Points of View, May 13, 2008

[tshanno]

http://chicagobearsfanforum.com/blog/?p=243

 

The Bears

 

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Robbie Gould signed a contract that makes him the highest paid kicker in the NFL. Mike Mulligan of the Chicago Sun-Times has been claiming for some time that something like this was on the horizon because the Bears like to offset bad publicity (read “Cedric Benson”) with good news. Of course, we would all have rather had that good news be the signing of Tommie Harris. But we'll take what we can get.

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Speaking of Harris. Message to Jerry Angelo: Give him what he wants. He's the center of your defense and, unlike Lance Briggs, he's not replaceable. Stop looking for an early signing/hometown discount and sign him.

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Depending on how the Gould deal is broken down it probably accounts for about $4 million dollars in cap space this year bringing the Bears total free down to roughly $11 or $12 million. Figure draft picks will account for a certain percentage of that. They want to give Devin Hester an extension as well. Bear fans might want to keep track. By my calculations, Harris could account for a very good chunk of what's left and if there isn't enough, he won't be signed.

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Mike Florio at Profootballtalk.com puts his own unique spin on the Gould signing. He says the Bears have no receivers and no QB but at least they have a kicker.

 

“Of course, they thought the same thing earlier this decade with Paul Edinger, until the guy with the matador stance started kicking like a bull’s horn was buried in his butt.”

 

The guy cracks me up.

 

In fairness, Edinger's style made his problems impossible to correct. Gould might be more straight forward to deal with should the need arise.

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Larry Mayer from chicagobears.com answered this fairly interesting question:

 

I know everyone is excited about how Matt Forte performed in the rookie minicamp, but I feel we are getting way ahead of ourselves. Can you dig up how Cedric Benson looked during his rookie minicamp?

 

Eric B.

Orlando, Florida

 

In looking back at stories I wrote at the time, it doesn’t seem like there was as much of a buzz about Cedric Benson as there has been with Matt Forte, though the Bears obviously thought very highly of Benson given that they selected him with the fourth pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. The stories I found mostly discussed how he was trying to get acclimated to the NFL and learn a new playbook. After Benson’s first minicamp practice, offensive coordinator Ron Turner said: “I’m impressed with [benson]. I liked his skills. He caught the ball well today. It’s hard [to evaluate] in shorts and not going against a defense, but just the little things he’s doing, he looked good. He looked real good.”

 

While I thought the reader had a good point, its May and I want to be optimistic. Forte's going to be great, Eric. Don't pee in my Cheerios.

 

The NFC North and Elsewhere

 

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This from The Sporting News:

 

“Many people wondered about the Vikings' intent when they traded up to draft QB John David Booty in the fifth round. Was Booty drafted as a potential challenger to starter Tarvaris Jackson? The short answer is no. The team likes Booty primarily because it saw good value in a player with excellent experience in a pro-style West Coast offense. But he is not particularly athletic and doesn't have Jackson's arm strength. Booty may one day vie for playing time, but it won't be anytime soon. ... “

 

Bear fans have seen Tarvaris Jackson play. Not anytime soon has a bad habit of coming sooner than you think.

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Rookie RB Chris Johnson is making an impression on the Titans. "We were out there making up routes for him," Titans offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger says. "I've never had a guy that can do (the things he can). You need to be able to take advantage of the guy." He's pretty small so the Titans will still need LenDale White to run inside. Johnson is for the Titans what the Bears hope Garrett Wolfe will be. If the light comes on.

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The NFL and the Players Association have started talking about extending the CBA. For those who are wondering, if just 9 NFL owners vote to opt out of the current deal it will make the 2010 season uncapped. Which means if they're going to opt out they'd better start negotiating now.

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The Raiders are apparently stressing ball security with Darren McFadden in an effort to get the fumblitis out of his system early. Some will remember an entry here the other day from Pro Football Weekly where an unnamed league source criticized Matt Forte for having the same problem. Here's hoping the Bears are stressing it in the same way.

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Jerry Sullivan of the Buffalo News asks the questions that pester fans all over the world every year, year after year, with one man's answer below:

 

“What is it with you Buffalo people, anyway? The Bills haven’t made the playoffs since the 1999 season. They’ve teased you and tormented you. They’ve promised you the moon and lassoed misery instead. You have every reason to be wary and skeptical. So the question is, why?”

 

One Final Thought

 

Jerry Sullivan again on fears that the Bills will eventually be moved to Canada:

 

“For now, I imagine, most fans will simply enjoy the team and submerge any fears about what might happen when [owner Ralph] Wilson is gone. They’re content to embrace a young, likable team and hope for a playoff run — to live in the present.

 

“Buffalo fans have been disappointed time and again. But it has given them an infinite capacity for hope, a firewall of belief. In the end, that’s what matters most. The ability to keep faith is what sustains us. I guess that’s what we like to call the human spirit.“

[azbearsfan]

Couple of comments:

 

First I like the Gould deal. To find someone that can kick in the winter at soldier field is key.

 

 

Second, my take on Harris is if he wants to be paid like a top defense player, he needs to stay healthy like one. The Bears can't afford to lay massive coin on a guy who misses games each year.

Dont get me wrong I think he is a great player, but if a good chuck of cap is wasted on the sidelines then its not worth it.

[jason]

Rookie RB Chris Johnson is making an impression on the Titans. "We were out there making up routes for him," Titans offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger says. "I've never had a guy that can do (the things he can). You need to be able to take advantage of the guy." He's pretty small so the Titans will still need LenDale White to run inside. Johnson is for the Titans what the Bears hope Garrett Wolfe will be. If the light comes on.

 

Great wrap-up. I enjoyed it quite a bit.

