RynoRules

His WHIP came way down last year and he had 2.6 WAR. Not bad. Let's see what the contract numbers look like...

Unless the ownership is utterly out of touch and the President is just trying to save his arse.

LaHair won't have any trade value. He might be a throw-in on a deal to an AL club. As mentioned above, if he meets his projections (prob won't, but if he does) he's a cheap option for a team in need of a DH or left handed pop off the bench. You won't be getting Josh Turner for him, but he could have some value.

I know few if any believe that LaHair has it in him, but if he plays well he becomes a very tradeable commodity at the deadline. AL teams needeing a DH would love him. And if not nothing is lost.

That point makes sense. In other words, its a problem if you are waiting for impact players to become available via free agency. I'm not sure jersey realizes he made an excellent point against using FA to improve the team. I don't think that is what he meant - he meant once they do become available, if you have the means, you go after them.

That point makes sense. In other words, its a problem if you are waiting for impact players to become available via free agency.

He can make as many marginal upgrade trades as he damn well pleases, I don't give a crap about that. I want a freaking free agent or three to actually have an impact on their chances in 2012. It costs nothing but money and does nothing to damage their ability to contend in 2014 and beyond. That just isnt't true, and I know that you know it. I don't blame you for wanting to win now (that is, 2012). I'm on the other side of that fence - I can hold off a year of it means we are building something sustainable. I'm giving Thoyer a year or two to show me that their way is the right way.

Realize Volstad hasn't been good last 3 years, but he zipped through the minors and is only 25. Just saying.

IPads are fun

Not loving the return, but I dont get why anyone would think Z has value enough to get anything significant in return. I see Tree's point, but really it's not like it makes that much of a difference if we hold him until the trade deadline unless he returns to his form from several years ago, which is highly unlikely.

Yeah, that is a lot.

Only 21. Power could still develop. What's his perceived ceiling? John Sickels compared him to Pedro Feliz. That sounds about right if he doesn't improve his walk numbers. That's not terrible. Not great, but not terrible.

Why do you care about salary relief? We don't have anybody to spend that 5M on. Banking cash is fine with me if it's used to sign draft picks, international FA's, make trades to add veterans, or to ink future FA's. I'm not thinking it's going to be used immediately.

Only 21. Power could still develop. What's his perceived ceiling?

I'd be fine with Volstad in return if we are relieved of all but 5 mill of Z's salary. I dont think his perceived value will net us very much else. If it's Volstad and Dominguez then we win by a lot, IMO.

Why do people keep asking this question? Everybody in the NFL is one season away from potentially being fired. I'm sure the new guy will get a 2-3 year contract, depending on how in demand he is. The Bears job offers a lot of potential. It's one of only 32 OC positions in the NFL, and several of those are OC in name only, since the head coach is the real guy in control. Knowing your arse is on the line every year in the NFL based on how the team performs is different than it being a virtual lock that - unless you make the playoffs and advance - you will be ushered out at the end of the season with the head coach for no reason other than the new GM wants his own guy in there. In other words, its a fait accompli.

I just can't see how Lovie will be retained unless Tice is promoted. Who is going to take the OC position with the promise of only one year? How can Lovie sign-off on bringing in a guy who is clearly there to take him down at the first opportunity?

Pass-happy is good. The Bears had the 9th most rushing attempts in the league. Missing out on another year of Cutler in his prime was no blessing. yes. it is a passing league, what is everyone's fixation with going back to the days of the wing-t? BLUECOLLARDITKAREDGRANGEBRIANPICOLOBESURETOBRINGYOURLUNCHPAIL +1

I don't agree with the statement in bold. Perhaps calling Ballard and Celek beasts was a bit much in a general sense, but both have dominated games at different times this season when the match-up dictated. To your point, having a really good WR or two creates that scenario in the first place (Cruz and Nicks; Jackson and Maclin). May be if we had WR's then Kellen Davis would be as productive as Ballard or Celek. But if we had a Gronkowski, Davis, Finley or even Aaron Hernandez, it would be even better, IMO. Nobody is disputing that having Gront, Davis or Finley would be ideal. But you can't tell me that Ballard and Celek are that much better than Kellen Davis. Davis is bigger than both and probably at least as fast. He just doesn't get used as much. Like jersey said, the need for a dynamic TE was overblown when Dez Clark was doing fine. And it's going to be done again because of the few that are out there. He is certainly faster than Ballard. I honestly don't know about Celek. In any case, I actually agree with you - we don't need a "great" TE. We do need at least one "great" WR. I think the Packers and Saints success has illustrated the value of providing a great QB with one or two or high-end weapons and three or four solid ones.

I think Lovie should start looking over his shoulder...

I dunno why, but I just can't get my head around the idea that Tice has the wit to be an OC. I didn't think he was a very sharp HC.

Considering the best offenses in the league today feature a dynamic TE(i.e. Finley, Graham, Gronkowski) yes, yes we are. GB won the Superbowl without Finley last year, and he only had 750ish yards this year. The Giants, Steelers and Eagles were also top 10 offenses without dynamic TEs. Not sure how you define "dynamic", but Celek and Ballard were both beasts this year. Miller less so, but he's steady/reliable and can hurt you if you vacate the short-middle because you are worried about the Wallace's and Brown's of the world.(see the Eagles game earlier this season). That said, I think Kelen Davis could be a useful target in the right offense. He's not going to line-up in the slot like Finley does, but he's a big target. That said, having a guy like Finley or Vernon Davis creates mismatches in the slot if you put a LB or S on them. They have to be covered in a zone or by a CB. Ballard had 38 catches for 600 yards this year. I don't think that's dynamic. Those are Greg Olsen numbers (with more catches for Olsen). All TEs are mismatches vs. a LB. No LB could stop 6-7 Davis if used properly. But still, that's icing on the cake. The cake is having WRs that can actually get open and make plays. I don't agree with the statement in bold. Perhaps calling Ballard and Celek beasts was a bit much in a general sense, but both have dominated games at different times this season when the match-up dictated. To your point, having a really good WR or two creates that scenario in the first place (Cruz and Nicks; Jackson and Maclin). May be if we had WR's then Kellen Davis would be as productive as Ballard or Celek. But if we had a Gronkowski, Davis, Finley or even Aaron Hernandez, it would be even better, IMO.

Care to re-phrase?

That's interesting. On the other hand Billick hasn't coached a good offensive team since his Vikings days, which were two jobs and more than 10 years ago.

Considering the best offenses in the league today feature a dynamic TE(i.e. Finley, Graham, Gronkowski) yes, yes we are. GB won the Superbowl without Finley last year, and he only had 750ish yards this year. The Giants, Steelers and Eagles were also top 10 offenses without dynamic TEs. Not sure how you define "dynamic", but Celek and Ballard were both beasts this year. Miller less so, but he's steady/reliable and can hurt you if you vacate the short-middle because you are worried about the Wallace's and Brown's of the world.(see the Eagles game earlier this season). That said, I think Kelen Davis could be a useful target in the right offense. He's not going to line-up in the slot like Finley does, but he's a big target. That said, having a guy like Finley or Vernon Davis creates mismatches in the slot if you put a LB or S on them. They have to be covered in a zone or by a CB.