sprout

from profootballtalk.com AUTHORITIES WON’T RELEASE BENSON ARREST AUDIO Posted by Michael David Smith on May 21, 2008, 10:22 a.m. EDT Law enforcement authorities are refusing to release an audio recording taken during the arrest of Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson, the Austin television station KXAN is reporting. Assistant County Attorney Daniel Bradford told KXAN that the decision to withhold the audio “is based on the public’s desire to protect the integrity of the county’s investigations into and prosecution of crime.” But what about the public’s desire to find out whether the police are mistreating citizens? Benson has claimed he was treated badly by the officers who arrested him for boating while intoxicated, and the audio could shed light on whether Benson’s claims are valid. Benson claims he was not drunk and was simply enjoying an evening on his boat with friends and family when police stopped him. His next court hearing is scheduled for June 30.

Yeah, I'm interested to hear why he missed. If he was in court, fine. Other than that, there aren't to many reasons he could have to miss that would seem acceptable. For a lot of players these OTA's aren't always necessary. That's not the case with Benson. He has a job to win and more importantly, I think he needs to show the Bears (or the rest of the NFL) that he wants to play football, that he wants to be good. Whether he was at fault on that boat or not, he should be going above and beyond to prove himself on and off the field. If he doesn't understand that, he'll never make it.

They can change your seats to other seats of the same value. This will be my 4th year with season tickets and I haven't had my seats moved yet. I was on the waiting list for 1 yr.

I have non-psl season tickets and every year I get the letter from the Bears with the info to move to psl seats. Although it's tempting, I have to pay so much more to get basically the same seats. The only real bonuses are that they can't really move your seats on you, you get the option to buy Super Bowl tickets (if the Bears are in the Super Bowl), and I think you may get some different parking options. I still get my tickets every year. I get to buy playoff tickets if I want. I can enter a raffle for a reserved parking spot (I don't). I can enter a lottery for Super Bowl tickets (although I think very few non-psl season ticket holders get SB tickets). I've basically decided that until I can afford to upgrade to Cadillac club seats, moving from my present seats or moving to psl seats isn't worth the money.

If Forte is what they think he is, he'll be running a lot of those screens and draws. He's suppose to be a 3-down back that can be left in there no matter what the situation. If that is the case, I would think that the #2 back would be used for a series here and there to rest Forte and Wolfe would come in on long distance downs replacing the #2.

Some more info from the Sun times Bears sign RB Lawrence to roster Did it have something to do with the weekend trouble Cedric Benson got himself in? The Bears wouldn’t say if it did. But the club added a running back Monday, signing Matt Lawrence, the undrafted free agent from UMass who participated in the rookie minicamp this weekend on a tryout basis. The 6-1, 210-pounder transferred to he I-AA school from Connecticut. He started 13 games last season, rushing for 1,585 yards and 16 touchdowns. Lawrence moves well, has good quickness and showed he can be a contributor in special teams over the weekend. That brings to six the number of backs the Bears have on the roster. He joins Benson, Matt Forte, Adrian Peterson, Garrett Wolfe and P.J. Pope.

Yes, there was a Mr. Haney on Green Acres!

I think many people just think that Rex will win the "open" competition. Rex is a great training camp QB. When there isn't any pressure on him he looks awesome. He has a cannon arm and can make all the throws. The only chance I think Orton has is if Rex really sucks in the preseason games.

At this point, I'd rather go for more of a project with upside like Josh Johnson or Dennis Dixon.

From PFT.com HOT WATER FOR BRIGGS? Posted by Mike Florio on April 24, 2008, 3:20 p.m. In June, Bears linebacker Lance Briggs will have to play a different kind of defense in a court of law. According to Michael Sneed of the Chicago Sun-Times, Briggs is required to appear before a judge on June 19 to explain why Briggs left the state without the judge’s permission. Briggs’ travel restrictions are a result of the one-year probation arising from his guilty plea to fleeing the scene of an accident after he crashed his Lamborghini in 2007. Briggs later called police and reported the car to be stolen. In addition to probation, Briggs was ordered to perform 120 hours of community service. To date, he has performed a grand total of, let’s see, two. The judge wants to know on June 19 how Briggs plans to fulfill his obligation. At his current rate, it will take about thirty years.

I don't know where Baker is projected to go, but I would love if we could get him in the 2nd rd.

I'd love it if the Bears got Flacco in rd3, but there is absolutely no way he lasts until the 3rd rd.

From profootballtalk.com: BEARS PLANNING FRIDAY VISIT WITH THOMAS Posted by Mike Florio on April 24, 2008, 8:59 a.m. At a time when most of the smoke signals emanating from Halas Hall suggest that the Chicago Bears will focus on improving the offensive line and/or the running game with the 14th overall pick in the draft, a league source tells us that receivers coach Darryl Drake is heading to Michigan on Friday to meet with, and possibly to work out, receiver Devin Thomas. Of course, there’s a chance that the smokescreen is the team’s eleventh-hour interest in Thomas. If the Bears can cajole the Bills into taking him at No. 11, or dupe someone into jumping in front of them at No. 14, there’s a chance that the player whom they truly covet will slip through to them. Regardless of the motive, the fact remains that the meeting will occur on Friday. If the Bears were hoping to send out phony vibes about their interest in Thomas, they presumably would have met with him earlier than the day before the draft. Unless, of course, they want the phony vibes to be really convincing.

