Stinger226

I think there going to draft and bring in FAs and figure out what scheme is best to run with what they have. I agree it will take two years, this year is important it get a playmaker somewhere, dont think everything will be determined by where SMC fits in the best. Bostic will be designated to fill Briggs shoes after this year, so he will either win the SLB spot or be everybodys backup. I suspect from previous behavior that Lance will come in in shape and play well, but also will be complaining about a new contract from the get go.

I think our top priority this off season is to identify and add a couple of leader types on the defense. As much as I think letting Urlacher go was needed , we did miss his leadership. Him being here probably wouldnt have made much difference in our final record, but he would have put the young players in a better place to succeed. Briggs,IMO, isnt a team leader, he is a good player with a big mouth. When he came back from injury, he was out of shape and team leaders dont do that. Tillman and Peppers, lead by example, not inspiration to the people that needed guidance. Peanut was hurt almost all year, and Peppers has lost a step. He had many games he just didnt show up. We need to add a couple of players that can direct the ship into a better direction that our defense showed us last year. Usually team leaders on defense are LBers, so I think the possibility exists we might be targeting a MLB in early rounds. Mosley fits that bill, and maybe Borland, or Skov could succeed in that spot. We dont have a MLB on the roster at this time, so Mosley could be a surprise 1st round pick for us. There are a few options in FAgency Beason-29 or a Butler-26, but more than likely D. J. Williams who didnt take that leadership role last year. Daryl Smith is a possiblity but at 32 this year is unlikely.

I have read they have had talks with Peanuts people, Ratliff's,Melton's. I think they want these players back but at their price, so that is why there not signed yet. They have a plan, we will soon find out, so as soon as they get these deals done or fail, then it will become more clear as to what the next step is. I think they will set up the draft to take the BPA and March 11 will be having things fall in place. Emery's first year left a lot to be desired but that year he got Marshall, and Jeffery, so it wasnt all bad. Last year the jury is still out, but looks promising, so we will just have to see what shakes out.

You have got me around to the thinking that should be our pick, but I suspect by the start of FAgency they will sign some of our players back,(i think Wooten,Melton,Ratliff) that they will be in the position to take the BPA and that might not be Ealy. After Clowney and Ealy, its a big drop off, so the possiblity exists they will both be gone. So I suspect the BPA wont be a DE.

With the SCM pick still looming as a failure, he will not take a Dee Ford, or a OLB

I think there are questions about all the DEs, but those have less of a risk factor. On the average 50% of the first round are disaapointments. Hope ours isnt one of them.

I agree with you about it will be a surprise pick, but think it will be one of these 5 Ealy/DE Ha Ha/S Pryor/S Donald/DT Mosley/LB

I agree, I think probably SF or ,maybe Jets will be our only chances at a trade.

That would help let the draft picks take there time to contribute, he will be a rotational player and maybe last a little longer in the health area.

I disagree, I think they will leap on a couple of FAs , not your Hardys or TJWards but they will identity someone and go after them, similar to last year but not quite the contracts given. They have stated they want to bring back Melton, Garza, and Wooten. So I think they target a S and DE. Someone like a Antione Bethea/S and Lamar Houston. 3 to 4 for Bethea and 6 to 7 for Houston. I figure the money they save from cutting Peppers will pay the bill.

That works sometimes, but most teams have team leaders and that is the way of the world.

I think both Donald and Ealy will be playmakers. I think if we like traded down with SF, and get some extra picks, Donald will be there, but Ealy will be long gone. Would be ok with that scenario.

I dont think he will be cheap but not elite money. After a couple are signed it will fall to reasonable contracts and maybe we can land him in that range.

I suspect with your (band of brothers), you probably didnt win anything.

A leader is some one that speaks out, and keeps people in line. It doesnt matter where your drafted, it has to do with your personality and your aggressiveness in your actions on your team. Peppers is a quiet guy, once a great player= does not equal leader. Briggs has a big mouth, and filled some of that, but his lack of keeping in shape when he came back last year, shows he doesnt have quite what it takes to lead. Tillman leads by example but doesnt have the aggressiveness to lead a team. Urlacher had that , but he is gone.

The Bears definitely have a plan, were just not privy to it. Playing GM for a moment, I think we try to bring back Melton and Tillman but if they dont accept contracts at our price, I think they should: Go after Lamar Houston/DE Clinton McDonald/DT Cory Graham/CB Antonie Bethea/S These are not the best players at there positions but think we can afford those contract and would be an upgrade and with a good draft, have it going the right direction.

Not at all Sherman, Chancellor, and Wagner were their leaders and look at the results. With Urlacher gone, Tillman, Briggs our for so many games, who was there to rally the team? Peppers has never did that. A lack ofLeadership is one of the biggest reasons everything keep falling apart.

Your right, I think his leadership would have added something but dont think the results would have been much better. He would have been just like Peanut, on the field for 8 to 10 games and the money just sitting there. From a business point of view, that was to risky. The thing that bugged me about Url was he put a gun to the Bears head for that 5 year 43 mil extension when he was in his prime.He whined like a little baby. That was top pay for a MLB at the time. The Bears took care of him in his career and then when it was his turn to show some loyalty to the Bear, he wanted 12 for 2 years. He should have played one more year retired a Bear, and took the 2.5 mil and thanked the Bears, nope whined like a little baby how unfair they were. Screw him, he got what he deserved , out of the league.

They left it open to be able to use money if they needed to, but it doesnt become a future problem until they do that, and it just gets spread over the life of the contract. I dont think they use his money if they makes the proper cuts to get some money to use. The other 3 they signed have the same contracts and would prefer to use their money first amd leave the QB situation to play itself out.

I think when the current GM and coach started rebuilding the Seahawks they brought in tons of people in and keep looking to find players and finally got the results this year with a SB.

I think that is how he will attack it, like someone mentioned we had some good players in place where that formal worked, and the defense will take a few years but can be improved. I think he goes after a DT,DE,S, and CB. Will grab the two spots that he can get at a reasonable contracts with and then the rest of the spots will be addressed in the draft. The key will be getting some Vets at low contracts that can contribute and give the draft kids sometime to develop. I think one important thing, both FA and Draft is to get a couple of players that are team leader types.

TD spelled it all out for you, that is exactly how it works, there is no room for confusion. All contracts can be spelled out differently, but this one is pretty basic, he gets paid for 3 years and if its going down the wrong road, we cut him loose with no after taste. I cant remember where I read it but there is a date that they start calulating the top 53 salaries, and I thought it was June 1. What that means if I got it right, they can after the draft designate a June 1 cut and they can play with that money until the the cap sturcture goes into effect. I will look for that and see if I can be more clear on this subject.

Actually if we wait to cut Peppers after June 1, we can spread his dead money over 2 years. Read that on an ESPN site.

One of the fastest players in this years draft is a FS Huff/Wyoming. Besides fast he can tackle lead the league he was in tackles.--127- thats huge.

The only thing Emery said was a hybrid, everybody else injected 3-4 into it.