adam

The Bears have a really solid core of players on both sides of the ball, but as with all teams there is only a window of opportunity to make it to the Super Bowl. Teams like the Patriots, Cowboys, and Bills have been able to make it back to the SB with the same core multiple times. When do you guys think the Bears realistic shot is at making it back to the SB with this current core (Urlacher, Kruetz, Vasher, Harris, Tait, etc). Based on contracts, age, and such, I really believe the Bears have about 2 years, maybe 3 before there is a large turnover of players and the SB will be out of reach.

Briggs is looking for guaranteed money, and no team including the Bears can pay every player top dollar like Briggs wants. Briggs has said he wants "Urlacher" money and he is not going to get it from the Bears. Even the Franchise tag salary is a lot more than he would receive if they renegotiated his contract. The only thing I could see other than him accepting the Franchise tag is if he signed a 3 yr deal that was cap friendly. Anything longer or higher in value would put the Bears in a tough position.

When I said bigger, I meant just overall body mass. He is a few inches shorter but weighs more, so he is bigger than Jones. Jones was faster at the combine, but I thought Olsen ran a 4.45 somewhere. Either way, I think he has a really high ceiling. I just saw a few more video clips of him at Miami, and he seems to catch anything thrown near him.

Olsen has been compared a lot to Matt Jones of JAX, just bigger and better. I hope that is the case. With Lovie's knowledge of the Cover 2, I can see him exploiting the weakness with Olsen.

I didn't even realize that Olsen was the 1st pick to sign from both the 1st and 2nd rounds.

Man, the Bears management is spoiling us with these signings. Now we almost expect all our players to always sign before training camp. This is great news. Signing a Ro$enhaus 1st round draft pick to a 5 year deal this early is amazing.

I would say Grossman would be around #20 based on his performance last year, and around #15 based on future projections. There is no way he will be as bad as he was last year on 3rd Downs and in the 4th Quarter with the Bears new weapons. How does a team defend when you have Hester and Wolfe in the backfield, Olsen, Berrian, and Davis split out, then Hester goes in motion? Wolfe can just go into the flat and with Olsen breaking down the seam of the Cover 2, there are going to be some huge plays with this offense. Even WR screens to Hester will be exciting. Just think if all he has to do is beat 1 or 2 guys, compared to 11?

With all the new options, Grossman should do better in 2007. His problems are in the 4th Quarter where he had a 43.9 Passer Rating, only 2 TD's and 5 INT's. He is also a completely different QB when the Bears have the lead compared to when they are behind. That needs to change. With lead: 102.9 Rating, 13 TDs, and 3 INTs. From behind: 49.6 Rating, 7 TDs, and 12 INTs. Obviously defenses become better against the pass when they have the lead, but that difference is too big. He needs to cut down on those INTs, which kill any chance of a comeback (excluding Hester) and puts the defense right back on the field. The Bears will be back in the playoffs regardless how Grossman plays, but they need him to limit his turnovers, including his fumbles for the Bears to have a chance at the SB again.

Yeah, after 8 games. Some team is going to pick him up though, which again sends the wrong message.

Hester is also there for best breakthrough athlete. http://espn.go.com/espy2007/ How about Hester for best play or Lovie for best coach? Sometimes the selections are horrible. After 2005, the Red Sox had one selection in every category. It was like, Best Swimmer - Varitek, Best Jockey - Schilling.

He wants to start, or at least have a chance. The organization seems like they are behind Grossman enough to already pass on Carr and others.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=Ag5T...p&type=lgns

No you cannot at any point go over the salary cap. That is why you see so many teams cut players, rework contracts, and give out larger bonuses - since the bonuses are averaged out over the life of the contract. For the Harris deal, they will either have to leave space for it, or reduce that year's payroll by that amount to do it. With the Manning deal, the Bears will have a hard time giving out long term deals to Tillman and Vasher. Also, I don't think they will give Grossman an extension until mid-season, because if he continues his current play, I can see the Bears going in a different direction. Berrian's contract should be fairly simple.

As long as there is no holdouts or missed training camps, I will be happy. Especially with Olsen and his agent.

Yeah, they must not like him, but other than that the grades were pretty fair.

I agree with all of them except the Olsen pick. There is no way he is a C+ at Pick 31. I could see if he was a top 15 pick, but the Bears got him way later. I would say a minimum of a B. All the others are pretty fair.

They said the Commish's office is closed for Memorial weekend and a punishment should be handed out by Thursday.

At least 8 games? I think that is the ceiling, not the bottom. If he gets more than 8, that will be BS since he was already suspended for a game last year which was semi-related to this whole incident. I say 4-6 is fair. Also, it will be curious to see how they play the double jeopardy card, not that is completely applies here, but if he was already suspended and served jail time, can the league basically punish him again for something that was imposed (new conduct policy) after his incidents?

Makes sense, good info.

http://www.chicagobears.com/news/NewsStory.asp?story_id=3467 5 down, 4 to go. Olsen, Bazuin, Okwo and Beekman, were waiting on you.

Obviously the only way the trade would happen would be if McNabb reworked his contract. So take that variable out of the equation. Also, no one answered my last question: If the Bears were playing in the SB last year with McNabb instead of Grossman and without Briggs, do the Bears win?

I found this article about the subject, and wanted to hear everyone's opinion. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/...ee/7596597.html With Grossman in the last year of his contract, McNabb being a possibility, and Briggs looking like he might actually sit out. Do the Bears do this trade straight up? Do they ask for more? or do the Bears just stick with Grossman? Now here is another question, if the Bears were playing in the SB last year with McNabb instead of Grossman and without Briggs, do the Bears win?

Hey now. Yeah, I don't understand what his issue is. He is signed thru 2009, it is not like he is an FA after 07 or 08. It seems like more and more players are doing this - signing a contract, getting the bonus, then trying to work a new deal within a year or two. A 3rd rounder more than likely, since his contract is really nice. He is signed thru 2009: 07 - $0.595 08 - $0.550 09 - $0.670

Yeah, it is becoming standard practice for JA.

Wow, that was quick. A 4-year deal for a 3rd rounder is somewhat rare.