Re: Week 6 - Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons, 7:20 PM NBC

[Soul]

I love the comment about TO already helping the Bills sell out their stadium.

 

So the suggestion is that the Bills slap all those fans in the face for their support. Nice.

 

The suggestion is to do what you can to make the team better. Keeping TO does nothing to help the team win, trading him for picks that could make a difference going forward would be better. The fans might feel slighted early, but in the long run they should realize the benefits.

 

It is risky though because Buffalo cannot afford too many more PR hits. The fans in Buffalo are already feeling betrayed by having one of their home games taken away from them for the next few years (and the 9 straight non-playoff years have not helped). Sure, they would likely eventually come around, but only if there is enough of a fanbase left at that point.

 

They bought those tickets expecting to see TO. I understand that you do what you have to in order to make the team better, but I sure wouldn't want to step up to the podium and try to explain it to the fanbase.

 

The other thing is, those fans were expecting to see TO get the ball, at least some of the time. It's complete insanity in my view to not even have plays where he's getting the ball, especially in crunch time. That team is a total disaster, and Jauron is captain of the sinking ship. I'll be shocked if he gets another shot at HC.

[kujay]

That team is a total disaster, and Jauron is captain of the sinking ship. I'll be shocked if he gets another shot at HC.

 

Winner. Jauron never should've gotten that chance after his brilliant work here.

[Soul]

I'd also be pretty shocked if Angelo went out and got TO. But then again, I was absolutely floored when news of the Cutler trade broke.

[kujay]

I'd also be pretty shocked if Angelo went out and got TO. But then again, I was absolutely floored when news of the Cutler trade broke.

 

I can't say I'd be opposed to parting with a mid-level draft pick for TO at this point.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'd also be pretty shocked if Angelo went out and got TO. But then again, I was absolutely floored when news of the Cutler trade broke.

 

I can't say I'd be opposed to parting with a mid-level draft pick for TO at this point.

 

I wanted TO as a desperate attempt to help Orton, but I'm not so sure I'd want to be dealing away more draft picks for one year of TO. I'd have next to zero interest in bringing him back beyond this year. If they gave up a 4th in 2011 or something, I wouldn't be upset. But they are already low on picks next year and still need offensive line help plus fresh blood on defense.

[UMFan83]

I was just surfing around some Falcons message boards reading their thoughts on the game. They seem very confident of victory (as they should coming off such a blowout road win over a halfway decent team), but they also seem to have enough respect for our team. The majority seems to think they are decent but not great. The weird thing I read is that they seem to fear Forte. They keep talking about if they can shut down Forte they have a shot. Should be an interesting game. Atlanta is 9-1 at home since the start of last season, so it's definitely not gonna be a walk in the park.

Which boards?

 

Umm... I went to FalcFans and the Falcons team website forum

[kujay]

I'd also be pretty shocked if Angelo went out and got TO. But then again, I was absolutely floored when news of the Cutler trade broke.

 

I can't say I'd be opposed to parting with a mid-level draft pick for TO at this point.

 

I wanted TO as a desperate attempt to help Orton, but I'm not so sure I'd want to be dealing away more draft picks for one year of TO. I'd have next to zero interest in bringing him back beyond this year. If they gave up a 4th in 2011 or something, I wouldn't be upset. But they are already low on picks next year and still need offensive line help plus fresh blood on defense.

 

Right, definitely just for this year. They don't need to stunt the growth of Knox and Bennett beyond that.

 

But can't you see TO running up to the booth during the game and beating Turner? Actually, that might be worth the draft pick right there.

[Soul]

I was just surfing around some Falcons message boards reading their thoughts on the game. They seem very confident of victory (as they should coming off such a blowout road win over a halfway decent team), but they also seem to have enough respect for our team. The majority seems to think they are decent but not great. The weird thing I read is that they seem to fear Forte. They keep talking about if they can shut down Forte they have a shot. Should be an interesting game. Atlanta is 9-1 at home since the start of last season, so it's definitely not gonna be a walk in the park.

Which boards?

 

Umm... I went to FalcFans and the Falcons team website forum

 

Forte was featured in the highlights from the Detroit game. They probably haven't watched much Bears football this season.

[WrigleyField 22]

I'd also be pretty shocked if Angelo went out and got TO. But then again, I was absolutely floored when news of the Cutler trade broke.

 

I can't say I'd be opposed to parting with a mid-level draft pick for TO at this point.

I'm fine with the WRs we have and with losing a first rounder I want as many mid-round picks as possible next year. OL and defense, with maybe a RB thrown in.

 

If we decided we wanted TO, I'd just wait for the offseason. Its not like he puts us over the top this season. Also in the offseason there would be other Free Agents. Brandon Marshall, Vincent Jackson, Braylon Edwards, and Steve Breaston to name a few. Marshall and Jackson would both be my favorites of that group, and good compliments to Hester and Knox.

[UMFan83]

Haha...I have seen two different power rankings so far this week where the idle Bears jump over the idle Packers. I wonder what happened during the bye week to make the Bears better then Packers in their minds.

[jersey cubs fan]

Haha...I have seen two different power rankings so far this week where the idle Bears jump over the idle Packers. I wonder what happened during the bye week to make the Bears better then Packers in their minds.

 

One week further away from the disaster of week 1. That game really affected how many people viewed the Bears, and the further away it gets, the less influence it will have.

