davell

I think Clausen sucks and I feel rather confident in saying that whoever it is that takes over Carolina next year will think the same. That said, I'd still expect the Panthers to try to trade down(depending on new CBA and such), because I doubt Richardson wants to pay THAT much for an unknown(although I would and think he's going to be Peyton moreso than Eli as far as franchise types go). I think both Newton and Mallet are top 10 picks as well and could see the Panthers going that route and taking the accumulated picks that come with it, especially since they've dealt their 2nd rounder already. The other possibility I can see with them is staying put and taking Daquan Bowers as kind of a Julius Peppers "homegrown" franchise type guy, if he impresses as much as I think he will in the combines. Easier to do if Luck doesn't come out obviously.

I don't think we'l make a move until Noah IS back personally. Or at the very least, not until right at the Feb 17th deadline, if he's not back by then.

Who is everyone pulling for the Bulls to trade for at SG, assuming they make a move at some point? Jackson? Mayo? Hamilton? Anyone else on the radar for you? I'd take any of those 3 guys(in that order of preference for me), but don't see the point of adding anyone else that's supposedly available, as I just don't see them as an upgrade. I don't see the Bulls making a deal though, until Noah comes back, which would make it easier to deal Taj at that point, even if we got back a lesser PF in the deal as well.

I agree that Young isn't ideal for us, but the 1st 2 picks would have me excited and in a perfect world, we could get a WR and an OG thru FA.

Walterfootball.com's latest mock draft has the Bears taking Anthony Castonzo in the 1st, Marvin Austin in the 2nd and Titus Young in the 3rd. If that actually were to happen, I'm happy as hell.

I agree with this statement basically. It's obvious you don't BUILD from FA, by any stretch. But, as a fan, you like to know that your owner will go out and "buy" you the occasional piece, when needed. It wouldn't upset me at all if we added a starting O-Lineman(or two) or maybe even a veteran WR in FA this offseason. There have been times in the past where I've been pissed we missed out on someone, but I don't think we've got too much to complain about here either. I'm glad we don't take the Washington or Dallas approach.

While I agree completely about taking the Pats strategy and using it, I'm not sure Angelo would be the best guy to employ it either. I know he's had some hits outside the 1st round, but my guess is if his draft record is compared to other GM's, he'd be either right in the middle or possibly even a tad below that.

There's a blurb on rotoworld saying Webb prefers to play in Texas and will take an incentive laden deal to reestablish his value. He's supposedly going to speak with Ron Washington and Mike Maddux this evening.

I think of the Bears as an average ran organization. I think Angelo and Smith are basically average or slightly above. I don't think the McCaskey's do anything above what's necessary for the most part. Peppers signing excluded, since the trade for Cutler was before Jay was making lots of money cap-wise. I don't want a Jerry Jones or a Daniel Snyder as an owner, as they make splashes just to make splashes, with no apparent feel as to how to fit the pieces together in order for them to work. There are a group of franchises that I put clear ahead of the Bears, like the Pats, Steelers, and Colts and a few others like the Eagles and Saints that are also run better as well, but there are quite a few teams that are definitely run worse than the Bears are too. I don't want to see Lovie and Angelo be given extensions at this stage, but it wouldn't shock me to see that happen either. Because we compete ENOUGH to make most fans happy for the most part.

Yeah, but I think that's probably just a ploy to get more for him. They've got Price/Shields/Niemann/Davis/Garza right now and they've got to open up a spot for Hellickson somewhere. I'd probably move Davis to closer personally, but don't know what they're trying to do.

I'm not sure, but I thought it was just us speculating on that being the case, especially if it appears we'd have to give up a ton for Garza. Also, Levine mentioned that Tampa would insist on Hak Ju Lee being in the package and Chirinos as well. He also said that he didn't think Garza or Webb was an either/or situation, but didn't go into that further.

According to Levine, Webb is a fallback option from Garza or other starters that could potentially be traded for. FWIW, he says that Cleveland is wanting teams top 2 prospects for Carmona.

Part of me wouldn't mind Pouncey or Brewster, but I think we can find value later in the draft with an interior lineman and would prefer to use the 1st on something else, if it came to it. I like Carimi myself, but I do keep forgetting that Webb is possibly a bright spot on the O-Line right now and we may not need to change positions with him.

