Divisional Round: Bears vs. Seahawks - Sun Jan 14, 12 pm CST

[David]

I cut Mike Brown. .

 

I can't agree with this. How many chances did Grossman have inspite of injuries?

 

I think Browny deserves at least one more shot.

 

I don't know a ton about how the salary cap works, but Grossman doesn't/didn't have a huge contract like Brown's that could (possibly?) be dropped to keep Lance Briggs around. There was nothing to lose by keeping him around. Actually, it sort of reminds me of the argument that comes up when a few posters want to cut Prior here. Why?

 

Plus, QB has been a historically difficult position for this franchise (any team, really) to fill. Grossman really only had two seasons ended by injury. I have always laughed when people call his 2003 injury in the final game a "season ender."

 

On the other hand, I have a pretty good deal of confidence in JA's ability to fill Brown's position through the later rounds of the draft. He has shown, time and again, the ability to make good draft picks, particularly at hte non-skill positions in later rounds.

 

That's not to say I don't want Mike Brown around. He was my favorite player for a few years, and he's one of our leaders on defense...but he's making a lot of money, is getting older and has been dealing with the same types of injuries for 3 years now. It's definitely worrisome.

[Chocolate Milk]

I'm fine with the Bears not being given a chance by the media. Make it bulletin board material. It did wonders for the Gators this past Monday.

 

Right now, the AFC is the darling of the media, so the Bears being in the NFC, plus playing in the conference's worst division, is going to make people write them off. They went 2-2 against the AFC this year. What people fail to write about is that the Bears went 3-1 against playoff teams this year, etc., etc.

 

I think Rex has more to do with the underestimation of the Bears than anything though.

 

ESPN's poll says the Bears are the most likely favorite to lose. It's interesting considering they are playing the worst underdog in the playoffs.

 

I saw that too and had a hearty laugh.

 

Funny how no one mentions that Rex is more likely to have a great game than a terrible game. The only options people will consider are a terrible game or a middle of the road game (which he has had very few of).

[USSoccer]

Between Brown and Thomas Jones' salary, we should be able to retain Briggs. And I want no part of TJ or Brown next season.

 

Why?

 

Aside from his salary, sooner or later his annual season-ending leg injury is going to take it's toll on his on the field performance.

 

This year's foot injury was bad luck. Breaking your achilles one year, pulling your calf the next, and tearing a foot ligimant getting rolled up in a pile, are not realted in any way. He's not any more likely to get hurt next year because he was hurt in previous years.

 

In any event, I agree with your conern that his injuries will start taking a toll on his on the field play. Still, I'd rather have him back next year assuming he's healthy as we're unlikely to find anyone better than him in FA or the draft.

 

I'm saying they are related, I'm saying that they keep happening, and sooner or later he's going to lose a step.

 

Say what you want, but medically speaking, they aren't related. Did you see how he got injured this year? How can that possibly be linked to a calf pull?

 

I mistyped and edited my post. I don't think they are related.

[Soriano12]

That's not to say I don't want Mike Brown around. He was my favorite player for a few years, and he's one of our leaders on defense...but he's making a lot of money, is getting older and has been dealing with the same types of injuries for 3 years now. It's definitely worrisome.

 

Well do be honest, I'm troubled by D. Mannings recent play. This defense is at its best when we get dynamic play for the safety spot. Whether it be SS or FS, we need somone making plays back there.

 

Now if our draft pick comes up and Leron Landry is available, that is another story.

[Chocolate Milk]

Between Brown and Thomas Jones' salary, we should be able to retain Briggs. And I want no part of TJ or Brown next season.

 

Why?

 

Aside from his salary, sooner or later his annual season-ending leg injury is going to take it's toll on his on the field performance.

 

This year's foot injury was bad luck. Breaking your achilles one year, pulling your calf the next, and tearing a foot ligimant getting rolled up in a pile, are not realted in any way. He's not any more likely to get hurt next year because he was hurt in previous years.

 

In any event, I agree with your conern that his injuries will start taking a toll on his on the field play. Still, I'd rather have him back next year assuming he's healthy as we're unlikely to find anyone better than him in FA or the draft.

