The Beast

Is it fair to say that if the Bears draft Williams or Maye, that fans should expect them to be elite by the end of the first year or second, especially with how Williams has been billed as generational?

How do we already know that?

I’m just not sure that even if they draft Williams or Maye without the supporting cast I think they need, that the Bears will get to that next level. They still have several holes.

My comment to that user on Twitter. If Williams or Maye are drafted, are they getting a year under their belt first or are they expected to put up Mahomes like numbers in the first year?

If the goal for Poles is to build sustainable success, I would much rather them build around Fields this next year. Trade out of the first position, get MHJ. Then draft another tackle. Get a center in the second or third round. If Fields doesn’t do it next season, then draft a quarterback in 2025. If they really want to take Williams or Maye, then they have to shore up that starting offensive line and wide receiver core and fast. There also has to be a market for Justin Fields when teams can just get a quarterback in the draft. We will see what they get for him if he gets dealt and where he goes. I also think Eberflus has to go if they are to pick a QB and they have to bring in a Ben Johnson or offensive minded coach. So I’m wondering if Eberflus is gone if that is an indicator of what is to come.

I have not seen a play where he has held onto the ball for too long today. I see more awful line play today. Green Bay’s bread and butter seems to be short passes, runs and get the explosion play. Get into manageable third downs and convert.

32 on the Bears has had a tough game today. That pass was so wobbly. Finally something went the Bears way.

So is the defense.

Fields had no chance to throw that snapped ball.

Which one are you using? I had one I used to use but now you have to pay for it. Not sure how much though.

I have been thinking about how awesome the performance was yesterday and yet how the narrative will shift if the Bears lose next week and Fields either has a bad or ineffective game. I suppose the fan base has made up their minds on Fields and to an extent, the Chicago media (Mark Grote and Brad Biggs thinks he will be competing with Caleb Williams or gone in 2024). To me, it is becoming more likely Fields is back next year with Eberflus and possibly Getsy returning, but also with some competition at quarterback.

Fans should blow this picture up and hoist it up whenever something bad happens at the games. Or have some smart ass signs accompanying this before security and ushers censor them.

I never understood that hire and what Denver was trying to do. Hiring Payton to get something out of Wilson doesn’t make sense to me. I’d be for bringing Payton on as long as he was straight fired and did not require draft compensation. Then again I don’t know if I would prefer him over up and coming coordinators in the league. I can appreciate you and Balta having an actual conversation about Fields instead of just jumping on the Williams bandwagon. I think you mean Dan Weiderer. I know Weiderer and Biggs criticize Fields and I know Bernstein and Holmes blame other factors than just Fields. I never understood why Getsy didn’t throw down field in the middle of the field. Even if Fields turns the ball over, I’d prefer that or the possible big gain than screening defenses to death. I am wondering if Poles thinks he can win enough to contend with an improved line and another wideout or if he wants to draft his own quarterback. It will make for a very interesting offseason. I’m not ready for that yet. I would be for seeing him play out next year and the fifth year option though. The cost of that new deal would be a lot, but I take the point of the contract reset from drafting a QB and trading Fields.

So an argument can be made that Fields blew the Denver game, but I don’t know if blame should be placed on him for the Lions and Browns losses. At least not squarely put on him. I disagree with your assessment of Bernstein and Holmes. I tend to think they are objective about the teams they cover and don’t think they have been “worshipping” Fields at all. I don’t know if pulling the plug on Fields after year 3 is the direction I want the franchise to go. We aren’t going to change each other’s minds and ultimately Poles will make the decision on what to do. He can own keeping Fields and passing on a quarterback or drafting one or dealing Fields and drafting one.

First - I am with you on the decision date for the draft. That is what I am implying. I really would like the Bears to continue to stockpile picks, particularly from teams who will trade multiple first rounders and could bomb the next year. I don’t know much about Maye but that would certainly be an interesting decision between taking him and Fields. Maybe trading back to number 3 works well or taking the QB works well. The possibilities of the number one pick extend further than taking Williams or trading the pick. I would have to go back and study would the Chiefs did with Alex Smith to see if there are any similarities between what the Bears could do with Fields and draft a QB to replace him. I’m also not sure they will get a second round pick for him and he might return mid round picks. As for the other scenario with Williams, I would have to look back to see if Manning was drafted and then traded to the Giants. I don’t fully understand why Williams would do this to the Bears either, but it still remains a possibility. We will know a lot more by Black Monday and January 15.

What should the Bears do if Williams goes back to USC or pulls an Eli Manning and does not want to play a down for the Bears?

Let’s add this to the conversation. Just consider it.

Exactly. @T R U see @YouCanPutItOnTheBoardYES!’s post.

And KatyPerry’sButthole and WetButt23.

No, I think we need the OFer more. Outfield defense has been shaky at the corners and they have not had a true right fielder in a long time. They have trotted out so many first base types to the outfield that I would prefer getting an actual outfielder in return. I am curious why both of you don’t seem to think there won’t be more than two players for Dylan Cease.

Do we know what the vesting option is based on?

I appreciate intelligent voices from other fan bases like@Frobby and @Sports Guy and think they have added an interesting perspective to this discussion. I also think the deal @Y2Jimmy0 proposed is more than fair for Dylan Cease. I think there is a lot of prospect clutching and humping on the Elias side. I remain concerned that if Getz does not deal him now, he may not have a good season or could be injured by the trade deadline. It is nothing more than a fear of the worst case scenario in White Sox fashion occurring. I agree with the Robert assessment. It would take a king’s ransom for another team to get him at this point.

The losses to Denver, Detroit and Cleveland were brutal as was the lack of preparation for Green Bay at the start of the year. I am writing off year one of the Eberflus coaching career but I can’t write off the historic losses or the coaching character issues they have had. I am glad the team’s defense improved, but I think we can attribute that to Sweat. I see a mixed bag with Fields and on offense. I really don’t like the Getsy offense and would like to see another play caller come in. I also don’t always like what I see with Fields and missed throws, but I don’t like what he’s had to do with Getsy’s scheme. I wish they would trust Fields more and push the ball to the middle of the field instead of the sidelines. I fear that Williams is just like Fields and I would prefer they build around Fields. Having said that, I wonder if they will trade around with the number one pick and still remain high in the draft, like @Chisoxfnsuggested. I like the concept of trading for future assets and acquiring more talent at the top of the draft. I also remain open to trading for fewer assets and remaining in the top 3 to draft a QB, then also building in the trenches on the offensive line. There still is work to be done across the roster that could not be done in one offseason. If they choose to get a new head coach and go for someone high profile like Harbaugh, I would be open to that, just to force change in an organization that needs it. I would also be open to continuity with Eberflus and a new OC. If they found a new HC that was more like Lovie Smith, I would say to bring that person in. I’m just not sure who that OC or who that new HC would be or if one more year of Eberflus would be good for the Bears with moving forward as an organization.

Who would be your ideal choice for HC if Poles stays and Eberflus gets whacked on Black Monday? Would you be in the camp of keeping Poles and Eberflus and hiring a new OC? Or would you hire an offensive minded HC and let Eberflus go?

I haven’t found many Christmas beers that I like, but I do enjoy going to Binny’s and finding new beers from different parts of the country. I enjoy Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier from time to time. At new years, an ex boyfriend of a friend of mine made sugary alcoholic drinks that were a hit at a NYE party. What I would love to find is something non-alcoholic I could share with my wife and other pregnant women I know for NYE. It looks like you had quite the menu that your friends and family enjoy, thanks for sharing!