The Bears pretty much have to make a move like this. If the Bears still envision themselves as a playoff team, they need line help desperately.

They really don't have to sign Long. Especially at 11 mil per year. If they can swing it financially I obviously won't object, but he graded out slightly above Webb last year and is an injury concern. Webb wasn't nearly as bad as people think he was last year and there are really good RTs out there (Winston and Andre Smith come to mind) that could still let the Bears fill other needs.

Oh new version of John Tait, where for art thou?

They really don't have to sign Long. Especially at 11 mil per year. If they can swing it financially I obviously won't object, but he graded out slightly above Webb last year and is an injury concern. Webb wasn't nearly as bad as people think he was last year and there are really good RTs out there (Winston and Andre Smith come to mind) that could still let the Bears fill other needs.

You may get your wish. Brad Biggs says the Bears want Loadholt.

You may get your wish. Brad Biggs says the Bears want Loadholt.

I would be pretty happy with that. He actually grades out better than Winston (although not quite as good as Smith). It would also hurt the Vikings.

I would be pretty happy with that. He actually grades out better than Winston (although not quite as good as Smith). It would also hurt the Vikings.

 

Are these rankings really gospel though? I've heard oline rating is the hardest to grade out.

Are these rankings really gospel though? I've heard oline rating is the hardest to grade out.

I just use pro football focus. I wouldn't call the rankings gospel, but the people that do the rankings probably know more than either of us, so it's a decent tool to use.

 

Oh, and Andre Smith wants 9 mil a year at RT and is regarded as one of the best (if not the best) RT in the league, so we don't have to use the grading thing with him too much.

Edited March 12, 201313 yr by Boogua

Are these rankings really gospel though? I've heard oline rating is the hardest to grade out.

 

It's hard to know if a o-lineman allowed a sack. It may have looked like they did, but if you don't know the assignments its hard to tell.

 

Also if a offensive lineman blocks his guy for 5 seconds, but the QB is still holding on to the ball, than it's kinda of on the QB. Big part of why the Packers gave up so many sacks last year.

Edited March 12, 201313 yr by GoSox05

I just use pro football focus. I wouldn't call the rankings gospel, but the people that do the rankings probably know more than either of us, so it's a decent tool to use.

 

Oh, and Andre Smith wants 9 mil a year at RT and is regarded as one of the best (if not the best) RT in the league, so we don't have to use the grading thing with him too much.

 

Fair point, thanks for the info. I'm way behind on football, trying to keep up.

NFL free agency is awesome. No messing around. Guys sign quickly before teams run out of cap room.

NFL free agency is awesome. No messing around. Guys sign quickly before teams run out of cap room.

 

True, but all the guaranteed & non-guaranteed money & random cap hits hide how much a player is actually earning and costing a team.

True, but all the guaranteed & non-guaranteed money & random cap hits hide how much a player is actually earning and costing a team.

 

It is so impossible to figure out unless you spend a ton of time on it.

I just like the speed of the major signings. Its like musical chairs. These guys want to sign before the available money runs out.

 

Boras would be lost as an NFL agent.

Edited March 12, 201313 yr by Dick Allen

Boras would be fine.

 

Hed get the best deals first. He just uses the baseball system to his advantage. If if he was NFL, hed use their system to panic teams into offering money quick.

 

Its the same game.

Boras would be fine.

 

Hed get the best deals first. He just uses the baseball system to his advantage. If if he was NFL, hed use their system to panic teams into offering money quick.

 

Its the same game.

Salary cap/ no salary cap....totally different game.

 

All teams already offer the money quick. Once its gone, its gone. Boras is a master negotiator who thrives when his players become free agents. In the NFL, his tactics wouldn't work, and obviously he would change, but he really couldn't be unique. MLB would love to have the NFL-style cap and free agency and non guaranteed contracts. It takes most of guys like Boras' leverage away.

Edited March 12, 201313 yr by Dick Allen

Hey look, Tony Gonzalez likes money. #NFL #Falcons

— Flapship (@TheFlapship) March 12, 2013

 

 

don't bring up "wanting to see your kid" when talking retirement unless you're going to retire

Edited March 12, 201313 yr by Steve9347

So if you could have only one:

Loadholt or Bushrod.

