adam

I've heard that Wayne is more than likely going to end up where Peyton goes, so he is probably out of the picture. I agree that we need a true #1, a Top 10 WR. I still lean towards Bowe because even on bad teams with bad QB's, he still did good.

I agree, the Bears have to address OL and WR in Free Agency. That doesn't mean they won't draft in those areas, but those areas are huge needs that can't be filled with just the draft.

I just wanted to make a general thread for news and notes coming out of the combine. Here are some general tidbits to prepare you for the combine: Combine Dates (22-28 FEB 12) 1. Players are broken down into 11 groups: Group 1 (PK, ST, OL), Group 2 (OL), Group 3 (TE), Group 4 (QB, WR), Group 5 (QB, WR), Group 6 (RB), Group 7 (DL), Group 8 (DL), Group 9 (LB), Group 10 (DB), Group 11 (DB). 2. All groups have basically the same schedule covering 4 days, but the groups arrive on different days. Groups 1-3 arrive on the 22nd, Groups 4-6 on the 23rd, Groups 7-9 on the 24th, and Groups 10-11 on the 25th. 3. The days are broken down: Day 1: Travel, Registration, Hospital Pre-Exam & X-rays, Orientation, Interviews; Day 2: Measurements, Medical Examinations, Media, Psychological Testing, Interviews; Day 3: NFLPA Meeting, Psychological Testing, PK/ST Workout, Interviews; Day 4: Workout (timing, stations, skill drills). So the drills don't actually start until the 25th based on this schedule. NFL.com link: http://www.nfl.com/combine Player listing: http://www.nflcombine.net/players/official-invite-list

I never had him on the list. Seems to be more like Earl Bennett, not bad, but not someone we need.

Yeah, I saw a highlight video of him, and I was not really impressed besides for his size. He looked really slow for a WR.

Man, that would've been a sweet bet.

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Super-...alue-picks.html Bears are 17-1, which is 10th overall and 6th in the NFC. Based on odds alone, these would be the 2012 playoff teams: NFC: GB, PHI, NYG, NO, SF, and CHI AFC: NE, PIT, SD, HOU, BAL, and NYJ

It has to be WR as the 1st priority with OL right behind. If for some reason you can't get a top tier WR in Free Agency, then you go for OL.

You mention Royal, but then say "and a corps of Johnson, Bennett, Criner, Garcon, and Hester is pretty damn good."

Mock drafts are funny as very few actually get any picks right after the top 10. One odd pick and it affects almost every pick afterwards.

The Pats defense was under-rated (they allowed less pts than the Giants during the regular season). Also, everyone talked about how hot the Giants got at just the right time. That is funny because they went 3-5 in the 2nd half of the season and were outscored for the year. After the 10th game, we had as good of a shot as anyone to win the SB. With an impact FA signing or two, and solid picks in the first few rounds, we are going to be looking pretty solid. You have to figure at least one WC will come out of the North for the foreseeable future (CHI, GB, DET). In response to Jason, there is no way we will not draft Defense in the 1st 3 rounds (4 picks). If we go FA route completely on D, we don't get much younger. We have to inject some youth in there at some point so the transition is not so severe.

Here is a cap space article, says we will have about 20-24 mil in cap space, 9th best in the league for available space. A bunch of teams need to make huge cuts to get under the cap (Pittsburgh and Oakland). http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_footb...012-season.html

Interesting looking back at that game now, if Barber doesn't do that and we win, we might have finished 9-7, missed the playoffs and had a worse draft position.

Great hire for the Bears. Bates could easily be an OC somewhere else. This plus the loss of Martz is really going to improve the offense. Now lets get Forte locked up and start zeroing in on WR and OT free agents! I get a kick out of wikipedia, his info is already updated: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeremy_Bates_...rican_football)

Picture of the hit, still looks brutal: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/footb...0,7798460.story Per Rotoworld: The brace: http://lockerz.com/s/180054663 I doubt he plays in 2012 or ever returns to form after something like that. Ouch, video:

6 have been picked in the first round since 2005 (last 7 years): Mike Pouncey Maurkice Pouncey Alex Mack Eric Wood Nick Mangold Chris Spencer and another 8 selected in the 2nd round since 2005. That is a lot higher than I expected.

Yep, he was on the radio today, you can listen to it here: http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=7533309 and http://espn.go.com/espnradio/chicago/play?id=7476945 Basically he wouldn't mind the tag if it was used just to give more time to work out a new deal. However, he is opposed to it being used for a 1-year deal. Doesn't seem too different than the normal view of players.

Yes, you are correct, I stand corrected. Hell, from what I have read, some are now putting Adams higher than Reiff and Martin.

Then what about DeCastro at G?

Yes, that would be nice, Nicks from Saints, Bowe from KC and we are looking sweet.

Yes, I would take Welker, Colston, Bowe, V. Jackson, and Wallace over him.

Never drafted another? Hester is a shoe-in HoF, and Briggs is well on his way. I think JA was middle of the pack in drafts, he actually did better in later rounds, but essentially flopped in the 1st round picks where we should've had impact starters almost every year. You also have to give him credit for bringing in Cutler and Peppers. Those were two nice acquisitions. In the same breath, you have to chastise him for Manu, Chester, and Roy Williams. I thought overall he did decent with the defense acquisitions, but failed on the offensive side of the ball. I would've given him an overall grade of C+, but for the Bears franchise, we cannot accept the middle of the road.

Thanks, I love http://www.pro-football-reference.com/

Made two small changes: Moved Floyd up to #3 and put DeCastro in there in place of Adams. Is Adams even projected for the first round?

Yeah I questioned those picks too, but he does have a better track record on the defensive side of the ball: Tillman (2), Briggs (3), Conte (3), A. Brown (4), Steltz (4), DJ Moore (4), M. Anderson (5), Z. Bowman (5), C. Harris (6).