Daventry

I can't see why the D cannot be better this year, Lovie's scheme was fundamentally poor and we have most of the good players returning. Urlacher's departure was a gain, not a loss. He was not up to par last year and has not played a full year since when? How can the secondary not be great with two of the best cornerbacks around and two solid safeties with capable backups behind them? Huh?

I like the pick, I have faith in the new staff and for all of the naysayers who say we need Oline it fits our need. I am sure he will start immediately and has a huge upside, he might be a great one for years.

I am in total agreement, too bad Url had to leave on a sour note but what a surprise from a guy who displayed little class at times IMO...

If we could get any draft pick for him I would take it, and if we can't I tend to think we should probably cut him pending how he looks in camp....

Good point, a relatively high round CB would be a good idea.

Hmm, that is a good point, maybe a CB would be a good investment. We have the best 2 in the NFL starting, barring the Seahawks maybe, but an awesome nickel CB would be nice to have. Nowadays it seems you have to have at least 3 top-flight CB's, how things have changed in the NFL!

Sounds good, but do we really need a CB right now that high in the draft? TBH, I would rather have a WR or DT at that spot, maybe even a LB.

I hate to see anyone wear it, but if Singletary is fine with it I cannot see why anyone else would have a problem...good for Anderson for having the respect to speak to him as well.

Brilliant, truly funny, haha.

Garza might still be serviceable if we could get him cheap.... Agree completed Re Peppers and Bennett for next year. It will be interesting to see how Trestmann rebuilds, compared to years past he is making some good moves which gives me a good feeling for the future.

Why do we not cut Hester this year? Are there cap issues? To me, he is a wasted roster spot as we have other good punt return guys we could give a shot at the position and he will no longer be a WR per Trestmann....

As a transplanted UK fan I benefit greatly from this board, amazingly for free! What a great place to be. Thanks to all of the admin staff as well, let's all hope we can take a trip together to the Super Bowl in the next year or two..completely possible in my opinion.

Hi All, Just wanted to say thanks to Pixote for starting this great forum and for all who contribute, I benefit so much from being a part of this forum! I would never be able to know nearly as much about the Bears and football in general if it were not for this board, many members here are knowledgeable and helpful and I learn a great deal from reading the posts! Keep on making this board a great one, thanks to all!

No way I would sign Urlacher for the 3.5, the fact that he remains unsigned is the best proof possible that he is not worth that kind of money. And, given what the situation is now, I would not sign him for the 2 million either at this point, we can clearly do better with the money.

I probably am a little drunk on koolaid but I am excited about the changes the new staff has made and the direction we are headed, particularly the crafty way they have signed people and added pieces of the puzzle that we really need while keeping the solid players we have had. I am hopeful that Cutler will show his potential and the line will allow him to do so, although the proof will be in the pudding and remains to be seen. I tend to think that if Cutler does not have a good year he will walk, although I hope that doesn't happen. If Jeffery takes a step forward and Bennett is solid we could have a heckuva good offence this year, Forte is solid and we have a good backup RB as well. Again, IF the new LB's live up to their potential we could be better on D. It is going to be an interesting year for Bears fans, so much more to look forward to than in past years with Lovie and Co....

It is really interesting how the new coaching/management staff have made so many moves which have not been seen from the previous staff. It seems we have really maximised our cap money on solid players and addressed needs, it is good to see that we have some guys in place that will actually make the moves necessary to win, ie providing Cutler the line needed to ensure the has the time to show us what he has to offer.

Consistent indeed....good on you. Read back through the thread and it will be easy to see what I was referring to. It is interesting you claim to be going to be "going into it with an open mind (more or less) in relation to the changes being made, when your posts always are obviously the opposite. Hence my observations. Not many Bears fans who wish to win are wanting the same old formula we have had since we last won a Super Bowl, I am hoping that the new regime delivers what we all want and rest easy knowing the old regime never would have and the Bears are in better hands in the future.

It is hard to keep up with all of the posts each member makes, but when one makes ridiculous ones then it is good there are those to point the errors out. It is easy to predict that some posters will always favour the "old" over the "new," and you hold true to form. It is easy to see that Urlacher was very old and having increased injury issues and was highly unlikely to play a full year. It he was so valued why does he remain unsigned? Money talks etc.... There is no doubt we have taken on less risk with the new guys than we had with the old, regardless of sentiment.

I say better IF the new guys stay on the field and don't have outside issues etc... More likeable for me w/o Urlacher.

I probably am a bit over-optimistic due to how impressed I have been with Emery and Trestman so far, but I feel that if the team plays up to potential we could certainly be a 12 win team. Alot hinges on Cutler and the offence meshing, the O line along with that obviously, and how well some of these new guys, ie LB's, do. However, I am looking forward to this season much more than I have for many years, for me Lovie being gone is a reason to automatically have higher hopes given we have a good-quality appearing new coach in this stead!

I certainly would not say that I hate Hester, he was a great return man and good citizen for the Bears. I have not cared for some of his recent comments, questioning retirement and hinting at changing teams, but overall he has been a great player for the Bears overall. That being said, he never was a receiver and has failed in that role, and we are paying him too much. I would say it likely that he is released unless he is willing to take a big cut.

I really hope that we can keep Idonije, he has been so solid as a player and what a great spokesman for the Bears! Hope the dollars add up and we keep him on....

Let's love Hester just for the fact that he saved us from more Lovie if that is the case, haha.

Count me as one who is glad to see him go, I feel it boils down to he is not worth more than what was offered and it was time to cut the dead wood. Lots of teams have to release past great players, no one is going to feel the Bears are cheap. Leadership can be replaced, someone else will fill that role just fine I reckon, we have lots of high quality high character veterans.

He looks like he could be interesting, I wonder if Trestman is thinking about him at all. Could be a good fit....