jason

All of which I agree with...which is why I was not in favor of the Benson pick to begin with. Keep TJ, there is no need for Benson. If that doesn't happen, then the Bears never draft Forte. That's two picks that could be helping the Bears out at other positions right now.

As my signature line states, I obviously agree with you. I was just speaking in hypotheticals and hyperboles.

You are correct. I'm not calling them all head-cases. Only 85 and TO fit that bill. Also, I'm not really advocating the trade or acquisition of any of them...because I'd rather 95% of the attention be focused on making sure the OL is full of fire-breathing road-graders who would rather have their manhood chopped off than see their QB's jersey get dirty.

I've been on record numerous times. I'm ok with a headcase at WR if the guy is a stud and produces. I'd love to see the Bears make a huge FA splash and pick up two big name WRs. Ocho Cinco TO Anquan Hushyamamma Pick two of the four, and the Bears are an automatic top-ten offense, maybe even top-five.

I've been telling everyone for weeks that the Bears could actually have a much better record, with something like 10 or 11 wins, if only they had a little luck or a few bad breaks go the other way. They've been much more competitive than what the common pundits would have you believe.

I never understood that argument. It's almost entirely based on internet gossip. This belief was disproven on more than one occasion in discussions while TJ was with the Bears, with actual play-by-play breakdown on the old board. He breaks a lot more arm-tackles than people give him credit for, but for some reason people expect him to be Jerome Bettis because he has huge arms. I think people hear something, like on the news, and just run with it without actually trying to determine if it's the truth. I'm sorry, but TJ is not the soft runner so many seem to "remember".

That could very well have something to do with the garbage Arizona team he played on during his first few years. And by "something to do with" I mean "the primary cause of poor performance".

That's essentially my point. Everyone seems to want a #1 WR, but nobody wants the baggage.

I'm not smoking crack. His locker room habits are horrible, but stats don't lie. The dude can outplay just about every other WR in the NFL.

It's not ridiculous when considering the amount we've heard on this board recently about how badly the Bears need a legit #1 WR. The world isn't filled with puppies and rainbows; there are two sides to every coin. As far as his age, that point is ridiculous. The guy is still a beast, and physically he's one of the top three WRs in the league. He's still faster in pads than nearly every DB, and far too physical for them as well. I know of no age related problems like injuries or skill degradation. The guy is a weight-room monster, and stays in superb shape. We all know he is a locker room cancer, but there is no denying his abilities. I was just throwing it out there to see how serious everyone was about getting a legit #1 WR. It seems that there are definite limits to everyone's desire (thus far anyway).

I have been a proponent of this idea for quite some time. I'm all about winning over looking good. I wouldn't mind a Super Bowl win with a team of "bad guys". With that said, the Bears should go after TO. The Cowboys are in turmoil. TO is causing trouble (what's new?). And you know J.Jones is itching to do something to "fix" the team. I know he just signed a big deal, but he's as legit a #1 WR as there is in the NFL. You want a #1? Are you serious about it? Well, there you have it. He's a player who might be had for the right price. Suppose it's a first rounder and another pick in a future draft. Do you pull the trigger? How much do you really want a legit #1 weapon?

I noticed that too, and I thought, "Turner...does this guy ever learn?"

I work primarily with high schoolers, from varsity to middle school. I typically work three or four games a week while in season. I have worked, however, as far down as pee-wee, and as far up as a semi-pro game. The tendencies I have spoken of are pervasive throughout all levels.

As I said, Forte > Benson. But the OL is performing WAAAAY better this year with Forte than they were with Benson. And the funny thing is, the OL this year is bad at best.

I would like to point out that I think the holes Forte has this year are without a doubt better than the holes Benson got. In fact, that's why I was so adamant about getting an OL. Benson simply had nowhere to run 85% of the time. I would also like to point out that I showed some videos of what Benson is capable, when he has a hole; he's a pure one-cut downhill runner. And, in a small way, I agree with Benson. If he had the holes Forte has had this year, he's probably be pretty close to Forte's numbers. Forte, while we all love him, has only been hovering around 4 ypc all season. All that being said, Benson is a turd because he allowed himself to be ostracized by his teammates from the very start, he perpetually had foot-in-mouth disease, he was surly, and he got in trouble with the law (regardless of how the situations got plea-bargained or whatever). That's why I didn't really think the Forte pick was necessary. I like the results, but I think Benson would be doing just about as good as Forte this year. There is no denying Benson's talent; you just don't put up stats like he did without talent. He just didn't have the mind for it, and given the fact that he pulled 1800 out of his ass, I'd say he still doesn't.

Bingo. To reiterate the original theme of this thread: it's time to let this staff go. Love for being Zombie Lovie. Turner for being predictable, except for when he's making a completely assinine call to "outsmart" the opponent. Babich for mismanaging this defense worse than Michael Jackson has mismanaged his "tan".

