Weird idea

[jason]

I know it's not going to happen because of the money involved and the fact that he wouldn't want to come to Chicago, but how awesome would it be if Ray Lewis signed with the Bears?

 

Urlacher - Lewis - Briggs (HOLY SHIT)

 

The other oddball idea about this is moving Urlacher back to his college position of Safety.

 

--I don't want either to really happen, but what do you guys think? Is he another one of those players that you all don't want because he's a bad guy off the field?

[DrunkBomber]

I think everyone here would be a fan of it but as you said its never going to happen.

[madlithuanian]

I'd be all for it! Could it really hurt? Say what you want about Urlacher...Lewis is the best out there...still. He plays mad and mean...like Butkus did. I think lewis learned from his mistake from what I've heard. I have a few freinds from Baltimore that said that incident truly changed him for the better off the field...besides working out which he's always been a lunatic about.

 

You know you'd only have him a few more years...and we have the loot I believe.

 

Maybe Url can learn something...

 

It is fun thinking about in a Madden-esque way!

 

 

 

 

Don't think Angelo would though....

 

I know it's not going to happen because of the money involved and the fact that he wouldn't want to come to Chicago, but how awesome would it be if Ray Lewis signed with the Bears?

 

Urlacher - Lewis - Briggs (HOLY SHIT)

 

The other oddball idea about this is moving Urlacher back to his college position of Safety.

 

--I don't want either to really happen, but what do you guys think? Is he another one of those players that you all don't want because he's a bad guy off the field?

[Ed Hochuli 3:16]

I'd love it but there's no way, especially since Lewis will cost 9-10 per year and moving Urlacher back to S could put what very little years he has ahead of him into nothing at all. His speed wasn't what it used to be.

[nfoligno]

No thanks, and it has nothing to do w/ character.

 

Frankly Jason, I am shocked to see this from you. You do not want to add WRs or pretty much anything else, but you want a MLB? No matter. I still don't like the idea, even if it were possible.

 

IMHO, the problem is not nearly as much Urlacher, but more a matter of Urlacher, at this point in his career, not being ideally suited for the system we run. Well, IMHO, Lewis would flop nearly as badly as Urlacher. Do you remember a few years back when Baltimore essentially (a) altered systems and ( lost their big boy talent on the DL? Lewis' play really went downhill, and many began to talk about him being done. Baltimore then upgraded the DL talent and reverted back to a system he previously showed high levels of success in, and what do you know? Lewis is again considered a stud.

 

Point here is not to try an excuse Urlacher, but to state that in our system, I am not sure we would see the level of play from Lewis expected. In fact, I think we would see a very unhappy Lewis as OG after OG was able to get his hands on Lewis.

 

Lewis may be a great player, but if you put a great player in a system not suited for him......well.....Let's just say you are not going to get what you hoped for.

 

I know it's not going to happen because of the money involved and the fact that he wouldn't want to come to Chicago, but how awesome would it be if Ray Lewis signed with the Bears?

 

Urlacher - Lewis - Briggs (HOLY SHIT)

 

The other oddball idea about this is moving Urlacher back to his college position of Safety.

 

--I don't want either to really happen, but what do you guys think? Is he another one of those players that you all don't want because he's a bad guy off the field?

[BigDaddy]

No thanks, and it has nothing to do w/ character.

 

Frankly Jason, I am shocked to see this from you. You do not want to add WRs or pretty much anything else, but you want a MLB? No matter. I still don't like the idea, even if it were possible.

 

IMHO, the problem is not nearly as much Urlacher, but more a matter of Urlacher, at this point in his career, not being ideally suited for the system we run. Well, IMHO, Lewis would flop nearly as badly as Urlacher. Do you remember a few years back when Baltimore essentially (a) altered systems and ( lost their big boy talent on the DL? Lewis' play really went downhill, and many began to talk about him being done. Baltimore then upgraded the DL talent and reverted back to a system he previously showed high levels of success in, and what do you know? Lewis is again considered a stud.

 

Point here is not to try an excuse Urlacher, but to state that in our system, I am not sure we would see the level of play from Lewis expected. In fact, I think we would see a very unhappy Lewis as OG after OG was able to get his hands on Lewis.

 

Lewis may be a great player, but if you put a great player in a system not suited for him......well.....Let's just say you are not going to get what you hoped for.

 

Agreed. I'm in the minority who think the problem with Urlacher is the system. Ray Lewis isn't going to fare ANY better in this system. As a matter of fact, I'd argue that it would taint his final years as a player to play in this defense. Personally, I liked the idea of trading Urlacher to AZ for Boldin even though that would never happen but I think we're just wasting Urlacher here.

[jason]

No thanks, and it has nothing to do w/ character.

