adam

When did we lose a 4th rounder? We traded this year's 5th with last year's to move up and snag Vereen in the 4th. We have the following picks this year (before compensatory picks): 1st Round - #7 2nd Round - #39 3rd Round - #71 4th Round - #103 5th Round - None 6th Round - #167 7th Round - #199 To me, we have to hit Homeruns with the first 4 picks.

Mongo, the balls were re-inflated at halftime and NE outscored IND 28-0 in the 2nd half. The ball psi didn't have that much to do with the outcome of the game. For the Ravens game, how do we know the Ravens balls were not deflated too? If the Indy game was close or this was discovered during the Baltimore game, then I would have more of an issue with it, but this really didn't impact the Indy game, and there is no way to know if this was done in the Ravens game too. Again like I said in the other post, this comes down to the league and the mismanagement of the officials. Don't even let the team have the ability to provide the balls. Let the league provide them for every game with the refs. Let them control them until kickoff and then test at the end of every quarter.

Why doesn't the NFL provide the balls? Just like the ones they get directly from Wilson for kickers? Just have the NFL provide the balls for every game, and test them every quarter for accuracy. The QB's should not have the ability to doctor the balls to their liking. To me that is the bigger problem. Yes it does not make it right just because everyone is doing it, but most drivers exceed the speed limit everyday (against the law) and knowingly do it. Seattle commits a penalty on every play (usually holding), yet they do it knowing that the refs will not call it on every play. Normally leading the league in penalties was a bad thing, but for Seattle, they have led the league the last two years, so it obviously working for them. I think NE should be fined if there is evidence that they actually did something, but I don't see it as that egregious of an act like the national media (even non-sports media) has made it out to be. Should they be fined, if guilty, yes (25k per ball); should they lose draft picks, yes ( 2-3 since it was a playoff game). Besides the grip, a lower inflated ball will be more affected by the wind and will not travel as far. So besides grip, there is not many other benefits. To me there are two issues here, obviously NE has a track record that really needs to be looked into, and the NFL officiating needs to be cleaned up. Either enforce rules or don't have them. I am sick of the game to game, crew to crew differences. They are worried about player celebrations, but rarely flag coaches who come onto the field, or players without helmets.

My only concern is that it is another scheme and OC for Cutler. Fox is known for maximizing player strengths, so it will very interesting to see what they have planned for both sides of the ball.

Here is a great article on the topic: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/not-for-attr...-184104713.html Basically it almost happens all the time, and in almost every game (depending on QB). I don't think it is a big deal, but the league should do a better job of policing the rule. There are enough TV timeouts to have a side or back judge check the balls, hell they can carry a small air pressure valve in their pockets. To

Now that we have a staff in place, as well as other teams, lets look again at the 2015 schedule: Home: Detroit Lions - W - I think we split with Detroit this year Green Bay Packers - L - We are probably another year from truly competing with GB Minnesota Vikings - W - We should've beaten them twice last year, but the last game actually put us in a better position Arizona Cardinals - W - Bowles gone, team played over their heads, 4-4 on the road last year, this one could go either way San Francisco 49ers - W - Brand new coaching staff, watch Tomsula's Comcast interview, and we will have a lot of insight into their schemes Washington Redskins - W - Horrible team with no real direction Denver Broncos - L - This will be an interesting one, but I am going to give it to them right now. Really depends on Manning's status. Oakland Raiders - W - Bad team still bad So I see 6-2, or 5-3. Not bad. Away: Detroit Lions - L - Split with them Green Bay Packers - L - Still have our number Minnesota Vikings - W - I think we are better than them and now have better coaches St. Louis Rams - W - I like their defense, but a lot of questions on offense, 3-5 at home last year Seattle Seahawks - L - Probably the toughest game on our schedule, probably 14 pt underdogs Tampa Bay Buccaneers - W - LovieBowl 2.0, I see this as a solid win Kansas City Chiefs - L - I think we split these last two San Diego Chargers - W - I think we split these last two Looks like 4-4, but could be 3-5 or 5-3 (beating KC). So at worst I see 8-8 (losing to SD and ARZ) or 11-5 (beating ARZ, SD, and KC). So a 9-7 seems pretty realistic.