 

As for the above thoughts, I can only hope you mean that the light needs to come on in the mind of Turner and the rest of the Bears' coaching staff, and not the little guy Wolfe, who did well every time he was put in the game last year.

[bradjock]

Couple of comments:

 

First I like the Gould deal. To find someone that can kick in the winter at soldier field is key.

 

 

Second, my take on Harris is if he wants to be paid like a top defense player, he needs to stay healthy like one. The Bears can't afford to lay massive coin on a guy who misses games each year.

Dont get me wrong I think he is a great player, but if a good chuck of cap is wasted on the sidelines then its not worth it.

 

Agreed with the Gould deal. Yes we paid a helluva a lot for a kicker, but isn't it worth it??? Seriously. If healthy our defense should be among the best in the league. Our special teams are the best in the league. Yet our offense is still a big question mark. That means we're likely to have a bunch of close games (assume Rex doesn't throw the game away). Having a guy who's been as consistent as Gould is flat out critical.

 

I also have to agree with Harris. Sure I'd be happy as hell if we signed him, but essentially we have him for 2 more years. It'd have to be pretty bad for us not to franchise him. With Rosenass as his agent, I'm assuming this will drag out the way Lance's deal dragged.

 

My guess is that our focus should be on signing Hester. Eugene Parker is a helluva a lot easier to deal with (unless his client is Cedric Benson.) Hester is only making around $700,00??? (don't quote me on that. I pulled it out of my arse) Either way, it's a much less then he could be making. With two more years of making comparitive chump change, I can't imagine he wouldn't be very motivated to get paid now.

[bradjock]

Great wrap-up. I enjoyed it quite a bit.

 

As for the above thoughts, I can only hope you mean that the light needs to come on in the mind of Turner and the rest of the Bears' coaching staff, and not the little guy Wolfe, who did well every time he was put in the game last year.

 

By well do you mean running straight up the middle into a huge pile and failling backwards?

 

I agree with you on this: the coaching staff greatly misused him last season. I really don't know what to make of him since he didn't play much, and when he did he was ineffective.

 

Of course when your offense is pathetic . . .

[jason]

By well do you mean running straight up the middle into a huge pile and failling backwards?

 

I agree with you on this: the coaching staff greatly misused him last season. I really don't know what to make of him since he didn't play much, and when he did he was ineffective.

 

Of course when your offense is pathetic . . .

 

C'mon dude! You can't be serious. That's like saying, "You know, I think that TJ Duckett guy sucks because his runs around the edge aren't productive." Wolfe can only do what he is permitted to do, and if the dumbass coaches put him in and call plays into the gut of an already stout run-defense, then there's not a lot he can do. Also, don't forget the fact that even the bigger RBs had trouble running between the tackles for the Bears last year.

 

What I'm trying to say is, the guy did well with what he had to work with. He broke off a handful of decent runs in very limited opportunities, and he looked like he had explosive possibilities in the passing game.

[DrunkBomber]

There are still people that think theyre gonna get to see Wolfe this year? Hes 4th string and isnt better than any of the other three guys in any single skill. So unless two guys get hurt. I wouldnt expect to see much out of Wolfe. They might as well cut him.

[azbearsfan]

There are still people that think theyre gonna get to see Wolfe this year? Hes 4th string and isnt better than any of the other three guys in any single skill. So unless two guys get hurt. I wouldnt expect to see much out of Wolfe. They might as well cut him.

 

 

I disagree. I think Wolfe is better than AP.

[jason]

There are still people that think theyre gonna get to see Wolfe this year? Hes 4th string and isnt better than any of the other three guys in any single skill. So unless two guys get hurt. I wouldnt expect to see much out of Wolfe. They might as well cut him.

 

Right and wrong.

 

Right

I think you're right that we won't see him much this year...or ever. Of course, I think it's stupid. I was on record before the draft that I thought drafting a RB wasn't a priority. I think the dude has tons of potential.

 

Wrong

He's better than any RB on the team at making defensive players miss.

He's better than any RB on the team in the passing game.

He's arguably as good as the others blocking, since we don't really know how he can do blocking. Hell, if he's in the right spot, he's got a leg up on Benson most of the time.

[DrunkBomber]

Right and wrong.

 

Right

I think you're right that we won't see him much this year...or ever. Of course, I think it's stupid. I was on record before the draft that I thought drafting a RB wasn't a priority. I think the dude has tons of potential.

 

Wrong

He's better than any RB on the team at making defensive players miss.

He's better than any RB on the team in the passing game.

He's arguably as good as the others blocking, since we don't really know how he can do blocking. Hell, if he's in the right spot, he's got a leg up on Benson most of the time.

Our offense line wont allow for him to "make guys miss" he needs to be able to run through people

AP is significantly better than him at blocking and as good if not better than him at receiving

Forte could possibly be better than him at all that stuff anyway.

 

If he was good enough he would have been out there at the end of the year after Benson went down. He simply doesnt have it in him to be a productive running back in the NFL. Maybe special teams, just not here.

[AZ54]

Wolfe only had the fastest results in some of the combine tests like the 20 yard shuttle. I don't see how his quickness isn't better than AP. That translates into making people miss but since that might be considered a skill it is something AP is good at while blocking (missing defenders).

[azbearsfan]

Our offense line wont allow for him to "make guys miss" he needs to be able to run through people

AP is significantly better than him at blocking and as good if not better than him at receiving

Forte could possibly be better than him at all that stuff anyway.

 

If he was good enough he would have been out there at the end of the year after Benson went down. He simply doesnt have it in him to be a productive running back in the NFL. Maybe special teams, just not here.

 

I disagree with that statement. AP was garbage blocking last year, and Wolfe was much better after the catch from what I saw.