As the only official on the board (that I know of), I think that there is only one unforgiveable call: The Olsen Mugging. The PI that some of you are calling iffy wasn't even close. It was textbook PI. The DB's left arm went out, hindering the WRs ability to go for the football. At that point it was a PI, regardless of the fact that he turned his head shortly thereafter. I will say, however, that nfo has the call in the endzone right. I couldn't believe the Bears didn't get a dead-ball personal foul on the Thomas TD. I think it was Tillman, but whoever it was, someone hit Thomas VERY late. The only difference is, the lack of a call in the most crucial part of the game was heartless and cowardice. That's what this guy is getting paid for. Unfortunately, it's an unofficial rule that I've heard spoken several times amongst fellow officials: You don't make a call like that late in the game. Several fellow officials have come right out and said that they are pretty much going to put their whistles in their pockets when it's under a minute. I don't agree with this, but it happens. All the other calls are a wash - this happens in every game - but the lack of a PI was pathetic. The difference is, all the other plays in the game can be made up, with a loose, albeit accidental balance being established. It happens in basketball too. The only thing is, just like in basketball, the refs choke on the whistle in the last seconds, and it's just not right. There are no other calls that can make up for that call. It has to be called when it's that obvious, because no other balance can be established throughout the "rest" of the game. Thank goodness the Bears won in OT; otherwise, it would have been downright criminal.

1) It's not hindsight when we say it before and during the game. 2) Orton's injury doesn't make him throw that badly. Although, I've been saying the OL hinders everything for a while. 3) The winning record doesn't make me feel better...it should be better. I want more.

The OC is horrible. He doesn't have a clue how to call a game and take advantage of the opponent's weakness. And he sure as hell doesn't have a clue how to use his players to maximize their talents. The QB is bad. He doesn't seem to understand how to read defenses, and he can't throw the long ball. The WRs are bad. Drops and bad routes. The OL is bad. The don't open gaping holes for the running game, yet they don't pass block great either. Perplexing. The TEs and RBs are about the only thing worthwhile. Chuck it all.

Chat room...what's up?

With this staff, who the hell knows? That's why I'm so adamant about my belief that the Bears have a collection of WRs that could do damage in the NFL. I just believe they are mismanaged. There is no way in hell someone can convince me that the collection of Olsen, Clark, Lloyd, and Hester can't create terrifying matchup problems for opposing defenses. And I didn't even mention the possibilities for a bright-minded OC who has those WRs and can put in Forte and Wolfe. Give these players to the guy running Boise State's offense, and I guaran-damn-tee that the Bears put up 30 a game.

The first part I don't have a problem with. If the coaches didn't plan on using him, then there was no real need to draft him. If I recall, however, one of the reasons was to put him on the kick return team as an up-man to punish the opponents for kicking away from Hester. Yet another plan that sounds good, yet screwed up by the coaches. The last part of your comments, in bold, I disagree with completely. This coaching staff has proven time and again that they are somewhat incompetent at best, and borderline saboteurs at worst. If Wolfe, or any other player for that matter (read: Bennett, Riddeau, Lloyd, Haas, etc.) don't get on the field, it's not an automatic mark against their abilities. It could just as easily be a blight on this coaching staff's already stained resume. You can't possibly believe that ALL of what goes into the coaches decisions has to do with talent. The coaches are humans and will naturally have favorites. It's entirely possible that some better players are on the bench, but they aren't buddies with Lovie, Turner, and Babich. It happens in every other job in the world; I don't see why it wouldn't happen with the Bears.

I don't recall whether you were for the Forte draft pick. If you were, then you're being hypocritical about the need for a RB. The need was there. That's why Forte was drafted. I love the fact that the Bears have Forte, but who's to say the Bears would needed/drafted him if Wolfe had been given a little bit of P.T. and shown that he was good enough to be a pro RB. Then the Bears could have just picked up KJ like they did, split the carries between the two, and the Bears could have addressed yet another need in the draft. But without seeing what a player has, the point unfortunately is moot. As for whether or not anything "tells us a lot", I'd disagree. I don't think it tells us much at all. Unless, of course, you're talking about the ineptitude this coaching staff continues to display when it comes to evaluating talent. Now, if the staff picked him and had the intention of not playing him - which would have been completely stupid, but not unbelievable from this crew - then you have a point.

Keep the hope alive? I just hope that if the Bears make the playoffs, they don't get horribly embarrassed.

It seems that nearly every team the Bears play has a mediocre QB who has a career day against this defense. This week, against the Saints, I have a bad feeling that Drew Brees is going to have a career day. And given what Drew Brees has been doing this year, that is scary. Bears 24 - Saints 38