BigbadB

The trading down would be under the assumption Fields will be the QB going forward, so trading down to 2 from 1 gives NE the top QB pick and the Bears get MHJ. If Fields isn't the QB going forward, then yeah, no point in trading down. Bears will need the top QB.

New England moving to 2 is about as awesome as it gets. I feel like the Bears can hold out for the Patriots first rounder in 2025, which might be the first pick in the draft again next year.

Didn't really think it needed to be said, but if you want me to clarify, then yes, I meant the "impactful" guys who have an interest in how the Ohtani free agency signing plays out are probably going to wait it out. It's clearly in their best interest to wait. The Padres might want the Cubs to get more involved with the Soto trade because it boosts their chances of acquiring more talent by having more teams involved, especially if teams are more desperate after an Ohtani signing than before.

Exactly. He may not care if he's holding things up, but every other free agent and team is waiting to see how his deal plays out before deciding how they want to move forward.

I switched over from the Blackhawks early since it was another bad looking Blackhawks outing and then just watching. It was fun, but I did expect a meltdown, even at 103-96. Sure enough, they blew it. Caruso deserves All Star consideration, not that I care about All Star nonsense. He's the team MVP in my eyes.

While I have thought about the possibility of drafting QB and letting Fields play out his contract (or traded) until he's beat out by the draftee, I never thought about doing it with one of the top two QB's. I just can't imagine them going that route. Given their cap space, they could fill most of the remaining holes at starter jobs with free agent vets and go QB with the first pick and the best available WR with the other first rounder and then go for depth or future starters with their other picks. Seems more likely if they go with a QB with the first pick that Fields gets traded for whatever they can get. I'm still guessing you have to get a new OC to avoid a mutiny, regardless of who the head coach is. I had more of a vision that if the Bears weren't overly in on those top two QB's, they take the MHJ and then take the QB they like best out of the next tier. Then let Fields try again with his third OC or lose the job to the rookie. I'm starting to lean towards take Williams and take the second best WR in the draft, even if it means trading back a bit with that second first rounder and then extend Moore until he's dead or retires. I'd probably look for an upgrade from Mooney in free agency while the rookie takes his lumps. That would also mean to me that Fields gets traded.

How can you hate on the guy who basically gave the Cubs their wonderful moniker "lovable losers", Mr. Philip Wrigley?

I don't think I'd like it much if Jerry Jones was the owner. Too involved can't be a good thing, either.

According to someone who saw the entire video, Walker was getting his phone ready to record the after game rah rah pep talk.

Backlash from who? Expos fans?

Cubs.com pretty much died when someone staged a fake death of one of the members. A few months later, Tim created this place. At least that's kinda how I remember it.

This really is where I'm at right now. And it tells me we are probably drafting a QB in the first round in a few months.

This paragraph is what I've been wanting to say for awhile now, without actually coming up with an easy way to say it, like you just did. We need to see if Fields can be a pocket passer who can go through his reads and hit his open targets consistently and move this offense and score points. Minnesota knows he doesn't do well with blitzes, and they exploited him twice now. Every other team now knows what to do when they face him. Getsy can't really be so stupid to think that these screen passes will work for this offense. The Bears have speedster WR's that can blow past defenders in one on one situations, which the Minnesota blitz consistently created. Minnesota put 8 and 9 guys in the box and Chicago's play calling made it easy for those 8 or 9 guys to stop the play. I've watched other Minnesota games. Their defense isn't complete shut down. They can be exposed. The absolute only time they got exposed in any way was when they didn't send extras and Fields had time for a receiver to get open somewhere in the 5 to 6 second range. That's unacceptable. If Fields can't do better against blitzes, then his career is done. You can't win games throwing the ball behind the line of scrimmage over and over to beat the blitz. And it's quite possibly the least fun play to watch in the history of football. SO STOP DOING IT! This just can't all be on the coaching staff as much as I'd like to think or hope is the case. They are playing for their jobs, so whether Fields is the guy going forward isn't of their concern nearly as much as winning some games down the stretch. But, screen passes behind the line aren't plays that put you in a position to win games. They just aren't. I believe they are conservative because the QB has limitations that make their true play calls risky endeavors. It's the only thing it can be. I don't listen to press conferences, but how do they address such incompetence with the play calling? Blitzes in the NFL isn't something new where teams are clueless how to exploit them. But, that's how the Bears look when a team gets aggressive going after the QB. Why is that?

New England might be that team we want to finish in the #2 draft spot if the Bears aren't shopping QB this offseason. They might be bad for a long time. Don't have to pillage their roster, just take as many good picks as you can get.