 

I'm saying they are related, I'm saying that they keep happening, and sooner or later he's going to lose a step.

 

Say what you want, but medically speaking, they aren't related. Did you see how he got injured this year? How can that possibly be linked to a calf pull?

 

I mistyped and edited my post. I don't think they are related.

 

I gotcha, and I very much agree. It will be interesting to see how he'll play when he comes back this year.

[David]

Does anyone think Brown's injury last year was more than a calf pull? It was such a strange deal.

 

I always thought it was something else, related to his achilles maybe (was it the same leg?), and the team just kept it under wraps... It was just so odd. Happened in practice, didn't it? So nobody really saw how it happened.

 

He missed how many games? And he seemed to force his way back for the playoffs, but how long did he stay in for at that point? I don't remember exactly...did he even make it a quarter? a half?

 

How bad could a pulled calf be that it would put him in a walking boot and keep him out for over a month? Not suggesting anything; just thinking aloud.

 

His injury this year had nothing to do with it...not saying it did. But the 2005 injury was so strange to me.

[goonys evil twin]

That's not to say I don't want Mike Brown around. He was my favorite player for a few years, and he's one of our leaders on defense...but he's making a lot of money, is getting older and has been dealing with the same types of injuries for 3 years now. It's definitely worrisome.

 

Well do be honest, I'm troubled by D. Mannings recent play. This defense is at its best when we get dynamic play for the safety spot. Whether it be SS or FS, we need somone making plays back there.

 

Now if our draft pick comes up and Leron Landry is available, that is another story.

 

Somebody mentioned their faith in Angelo's ability to find a replacement for Brown via the draft, but I have to say after seeing his DB heavy draft this year, I'm not so sure. Danielle doesn't look good. And while everybody keeps saying that Brown makes a lot of money, I think it should be remembered that he makes 2.4m, which is just 2.2% of the reported 2007 salary cap. When the cap was in the 80's (2005) that percentage was much higher. People don't seem to be calculating the large increases in the salary cap that have already taken place, and those that are on the way. Even if Brown only plays half a season in 2007, that's half a season of guaranteed better production than whoever ends up getting drafted.

[Chocolate Milk]

You can have some pretty severe muscle pulls.

[Chocolate Milk]

While Manning's play hasn't beet great, I think it's about what people should have expected from a rookie hailing from a small school. I haven't been totally dissapointed and I don't think he's a lost cause.

[David]

You can have some pretty severe muscle pulls.

 

True. But at a certain point, doesn't the increased severity itself take it past the realm of "pull" and toward a "strain" or "tear?" As we saw with the Prior situation, the ambiguity of terminology with these types of injuries can be used to mislead the public pretty easily.

[goonys evil twin]

While Manning's play hasn't beet great, I think it's about what people should have expected from a rookie hailing from a small school. I haven't been totally dissapointed and I don't think he's a lost cause.

 

I don't care if it was a small school, he was their first pick and he's been bad. I think Tillman and Harris played better in their first years coming out of small schools.

[Chocolate Milk]

While Manning's play hasn't beet great, I think it's about what people should have expected from a rookie hailing from a small school. I haven't been totally dissapointed and I don't think he's a lost cause.

 

I don't care if it was a small school, he was their first pick and he's been bad. I think Tillman and Harris played better in their first years coming out of small schools.

 

Harris was worse last year and Tillman was the exception and not the rule.

[goonys evil twin]

While Manning's play hasn't beet great, I think it's about what people should have expected from a rookie hailing from a small school. I haven't been totally dissapointed and I don't think he's a lost cause.

 

I don't care if it was a small school, he was their first pick and he's been bad. I think Tillman and Harris played better in their first years coming out of small schools.

 

Harris was worse last year and Tillman was the exception and not the rule.

 

I don't think it's an exception for draft picks taken around that area to be decent in their rookie years. Mike Brown was. And I think Manning has made far more mistakes than Harris, although it's purely subjective. Regardless, Harris isn't even thought that very highly of now. And there's nothing about Manning's game to suggest he's capable of being a very good starting safety next season. Mike Brown is the only one of the radar who can.

