adam

Comments out of the Forte camp: Trying to get public opinion on his side if he goes? Why even respond to things like this? They happen all the time.

We also bring in a ton of free agents to use up the cap space with upgrades all around: David Harris, ILB Pernell McPhee, OLB Brandon Flowers, CB Chris Culliver, CB Rahim Moore, S Eddie Royal, WR Mark Ingram, RB Mike Iupati, G btw, I wouldn't change a pick on Jason's draft, that would be ridiculous.

QFT. Thanks for the info. I can see them making that decision just based on locker room harmony and cohesion.

So if a team signs him to a 1-year $14 million deal, his 2015 and 2016 salaries are guaranteed (after March 12th) and both salaries are counted against our cap? Cutler gets basically over $30 million from the Bears over 2 years and $14 million from the new team (for one year). The Bears are hit with a ridiculous cap hit for two years, and he can sign a new long term deal the next year (which would honestly be better for him after how bad 2014 was). Like playing on the franchise tag. It is actually in Cutler's and the new team's best interest if he does sign a low ball offer for one to two years, which would give him actually more money (Bears+new team), it would allow his new team to sign other players with the cap space, and it would make his contract less of a liability for the new team. I could easily see a 1 year $14.9 million deal or $7.49 million per year for two years. The two year deal, even though less lucrative would at least give him some job security and still pay him almost $45 million over two years. If the Bears are keeping Cutler, they need to convert his 2015 salary into a pro-rated bonus, which would average the cap hit out thru 2019, and free up a lot of cap space this year. If they are cutting ties, they have to cut him by March 12th or trade him.

Not really a shocker to me, I just don't think he is that low. I would say in the 10-15 range based on last year's stats alone. If you consider the offense, team, and circumstances, then he easily jumps into the 5-10 range. The offense was completely dysfunctional, he was the outlet on over 100 of Cutler's throws and the team never really established the running game. So looking at the efficiency of the numbers, it is easy to see why they had him outside the top 20. Besides the receptions, Forte had his worst rushing year since 2009. He was 27th for RB's with a 3.9 YPC (over 100 carries) and had only 1 rush more than 20 yards. Cutler had 3. According to FBO, he was 18th in DVOA (http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/rb), which measures the value per play. Mark Ingram had a 4.3 YPC, was 14th in DVOA, and had 5 rushes longer than 20 yards. It is funny because a lot of the media was high on Rashad Jennings (NYG), yet he only had a 3.8 YPC and 1x 100 yard game. Chris Johnson is supposedly washed up, yet he had 4.3 YPC, and 4 rushes longer than 20 yards. Interestingly, Bilal Powell had 4.3 YPC, and Chris Ivory had 4.1 YPC, all from the same team. However, in the end, I am not against letting him go at his current price tag. Especially if we can get comparable performance while adding other pieces to improve the team for the same cap hit.

So no one finds it odd/interesting that our GM and HC eat breakfast with a free agent QB (and say nice things about him during presser) then are completely non-committal about Cutler who is under contract? I just smell a trade coming.

Woo hoo more cap space:

It seems like these are the scenarios: 1. Just visiting Indy to meet with various teams and linked up with Fox due to history in Carolina, but nothing related to signing with Bears 2. Visit was with the intent on signing with Bears as backup to Cutler 3. Visit was with the intent on signing with Bears as the starter, with Cutler being traded 4. Visit was with the intent on signing with Bears as starter/backup, with Cutler traded, and Bears drafting QB in first two rounds

McCown could be in town to visit with multiple teams, but the connection with Fox makes this interesting. Would he be brought in as a backup, or is this to ultimately replace Cutler?

There were still options for Gase after SF hired Tomsula. He had just interviewed with Denver for HC, and was basically locked in as the Ravens OC or Jags OC (http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000460754/article/adam-gase-expected-to-land-with-jaguars-or-ravens). We were not even in play. There were also rumors of him linked to CLE, BUF, NYJ, and ATL. Fangio was a little different as it was down to us and Washington, but he became available a lot later than other candidates. I am sure he would've had a lot more offers if he was available from late December like the others. Even if it was just the "Fox-effect" it is nice to see us get true quality hires at HC and the coordinators. Have we ever had such an accomplished coaching staff in the organization? Ditka/Ryan from 84-85? Other than that, I don't think we have had a trio like this before.

