Chisoxfn

What i really want to know is - did Poles have Daboll at the top of his list and if so - I think he should be on the first plan to Buffalo or wherever Daboll is to at least have one chance at trying to sell that man and connect on a partnership between Poles, Daboll, and obviously Justin Fields and the ability to make greatness happen in Chicago. Boy would nothing excite me more than waking up at some point tomorrow finding out they had that sort of stealth meeting (I am also okay if he did the same thing with Sean Payton haha).

I agree with everything you say there - in this case - Poles is going to have to built out a strong team underneath him that he can lean on and have those conversations with. I presume some of them exist in the building and others will get hired from outside. My hope and why I was happy with Polians involved, in particular fact that he got engaged during the season, is he got to see what the Bears do and don't do, which likely put added credence behind statements made by various GM's and if anything further paved the way to Poles getting more of that clarity. Still - I love the reports about Khan, but even that seems so strange. If that was the case - just go hire him now, have him and Phillips on payroll...start by having Khan focus on the right football guy (Poles) and building out the personell side and strengthening that...in the meantime Phillips will run all things stadium and slowly start to transition that side to Khan at the right times. That said - regardless of titles - if Pole is top guy - great - but the best orgs surround themselves with lots of very smart people - people who will confidently bring up innovative/different viewpoints yet be able to respectfully collaborate, etc. I hate using the word collaborate - but if you work in a silo too much - you might just be that smart that it works - but more likely you will lose in the long run (especially with as many bright people that are out there - whether enhancing analytical capabilities to give you that small % advantage - but you got to push for every edge given how competitive the dynamic is.

If that is how it happens - doesn't Quinn's OC role look most promising relatively speaking). The 3 other openings are all offensive specialists so you presume if you take that role you may or may not run play calling etc. If you take Quinn's job you are being directed with responsibility around the development of the QB and design of the offense (obviously in alignment with Quinn's broader vision).

I here you there - but if I'm throwing out that kind of money - I'm calling Payton up with that offer (or better). I just think 10 yrs is a long time for a HC like Harbaugh. I would have down 5/yr 50M though. Or even 6yr 60 or 65M. But to your point - if the Bears went 10/100 - I would jump for joy anyway cause it ain't my money and it doesn't impact the cap.

It is still one of the most memorable eras of my fandom - and I look back at it with tons of positivity and enjoyment. I don't remember that they were all juicing (Or I guess I do - but it doesn't change my memories). I remember being in awe as my dad and grandpa watched the HR chase. I remember going to a baseball game with my grandpa (90 at the time and a diehard Cardinals fan) and all of us just having our jaws dropped watching batting practice as McGuire put ball after ball 40 rows deep into the bleachers in San Diego. I remember watching Sunday night baseball during family dinners that year (with my grandpa) and everyone just looking and wondering will they break the record or not. It was fascinating. They were incredible and I will always remember that. That is part of what the game is - the entertainment it brought and some of these players not getting in were the most electric and entertaining in their era. That to me is what the HOF is all about.i Note: 20 years from now it will be a moot point because those guys will get elected by their peers being recognized for what they were - legends of their own era. Yeah - the era had question marks but no different than people debating people from the dead ball era or the live ball era etc.

I love a quote i heard from Quinn - where his biggest lesson learn from his last tenor at HC is being really smart about what you put on your plate. You can only do so much as the HC so essentially you have to pick and choose those things and than empower the right people for the rest. Made a ton of sense and reaked of a high degree of maturity. He just seems like such a strong individual / high character person with charism whom players love etc. There are concerns I have with him - but he seems like the type of person who really could be that much better in his 2nd tenure (vs. his first). I honestly still think we might say the same thing about Nagy 10 years from now (but he needs to go really learn to be a full time OC first).

I would disagree in sense that I think baseball is hardest to get in. It really is the hall of fame and not the hall of good or great. There are exceptions though and some of the recent exclusions is just crazy (Bonds/Clemens in particular - those are pinnacle guys across multiple era's/generation(s). I get a Schilling who is on the border - he was very good / dare I say great, but maybe not an HOF(er) and when you bring in other stuff fine, don't put him in (even that is debatable cause his stuff doesn't involve criminal issues rather social viewpoints (I don't agree with em but i do think social views differ from criminal stuff - ala Alomar).

This makes no sense - Ortiz was the least good of the roids users that didn't get in. I don't get why you don't put Bonds/Clemens/Arod (if he doens't) in but you do put Ortiz in. Makes zero sense - the other 3 were way more elite (and those elite numbers held up when a big portion of the league was doing the same thing they were).

I did see a report that Harbaugh was looking for 10yrs 100M (so Gruden(esque). That is too much to give Jim, imo.

I will admit though - I haven't seen this or tweets about this anywhere.

Did the Bears end up interviewing Dennis Allen today (I didn't know with the Saints news + Bears hiring a GM whether that held). More curious, if nothing else.