[CubColtPacer]

Haha...I have seen two different power rankings so far this week where the idle Bears jump over the idle Packers. I wonder what happened during the bye week to make the Bears better then Packers in their minds.

 

Jersey made a good point about week 1. In addition to that, at least for ESPN's rankings, I believe they had a tie in last week's rankings between the Bears and Packers that was broken by the results of the head to head matchup. Those rankings are compiled by averaging 4 different writers. So if 1 writer had the Packers ahead of a team like the 49ers but had the Bears behind the 49ers last week, now the 49ers have moved behind both of them. That shift would move the Bears 1 spot up in that writer's rankings for this week which would break the tie they had last week.

[NCCubFan]

Owens is in the last year of a one-year, $6.5 million contract.

I'm glad he pointed out this is the LAST year of a one-year contract. :D

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Perhaps I missed this elsewhere or just didn't see it right, but I'm pretty sure the geniuses at ESPN had a poll on Sunday evening asking which 3-2 team had the best chance to win their division (or something like that). The Falcons got a fair share of the votes. Yes, they are 3-1...

[Soul]

At this point that doesn't surprise me.

[Flames24Rulz]

Haha...I have seen two different power rankings so far this week where the idle Bears jump over the idle Packers. I wonder what happened during the bye week to make the Bears better then Packers in their minds.

 

Our offensive line probably got worse.

[Banedon]

Asked what he would say if Bears management approached him about Owens, Cutler responded: "I don't think they're going to. I think they'll do that upstairs."

 

Asked if he's texted or tweeted Owens, Cutler simply said he doesn't know him.

 

I have mixed feelings about it, but somehow I have the feeling that this is gonna happen. I know the rumor is a media creation, but Angelo did have an interest in Burress. And although our receivers have been good, Cutler doesn't have that big target right now.

 

I'm not counting on it by any means, but I just have a gut feeling.

[Butterscup1679666578]

I don't think it's going to happen, but I'd be for it.

 

How much would it take? I have to assume it'd be less than what it took to get Braylon, considering he's 26 and TO is 35 and just has a 1-year deal. I wouldn't want to have to give back a WR though (well, not Hester, Knox or Bennett anyways).

[SpongeWorthy]

I'm nervous about giving up more picks for a one year flier. Does getting TO significantly improve your chances of a deep playoff run? I don't think it does. The beauty of getting Cutler was that we can build for the long term and we're going to need picks and infusions of young talent.

[UMFan83]

Asked what he would say if Bears management approached him about Owens, Cutler responded: "I don't think they're going to. I think they'll do that upstairs."

 

Asked if he's texted or tweeted Owens, Cutler simply said he doesn't know him.

 

I have mixed feelings about it, but somehow I have the feeling that this is gonna happen. I know the rumor is a media creation, but Angelo did have an interest in Burress. And although our receivers have been good, Cutler doesn't have that big target right now.

 

I'm not counting on it by any means, but I just have a gut feeling.

 

I don't think it will happen. It doesn't seem like a Bears move. They usually like to keep things controversy free at Halas Hall. That's not to say they've had troublemakers on the team before and kept them around, but I can't imagine them going out and getting a known malcontent.

[RedFlash]

I don't think it will happen. It doesn't seem like a Bears move. They usually like to keep things controversy free at Halas Hall. That's not to say they've had troublemakers on the team before and kept them around, but I can't imagine them going out and getting a known malcontent.

 

I tend to agree, but considering that Owens is on a contract yr (well duh, all one yr deal are technically contract years), I think he might keep his malcontent to a minimum. I mean you want to believe that Rosenhaus is in his ear every day that if he wants another deal he has to be on his best behavior. This wouldn't be thinking long-term, but for the remainder of the yr, it wouldn't hurt, cause if he steps out of line the Bears would have no problem cutting him loose. If for nothing else bringing in Owens would easily leave the Bears with more favorable matchups for Hester, Knox and Bennett, and even Greg Olsen.

 

I'm torned about acquiring Owens. If it's nothing more then say a 2011 4th rd pick, I wouldn't mind it.

[sweetpeteman]

well duh, all one yr deal are technically contract years

 

 

 

I like that in the article the writer writes, "the last year of a one year deal."

[WrigleyField 22]

Not at all interested. While I expect us to be competitive and make the playoffs this year, I never viewed this as a big year for us. Next off season we could just sign Owens or another WR, using this year to groom the ones we currently have. I want to use any picks we have to infuse youth into the defense and OLine.

 

A couple of years ago there were talks of our "window". We have a franchise QB now, there really isn't any window now (well to an extent, but not like when we were relying upon an aging defense), just making smart moves. Getting a partial year of TO isn't that.

[Guest]

I agree with WF22 and SpongeWorthy. Keep the picks that we do have, we need to infuse young talent (especially with an aging defense) and build around the core. Cutler is young - this isn't a make or break year for the franchise.

[UMFan83]

I listened to Hub Arkush rip on the Bears on the radio today as he does every week. He called the Falcons his "lock of the week" and basically ripped on the Bears defense the whole time talking about how their offense vs. our defense is a huge huge mismatch. He called Tommie Harris a mediocre defensive tackle at this point (he's probably right), and said Matt Toeina is probably the best DT on the roster.

 

One thing of interest that he said was that the Bears are surprisingly active in trade talks with other teams, though he declined to mention any team names or positions that they are looking for.