jason

Just like Peanut. Just like Urlacher. Forte wants to remain in Chicago. http://www.csnchicago.com/bears/workhorse-...-stellar-career I think this article is basically a sign that he won't be with the Bears next year.

For all intents and purposes, he was let go. He wanted to stay in Chicago, and would have worked with the Bears if they were even remotely interested in signing him. Just like Urlacher, all they had to do was bargain with him, give a "thanks for being a legendary Bear player"-bump above league minimum, and he likely would have retired a Bear.

I think that's something else to consider, but, you're right, there are a ton of ways to evaluate this. Too many moving parts. The best way we really have is to see where a player is picked and what his career ends up being. Trying to quantitatively determine your suggestion would be a nightmare with free agency, coaching changes, injuries, etc. We know the Bears just from the past 10 years have had some drastic swings and most don't have anything to do with the rookie draft picks. For instance: 2004 they went 5-11 and then drafted Cedric Benson, Mark Bradley, Kyle Orton, et. al. The next year they went 11-5, but it wasn't because of any of the picks. It was because half the defense made the pro-bowl and they were an automatic turnover machine. BTW - The one thing everyone is ignoring in this equation about how different the picks are is how much they are worth. Every team uses the draft value chart to some extent, and even from 7 to 6 there is a difference that is worth a high 4th round pick. For a team like the Bears that needs so many positions upgraded, that kind of value is important. What if the Bears were able to trade down 5-6 spots and pick up an extra 2nd rounder? That has to be considered as well. I'd rather have a team full of 2nd round guys who make the pro bowl every other year than a team full of average guys surrounding a HoF'er.

He makes me nauseous as a return man, but I'm not so sure your first sentence is true. He is one of those guys who doesn't look like much, but he seems to understand routes and how to get open. And his hands when catching passes are sure from what we've seen. A lot of times those type of players are not impressive, but they just continually find the soft spot in the zone or come back to an escaping QB. Eight catches in the last game are still eight catches. He was pressed into starting, and he played against starters from the other team. Who is to say he can't do that for the majority of a season as a 4th WR?

:pray :headbang

On this, you're dead on. But guess what? The Spurs do it all the time. And the NBA hates them for it. But they seem to be doing pretty well as a franchise as a result of resting their guys. Speaking of them, they bombed out one year when Duncan went down, and ended up getting a great draft pick: Tim Duncan. Those two played pretty well together for a while.

Exactly. Except Lovie, even though I hated when he won those season-ending, meaningless games, was perpetually on the hot-seat, so he wanted to pad his coaching record and save his job.

I'm just sick of the argument is all. 72% in favor, even though we both thought it would be higher, is enough. That is a high percentage. 72% is something I'd take to Vegas and become a millionaire many times over. Keep in mind I never said the Bears should try to lose the games. I'm just saying that when the team is obviously in need of a lot of help, it has a statistical probability of helping the team long term to lose (not on purpose) and get a better draft position. I believe all the data in this thread pretty much proves that point.

I'll be upset if Ragland and Nkemdiche are there and the Bears draft Jack.

Absolutely, unequivocally, 100% hell no. No. Horrible, horrible idea. The Bears need way too many positions. They need at least 2 on the OL, one or two on the DL, two or three LBs, probably a WR, and a partridge in a pear tree.

He was let go at least one year too early. I called it. Bad decision by the front office. He would have helped a lot this year.

Don't you think the finger pointing SHOULD be elsewhere on the Jets? BM put up 109 catches, 1502 yds, and 14 TDs. As for Fitzpatrick, he absolutely shit the bed vs the Bills this year, throwing a third of his year's INTs in just those two games. Marshall is not the reason the Jets lost. And he wasn't the reason the Bears lost.

CASE CLOSED. Lock this thread.

I think Manziel honestly becomes a Cowboy, and that leaves only Cleveland and SF as potential QB destinations.

I honestly don't think he was that bad in the locker room. I think the previous coaching staff was just clueless in the locker room. I believe Fox could have easily handled the situation, and kept BM. Three added benefits to this: BM is on the team catching TDs, Alshon wants to stay, 2015's 1st round pick could have been spent on a different position of need instead of filling a hole left by BM.

Don't move the goal posts. You said the five positions didn't matter. I'm saying they do matter, and stats prove it. Nobody said a thing about losing on purpose...well, nobody except you.

Cleveland is done with Manziel for good. Their front office has essentially said they are picking a QB with their first rounder. Not a huge shocker, but it is one less variable to be considered when thinking about who falls to the Bears.

Completely agree. Both INTs were just bad luck combined with good defensive play by the opponent. Now if I could just get you on board with the draft thing.

Sorry, but, once again, you are wrong. There have been numerous posts linking to statistical analysis proving this concept.

I knew getting rid of BM was a bad idea. Not only did he have another great year in NY, but he also precipitated the Kevin White pick - which is currently very negative - and may end up costing us Alshon as well. The Bears need good football players who produce on the field. They do not need to dump people who a semi-problematic elsewhere.

Seriously??? That makes plenty of sense for the Jets because Alshon is easily better than Decker.

I, too, cheered for the win. But I wasn't nearly as pissed as normal about the loss. Silver linings.

Surprisingly, I agree. Royal isn't worth the headache of his health issues, and Mariani, despite how atrocious he is at punt returning, is a decent slot receiver. He's one of those pesky guys with just enough speed, dexterity, and intelligence to zig when the opponent zags. He gets open and has relatively good hands.

With who was available, and the situation with impending draft position, the game couldn't have ended any better for the Bears. The fought hard, showed grit, a few guys got to shine, and Gase showed he could take a really bad hand and put together a decent scheme. Two tipped balls for INTs, that's the difference. Just poor luck is all. Those kind of breaks don't go your way when you're starting three UDFA at WR and one 7th rounder.

One quick thought: You do NOT want OJ Howard on the Bears. Everyone in Alabama hates him for the most part. His hands are not great. His route running is questionable. His work ethic is also up for debate. Absolutely not.