Chisoxfn

I am good either way on this.

Gotcha. I kind of think part of doing it now is - try to ensure you don't make the playoffs and hope you keep the Orlando pick (that said - I get that it creates a different issue). That Vuc trade really was terrible. It completely prevented the franchise from really going anywhere. Giving up that many picks and assets for a player who is slightly above average is just such a massive whiff.

I like Zach - but at this point - I'm not getting rid of everyone else and just keeping him. Start over while you can get value for these guys.

They need to trade all of the "Big" 3 / "Mediocre 3".

Wow - 2 straight terrible 2nd halves and 2 straight terrible losses.

They really should sign Wacha. I’d also take a flyer on Ken Giles and would trade prospects for someone good and cost controlled in outfield or 2B. Better to have a 200M payroll with a few more parts so you have somewhat of a chance to contend vs be at 185 190 and fall way short.

Just get Larry brown jr

Wtf.

I didn’t think I would say it - at this point Bulls need to acquire a point guard. Buy vs sell.

100 percent - it also starts with the top and JR allows this to continue vs holding his people to a higher standard. Point blank - the bar should always be making playoffs and with this org it clearly isn’t.

He is just such a shitty gm - but ownership Is s%*# too and sets a s%*# standard.

The ownership sucks. More than ever it starts at the top. Reinsdorf is ok with ok/mediocre. His standards are soft and he is fine making money and being okay. He has zero aspirations for greatness and will always treat this like a business Vs a hobby (that makes money in long run). He is a good man - but as a fan - a lousy a owner cause mediocrity with a once every 50 years 2005 campaign where everything goes right is all we will ever get. Sad but true. Too low of a bar - not the right standard - no willingness to dig deep when it is needed or when you just have to to make a run. It’s sad but true.

I buy that

Cody's durability is historically good and in general he was pretty solid this year. I kind of think we spend money on a high end tackle and ideally a free agent center and than draft some more too. I am okay if they decide to spend on a high end guard and draft a tackle in RD 1 too.

When do we find out if the Bears are on bar knocks? I am guessing it will be them or the Jets (or Raiders?).

In general the Sox have made some good hires. I don’t love the whole offseason but from a hiring perspective I like it. Player acquisition - they are relying too much on reversion from the mean and need to deploy more resources on the club.

I agree - I don’t think that is enough value and bears will get more. With that said - if they couldn’t get more than that I would still make that trade.

Dug my 3 row SUV from being completely burried (so basically under 8 foot of snow) and than made the long drive back from vacation and put in the server request last night to get the site fixed But did get some greatskiing / snowboarding in with the family

Apologies - this was an issue with our server (not the server company) but a capacity issue. It hit and basically ran out of space so just started shutting down. It started happening last week intermitently but wasn't aware of the broader issue. Unfortunately - I was traveling in remote parts starting Friday so was NOT aware and when I became aware, well, I wasn't about to cut a rural vacation short for Soxtalk (sorry guys). But yesterday I dug my car out and first thing I did when I get home was chat through and identify the issue, so everything should be back and working well and I don't expect the issue that persisted the past week to pop back up. So we should be back for good.

Did the chargers even run the ball in second half?

Yes - its absolutely possible. They need stars to play like stars (and be healthy), have positive health, and have some young players / other positive surprises. It is certainly possible. For example: Moncada, Anderson, Robert, Eloy, Vaughn play to their hype and are healthy. That alone has a MASSIVE impact on production. I will say loss of Liam is real tough and while I half expect White Sox to do nothing - it really will be pathetic if they don't look at things and decide they have to dig deeper and spend more (even if it is for '23) only before we get into spring training to upgrade this club.

If Fields can't become a good passer (which given his legs means just okay as a pure passer) - than I think they are fine. If the Bears don't think he can do that or have extreme reservations around that front - than they really do need to due all the diligence on the QB's (the reality is they need to anyway - if for nothing else to ensure they maximize all the leverage they can). I know 3 absolute positives: 1. Fields is an amazing athlete (like one of the most special ever at the position), 2. He has arm talent to make all the throws, and 3. He has the "it" factor in terms of being a natural born leader + right work ethic. I also see 2 material negatives: 1. His ability to process the field quickly - I see him go through progressions - but his ability to get rid of the football quickly and take the play in front of him, is absolutely horrific (I don't have a metric behind it - but I think its one of the worse I've ever seen - maybe because I think of all his other attributes). Does he need to be elite with this to be good, no, but he needs to be serviceable here. Having poor wideouts and poor protection DID not help him here and only the Bears knows how much growth he made (or didn't make this year). If in film review they know he made material progress - than you have real momentum that helps build on a belief that he can make major growth here. The inverse is - if through film review the team DID NOT see that progression or minimal progression - that is a real issue because you can't just blame it all on talent, etc. That might just tell you what you have. 2. Need to continue to clean-up his footwork and mechanics - he has all the arm talent (as I mentioned in the strengths) - but his ability to be more consistency on check downs and short / intermediate throws - will require continued improvements in this camp. Given the material progress he showed (this year vs. last year) on this front - I see zero reason to not project this out. Bottom line: This means if I am the Bears - my assessment in Fields upside really all comes down to there views around his ability to process the field quickly. If you saw real progress this year - than I think you should feel real comfort with another year in the league, one year in the system, and improved blocking and weapons around him - that you could see a major step forward in '24. If you saw minimal progress - than you have to be looking at QB. And as a fan - we really can't assess the above - because we don't know the expectations of the plays, the calls at the line, etc. Only the coaching staff and player know that. What I can say is - Getsy's body language most of the year seemed to insinuate very strong growth in the above and positive momentum there (with the exception of the Lions game - where he was pretty clear in how poor that performance was).

I am good with a view of getting a tackle and a high end wideout and than assume you can fille some of the dline talent via free agency and next year.

They could also use a 2nd rounder on Bijon instead but they had top rushing attack in the league - imagine how that would look if you put a legit above average back who can catch the ball next to Fields. I like Montgomery - durable, hard working, but he is 100 percent just a guy.

So I will expand on this using my wildest but somewhat crazy realism dream offseason. Free agency: Big Money Guys: OT (Brown) - Poles connection; he is overrated but still very good and clear upgrade who can play on both sides DT (Payne) - Young and explosive and clear upgrade. Yes overpay - but hope he isn’t franchised and just do it. Remember my scenario above also has Buckner and Anderson coming via draft (or draft day trade). So massively upgraded line. Medium Size deals TE - Engram - Just pay the guy. FA wideout class is week, got a lot of cap Space. Front load so you can walk away in 2-3 years when you need to pay Fields. He is former first round pick and has been solid with Giants and even better with Jays. Gives fields another safety valve. Rb - Sign Saquon (save your draft picks on dline, lb, oline, maybe another db, and one more wideout). Make sure cap Friendly cut in a few heads cause you will draft a new one in 2-3 years. Needs to be pass catcher. Bears are in cap situation where they can make this work. Other moves: Short term reasonable Linebacker / oline / Secondary depth moves. Offense gets a few major upgrades (3 free agent additions - 1 OT, 1 TE, 1 Rb and 1 day 1 or day 2 wideout (dream scenario is JSN because you have 2 1st rounders) and olinemem (center). Defensive line is transformed with 3 high end players - 2 young Anderson and Payne), one a bit older (Buckner). Other day 2/day 3 picks at lb / db. Internal moves: Extend JJ, Mooney and Kmet. I don’t extend Claypool - keep him hungry. Note: No earthly idea what the cap impacts of all of this is but in my head it seems plausible (other than I might be a bit aggressive on the Texans trade down).