[Chocolate Milk]

While Manning's play hasn't beet great, I think it's about what people should have expected from a rookie hailing from a small school. I haven't been totally dissapointed and I don't think he's a lost cause.

 

I don't care if it was a small school, he was their first pick and he's been bad. I think Tillman and Harris played better in their first years coming out of small schools.

 

Harris was worse last year and Tillman was the exception and not the rule.

 

I don't think it's an exception for draft picks taken around that area to be decent in their rookie years. Mike Brown was. And I think Manning has made far more mistakes than Harris, although it's purely subjective. Regardless, Harris isn't even thought that very highly of now. And there's nothing about Manning's game to suggest he's capable of being a very good starting safety next season. Mike Brown is the only one of the radar who can.

 

Harris is obviously thought as very inferior by the staff as: He started at FS last year and FS was the Bears first selection in the draft, he was benched as soon as possible, and he's buried on the depth chart behind Todd Johnson. Harris is a crappy FS and Manning is better than Harris has ever been, imo.

 

I think Manning's speed gives him the ability to take a step forward in his game next year. I think that dissmissing him, as you are here, is very premature.

[YearofDaCubs]

While Manning's play hasn't beet great, I think it's about what people should have expected from a rookie hailing from a small school. I haven't been totally dissapointed and I don't think he's a lost cause.

 

I don't care if it was a small school, he was their first pick and he's been bad. I think Tillman and Harris played better in their first years coming out of small schools.

 

Harris was worse last year and Tillman was the exception and not the rule.

 

I don't think it's an exception for draft picks taken around that area to be decent in their rookie years. Mike Brown was. And I think Manning has made far more mistakes than Harris, although it's purely subjective. Regardless, Harris isn't even thought that very highly of now. And there's nothing about Manning's game to suggest he's capable of being a very good starting safety next season. Mike Brown is the only one of the radar who can.

So that being said, what positions would you guys like to see drafted next year?

[David]

Agreed. Danieal just has to get better at reading the field and recognizing when he has to go where. That should come with experience.

 

He's got the tools to be a good Cover 2 safety.

[Chocolate Milk]

Agreed. Danieal just has to get better at reading the field and recognizing when he has to go where. That should come with experience.

 

He's got the tools to be a good Cover 2 safety.

 

Some guys take longer to develop than others. Being that Danieal is swiching positions and coming from a smaller school, I think he's probably one of those guys. Goony doesn't think so and no one really knows. I guess we'll see.

[goonys evil twin]

Agreed. Danieal just has to get better at reading the field and recognizing when he has to go where. That should come with experience.

 

He's got the tools to be a good Cover 2 safety.

 

Some guys take longer to develop than others. Being that Danieal is swiching positions and coming from a smaller school, I think he's probably one of those guys. Goony doesn't think so and no one really knows. I guess we'll see.

 

I'm not writing him off as a lost cause, I'm just saying he hasn't shown he's capable of being anything close to a very good safety next season. The only guy on the roster who has is Mike Brown.

 

So that being said, what positions would you guys like to see drafted next year?

 

I want a defensive playmaker and O line help. I'd like to see them keep Brown and Briggs (and with their salary cap space I think they can) so they don't have to fill one of those positions, specifically. I'd take any DB, outside LB help if Briggs leaves, and then D-end. I think D-tackle is taken care of, as long as Dusty and Tommie can come back. If they insist on cutting Tank though, they might need help, considering Scott and Boone are FA (I think).

 

I really want O line depth ASAP, and I'd like to see a QB taken in the middle rounds, as well as and RB.

[Banedon]

I really want O line depth ASAP, and I'd like to see a QB taken in the middle rounds, as well as and RB.

 

Just curious, if you're wanting a QB taken, does that mean you're ready to be done with Orton? I'm just curious because I don't know if we've found out exactly what we have in the guy. His lows were nowhere near the lows that Rex has had this year (although admittedly the highs were nowhere near the highs Rex has had either). I'm just wondering if this year has helped his development at all, and what the coaching staff thinks of him.

