I was simply replying to the tired garbage everyone keeps using in defense of a WR being drafted early. The "we need a red zone threat who can man-up, box-out, and get a jump ball" is a bogus argument. As if the jump ball is the primary weapon for a cold weather team when in the red zone. As if scheming and a strong running game, which has the added side effect of successful play action, don't create a near non-requirement for that type of player. If the Bears' front office thinks a WR is needed - a concept several here agree with (not me) - then I sincerely hope it's not a narrowly focused grab at a tall WR who can be good on specific types of plays. Semi-related note...if that's the player they want, I'd like to see Aroma given a shot to fulfill that need.

I'm really enjoying the back-and-forth, but if you think JA has done a good job drafting for this Chicago Bears team, then you must have missed a good portion of the Bears' games recently.

If the purpose is so narrowly focused as to get an elite red zone, shield the DB, jump ball threat, then they need to throw the damn ball to the two MEGA-TE's the Bears have already! And if that's not good enough, then pick one of the following later. Cheaper. Terrence Toliver, LSU - Solid Tori Gurley, South Carolina - Good prospect, looks the part, overshadowed by Jeffires Chris Matthews, UK - Tons of praise, tall, fights for the ball, blocks hard downfield Kris Durham, UGA - Overshadowed by AJ Green DeAndre Brown, Southern Miss. - Injury history, but measurables make him worth a late round pick

WHOA!!! I mean, this is something many of us have thought was the right move, but it still wasn't something I expected the Bears to do. Judging from the last few years, Angelo must have a hard time getting shorts over his huge nuts. Go big or go home!

Ugh. Look, I know the dude ripped up Notre Dame this year, and I understand that many want a WR, but it is far from the #1 priority. #3 at best. And if the Bears ARE going to get a WR in the first round, it would be good to get a guy who had more production against a relatively weak schedule and didn't get completely negated against a mid-level SEC team.

HATE IT. No. HORRIBLE, STUPID IDEA. Yes, capital letters were necessary.