I think they take Dorsey if it goes 1. Long 2. Long 3. Ryan If Dorsey is gone I think they take McFadden. Although if that is the scenario, I think they should take Gholston or Ellis.

I think it depends on what it takes to sign him. If you can bring him in for relativley cheap and have him compete for one of the 3 RB slots with Benson, AP, and whoever we draft, then why not? Basically, if you can sign him to a deal where it doesn't really hurt your cap too much if you need to cut him, then I'd sign him. I don't know what his value will be, but I know he isn't a long term solution. He may be a decent guy to have for a season or so while we groom a younger guy.

Yeah, but AZ has to say that. If they say "Yeah, we'll trade him" that decreases his value. If they say "No, he's way to good to trade" then other teams know they have to offer some real value to get him. Cinci said forever that they weren't trading Ocho Cinco, but it looks like they are listening to offers now. If he were available, I don't think we could get him. I would imagine he would command at least a 1st and a 3rd round pick. We have too many holes to give up two early round picks. If we could give them a 3rd from this years and next years 1st, I'd do that.

Yeah, I was just posting that info showing that his stock was on the rise. I don't know where he will go. I was just thinking that if he was considered a 3rd or 4th rounder before the Senior Bowl, combine, and pro day and he is considered to have improved his draft spot, then him moving into the 2nd wouldn't be unrealistic. That being said, I think there may just be too many decent rb's that he would have to jump ahead of to be taken that early.

I haven't really seen him play either, other than a few plays in the Senior Bowl. The bio on him says he is built like Bettis and Jamal Lewis. Big back with quick feet.

I have: Urlacher Mike Brown Tommie Harris Tom Waddle all blue My 8yr old son has: Urlacher Peanut Hester all blue

I think he was originally considered a 3-4 rd pick but after a good Senior Bowl, Combine, and Pro Day his stock is rising. From nfldraftscout.com 03/13/08 - Tailback Matt Forte, whose draft stock has been soaring in recent weeks, only performed running back drills, choosing to stand on his 40-yard dash time and other workout performances from last month's NFL combine. 02/12/08 - All-Star Game Risers Team: RB Matt Forte (Tulane): As if his 2,127 yards last season weren't enough, Forte continued his climb up draft boards with a solid week of practices at the Senior Bowl and an MVP performance in the game. His size (6'1", 221), strong inside running, and quick feet are reminiscent of Jamal Lewis and Jerome Bettis. He's not a liability in the passing game, however, as he caught over 100 balls during his career at Tulane and displayed those hands in Mobile. 02/11/08 - PRO POTENTIAL: RB Matt Forte benefited from the coaching change in 2007. Running backs in spread offenses don't often translate into productive pros so the move from the spread to the West Coast offense did Forte a big favor. Not only did he emerge as the nation's leading rusher but he showed what he could do in a more traditional pro-style offense, often against eight- and nine-man fronts. He started the season as a likely third- or fourth-round pick but his stock his on the rise. He continued to help himself in the Senior Bowl with his ability to work his way through a crowd and showed a decent burst after contact. Forte got a chance to show off his receiving skills and made a positive impression in that area as well.

Yeah, I just couldn't resist!

Another FA WR option gone: from PFT: HACKETT LANDS IN CAROLINA Posted by Mike Florio on March 17, 2008, 12:19 p.m. The Carolina Panthers continue to load up on pass catchers who might benefit from all the attention that Steve Smith receives. After bringing back Muhsin Muhammad, the team has now added D.J. Hackett, formerly of the Seattle Seahawks. Per Adam Schefter of NFL Network and Adam Caplan of Scout.com, Hackett will sign a two-year, $3.5 million deal with the Panthers. Hackett has shown flashes of ability during his NFL career, but that potential wasn’t enough to get a team to open its wallet wider than $1.75 million per year. Other teams interested in Hackett were the Seahawks, the Redskins, and the Buccaneers. The Panthers also have Dwayne Jarrett, a second-round pick in 2007, and Travis Taylor, a well-traveled first-round pick of the Ravens in 2000

Using the word "stacked" to describe or WR group should be illegal. Stacked implies deep and good. We have a bunch of guys, but they are all either unproven (Hester, Bradley, Riddeau, Hass), disappointments (Lloyd), or aging (Booker). Davis doesn't really fit in any of those groups. He is what he is. A decent slot receiver.

Even if they have basically given the job to Rex, I don't think it will be the same as in previous years. They will have to keep up the appearance of a competition because of everything they've said. Orton would be super pissed if he wasn't given the chance to compete. As long as the coaches don't tell Rex the job is his (even if theyh think it), then I think it is irrelevant. He'll still have to step it up because he thinks he's in a competition. Does anyone really think Orton can beat Rex out in a training camp competition anyway? We've all seen Rex at training camp when there is no pressure on him. He perfroms incredibly. The only chance Orton has is to perform well in training camp and hope he way out plays Rex in preseason games.

Good point. I guess if you know what you have and it isn't good, not knowing what you have is better! At least then there is some hope!