 

I won't cry if he's gone though.

[goonys evil twin]

I really want O line depth ASAP, and I'd like to see a QB taken in the middle rounds, as well as and RB.

 

Just curious, if you're wanting a QB taken, does that mean you're ready to be done with Orton? I'm just curious because I don't know if we've found out exactly what we have in the guy. His lows were nowhere near the lows that Rex has had this year (although admittedly the highs were nowhere near the highs Rex has had either). I'm just wondering if this year has helped his development at all, and what the coaching staff thinks of him.

 

I won't cry if he's gone though.

 

I just think it's a good idea to routinely draft QB's in the middle round. If you end up with a career backup, you've made it more than worth the effort. If you end up with a guy you can trade for a higher pick later (backups QB's are often traded for 2nd round picks) it's huge. And occasionally you'll find a guy who can start for you.

 

I'm not demanding a QB in the middle rounds, I'd just like to see it. I'm fine with Orton 3rd in the depth chart. And depending on how he develops, I might be able to live with him 2nd next year (and the new guy 3rd).

[David]

I really want O line depth ASAP, and I'd like to see a QB taken in the middle rounds, as well as and RB.

 

Just curious, if you're wanting a QB taken, does that mean you're ready to be done with Orton? I'm just curious because I don't know if we've found out exactly what we have in the guy. His lows were nowhere near the lows that Rex has had this year (although admittedly the highs were nowhere near the highs Rex has had either). I'm just wondering if this year has helped his development at all, and what the coaching staff thinks of him.

 

I won't cry if he's gone though.

 

Maybe he never hit the 0 rating mark, but his 5 interception game against the Bengals was pretty darn bad. It was after that that they really started to handcuff him and played not to lose in the passing game (not that they were airing it out like crazy before).

[Banedon]

I really want O line depth ASAP, and I'd like to see a QB taken in the middle rounds, as well as and RB.

 

Just curious, if you're wanting a QB taken, does that mean you're ready to be done with Orton? I'm just curious because I don't know if we've found out exactly what we have in the guy. His lows were nowhere near the lows that Rex has had this year (although admittedly the highs were nowhere near the highs Rex has had either). I'm just wondering if this year has helped his development at all, and what the coaching staff thinks of him.

 

I won't cry if he's gone though.

 

I just think it's a good idea to routinely draft QB's in the middle round. If you end up with a career backup, you've made it more than worth the effort. If you end up with a guy you can trade for a higher pick later (backups QB's are often traded for 2nd round picks) it's huge. And occasionally you'll find a guy who can start for you.

 

I'm not demanding a QB in the middle rounds, I'd just like to see it. I'm fine with Orton 3rd in the depth chart. And depending on how he develops, I might be able to live with him 2nd next year (and the new guy 3rd).

 

If Orton is 2nd and the new guy 3rd, you're looking at trading/cutting Griese then? Or Rex?

[Banedon]

I really want O line depth ASAP, and I'd like to see a QB taken in the middle rounds, as well as and RB.

 

Just curious, if you're wanting a QB taken, does that mean you're ready to be done with Orton? I'm just curious because I don't know if we've found out exactly what we have in the guy. His lows were nowhere near the lows that Rex has had this year (although admittedly the highs were nowhere near the highs Rex has had either). I'm just wondering if this year has helped his development at all, and what the coaching staff thinks of him.

 

I won't cry if he's gone though.

 

Maybe he never hit the 0 rating mark, but his 5 interception game against the Bengals was pretty darn bad. It was after that that they really started to handcuff him and played not to lose in the passing game (not that they were airing it out like crazy before).

 

Good point...I had blocked that from my memory.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I know a few of you have hoped for Landry dropping to the Bears, but I just don't see it happening (same for Florida's Reggie Nelson).

[goonys evil twin]

If Orton is 2nd and the new guy 3rd, you're looking at trading/cutting Griese then? Or Rex?

 

Griese, but as things stand, I'd keep him. I won't be upset, though, if he's cut or dealt and Orton ends up 2nd.

 

 

 

Enough of the offseason talk, I've got my mind on this playoff game.