I want to see the Bears address the O-Line in both FA and with their 1st rounder, assuming there's someone who's there that's close to value. It's a weak draft for O-Linemen, at least top end ones. Sherrod, Castonzo, and Carimi are the only 3 I'd possibly use our 1st rounder on. But, there's solid depth with Love, Barksdale, and Solder being 2nd round talents. I don't think Smith is a 1st round type and he may not even be a 2nd rounder, due to the depth at the OT spot this draft. I'd love to target an interior offensive lineman in either the 3rd or 4th round, as I think we could add a starter that way. If there's not a OT worth taking with our 1st, I'd go WR or defensive line. But, as much as I've always clamored for the Bears to use a 1st rounder on a WR, I'd actually prefer for them to go find one in FA this year. SD will probably tag VJ, but if you could get them to deal him without giving up a 1st THIS year, I think I'd do it. If not him, I actually think Ochocinco could be a decent fit for us. Let Knox continue to be the deep threat and use Ocho as more of a possession type, but he'd draw defenders away from Knox anyway. Carolina Steve Smith could be a decent fit as well. I think he's still very solid, just suffering from not having anyone who can get him the ball. The D-Line(especially DE's) are very strong in this draft and we could find someone that can either start alongside Peppers, or preferrably, someone who can capably replace Harris soon.

Seeing the Royals get this much of a haul for Greinke will probably mean the Rays will be asking for somewhat close to this for Garza, even with the discrepancy between the two of them.

They've got Hosmer and Moustakas coming up, probably by the end of this year. That's where they think their pop will be coming from. And with all the pitching they've got on the way, they may be able to trade some of it for some more pitching too.

I think the Cubs can still add a Webb or a Garza without letting go of any other contracts most likely, due to the deferred money of Pena. That said, I think that they'll still try to lose either Fukudome or Gorzelanny before the season starts.

I kind of thought Texas would jump in and get him, after losing Lee.

Well why am I turning down trades hoping for the 9th pick of the draft 5 years from now? You aren't. If the Bulls were doing everything possible to avoid trading that pick, its because of the small chance that they can get a top 5 pick 6 years from now. Otherwise, who the hell cares about the 15th pick 3 years from now or whatever. I agree. To me, it looks like the Bulls have 2 big moves available to use over the next 3 seasons to turn this team into a champion. They have the ability to move JJ/Taj/picks this year for an upgrade at the 2 and they'll eventually have Deng as an expiring to use as a major chip in a few years. They'll also be able to sign a couple of mid-level exception-types as well over that period. So, while I want to see a nice 2 traded for this year, if it doesn't happen, I'll understand. I wasn't expecting this team to truly compete THIS year anyway, just make strides towards doing that, and they're doing it.

I wonder if any other team out there would have even given 2 years, much less 3, with the amount of 1B options out there to choose from.

That typlifies Yankee fans as a whole. They feel like it's their birthright to get whoever they want basically. If they miss out on someone, then they aren't any good anyway. Kay evidently has helped them along in attaining this type of attitude. I'm not sure when the Cubs may have the chance to get their own network(I thought it was towards the end of this decade) but I hope at some point, we(and others too, for that matter) can at least compete somewhat with them monetarily in the future.

I'm too worried his anxiety issues would flare up again in a large pressure-filled market to go after him. I agree completely we need difference makers on this team, but this is one of the few I'd stay away from.

6 years of Belt under team control will probably be worth more than Rowand's horrific 2012 salary. Then again, why would the Giants give away a top prospect when they need help at the position? I'd do that deal in a heartbeat, but the Giants would laugh at it. I think Belt will be ready by midseason or so this year and will probably push Huff back to the OF at that point.

I'd rather give up the Charlotte pick than give up Taj, since both Noah and Boozer are injury-prone guys. And that's knowing that we have to get rid of Taj eventually, unless we want to pay him an extremely high salary to be a backup. Alot can change over the next few years for any franchise, so that pick may have as much value right now as it ever does, for all we know...... In the end though, I'm not giving up either that pick OR Taj for Stephen Jackson until I've beaten down the walls trying to find something that's more likely to turn us into a title contender than this move would. If there's nothing else, I guess I'd move the pick. This is probably the Bulls last shot at adding a major piece until Deng's contract becomes an asset to us, instead of a hindrance.

I can't stand Hendry as much as the next guy on here, but this isn't something I'm worried about whatsoever.