rawaction

who do they "need" to get starts that is not getting them? Doubront, Strailey and Turner. 2 of them are getting starts in the minors. Turner is 23 and has plenty of time to get starts.

To be fair, the punt team looks pretty decent. Upgrading from Podlesh will be a positive difference. Hopefully, they'll just take touchbacks on kickoffs. On kickoff return, hopefully Gould is just giving them a chance to evaluate coverage by kicking them short (though he's not known for a huge number of touchbacks).

He's eaten the innings this year (somewhat), and still can in relief. I'd throw him in long relief and use him if you want to limit the innings thrown by Hendricks, Turner, Arrieta or Wada....giving Jackson a random start here and there or throw him in after a 4 IP, 65-pitch outing by the starter. If he's around next spring, give him another shot at the rotation. But at this point, it probably makes just as much sense to pay him $22Mil the next 2 years to pitch somewhere else as it does to pay him that much to pitch for the Cubs in relief.

Stop it. Olt is done. Josh Vitters and Brett Jackson have as much of a chance to turn it around as Olt, which means none.

FWIW, I'm fine with the offense and defense thru 2 games. The #1 offense has had 4 drives, 2 TDs. The 1st drive of both games were 3-and-out (actually one was a blocked FG), they were ultra conservative, with Cutler throwing short passes including a -1 yard pass on 3rd and 3 last night. The run game with the starting group has been very vanilla. I only recall Forte running the inside zone and maybe 1 failed toss play. Those plays haven't worked in years. I think they're trying to keep Forte fresh for the season, because he has been worked into the passing game. The defense was the bend but don't break we've seen for years, and it was very successful. Though, this team hasn't been able to cover TEs since the 90s. The pass rush wasn't as strong as they were in the Eagles game, hence no turnovers. The LBs are still a problem, but we knew they were always going to be and will continue to be. The TD the #1 D gave up came on a drive where they should have been off the field. They had 2 sacks in a series, taking the Jags out of FG range, only to give up a 1st down on a bogus illegal contact penalty by Hayden, who was only on the field because Fuller was hurt. Hayden also gave up the TD. Special teams are a disaster though.

We parted with a pick for Vereen, can't remember which round 5th.

Dat #sparkle doe!

This is unwatchable football with all the penalties.

Fixed that tweet to when it should have happened.

As a person with the last name of Jackson, I've always wanted the Bears or Cubs to have a star player named Jackson. Really not much to ask, as it's one of the top 20 most common last names in the US. But really? Edwin? Before him the best I could do was Vestee Jackson for the 80s Bears.

I would almost certainly sign a FA OF. Doesn't have to be a great one. But Id love an OF on a 2-year deal that can provide insurance in case one of the kids struggle or can be traded to give one of the kids a spot. Cruz, Markakis would be ideal. But Rasmus, Morse would work on the lower end.

if you took the IQs of the people who identify themselves as fans of each of the three major sports, i think baseball fans would easily come out on top football is oh my god bad. i wish i could find a place that talks football as intelligently as this place talks baseball. dumb baseball fans are as bad as any of them but i bet baseball overall has a lot more nerds who like numbers and stuff This. I would say baseball is the worst overall as a group, but as for which sport is the worst when it comes to "Who could be the dumbest about a team/player/etc?", it's football. I know some really really REALLY dumb football fans. For example: I'm going to win $100 in a few months because a friend bet me that Tampa will win 11 or more this year because he thinks Lovie Smith is a top 5-10 coach of ALL TIME. Lombardi Halas Madden Walsh Lovie Smith

No. We get to have Addison Russell and still make a run for it next year. Yep. If Soler and Bryant are even close to the unstoppable monsters they are now in 2015, plus Lester and whatever other pitching we might get, we should contend. Yeah, but chances are Russell won't be a huge part of that next year, whereas Samardzija would have been. I would have still made the trade also, but just playing devil's advocate.

No. I don't think he'll be running very much at the ML level. Maybe a max of 10, while he's still pre-prime, but after that he's too good of a hitter to risk injury running the bases.

Don't get it. Refuse to try to get it until that person can get a better grasp of the English language.

So, if you knew Lester was going to sign with the Cubs this offseason.....would you (as GM) have kept Jeff Samardzija to make a run for it next year?

