Chisoxfn

No, I happen to know the Sox think highly of Egbert. Not in the sense that they have him penciled into the rotation but in the sense that they like him as a prospect.

Also, just an FYI, but the resident capologist at TalkBears.com (probably the best Bears capologist not being employed by the Bears) has indicated that the Bears still have over 20M in available cap room for this season. Pretty tremendous news given that the team has already acquired Pace, Omilaye, and Shaffer. Oh and if anyone needed the nflshops.com coupon, its below (15% off your order, including jerseys): Coupon Code: NFLcBQG

QUOTE (iamshack @ Apr 3, 2009 -> 06:29 PM) To me, a franchise quarterback is one who you slot in at quarterback, as long as he is healthy, with no concerns for the position, or bringing in anyone else, for as long as he is signed. He is the leader of the offense and the face of the franchise. He is, above anything else, any other statistic, a winner. Think Peyton Manning. Ben Rothlisberger. Brett Favre. Philip Rivers. Drew Brees. Tom Brady. Whether or not Jay Cutler will ever become that, I'm not sure, but he certainly is at the front of the line of those knocking on the door... IF you say Phillip Rivers you must include Cutler. RIght now, if you are starting an NFL franchise I believe the three guys people start with at the QB position are Jay Cutler, Phillip Rivers, Big Ben, Eli Manning, and Matt Ryan. I'd say that its probably in that exact order as well but that could be debated (i might flip flop Manning and Ryan). The next group of people would be Aaron Rodgers, Cassel, and Flacco). I didn't put Big Ben as high up because I don't think he's that good of a pure passer, although he has super bowl rings so you got to give him credit for that. Either way, Cutler is clearly in that group of potential franchise building guys.

Anyone have any deals, I found a 15% coupon code for NFL shops for anyone who wants to buy a Cutler jersey. I just want to get a white one cause i"ve never had a white Bears jersey (I currently own navy version of Grossman/McNown/Urlacher).

QUOTE (JPN366 @ Apr 3, 2009 -> 05:51 PM) He is a top 25 for the White Sox though, but I know what you mean. I've been a fan of his since he was at Kentucky, so I was psyched when the White Sox drafted him. Can't wait to see him play for the Barons. He's far more than top 25 on the Sox. I have him just below Danks and that is because I love Danks tools more than practically anyone in the organization. I'm not as high on Poreda as most are, however, I think Poreda projects very nicely in the pen and his upside is as a closer, not a starter. However, if his sinker is truly dominant he might be able to make it as a starter. Right now I have the Sox top five as: Gordon Beckham Dayan Viciedo Tyler Flowers Jordan Danks Aaron Poreda I did not include Clayton Richard or Chris Getz since they are opening the season on the major league roster. Next on my list would be John Shelby followed by Brandon Allen and Hudson. I actually think the Sox need to focus heavily on improving there pitching prospects as there are very few starting prospects I like. I saw Hudson pitch though and I f***ing love him.

1920 x 1200 please Knight?

Can someone recap us. Jay Cutler is on NFL Network right now.

Angelo was just on there and said that the Bears next phase will be the wide-out and than defense. But he also has kept talking about oline so you might not right that off in the draft just yet, imo. Angelo is soundling like a confident GM. He also talked about how he had to come in and make a strong offer, otherwise he felt he would get blown off, and as a whole the whole deal took about 30 minutes to be completed.

I also just realized that Cushing was the guy that had the ugly girlfriend I kept commenting on. He was just this hillbilly looking white guy, how the f*** was I supposed to know he was a potential 1st round pick, LOL. He didn't look built like a LB, more like a safety. But he's the type of athlete that would fit in nice with the Bears (given how much they love speed) or in a 3-4 system.

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Apr 3, 2009 -> 03:45 PM) I would rather have Briggs or Jamar move to the inside to replace Brian if I were a Bears fan. If you could trade Urlacher for Boldin than I make the deal. Or even Urlacher and one of our Cb's for Boldin I'd do it. Why, the Bears could sign Lucas and than slide Briggs into the MLB spot with Jamar sliding outside or decide to use there 2nd round pick on a LB and there should be a quality LB available in rd 2.

Sweet. Should be a great game for those not familiar with college baseball. Fullerton is going up against one of there big rivals and a top 10 team in UCI.

Good stuff Santo, but you do have to give the Tigers credit for drafting Porcello and Verlander.

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.