jason

Maybe the Bears might move back up? The Bears could easily package the combo 4th rounders and/or 6th rounders to move forward in the 2nd or 3rd. Honestly, I wouldn't mind that idea at all. I've long said this draft is deep and has maximum value in round 2-4.

Like the idea of the trade. Dislike most of the names drafted. Yannick Ngakoue looks pretty good, and I'm a fan of Hogan. I think Watt 7th is a good idea, even if it's just to see if he could convince his brother to sign in Chicago as a FA. Otherwise I don't like the collection of players that much.

Crazy. I'd love to see the video related to what they're talking about. People often get cut blocks and chop blocks confused. Based on the rule, I'd say the video you're talking about doesn't match up. There must be more to the rule not in the bullet.

If he's healthy, he's an immediate upgrade at return man.

I don't think you're reading the rule right. The chop block on passing plays has been illegal for a while. Cut blocks, however, are still going to be legal because they're just blocks below the waist by specific players. The same goes for the OTs who are beat. I believe they are still allowed to go low when beat. The same thing goes for the RBs. They're going to be allowed to block low. What's changed, according to the NFL Operations post (third bullet), is the high-low block that, apparently, was legal before for RBs. The high-low block is what the chop block is. So, I guess when the RB went in to help with the blocks he was allowed to chop before. Not now. But if a defensive lineman breaks through, the RB is still allowed to go low.

Interesting idea! I wouldn't be shocked if Thompson was fully aware of that guy's articles.

Who the hell is this BOB McGINN guy?! He's awesome! Too bad he's a packer guy. He should have Kiper's job or something similar.

I don't think the thought of Cardale Jones is unpopular. It's just that the Bears were slotted in a few mocks to take him in the second round, which gets a big "Hell No!" from me.

I'm not joking. He may be a horrible person, but then again, he may not. There is a big difference between him and BM. This guy is on his last chance. He knows if he screws up he probably doesn't stay in the NFL. BM on the other hand is still an elite player on the field who has some issues behind closed doors. Most teams probably aren't turned off by Marshall to a terminal degree; they are willing to deal with a minor headache for The production. If he causes NY issues like all his former teams, someone will still pick him up. Hardy is nowhere near that. He screws up again? At best he sees the CFL. That's why I think he is worth a chance. There is literally no possible downside.

Maybe Hardy was just pissed with how someone in the Cowboy organization treated him and the situation? It's possible he just hates the Cowboys and would toe the line for Fox. What harm could it do? He screws up, he's gone. An example is made. But if he doesn't screw up, and he turns it around, that's a huge ceiling for improvement.

What is left to do? To be honest, I think the Bears are sitting pretty. They have solidified a huge hole on D (ILB), signed a good 3-4DE, solidified a side of the offensive line by signing an OT that moves Long back inside, and even picked up a stud long snapper. I think it's time for the Bears to roll the dice and take a chance or two. First things first, sign Jake Long. He's 30, not getting much love, and has a knee injury history. This guy was the #1 pick just a handful of years ago. He's had bad luck. So be it. He's available, and could make a comeback for a few years. At the worst he's probably better than Leno. The age may scare some, but John Tait signed at 29 and gave the Bears 5 good years. Roberto Garza signed at 26 and worked for 10 years. Rueben Brown - 32 years old, gave 3 good years. Fred Miller - 32 years old, gave 3 good years. Take a shot in the dark, it could prove incredibly beneficial. Second, and I know I'll lose most on this board, but sign Greg Hardy. I know, I know, but the dude has immense talent. Have him come in on a "don't do any stupid shit or you're gone the next day"-contract, and have Fox read him the riot act on day one. Let him know this is probably his last chance. He has to know it. I don't know exactly what happened, and I didn't see the evidence, but the charges were dropped. And you know what? I don't even care if he's a traditional 43DE. A guy with that physical talent could work at a situational pass-rusher at the worst, and an explosive threat at the best.

I like that draft a lot. Several names I'm in favor of: Stanley, Cash, Smith, Oakman, Nicolas (late), Aguayo. I don't like Jihad Ward though. I think he's a guy caught in between positions and will be a bust.

I used fanspeak's own board. It was quite bizarre. I could have gone a variety of ways, but BPA gave me Derrick Henry later than he should be, and Hunter Henry in the fourth/Bronson Kaufusi in the fifth is crazy.

I agree we won that one, but I'm not certain of anything right now. I really have a bad feeling that the Patriots will put him at OLB and he'll put up good stats.