Iowa lineup out. Soler day off. But Felix Doubront is starting.

I'd like to see Wilson make it, but I just don't see it. I really think we're gonna see them give Conte a chance to redeem himself this year. I think the Bears keep 5 safeties this year. The Bears had a lot of injuries at DT and LB last year. And while the safeties were pretty healthy last year, they were terrible and the Bears had nobody on the roster to push or replace Wright and Conte. I think 5 S make it because A) there is a lot of injury potential with Wilson and Conte and B) they don't want to be stuck into playing guys not getting the job done because of lack of depth and C) it is a core position on special teams. Mundy, McCray and Wilson have/can all play special teams. Conte better learn to play it. And I really don't think the Bears want to throw the rookie, Vereen in there this early. He has a pretty bright future, but he was still not a slam dunk, high draft pick and doesn't have a ton of experience at FS. I'd imagine Mundy is a lock to start. If Wilson wins a starting job, you move Mundy to FS. If not, Mundy is the SS with Conte, McCray, and Vereen battling it out for FS (edge to Conte). But either way, you'll see more than 2 guys back there, unlike last year where Wright and Conte played 95% of the snaps (and Wright even missed a game).

Yes. Not that the lists mean much, but Jennings was ranked the #5 CB in the top 100 players the last 2 years, by the players and the fans. Led the league in INTs in 2012, tied for 11th in 2013. Top 10 per PFF in run defense at CB in the last 5 years. And I don't know what you're reading or seeing, but Wilson has been practicing about 1/2 the time with the 1st team, and the other time with the 2nd team. He was also pretty good in the 1st preseason game.

Agree with earlier posts. Play lots of nickel. Yeah, CB is a loaded position right now. Tillman is healthy and having a good camp from all accounts. Jennings has been a top 5 CB the last 2 years. Fuller looks like a potential stud cover guy. And guys like McManis and Hayden have had good camps. And I've always liked Demontre Hurst, and he'll probably be cut. Gotta get as many of these guys on the field as possible, without hurting the run D. Adrian Wilson being good would go a long way because he's basically an OLB.

With Fuller and Tillman being good tackling CBs, Adrian Wilson looking like he will make the team, and weak play from the 3rd LB position, I wonder how much we will see nickel this year? The Bears always play a lot of nickel, but I'm thinking we could see 70%+ this year. If they want to get the best 11 out there, there won't be very many times the 3rd LB is out there. Bostic and McClellin will still get out there plenty in passing downs due to their speed and McClellin's blitzing ability.

Steltz and Conte off the PUP. It's going to be interesting who gets cuts at the S position. Mundy is safe. Vereen isn't going anywhere. If they only keep 4 (I think they keep 5), that means at least one of Wilson (5x pro bowler), McCray (started opener), Conte (2-year starter), Steltz (special teams mainstay for several years) is going to get cut. As for the game, I finally watched it yesterday. The first teams definitely looked good. Guys were getting after the QB, flying around in the back 7. Could tell the right side of the OL was missing. A little worried about Mills missing time. He was the weaklink on the OL last year, and could use the most practice. Depth doesn't appear to be all that great, though Ola did a very good job at RT and OG. I'm not super worried about the special teams, especially after 1 game. They weren't very good last year, but I don't think they made a huge difference in winning and losing games last year and ultimately, I think they'll be OK there. I am worried about the LBs. For all we heard about McClellin and Bostic showing strong flashes, both looked pretty terrible. One of them is going to start and the other is going to be the primary back up and play a lot after DJ goes down as he has the last 3-4 years. Neither is reacting fast enough or attacking the LOS in the run game, which is a huge concern. And both also blew coverages. This team is going to have the same weaknesses as it did last year. The hope is that the offense takes another step forward and they get a little luck with health and an improved DL hides those weaknesses better.

Yeah, Cooks went to the best situation possible. Ingram looks like hes finally going to do something.

Ditto Because he doesn't have a Hispanic last name?

I think the Cubs will go after Lester, with a competitive offer but fail. Then I think they go after a pair of arms. Arrieta, Maeda, Turner, Hendricks, McCarthy. I think Wood will be around and have a chance to earn a spot. Straily and Doubront will compete too with Doubront going to the pen.