Daventry

How about that global warming?

All of the problems with O weren't Turner's fault, but he had some time to help things improve and he never did. With the crappy year last year, something had to change, and it might as well have been him if it couldn't be Lovie. I won't shed any tears he is gone, and I think Martz brings experience to the table and gives a reason to be optimistic. I am sure he knows if he doesn't deliver he will be having beers with Turner at the Out of a Job pub....

AMEN!!! I won't get caught in some ongoing net debate about this, but there is no doubt that talking about the effect of a person's death on a football team, particularly on the day it occurred, is nowhere near empathetic or decent behaviour. Have some common decency!!!!

With all due respect, please let's not talk about the effect on a football team when someone has died. It is incredibly insensitive and callous....

#2 is exactly what stuck in my throat, Lovie still defending his scheme! THE SCHEME SUCKS! The rest of the league does NOT use it like he does....at least not the successful teams. The scheme does not work and won't work. And Lovie's insistence on the scheme being sound worried me about what potential the team has regardless of whether they have the best players or not....

Absolutely agreed. I think this is a particularly grating issue when you have your head coach, supposedly the guru, taking over play-calling and a demi-god, Rob Marinelli, coming in to work with the D as well. And what happens? We look pretty consistently bad....with signs of poor play calling and difficulty adjusting all year. Not to mention little sign of fire or intensity from the D. I wish we could let the whole bunch go, but I doubt we will.

If the doctors say he is ok, I would like to see what KJ could do next year. I was really looking forward to seeing what he could do before he got hurt this year. I would not give up on Forte yet either, but he better show something next year because he looked bad this year, even with a bad OLine. Kind of reminded me of my frustration with a great back, Neil Anderson, in his last year with the Bears. He would fall down at the sight of of a dlinesman in his last year...sad way for what was a great back to go out.

Hi All, I was just thinking, what is everyone thinking about the RB position? Last year Forte was thought to be the answer, many more questions around that thinking now I would think? Personally, I think we make sure that Jones is going to be sound next year and sign him up, and then think seriously about whether Wolfe is worth keeping. Can he really be a significant part of our offence?

Absolutely correct, and let's give the guy a defensive position to learn and count on as well. Another clear indication of Lovie's inept coaching is how this talented player has had to adjust to varied positions over the years...

I would not move that quickly in that direction..although I think DA and Bennett might be a possible 1-2, but then so might Knox and Bennett, or Hester and Knox.... I think we stick with the WR's we have and focus all of our money and few draft picks on major problem areas, like OLine.

That may be your opinion but IMO the author is dead on about both Url and Briggs. We will never know, but I would lay good money that the defense would not have improved significantly with Url this year.

I was not able to see the game last night, but from what I have read so far, the Bears resurrection is of biblical proportion. Anyone else wondering how a team that has looked flat and downright incompetent can suddenly look so good on Monday night against a strong Vikings team?

"Urlacher is way, way overpaid and on the decline. Briggs is even overpaid relative to the scheme that is designed to put him in position to make plays and drive his production, and (for) how often he plays at his own pace." Damn, maybe some of that "man-love" that Bears fans seem to have for Url and company will start to dissipate.....

Every bit of pressure that can be brought to "Bear" makes a difference, do not doubt that. I doubt that any of the McCaskey or other execs of the Bears enjoy reading about the billboard or even of the threat of a "financial stand," but I am sure that they are smart enough to know that these examples are more proof of what is to come if changes are not made. Embarassment is nothing, money is everything, and in the end, empty stands and dissatisfied fans means less money. Business people could care less about anything but money....which is why all of the fuss will help them realise that shitty teams do not sell tickets, shirts, or anything else.

Tommie Harris-Would love to see him go on principle, but if we don't save alot of money getting rid of him and aren't sure we can get better, might as well keep him until his deal is done.... Adewale-I say keep him if he doesn't cost too much, he is a character guy and solid.... Url-Let him go, way past his prime, lets let some of the young talent develop. Pace-Worthless, gone. Steltz-Way too early to give up on him unless he costs alot...which I don't believe he does McKie-Cut if can get someone better. Garza-Why cut him? He is the best of the OLine I believe... HH-On the fence with him, he is solid and smart but we have some young LB's to start giving time to who probably have more talent MA-Keep if it does not cost too much, still has promise. Kreutz-Cut him if we think Beekman is ready Williams-Keep for a reasonable price, good talent

Wow, this team really does suck....it is not getting better, only worse. And we have no first or second round picks in the coming draft. I hope we have some money to go shopping in FA, or this team will be a real eyesore.