Also, based on both of their squad's performances (Gase offense, Fangio defense), it would be hard for me to believe they would take a bottom of the barrel job just to have one with so many other options available for both coordinators. They had to see something they liked. The offense played way lower than expectations and if Gase can get us back to a top 10 offense, he will look like a genius, even if he just rights the ship and gets everyone playing to their potential. Fangio has more work to do, but if he can bring one of the worst defenses back to respectability, he will be the new "defense whisperer". I also thought this was eerily similar to the Marinelli thing with Emery during the Trestman hire, when we passed on Arians and McCoy. Now SF has taken that to a new low by not even getting a new coach put elevating a positional coach (not even a Coordinator) to HC.

Here are the times when our guys will be speaking to the media if anyone is interested: Wednesday, Feb 18th: 1100: John Fox 1230: Ryan Pace * all times EST

Any interest in either of these guys in the slot? KC is the new "where WR's go to die". So it is hard to give an honest assessment due to how bad they have been at WR. Avery is quicker but older. Jenkins was great at U of I, but has been essentially a draft bust. http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/article-2/Chi...16-4a5576c5b526

It looks like Gase was offered the SF HC job, but only if Tomsula was his DC. He said no, and would keep Fangio or look to get an Assistant from Cincinnati. SF said no to Gase and Fangio and then pushed Tomsula up from DLine to HC.

Yeah, why not, had a positive PFF Grade, would know the defense pretty well and seems to have a lot of upside. Also, shouldn't cost that much. I think we need to bring in 5-6 Skuta's, guys that graded out positively, but might have not played a full season as a starter, and are now a free agent that could be had for a mid-low level contract.

I don't think you can really use NE and SEA as the norm. NE has Brady and Belichick and have been going against the norm for a long time. Seattle's offense leaves a lot to be desired and the WR corps is what cost them a SB. Of the other playoff teams you had Hilton, Nelson, Cobb, Bryant, Thomas, Sanders, Green, Megatron, Tate, Brown, and Smith all were in the top 20 in the NFL. If anything WRs are more valuable now than ever before. That is why you will see 2-3 WRs drafted before the first RB or TE. Marshall is still a #1 for another year or two.

Nope that is him, Skins, Jets, then Colts.

Raiders make sense but I would be surprised if the Bears picked him up. He has been a non-factor for several years.

Cutting him would be a bad move IMO, as we would get no compensation for losing him.

Actually a little surprising as he would be a better backup and mentor for rookie QB than Glennon. He will probably end up in Baltimore with Trestman.

ESPN (Kiper) Chicago Bears: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington Fox Sports (Schrager) Chicago Bears: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/mock-dr...williams-020915 NFL.COM (Davis) Chicago Bears: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/mock-drafts/...es-davis/220601 CBS Sports (Kirwan) Chicago Bears: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/mock-draft Walter Football Chicago Bears: Danny Shelton, NT, Washington http://walterfootball.com/draft2015.php NFL Draft Geek Chicago Bears - Shane Ray, DE/OLB, Missouri http://nfldraftgeek.com/2015nflmockdraft.html DraftTek Chicago Bears - Shane Ray, DE/OLB, Missouri http://www.drafttek.com/2015-NFL-Mock-Draft-Round1.asp SBNation Mocking the Draft Chicago Bears - Bud Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2015/2/9/80008...-marcus-mariota 5 - Shelton 2 - Ray 1 - Dupree 0 - SMC

Looks like he played decent after returning to the starting lineup: https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/...-starting-role/ Better than Conte, I am sure, and if he comes cheap, then go for it.

It is pretty clear that he indirectly said/implied that he would acquire: Eddie Royal, Mark Ingram, and Mike Iupati on offense, and is going to sign Terrance Knighton, Rahim Moore, Chris Culliver, David Harris, and at least one more LB (McPhee) and CB (Jackson) on defense. Here are the Saints free agent acquisitions since 2006: http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2013/...leans_sain.html The biggest takeaway is they signed 13 FA's in 2006 and had 8 draft picks. 21 new players in one offseason. They also had an insane draft in 2006: Bush, Harper, Evans, Ninkovich, Strief, and Colston (last 2 in the 7th). They then followed that up with 8 FA's and 7 draft picks in 2007. So the potential was there to have 36 new players on the 53 man roster in 2 years.

I doubt we will make a huge signing like Houston, who is going to cost a lot. I think we will make some impact signings, but we have too many holes to fill to make 1 huge splash.

Ah I gotcha, I read too fast. Knighton/Shelton would be insane.