How much different are the tax implications for signing with the Dodgers vs. the Cubs?

Taylor Hall out for the year probably doesn't help their win total. Knowing they weren't going to be good this year makes watching this year still fun. We get to watch the kids grow right before our very eyes. Well, that Columbus game wasn't very fun.

Absolutely. Other than Center, this is his OLine now and next year. If he can't find success with this Line against decent/good teams consistently, there won't be a next year for him here. I really, really, really don't want to see the Bears have to use a top draft pick this year on a QB.

I was referring to after this upcoming free agency and draft period. To you, obviously a year too late. I think it was always going to take a third year of free agency and picks given how barren the roster actually was when he started. Of course, next year hasn't played out yet. I'm just assuming they will have a good team because they were able to keep pace with a strong Detroit team and there are still an offseason of free agent signings and draft picks to add to the roster. I'm not happy with how this season has played out. But, I also don't think we could expect Poles to hit on every free agent and draft pick. As far as free agents, I'll disagree with your assessment that he hasn't signed a good one yet. He certainly could have done better with what he's had to work with.

Neatly connected to this Fields debate is the coaching staff. What are his feelings about Getsy's playcalling? How good can we expect Fields to be with a new coach and OC and new offensive scheme? Can you switch head coaches while keeping Getsy? Obviously, a new QB should also come with new coaching. If you hire a new head coach that was an active OC, do you bring a QB from his team that can bridge the gap until the rookie is ready or actually beats the veteran out of the job? For example, Pete Carmichael and Jamies Winston in NO. I doubt Poles goes anywhere. He's had some big misses, but in general, a good offseason of adds in free agency and the draft should give him the roster he envisioned when he took the job. To some, maybe a year too late, but given what he had to work with that first season, maybe it did take this long to get there.

I still feel like Fields doesn't trust his OLine, but I can't say I blame him when you consider how many times they have failed him. Detroit has a ferocious attack, and that doesn't help, but what I do want to see more of from Fields before this season is over, and on a consistent basis, is getting comfortable in the pocket and surveying the entire field, trusting his protection and making plays to his entire offense. I feel like he gives up on his protection too soon and he's either off and running or throwing off balance as he avoids defenders much too often where it's basically his main offense. I get that one of the goals here is knocking down his sack totals along with reducing turnovers. If he's going to be the guy that leads us to the playoffs year after year, he's going to have to be more of a pocket passer first rather than a bail out too soon and take off running QB.

I'm going to have to side with everyone arguing with Kyle about the long pass to Scott. Detroit was clearly waiting for the two runs up the middle on first and second down. They were likely waiting for the 10 yard pass on 3rd down. Everyone is right, it's a low percentage throw, but it was open, Fields saw it, and you have more than just a catch to hope for there. There's also pass interference or holding that can come into play in that scenario. Besides, I can't tell you how many times I've seen the Bears go for the flags in that situation, and the receiver makes the catch a yard or two short of the down markers. It wasn't a perfect game for Fields. However, I thought he played like an NFL caliber QB, while still recovering from an injury, sitting multiple games, facing a very tough team that was going to do everything possible to make him unsuccessful, and yet he generated enough points to give this team a chance to win the game. You had to expect a bit of rust, even though we can't allow any more rust or poor decisions. But he generated a great first drive touchdown. The line still managed to find ways to make his life more difficult with false starts, delay of game and holding penalties, while also not doing that great of a job in providing protection.

To me, the difference is the Fields designed runs, combined with Fields taking off running. If Fields throws the ball away or makes short dump offs, his numbers mirror Bagent's in pass attempts.

Exactly nobody made that bet.

Mine is very similar. At first, I wanted to believe everything that went wrong with a play was everyone's fault, except our shiny new toy QB. But, he clearly has sat in the pocket with open receivers in nearly every direction. I thought Mooney was forever broken, but Bagent, as bad as he is, has been able to make him a part of the offense. I feel like the coaching staff did break him in a lot of ways. I feel like the suspect OLine has hurt his confidence in the pocket. But, I can't put all of the blame on Getsy, Flus, Oline or anyone else anymore. I don't want to see him run in these last 7 games. I want to see him drop back in the pocket, progress through his reads, trust his Oline to protect him and hit open receivers downfield, and move the ball with ease. I want to see him recognize the defense and adjust and exploit the blitz. He has the weapons to move this offense with ease. The question is does he have the ability to be that guy to do that. I still want it. I want MHJ in the draft. I want to trade down to stock up even more talent with that #1 overall pick. I'll be so sad if we have to use a top draft pick on a QB.

It's the ole, let's keep the Detroit Lion's DC guessing who to prepare for game.