Salary cap/ no salary cap....totally different game.

 

All teams already offer the money quick. Once its gone, its gone. Boras is a master negotiator who thrives when his players become free agents. In the NFL, his tactics wouldn't work, and obviously he would change, but he really couldn't be unique. MLB would love to have the NFL-style cap and free agency and non guaranteed contracts. It takes most of guys like Boras' leverage away.

 

No it really is the same game. Its understanding the market, understanding demand, understanding players ability, etc. The part that is interesting is you think that time would hurt Boras, a time crunch would help Boras. You get the best deals when people are in a rush and panic. That is why in baseball you usually see a guy sign really quick or wait, because once the initial free for all hits, then people reassess. In football there is no time, so Boras would be able to use his tricks "Oh 49ers are offering X, if you dont offer Y we are signing now" and get the same deals.

 

You have to remember its about the players. If Boras lands A-Rod type NFL clients, he can do what he wants. Its the best player who sets the market.

 

I bolded a part because that has nothing to do with agents, it has everything to do with rules being in place to prevent players from getting the maximum possible salary. Even further in the NBA where you have a MAX salary, you just cant negotiate for more money, regardless of how good the agent is.

 

 

So if you could have only one:

Loadholt or Bushrod.

I choose Rodload.

No it really is the same game. Its understanding the market, understanding demand, understanding players ability, etc. The part that is interesting is you think that time would hurt Boras, a time crunch would help Boras. You get the best deals when people are in a rush and panic. That is why in baseball you usually see a guy sign really quick or wait, because once the initial free for all hits, then people reassess. In football there is no time, so Boras would be able to use his tricks "Oh 49ers are offering X, if you dont offer Y we are signing now" and get the same deals.

 

You have to remember its about the players. If Boras lands A-Rod type NFL clients, he can do what he wants. Its the best player who sets the market.

 

I bolded a part because that has nothing to do with agents, it has everything to do with rules being in place to prevent players from getting the maximum possible salary. Even further in the NBA where you have a MAX salary, you just cant negotiate for more money, regardless of how good the agent is.

In a way, but he can't stretch what they are able to pay. He can't play one team off of another as much as he can in baseball. If he makes an outrageous counteroffer, the way free agency works in the NFL, teams will just move on to the next guy. There isn't time for drawn out bidding wars. Listening to Bill Pollian and Bill Parcells on ESPN the other day discussing the salary cap was fascinating. One guy they were asked about was Revis. Both said they wouldn't trade for him until he showed he was OK to play, and both said they wouldn't give a corner the type of money he is looking for no matter how good he is. It's not like baseball where signing the right guy gets you x number more people through the turnstiles and helps you make money. I think agents impact baseball salaries far more than they impact those in the NFL. NFL teams' hands are tied. A big contract and an injury or lack of performance could mean years of dead cap space.

Edited March 12, 201313 yr by Dick Allen

So if you could have only one:

Loadholt or Bushrod.

I think it's Loadholt. He'd likely be cheaper than Bushrod (RT vs LT), we wouldn't have to move Webb to RT where we don't know how he'd do, and Bushrod graded out poorly against the pass last year (-3.5 whereas Webb was -.8)

@TomPelissero

BREAKING: #Vikings just released Antoine Winfield.

 

 

Lot's of dudes getting released.

@TomPelissero

BREAKING: #Vikings just released Antoine Winfield.

 

 

Lot's of dudes getting released.

Yes. It looks like Loadholt is going back to the Vikings.

@AdamSchefter

Eagles will release former Pro Bowl CB Nnamdi Asomugha today.

 

 

 

The dream team is over. All those championships....

 

 

 

Also.

 

@TomPelissero

 

BREAKING: #Vikings have agreed to a multiyear contract with Phil Loadholt.

Edited March 12, 201313 yr by GoSox05

@nfldraftscout

 

Can confirm: Chicago #Bears will be signing TE Martellus Bennett tonight.

Edited March 12, 201313 yr by GoSox05

@nfldraftscout

 

Can confirm: Chicago #Bears will be signing TE Martellus Bennett tonight.

 

 

Martellus Bennett ‏@JoeGryffindor

I'm proud to say I'll be joining my other brother @bmarshall next season. #BEARDOWN