Based off that list, we got 4 players from the top 50 (Fuller-30, Carey-35, Sutton-36, and Sutton-46). Pretty surprised Carey ended up 15th for rookie RB's in rushing, even as a backup. Hill, Mason, Williams, West, Crowell, Oliver, and Sankey all had more productive years. Just shows how bad our offense was, but he did have a decent YPC.

Timing is everything. If the Bears gave Trestman another year, we miss out on this entire new staff. Fox+Gase+Fangio+Rodgers are light years ahead of Trestman+Kromer+Tucker+Decam. We had high expectations going into 2014 with the current roster and those coaches. I still believe the talent is there, but the coaching, schemes, adjustments, leadership was not there. With the new group I would expect an immediate improvement before any other offseason acquisitions to improve the team. I think Fox saw the same thing and believed this could be a quick turnaround. Gase must also see something in the offense to take this job knowing he will be dealing with Cutler or an unknown QB. Fangio had numerous interviews and felt good enough about the job to accept the position.

49ers have Borland, Bowman, and Willis, and all play the middle, so it would make sense to move one of the higher-priced injury-risk players.

That would be awesome if they didn't want him back for the money.

I would say Iupati or Franklin via FA and Grasu in the draft would be awesome. Shift Long outside like you said and we have Ola, Mills, DLP for depth. Bushrod/Slauson/Grasu/Franklin or Iupati/Long would be a very strong line.

Aging offense? We are a year younger based on the starting 11: Manning 38 / Cutler 31 Ball 24 / Forte 29 Thomas 27 / Marshall 30 Welker 33 / Jeffery 24 Sanders 27 / Wilson 22 Thomas 26 / Bennett 27 Ramirez 31 / Garza 35 Clady 28 / Bushrod 30 Clark 29 / Mills 24 Franklin 27 / Slauson 28 Vasquez 27 / Long 26

There we go. Remember not too long ago he was a HC candidate for us. Brad, our coaches only take positions at or below their levels. Trestman down, DeCam same, Tice down, Marinelli same. Who knows why Gase was not hired by other teams, he might not have liked the other locations and then came back once Fox was hired. I just love the fact that we have the best set of GM/HC/OC/DC that we have ever had since the Ditka days. https://twitter.com/ChicagoBears/status/558065663357759489 http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1...cb-db85971c6abe

Essentially the Bears have 3 days of free agency to figure out what to do with Cutler before the $10 mil kicks in for 2016. The same happens in 2016 with an additional $6 mil kicking in for 2017.

Per PFT:

I have a feeling he lands with us after Trestman beat him out in Baltimore.

I wouldn't mind Weis, he somehow got Cassel to play good and the Pats have never won a SB after he left (won 3 with him as OC).

He is taking over a top 10 offense, this could backfire easily on him and the Ravens.

With age and injury history, probably a good idea to move on and re-sign Paea.

My Baltimore friend at work was a little surprised and doesn't see this as a great hire. I just told him to make sure they fire him after the first year.

With our GM, HC, DC, and Coach hires, here are a list of players (with a positive PFF rating) that they would be intimately familiar with: From SF: Mike Iupati, 28, G, (11.2 PFF) Chris Culliver, 27, CB (8.5 PFF) Perrish Cox, 28, CB (1.2 PFF) Dan Skuta, 29, LB (1.1 PFF) Trindon Holliday, 29, WR/KR (0.0 PFF) From DEN: Terrance Knighton, 29, DL (12.7 PFF) Orland Franklin, 27, G (12.0 PFF) Virgil Green, 27, TE (5.7 PFF) Nate Irving, 27, LB (1.1 PFF) Rahim Moore, 25, S (0.3 PFF) From NO: Mark Ingram, 25, RB (1.2 PFF) Patrick Robinson, 27, CB (0.1 PFF)

Absolutely, but it starts with him. Fox is obviously driving the train now (while Packers are row row rowing down the Loser stream).

SF has some DB UFAs: Chris Culliver, 27, CB (8.5 PFF) Perrish Cox, 28, CB (1.2 PFF)

Just looking at Fox/Fangio against Trestman/Tucker is hilarious. Pace has been nailing these hires.

With Tucker's departure, we just won 2 more games next year.