 

Frankly Jason, I am shocked to see this from you. You do not want to add WRs or pretty much anything else, but you want a MLB? No matter. I still don't like the idea, even if it were possible.

 

IMHO, the problem is not nearly as much Urlacher, but more a matter of Urlacher, at this point in his career, not being ideally suited for the system we run. Well, IMHO, Lewis would flop nearly as badly as Urlacher. Do you remember a few years back when Baltimore essentially (a) altered systems and ( lost their big boy talent on the DL? Lewis' play really went downhill, and many began to talk about him being done. Baltimore then upgraded the DL talent and reverted back to a system he previously showed high levels of success in, and what do you know? Lewis is again considered a stud.

 

Point here is not to try an excuse Urlacher, but to state that in our system, I am not sure we would see the level of play from Lewis expected. In fact, I think we would see a very unhappy Lewis as OG after OG was able to get his hands on Lewis.

 

Lewis may be a great player, but if you put a great player in a system not suited for him......well.....Let's just say you are not going to get what you hoped for.

 

You misunderstand nfo...I'm just being silly. It's the Madden dream that will not come true. On the list of things the Bears need, I put "trading for an All-Star MLB" somewhere around 93rd. I also think that the system we run is horrible for the play-making MLB.

[nfoligno]

Yea I get it, but at the same time, I think many simply see the name, and assume he would be a great addition, whether realistic or not. Also, just explaining there were reasons beyond character to question the fit.

 

Okay, here is one for you. Realistically. Many of the players we may have wanted are gone (re-signed or tagged) and most feel the rest of the pool is pretty weak. Put on your GM cap, and get to work.

 

I'll give it a go.

 

I see OL, WR and S as positions that really need to be addressed in FA. If we do not, we will enter the draft w/ such a glaring hole that we may have to reach for need, rather than draft for talent. So.

 

OL - I would really like to add better than St. Clair, but I think that is going to get done. I am absolutely fine re-signing St. Clair, so long as that is only a piece of the puzzle. Saw where Brandon Moore (NYJ) was cut to avoid a $7m roster bonus. He instantly becomes a top target for me. He is an excellent OG, considered NY's best run blocker, and still on the right side of 30 (28). Further, that I know of, he doesn't have the injury issues, and I think has started the last 4 years for NY. He is going to be expensive, but I think is exactly what we need. If we were to add both Moore and St. Clair, I think it would go a long way toward solving our issues on the OL. Further, w/ St. Clair versatile, we would still have options in the draft.

 

S - Personally, I always felt the options at S were better than just Atogwe. He was the best out there, but not the only player. The player I most want to target is Jermaine Phillips. He can play either SS or FS (would play FS for us). He simply fits so many of the things I think we should be looking for. He would bring a veteran leadership to a position seriously lacking in that after losing Brown. Coming from a cover two system, he knows our scheme, and would likely be an easy transition. He is not young, but at 29 (w/ only 7 years of experience) far from over the hill. And like w/ OL, by adding a versatile S like Phillips, we keep our options open in the draft. If a FS falls to us (somewhere in the draft) we love, we can take him and move (now or eventually) Phillips to SS. Regardless, I would feel much better about Payne or Steltz as our starting SS if we had a veteran like Phillips playing free.

 

WR - I still think this is a big need, and if we do nothing in FA, feel we will nearly force ourselves to draft WR high in the draft. I would love to get TJ, but (a) its not going to happen and ( especially not after spending on the above three players. It's not so much about cap position but about up-front money. The good thing is, WR is one position that seems to be improving as many teams are cutting players to free up cap space. The top two WRs I would be looking to go after are Harrison and Holt. Yes, they are old. I realize that. I am not looking for a stud #1, but a good veteran who can simply help this group out. Both of these WRs I feel could do that. Meanwhile, they would buy time and aide the development of our other young WRs like Hester, Bennett and the rookie we will be drafting at some point.

 

So I add St. Clair, Moore, Phillips and Harrison. By doing this, I am able to enter the draft looking at more than just one position. Oher would still be my ideal option (play him at RT, St. Clair at LG and Moore at RG), but if Oher isn't there, I can look at BPA as opposed to reaching for the next best at one position.

 

You misunderstand nfo...I'm just being silly. It's the Madden dream that will not come true. On the list of things the Bears need, I put "trading for an All-Star MLB" somewhere around 93rd. I also think that the system we run is horrible for the play-making MLB.

[ChileBear]

So I add St. Clair, Moore, Phillips and Harrison. By doing this, I am able to enter the draft looking at more than just one position. Oher would still be my ideal option (play him at RT, St. Clair at LG and Moore at RG), but if Oher isn't there, I can look at BPA as opposed to reaching for the next best at one position.

I like the way that looks. It helps out with our weaknesses AND it gives us a freerer hand with the draft. Now, is JA listening?