What does everyone think we could get for Url at this point?

That makes sense...let's start the old guy who sucks!

I am not sure I would say I am embarrassed to be a Bears fan, but I am not proud of how the team has been run the last few years. To me, the Bears are all about toughness, and this regime doesn't fit that, particularly this "Cover 2" defence....but the Bears have been around a long time, and I am not yet to the point where I feel bad about putting on my Bears cap. I would choose it over any other team, still, at this point. As far as Urlacher goes, I feel his best days are well behind him as a player, and as a person he was always a dumb ass and still is. I hope he never sees the field again as a Bear, he is overpaid and stupid. That is my opinion. He was a good player, maybe even great, but no more. His character gives him no pass for me, if he was a great character I might say keep him around, he is not, so bye bye as far as I am concerned. Too early to say about Gaines, but not having a 1st or a 2nd round pick sucks, especially as they would have been high picks. Hester...I just don't know. He was great as a returner, but was that ever going to be enough? He looked good at times this year, let's give him one more year then decide... Lovie and Co? I have had enough of them...let them all go, Lovie to start with. However, it is not likely to happen with the contracts involved, so let as many go as possible, starting with Turner. I am still glad that we have Cutler, we need to build around him and give him good quality WR's to throw to. Get rid of Olsen? NO! Let's keep the guys we need!

It does for me....

I hope they play as many young/developing players as long as possible....and as far as caring whether they win, I would be inclined to wish they would lose if we had some draft picks to look forward to....

At the risk of beating a dying horse to death, I will explain myself further. I do not expect the Bears to be akin to a politican, be that Obama or whomever. However, if I went to any politicians website, and they refused to address issues at any level, as Chalk Talk has recently, and ignored what is blatantly obvious, then yes I would think it was crap and inappropriate. At the end of the day, it is the supporters/fans who have to be happy with the site otherwise the site will soon not exist. I don't expect a outspoken negative view, but neither do I expect a complete whitewash. And, a whitewash makes me feel like not supporting the Bears organisation.... It sounds like you have similiar views to mine regarding the OLine, but if you listen to Chalk Talk they are no more a problem than any other member of the offence....which is complete sh£t! They are the weakest single link and it is clear. So, that is my beef, and I think I have a right to it. For all those who want to say "just don't read it" or other similiar helpful and insightful comments, don't bother responding, just as you have recommended that I not comment about Chalk Talk, lol....

I cannot understand how anyone could "not get the hate." I understand that it is the Bears site, but one would think that a section like that could be left to be somewhat truthful and straightforward...and if not, then I guess we can all just accept "Lovie speak," which is similiar to what you see when you watch any politician talk. I don't think it does the Bears organisation any favors to constantly refuse to acknowledge, or at the very least minimise, problems. I do not suggest "ripping the team," I suggest that an honest acknowledgement of problem areas would go a long way to making me, and likely many others, feel happier, and I don't think that is too much to ask. I guess I will have to accept what it is, but it doesn't mean I have to like it. As far as the O Line not being the only problem, that is true, but is there another area of the team that is a bigger problem? We may have problems in some other areas, but for my money the O Line is no question the number one reason we suck!

Exactly. I remember the year we won the Super Bowl and he was due an extension, many in the media, and on this board, were carrying on about why the Bears were not rushing to re-sign him....now we are stuck with him.

Yeah, I understand that and also understand we all need to keep our jobs...but as a fan the damned column seems an extension of the BS coming out of Lovie's mouth all of the time. I understand the need to be politically careful, but geez, what a load of complete bollocks is coming out of his mouth! I don't know that I like, or agree with, an age where noone can seem to have an opinion or view. I finally was able to watch the Philly and 49ers games, and now I see why so many here were saying we had ordinary talent. I think Peanut was the only player who stood out, some were solid, lots were just average or below. Cutler is not playing very well....another lost season, and no draft picks in the first 2 rounds. I hope FA brings some help on the O Line...