Chisoxfn

I watched Shelby take BP last week and he had a lot of pop. I love this guy as a prospect. I wouldn't call him an A prospect, but I'd call him a guy that could come up and shock a lot of people given that I think most of the baseball world doesn't know who he is (ie, he's not a top 25 or top 50 prospect currently).

He could be a nice swingman. I know the Sox like him.

Rumor is USC's LB's have tested positive (excluding Maluga) for steroids and that Percy Harvin had a positive marijuana test. Carrol has already came out and said the reports are BS.

Wow, I love Jay.

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Apr 3, 2009 -> 02:59 PM) FWIW, I don't believe the Bears will sign anyone who's an improvement this year. It's draft or bust for this team. I also think people are expecting too much of Earl Bennett because of Cutler. The Bears still have a tremendous amount of cap room. If they don't sign a WR prior to the draft than they probably won't sign anyone until cap casualties come around and they'll take a WR in the draft. They could than go out and get Plaxico who will likely be available for a while until there is some sort of certainty surrounding his legal situation.

QUOTE (daa84 @ Apr 3, 2009 -> 02:49 PM) we gave up alot Tru is right, but I also believe cutler is a better qb than any qb in this draft...and certainly better than anyone after stafford...according to the NFL draft charts, our offer wouldn't have even been able to get stafford, so hes a moot point I also like cutler better than anyone in next years class (as of right now, hard to tell this far out for sure)...maybe Bradford will be better, but like Stafford, you have to assume he could go #1 which we would have had to offer a bigger package to get Now we could have used those picks on something else, but assuming we used one to land the Future QB....which nobody would have had a problem with...im happy with the guy we got. Are the other picks valuable....damn right they are. But thats the price to pay for a future guy. Would those picks have panned out in 2-3 years...likely 1 for sure, and probably 2...but the bears logic is that now we have a foundation to build around not just for this year, but hopefully for the next decade. If Cutler was 32 theres no doubt the bears dont do this deal. They see him as the longterm answer. Tru, maybe you don't you are entitled to your opinion. If you ask me there aren't many QBs in the league I'd build my team around moving forward before Jay Cutler. and to me thats worth the extra picks we gave up. Not to mention Stafford of Bradford are immediately going to make more money than Cutler is currently making. In fact, they'll practically make the same amount of money as what Cutler will get after his extension (all without ever taking a snap).

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Apr 3, 2009 -> 02:48 PM) Good points. Since I'm not a local guy, Hub is supposed to be well connected in terms of Bears info correct?

QUOTE (rangercal @ Apr 3, 2009 -> 02:46 PM) Let's hope Percy Harvin's drug charges have him slip to the 2nd round. Won't happen, but I can dream. If the Bears don't sign a WR, they'll go with Murphy from Florida in Rnd 2.

I'll also say that Boldin has some health issues that shy me away from giving up a ton of draft picks for him. I would have considered it prior to making the Cutler deal, but now that we have, we can't afford to deal a lot of picks away.

QUOTE (T R U @ Apr 3, 2009 -> 02:44 PM) lolz Where the hell did you hear that? Theres no way Boldin gets traded for just a 2nd rounder. A top 20 first rounder and Boldin is gone, but no way is he going for a 2nd rounder unless he really starts to pout and even than it would be a high 2nd plus something.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Apr 3, 2009 -> 02:38 PM) I think the best part of his game (aside from the cannon arm) is what your sig so beautifully shows off. His mobility will make our O-Line look phenomenal, as well as open up room down the field. Forte is going to be a freak without 8 men in the box. Likewise, I think Cutler will have more open looks. I can't imagine the Bears picking up Cutler and Pace in the same day and not rectifying the wide receiver corps. If they really want to piss off the rest of the league, they should go get Boldin. I wouldn't give up this years 2nd and next years 2nd for Boldin just because of the financial rammifications and the mistake it would be not having enough high draft picks to fill needs. I'm fine with what we gave up but I think having a guy like Cutler should allow us to be able to find a top flight WR a lot easier (via FA or the draft). If the Bears don't sign someone, they'll use the 2nd round pick on a WR (this is a good draft to have a need at WR in the 2nd round) and than go defense the rest of the draft (with the possible exception of a project olineman being picked).

QUOTE (rangercal @ Apr 3, 2009 -> 02:37 PM) Bottom line.. (from what I heard from multiple outlets) Denver preferred Orton over Campbell. The Broncos former GM said that the Broncos could have gotten more but that they didn't handle things right and didn't even get back to some teams.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 3, 2009 -> 02:36 PM) Seriously, the Bulls are going to be the best chance for him to grab a ring if that's what he's after? I find that hard to believe. I believe I said not that the Bulls could really offer him that, but Boston could.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Apr 3, 2009 -> 02:36 PM) He JUST openly said he'd rather retire than come off the bench. Well enough said than, LOL. I just want to find a way to get value for Deng cause he clearly doesn't fit in the Bulls current system. The problem is he doesn't have value. Hinrich is a better player than Deng right now, imo. Sad but true. It sucks too cause in the right system, Deng's a borderline all star, imo. Key word being borderline.

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Apr 3, 2009 -> 02:16 PM) Signing AI would be a bad move for anyone I'd say, if you expect him to be a bench player and not complain about it. I'd say he'd only be happy as a Knick where he could throw up as many shots as he wants (if they do a sign and trade for Nate Robinson). Thats why you tell him that, if he signs than he's obviously okay with being in that position. If your honest with him and frank and could sell him on a chance to compete for a title (not saying the Bulls could sell him on that, but someone probably could), than I see no reason why he wouldn't be willing to come off the bench. Plenty of stars in the twilight of there careers have made that adjustment for the shot at a ring.