That is extremely interesting; it is a bit odd though - cause you would think if that is what they were thinking, they would want to make sure Khan got along with Poles (otherwise it is kind of an odd reverse power structure coming in place). I long thought Khan was the perfect fit for that type of role though.

Lavine was gassed - so pretty good excuse there (hadn't played in 10 days and needed more minutes). Same with Green. Outside of that - they didn't have 3 guys who are primary ball handlers (along with Lavine) in that situation - Ball, Caruso, and Derozan. So I actually think having that happen was good - because it will be developmental for individuals like Ayo and White. But it does highlight while Ball/Caruso are out - it can be helpful to have someone who can actually handle legit back up PG duties in that type of situational pinch (i.e., Arci...who is on day 5 of his 10 day contract with Knicks).

This - what lost said. I do think they need to make some decisions now to better set-up that window from years 2-6, but if they aren't humming and in a good spot by year 3 we got problems. The hope would be at that point - if you do have problems, that you have good talent and are mainly looking at upgrading the QB position (not saying that is a good thing - but if your QB stinks and you have crap talent around it in 3 years than it is looking really long in the tooth). Its why I think Poles is in a great spot - he gets to design a team around a young QB (one he is inheriting) and if the young QB isn't right, he'll be in a spot to make his own choice for one down the road (with ideally the right pieces and systems/set-up around said QB to maximize success). That said - for now - Bears have to be all-in on developing Fields and putting real pieces around him. I guarantee that is one thing Poles would have learned from his time with Chiefs (it isn't like they gave Mahomes lousy resources).

I think its more of - a soft reset is what I call it. Cause you are deploying resources into your young QB and building up a war chest for years 2 or 3. But they are in a spot where they have to at least hit a slight reset (to me); They could try to keep rolling but i just don't know that it makes sense given the age of some of their better defensive players. Focus '22 on getting younger and building resources on offense - '23 can be a window where you start adding via free agency + continue to infuse young talent across both sides of the ball (with hopefully a young QB who is ascending in a division with no other decent QB).

Technically speaking - I think they can also stick it to him until his contract is up (I don't know why the Arians situation was treated different). I'm not saying the Saints would actually do that though - would feel like given everything he had done for that org and the way the Saints have treated people in the past - that if Payton wants to go, they will let him go (and just get a modest return on the back end - so at most like a 3rd rounder or something).

I tend to agree with you on this. That said - I think he takes the Cowboys job in a year (or now) if he wants it. I don't see him coming in to do a rebuilding effort with the Bears. I would love it if he wanted to - but I think its more us being overly hopeful.

That is why I said - if he wants to pick the brains from Polian, great, he has that right, but ball is in his court and he has to make these decisions. He should be smart enough to ask for help where appropriate and lean on the right people (like anyone in those shoes) but they gave him this role as a reason. I think the important part here is - they are setting a tone by telling him this, it doesn't mean he shouldn't lean on others / get different perspectives, but buck ultimately stops with him. A huge part of leadership is leaning on others (but providing clarity of vision, asking right questions, removing barriers/providing resources, etc).

Hadn't heard of this - put it on my list. Is it kid appropriate (by chance)? I'm guessing more for adults but asking since my little one loves all things baseball.

If it is an Arians like return - I have zero problem with it - but I presume Saints would want top picks. Arians was traded for like a 6th pick, but Bucs got a 7th rounder back. So it was pretty minimal cost (in grand scheme). I am fine with that. But if you are talking 1st/2nd rounder - I just don't know that you can do it if you are the Bears (although that might just be too short-sighted given how darn good he is).

Reports leaking Sean Payton has officially told Saints he is retiring. Power play to become next HC of the Bears (working with Poles)? Hahha. Okay - the 2nd part I made up but the 1st part is true.

Supposedly Poles will be the only person in the interview with the HC. If that doesn't say its his decision I don't know what is (if that report is correct).

I actually think if Poles doesn't go with Flores that is a good thing; shows you he realizes you shouldn't just go with who you are familiar with - in some cases that might really be a detriment - because there might be too much biases from past LT relationship that it gets in the way of the right things to do to get the very best out of the front office and the coaching staff. Kind of like - I have best friends, but I wouldn't want them working for me or vice versa and if I did it would have to be a very very rare circumstance.

Yep - excellent start. And Poles had to have so much leverage given the Minny situation that even if George wanted to do the same thing he did in the past - Poles had the ability to say NOPE and thankfully it seems (at first glance) George listened

Reports have linked him to Quinn - but he was a college teammate of Flores at Boston College, so they have some relationship and he has reportedly built up a relationship with the Colts DC Matt Eberflus as well. So it seems like Quinn (not sure how they know each other), Flores, and Eberflus have all been tied via the media. DA mentioned Bowles too - not sure where. He also clearly would have ties to Doug Pederson and Eric Bienemy (amongst other Chiefs people). No clue if he has ties to Caldwell or not.