I've done a bunch of mock lately on fanspeak, and I ran into this one today that I couldn't understand. I definitely don't think this would happen, or would it be normal, but this would be an insane draft for a variety of reasons. Would you be happy with it? 11: R1P11 DT- A'SHAWN ROBINSON- ALABAMA 41: R2P10 OLB- LEONARD FLOYD- GEORGIA 72: R3P9 RB- DERRICK HENRY- ALABAMA 107: R4P8 TE- HUNTER HENRY- ARKANSAS 128: R4P29 QB- DAK PRESCOTT- MISSISSIPPI STATE 151: R5P11 DE- BRONSON KAUFUSI- BRIGHAM YOUNG 186: R6P10 OT- TYLER JOHNSTONE- OREGON 207: R6P31 CB- WAYNE LYONS- MICHIGAN 231: R7P9 WR- DEMARCUS AYERS- HOUSTON

RB or TE? OK, so it's pretty obvious TE is more important, but the class isn't that great. A lot of people believe TE's are being overvalued because there just aren't good ones. So, figure the round and then go one round later. The RB class, however, has some interesting talent. So, that leads me to this dilemma: What if Derrick Henry and Hunter Henry are both available in the beginning of the third? I like both guys, but I think Derrick Henry could be one of those Earl Campbell types, a guy who is going to easily average 4 yards per carry. He won't cause a ton of missed tackles, but when he gets a head of steam going, he's going to punish LBs and secondary. And if a strong, run-blocking line is in front of him (i.e. Long and Massie), he could bust huge runs. Not only that, he's a guaranteed GL back, something the Bears don't have right now. Hunter Henry? He seems pretty good, but is he going to be better than one of the other guys in the 5th-6th round?

Two quick thoughts just to play devil's advocate: 1) Just because a coach controls chemistry doesn't mean there will be success. There was somewhat poor chemistry on the 85 Bears, where the D and O fought, and Buddy Ryan outright despised having Ditka involved in any way. But as we all know, that team won. Conversely, a guy like John Shoop could have had all the chemistry and control he wanted, and there was no way his offense was going to be successful, mostly because he was a moron. 2) So in 2 to 3 years Marshall and Bennett are going to be washed up? I think I'd take that bet.

I will boycott Bears games until Pace, Fox, and company are gone if they draft a TE in the first.

The bolded part! I completely agree! I've looked at lots of mocks and can never see the perfect scenario playing out unless the Bears reach once or twice.

A few quick questions: 1) Do you think the Bears will draft a TE? 2) Do you think they will draft him in the first four rounds? 3) What stats do you think Zach Miller, assuming he stays injury free, will have at the end of the year? The reason why I ask is, I really don't know how the Bears feel about TE and Miller. Do they trust him? Seems so since they resigned him and traded Bennett. But, as the detractors have said, he's not a spring chicken and he has had injury issues in the past. That alone should be enough reason to invest in a young TE fairly early. I honestly hope the Bears don't draft a TE early. I want to see nothing but Defense and OL for the first 4 rounds (5 picks). And I'd really like to see what Miller can do when given the true starter's role for the season.

Disagree here with the INTs. There have been multiple games and INTs analyzed in great detail, and it appears that more INTs happen when MB is in, and passes are thrown his way. Miller comes in and magically, for the most part, those issues disappear.

It's possible, if not probable, you are both right. The Bears likely needed a culture shift in the organization. Hence, it's good to get rid of malcontents. On the other hand, getting rid of probowl players for middle round draft picks isn't a great trade off. Sure, it's better than the nothing they would have gotten eventually at the end of the respective contracts, but it's essentially the lesser of two evils, not an actual great option.

Agree. This is a Bears board. Anything Bear related should be inbounds. Old players included.

Poorly written and argued article. 1. If Fox stayed in Denver last year, they still would have won. 2. There is no way the Bears do not draft a TE this year (in case Miller goes down). 3. Maybe the Bears weren't hiding Bennett? Maybe he was running poor routes? This has been hinted at before. I'm not 100% in favor of getting rid of Bennett, Marshall, or Forte, but at least the first two had sufficient enough personality clashes that keeping them was difficult.

Well, a trade has thrown us for a loop, and we have a dead-lock among board members on the first round. I don't see how TE isn't a bigger need for the Bears right now, and there are some prime candidates. As for the first round... 2 want OT in the 1st: bear trap, dawhizz 2 don't want OT in the 1st: Alaska, TD Until someone breaks that tie, we stay with the current layout. We also have the addition of a KR requirement from two. MOCK DRAFT VER 5.0 1. Ronnie Stanley, OT, ND 2. Vernon Butler, DE, LaTech 3. Jayron Kearse, SS, Clemson 4. Nick Vannett, TE, OSU 4. Eric Murray, CB, Minnesota 5. Kevin Hogan, QB, Stanford 6. Demarcus Ayers, WR/KR, Houston 6. Dadi Nicolas, OLB, VaTech 7. Dan Vitale, FB, Northwestern bear trap - (YES: OT in 1st, Buckner/Robinson at 5T, some RB depth), NO: (Lawson at 5T) dawhizz - (YES: KR/WR combo in 5-6, OT in 1st, DE early, OLB mid rounds, FS>SS) ashkum - (YES: SS higher than 6th, Can see TE early, Vernon Butler 2nd) scs787 - (YES: DE>SS, QB>RB, Vernon Butler 2nd) Alaska - (YES: QB/RB 1st), (NO: OL 1st) AZ54 - (NO: Zack Sanchez @ CB, Jalin Marshall @ WR) TD - (YES: KR/WR combo in 5-6), (NO: OL 1st) stinger - (YES: Hogan > Driskel)