rawaction

Teams play 12/11c games all the time on the weekend. Teams play tourneys in Maui at 1am their time. Granted this tourney is a little bigger, but it's possible they'll do the same next week/weekend too.

I believe it's always set up this way. I think the point is to give the #1 seed the benefit of the most rest. For example, if Michigan St. gets to the semi-finals, they'll have to play at around 3pm CST Saturday after finishing probably around 10pm the night before. IU as the #1 is guaranteed at least a full 24 hours between games by playing the early game tomorrow.

i like t'eo more than ogletree. ogletree may be more physically gifted but he's not nearly as disciplined as t'eo, nor does he have t'eo's instincts in the middle. i don't like the trufant pick at all. if warmack or cooper falls to 20, you have to grab one of them. i wouldn't even mind going OG in the second either. If neither of the big guards fall, i'm trying to trade down and pick up the lost 3rd rounder. Ogletree being more physically gifted is all that matters to me. I don't hate Te'o as a prospect, and he'd probably be a steal at 50 overall. But Ogletree's game plays so much better in the current NFL. He can cover so much ground so fast. Not really strong in the passing game yet, but has the athletic ability to really be strong in zone coverage and can blitz very well. The biggest complaint people have is that you can run right at him, well you could run right at Urlacher too once Ted Washington was gone and blockers could get on him. Not a big deal to me.

Hope he's not taken.

I'd hate those picks. CB isn't the biggest need and Te'o isn't the best fit. And this is a team still without a starting LG.

Warford would be a really nice pick. Big boy that can really clear out in the run game and does a good enough vs. the pass rush. I still think it would be ballsy to take Fluker and put him at LG. I think he's a decent RT, but I think he could be dominant at OG.

Smart move would probably be to let him walk. But sentimentally, I want him around. I think he has something to prove and he was playing much better in the middle of the season.

While it is nice knowing you have a couple questions answered about your team.....the day after the start of free agency is when I start to put it all into perspective. As Bears fans, the last several years, we've looked forward to the opening of free agency to see how the team would try to fill glaring holes on the team. But living in Steelers country, I've come to realize how this isn't really a big positive. I want to be where the Steelers are in most years. Where Green Bay, New England, Baltimore, and San Francisco are this year. I want to be part of a fanbase that frets the first day of free agency. I want to be in the position to lose top players instead of needing to spend the money to pick them up. I want to be the team that has to make decisions of whether to pay your developing WR, potential star pass rusher, or veteran safety. Losing big-time free agents means you had big time players to begin with. Big time players that you drafted and developed. While Bennett and Bushrod are nice and likely to help with this team's short-term success, the key should be long-term success. And in order to sustain success for a long period of time, the Bears need to make bold moves in late April rather than early March. The last time the Bears were in the position those 4 teams I named above are in this offseason was coming off of the Superbowl appearance. The Bears proceeded to royally blow the subsequent draft and it frankly set the team back to the point that they have only been close to that level 1 more time in the 6 seasons since. Unfortunately, the Bears will probably be in this spot again next year, because they don't have a ton of young talent and only have 5 draft picks this year. But a good draft this year and next, and the Bears are in a position to compete for a long-time. And teams will seek the Bears' talent when it becomes available.

I think they bring in a depth guard to compete and then draft a guy. And you gotta remember the Bears still need to fill 2 starting LB spots, get some CB and DT depth, and a backup QB in addition to OG. If I had to guess as of today, I'd think they'd sign a QB, either Urlacher or Roach for MLB, then draft CB, DT, WR, OLB, and OG

Baker back to the Falcons, was probably never realistically going to leave.

That cap number is nice this year, but it's probably ugly in the future.

Any interest in the newly released Heyward-Bey as our #3 field stretcher? Wow, that's surprising. Not really interested. I'm a firm believer that there are 4 positions you don't pay big money to as free agents: RB (dime a dozen), LB (dime a dozen), CB (usually severely overpaid) and WR (performance largely depends on QB and scheme). Can draft a similar WR to DHB.

jay more statuesque than brees? you don't watch the bears very much. Brees has had the advantage of more open receivers and fewer occasions of multiple rushers coming at him.

I kind of like the idea of getting Winfield and getting a young interior lineman via the draft. Yeah Moore is old. I'd rather draft a guard. Gotta develop talent at some point.

I wonder who they are drafting, Geno or Barkley Geno, I'm sure.

J'Marcus Webb was -0.8 I'll take him. I thought I read he was good in 2011. Thanks for finding that. Really helps ease my mind a little. He didn't have many penalties and only gave up 4 sacks. If he can cut down on the pressures, he'll be above league average.

If the Bears get Bushrod and Moore, it probably means they aren't drafting OL, at least not early enough for it to matter. I'm thinking WR goes WAY up on the board along with depth on defense being a priority.

Not sure how they'd make the finances work but that would be an incredible trio of corners. With the way Winfield and Tillman tackle, they wouldnt need a 3rd Lb.

B1G awards are out. Burke is player of the year. Joined by Zeller, Thomas, Oladipo and either Craft or Hardaway Jr on coaches or media teams. Ryan gets coach of the year, probably because Crean is a douche. HArris freshman of the year.

This is a pleasant surprise. "@seankjensen: On the eve of free agency, #Bears have $7.01 million in salary cap space, according to source."

Anyone have any numbers on Bushrod in 2010 and 11? Seem to recall he was decent for a couple years. Only gave up 4 sacks but a ton of pressures this season.

Lol. Yeah that made no sense. Basically when he gets the ball it goes toward the basket and the offense stops moving.

FTR, I think Raw is full of crap on OSU not being good. I don't think they are that good. Didn't say they weren't any good. I think they were the worst team iu lost to this year, though Butler is making a strong case. Thomas is a black hole of offense. When Craft takes control and they play d like they did against us they can beat most teams. But I still think they are the most likely high seed to lose the first weekend.

Coincidentally, the cost to sign Victor Cruz is a 1st. And about 50 million dollars.

Agreed. But I really don't want to lose in the 1st game (though I think we're still a lock for a #1 seed). And I'm really tired of losing to Wisconsin. And I've always hated the thought of having to play high pressure games Fri/Sat/Sun, traveling and playing higher pressure games Thurs/Sat. Though that Thursday game should be a lot less pressure as a 1-2 seed than in year's past as a 4-10 seed.