QUOTE (rangercal @ Apr 3, 2009 -> 02:27 PM) This is 100% true I also have a best buddy that is a Broncos fan and all he was telling me was how Cutler was the 2nd coming of the Messiah (his nickname for Elway). We watch all the games together at the bar so I've seen probably 25 of Cutlers games and all I can say is just how thrilled I am and how pissed he is. Clearly that isn't any way of saying who won the deal because I'm no NFL expert nor is he, but I will tell you that the Bears have a guy that they've never ever had in the history of there organization at the QB position. Next up the Bears will have to give him a big f***ing contract, in the neighborhood of 100M so hopefully the McCaskeys are ready to shell out. It probably won't happen now, but it might happen during the season. The question is how everything regarding the uncapped year next year will effect things.

QUOTE (rangercal @ Apr 3, 2009 -> 02:23 PM) 1.) Off-season is not over. The #1 Wr may not be on the roster right now. 2.) Jay Cutler will not be behind Orton's old line. The line looks to be significantly upgraded. 3.) Take your pick: Kyle Orton plus Running backs by Committee or Jay Cutler and Matt Forte. Denver's RB's will have to deal with extra men in the box, while Forte will spread the Field for Cutler and Cutler for Forte. 4.) Greg Olson 5.) I expect with coaching changes, the defense in Chicago will improve. Cutler has never had a defense behind him. Denver will be improved on D, but they have a longer way to go than the Bears do. Don't forget a healthy Kevin Jones and a nice change of pace guy in Garret Wolfe and Adrian Peterson.

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Apr 3, 2009 -> 02:21 PM) The Broncos are using a RB by committee aproach which is exactly what the Pats did. All of the Bronocs RB's last season also averaged above 4 yards a carry, so they were still successful, before they all got hurt. No one in NFL circles will tell you that the Broncos had a good ground game or that anyone at all schemed for it. Everyone worked on defending the pass and doing whatever they could to do such and as a result, the Broncos poor backs were able to put up above average numbers. I've heard that from Dan Reeves, and a s***ton of random people on NFL network.

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Apr 3, 2009 -> 02:19 PM) Orton also had a 90.2 QB rating before he got hurt in the 1st 8 games of last season FWIW. If he's healthy, and he gets back to where in mechanics where back then (and not the Orton we saw in the 2nd half of last season), I think he can put up some real good numbers in Denver's system with better weapons to throw to and better protection. I've watched enough Broncos and Bears games to tell you there is no comparing the two QB's.

QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ Apr 3, 2009 -> 02:18 PM) This morning on the radio the old G.M. from Denver (Ted Sunquist?) was explaining that the Broncos did not even return phone calls to at least 5 teams, one being the Jets and that the thought was that Denver could have gotten more. McDaniels liked Orton over Campbell............. Also the Bears pro personnel guy did all of the leg work on this and had been in contact with Denver since day one and used his connections to seal the deal, I forget his name, before other teams even sent in offers. To me it sounds like Denver is a tad confused currently. Gabriel? He's widely regarded as one of the best personell guys in the business.

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Apr 3, 2009 -> 02:14 PM) Orton put up a 79.6 QB rating last season with a worse O-Line and worst WR's to throw to. Is it crazy to expect he'll improve that number, and Cutler's will go down slightly? I believe the Broncos WR are better, but how much? This is an interesting post from another forum I frequent that might have you think twice

On a sidenote, if the Bulls lose Ben Gordon, I want them to sign Iverson to a contract and let him be a huge player off the bench. I don't know if AI would agree to that, but I'd be okay with it if he was. I really want Ben Gordon back and if the Bulls can find a way to bring him back while still being able to make a max offer at one of the big crop of Bosh/Amare/Wade/LBJ, than do it.

QUOTE (scenario @ Apr 3, 2009 -> 02:08 PM) There was an article in the Denver Post suggesting that Pat Bowlen created this train wreck by hiring an inexperienced coach without having a GM in place. I tend to agree. Tough lesson for them to learn. But, good news for us. I've read quite a few things saying that Bowlen has been trying to spin spin spin his mistake because things just weren't handled right all the way around. Cutler obvioulsy could have done things better, but if you look at any great player traded in or near his prime, its because they were mad, thats why they get dealt. We took advantage of the situation and I don't believe Cutler has a history of being a crybaby. In fact, he's firey vocal guy that talks s*** on the field and backs it up and I think Bears fans will fall in love with him.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 3, 2009 -> 12:45 PM) This is the NFL. You can't just look at whether or not a team let someone walk on its own, you have to look at the salary issues as well. Cutting Pace for this year saved the Rams $6 million in cap space. That's more than he'll cost the Bears by a fair amount I believe. And the Bears started off the FA period with significantly more cap room than the Rams had. And the Bears had a need where the Rams are still a few years away and are looking to develop in the future so Pace wasn't a good fit.

QUOTE (T R U @ Apr 3, 2009 -> 12:27 PM) Its hard to believe he is going to be very good this year when St. Louis had one of the worst OLines in the league and were happy to let him walk. I dunno how much he has left in the tank, but I think best bet is he is decent this year. Anything more than that would be a surprise imo. Ummm...it was strictly a financial move, same with Holt. It happens in the NFL when you get older. I've seen so many people (prior to the Bears making this move) talking about how good of a season Pace had last year and that he was a borderline probowl LT. Was he what he was, absolutely not, but he's still above average. I've also heard this from former offensive lineman during radio interviews who I would think know more than me and you about being a good tackle. Pace could never play with the Bears due to an injury, but if he's healthy he'll be a significant upgrade over anything the Bears have had at the LT position since Big Cat was in his prime.