jason

I like that draft better. With one simple change, it would have been much better. Granted, I think OL was/is more important than DE, and the 4th rd pick could have been used on something more important in my opinion.

As someone who was nearly indestructible as a younger man, fighting through bumps and bruises that should have been massive injuries, and having torn an MCL/ACL combo in the past three months, I can confirm that age plays a large part in being able to recover from bumps and bruises and avoid injuries. If we want Cutler to be around for years to come - much like our hated nemesis - then he needs to be protected so that he doesn't have to "hold his own."

The lists from the first few rounds are much longer. Sure, it's possible...but not likely. For a position that needed arguably the most attention on the team, I'd hope the Bears would pay more attention to it than "not likely."

There's a reason the list of draftee success stories from the 7th round is short...there is typically less talent, bigger risks, and assorted issues that cause them to typically go in the 7th.

That's what worries me.

It's just too bad Barnes will probably never see the field. 1 - The Bears are stacked with young WRs. 2 - The Bears are stacked with potential at WR. 3 - Look how long it took for Aromashodu to get on the field. 4 - Hester is getting paid too much to be eliminated from the WR position entirely. So where does Barnes fit in? Slot? Nope. That's Hester's position. Straight line speed? Nope. He can't do it, and it's all on Johnny Knox. Possession WR? Nope. Bennett is better at it, AND has familiarity with Jay Cutler. Potential sleeper to get on the field and explode? Nope. That's Aromashodu. So, once again, how does Barnes get on the field?

Faneca? I'm not sure. I'd feel the same way I did about Pace. At first I would be hyped, remembering his old playing ability. Then I would caution myself because of how Pace turned out. IF they signed him, I'd be pretty happy. But it would not surprise me if he Pace'd the Bears.

Not entirely, but yes, I do believe it's part of the decision. Sure, if there was a stud in the 7th they would have selected him, but I actually believe the front office does stuff like this just so they can argue with the concept that they don't draft OL.

I don't know about you, but I'm not confident in Cutler's health when it is protected by friggin Omiyale at RT and Beekman at OG. Neither of those two guys inspire confidence in me. This draft should have had attention to OL before CB and/or QB.

This pick was nothing but placation, a way to manipulate stats so that years later they can argue their disdain for drafting OL by saying, "We drafted an OL every year!" (or some other nonsense)

Not very happy with the fact that they waited until the seventh for OL help. Yet again ignored. But, we are just fans and don't know any better, right? Good thing the Bears have been consistently good for the past decade, otherwise that argument wouldn't make any damn sense.

I LOVE Eric Olsen, C, from Notre Dame. He's nasty, like Olin. Also, he moved from Guard to Center senior year, so I'm sure he could play either. He'd be great...but I fear he's in between the fourth and fifth pick for the Bears. The Bears fourth could be a reach, and waiting on the fifth might be too late.

True, it's speculation. But I'm inclined to believe the athlete over the tons of gold-diggers out there who always seem to find the athletes. If you've ever been to a club or a bar (or anywhere) when a famous person is around, you'd know what I mean. As for Ben, I'm in agreement with you that he doesn't deserve pity. Hell, none of the pro athletes do. They get everything in the world handed to them on a silver platter - including the aforementioned rooms full of gorgeous women - and idiots like this somehow manage to screw it up by getting bad press.

He won't last until the Bears pick. All the draft experts have him as one of the best ten players left after the first round.

1) Big Ben, and others, face the Goodell hammer because they bring negative attention to the NFL. Period. 2) Guilty of crimes or not, Roethlisberger made stupid decisions, and that's why he has the negative attention (See #1). I happen to believe that Big Ben did nothing wrong (other than stupid decision making - he should videotape every woman he plans on getting involved with BEFORE they make physical contact). The first case was proven to be a man-trap situation, and it was thrown out before it got to court. The second, most recent case is, IMHO, the same as the other. It is no surprise to me that the case has been dismissed, and the woman wanted to stop the prosecution process...oh, yeah, because it's too "intrusive." I read that as "has no evidence," and she doesn't want to turn into another Tawanna Brawley. These guys are put in situations where beautiful women see the rich NFL players as opportunities to get rich and/or famous. Rape is an atrocious crime, but in the case of professional athletes, I believe there are far fewer rapes than false accusations.

He'll be a good pickup until one of the Bears gives him his next concussion. Then it's a wasted pick. Best is going to get hurt again, mark those words.

That would be a pretty awesome draft.

Pass. The Bears have too many of the exact same player.

If Forte continues this trend, he probably will NOT be seeing the majority of time in the Martz offense.

Yeah, that's a bit contradictory. I say no picks for Sims, and especially none for Marshall. As mentioned numerous times on this board, the WR position is one of the last positions with which the Bears need help...regardless of how much the ignorant media mentions it.

Weird...I see conflicting information Pro Football Reference I didn't watch enough of their games to know for sure...but ESPN does say he played the majority of the games.

I have a fanatic Seahawks fan as a good friend, and he had this to say when I talked to him tonight: "The Offensive Line was the worst part of the team, and Sims couldn't even break into the starting lineup. He started a few games this year, but was bad when he was in the game." Further, nearly every draft site has OL as the primary need for the Seahawks...and, yet, they want to get rid of someone? This just doesn't pass the smell test.

Semantics.

I actually agree with Mayock. Offense: 1) Fired Turner, hired Martz = HUGE upgrade 2) Added Chester Taylor, which I'd say guarantees the Bears have at least one RB ready each game = GOOD upgrade 3) Better WRs will start because of Turner's absence (i.e. Aromashodu) = GOOD upgrade 4) McKie cut = HUGE upgrade 5) Manumaleuna signed = OK upgrade (to the OL) Special Teams: 1) Hester looks like he will be more of a slot WR, which means less offensive reps and more ST reps. Potentially MONSTROUS upgrade. Defense: 1) Peppers signed. His presense alone is worth two average players. BIGGEST upgrade of th year. 1a) Peppers' impact on overall defense: HUGE upgrade. DTs will be better because Peppers will collapse the pocket. LBs will be better because they'll be able to roam more. The other DE will be better because Peppers will always get the double-team. The CBs and Safeties no longer have to guard the WRs for 15 seconds at a time. 3) Urlacher not injured. HUGE upgrade. 4) Tinoisamoa not injured. GOOD upgrade. 5) Babich fired. OK upgrade. I expect BIG things from the Bears this year.

In other news, water is wet.