jersey cubs fan

Well, I've tried to use words like "might, possible, etc" because of that very thing. If I had to bet I'd say they don't sign Pace. But my theory is if they do all of a sudden sign him with the intention of playing LT, that it would indicate they are souring on Williams.

Another thing to consider is that Williams had a reputation for being a bit "soft" mentally. No killer instinct or something like that. The Bears were desperate for a tackle last year and maybe looked past it and focused on the "who is most likely capable of starting at LT from day one". It's possible that after having the kid around for a year, they see what others were worried about in regards to that lack of intensity.

The Bears gave up on Mark Bradley immediately once he got injured. Williams didn't make it to day 2 of practice. Football coaches routinely hold injuries against the player. It may be bizarre, and they may deny it, but it's true. They drafted Williams with the intention of starting him from day 1, but he got hurt in non-contact drills. The Bears struggled partly due to a weak line, Lovie was more or less forced to demote his best friend, his name went to the top of the chopping block. It would not surprise me in the least if Williams is no longer thought of the same way they thought of him on draft day. It wouldn't surprise me, but it's a very poor way of running things. They knew they were drafting damaged goods. You can't take a guy who you know has a bad back, then hold it against him when he injures said back. I really hope it's what RedFlash thinks, but if it isn't it really shows how bad this organization is run. We're talking about the Chicago Bears.

I don't think that is the case. I think it is more about Smith knowing what Pace can do morseo then the Bears souring on Chris Williams. Personally, I believe the Bears really hope that Williams was a LT, but ultimately the Bears think Williams is better suted to be a RT as a pro. Considering he was a lock to start at LT the day he was drafted, that alone would indicate they are souring on him.

The difference being that Estes wasn't very good, while Pace is. And Williams is still starting, unlike Cruz. I just don't really see how starting a player can constitute souring on him. I see it more as the Cubs calling up Vitters to play first instead of third. His true position is still third, but the need (in theory) is greater for him to play first. That's not even close to the same. NFL doesn't have minor leagues. They also have a salary cap. Williams draft status and contract means he will play somewhere, regardless of how the coaches feel about him. But going from Day 1 left tackle starter to maybe moving over to RT and possibly competing with a guy cut by Cleveland looks to me like a coaching staff souring on a guy.

The Bears gave up on Mark Bradley immediately once he got injured. Williams didn't make it to day 2 of practice. Football coaches routinely hold injuries against the player. It may be bizarre, and they may deny it, but it's true. They drafted Williams with the intention of starting him from day 1, but he got hurt in non-contact drills. The Bears struggled partly due to a weak line, Lovie was more or less forced to demote his best friend, his name went to the top of the chopping block. It would not surprise me in the least if Williams is no longer thought of the same way they thought of him on draft day.

the way things stand now, yes. I was assuming they'd find at least another backup middle infielder before the season started. It will be interesting to see how they handle double switches, as well as those days when they want to rest Aramis, make him unavailable, but not put him on the DL.

Bradley's bat is obviously much better than DeRosa's, but Bradley isn't taking DeRosa's ABs. He's taking Edmonds' ABs from last year. DeRosa's ABs will be taken by Aaron Miles and whoever replaces Bradley in right when Milton gets hurt. But I do appreciate Bradley's bat - I hope he's healthy all year. Mike Fontenot says, "Hi." Fontenot will take Fontenot's at bats, and some of DeRosa's. But my bet is Miles will have more PA than Fontenot will have increased PA. I really don't see Miles getting more PA than Fontenot barring injury or Fontenot completely sucking. We shall see. I didn't say he'd get more than Fontenot. But Fontenot played on the Cubs last year. In order to say he will take DeRosa's at bats, you have to only count whatever at bats he gets in addition to what he had last year, 284 PA. I misread the bolded. Either way, I think it's a weird convoluted way of looking at it. It's a straightforward rational way of looking at it.

With word that they're shifting Williams to RT if they sign Pace, I don't think they've given up on him. I don't understand why they're not shifting Pace to RT, but I haven't seen anything that makes me think they're giving up on Williams. Shifting him to RT if they sign an aging LT is absolutely a sign that they are souring on the guy, or at least have doubt. Players who miss their entire rookie year to injury (on the first day of practice) don't tend to be given leeway from coaches. Word was they drafted him because he was the most capable of starting from day one, and not necessarily the best LT prospect. Given how much that blew up in their face, I could see some tension there. To me it means one of two things, most likely: 1) They're giving preference to the veteran and letting Pace keep his more normal position. Also, they could figure that Pace has played LT much longer than Williams has and, therefore, the switch would be easier for the younger Williams. 2) They simply think Williams would make a better RT than Pace. Maybe he's more comfortable making the switch or in their meeting with Pace they determined he would not be comfortable at all with the switch. If they were saying that Williams would compete with Shaffer for the RT job or just coming right out and saying that Williams would back up Pace at LT, that would cause me to think they've lost confidence. But swapping a young player's position - while still starting him - doesn't strike me as giving up on him. No, not outright giving up, but souring on him.

With word that they're shifting Williams to RT if they sign Pace, I don't think they've given up on him. I don't understand why they're not shifting Pace to RT, but I haven't seen anything that makes me think they're giving up on Williams. Shifting him to RT if they sign an aging LT is absolutely a sign that they are souring on the guy, or at least have doubt. Players who miss their entire rookie year to injury (on the first day of practice) don't tend to be given leeway from coaches. Word was they drafted him because he was the most capable of starting from day one, and not necessarily the best LT prospect. Given how much that blew up in their face, I could see some tension there.

Bradley's bat is obviously much better than DeRosa's, but Bradley isn't taking DeRosa's ABs. He's taking Edmonds' ABs from last year. DeRosa's ABs will be taken by Aaron Miles and whoever replaces Bradley in right when Milton gets hurt. But I do appreciate Bradley's bat - I hope he's healthy all year. Mike Fontenot says, "Hi." Fontenot will take Fontenot's at bats, and some of DeRosa's. But my bet is Miles will have more PA than Fontenot will have increased PA. I really don't see Miles getting more PA than Fontenot barring injury or Fontenot completely sucking. We shall see. I didn't say he'd get more than Fontenot. But Fontenot played on the Cubs last year. In order to say he will take DeRosa's at bats, you have to only count whatever at bats he gets in addition to what he had last year, 284 PA.

Bradley's bat is obviously much better than DeRosa's, but Bradley isn't taking DeRosa's ABs. He's taking Edmonds' ABs from last year. DeRosa's ABs will be taken by Aaron Miles and whoever replaces Bradley in right when Milton gets hurt. But I do appreciate Bradley's bat - I hope he's healthy all year. Mike Fontenot says, "Hi." Fontenot will take Fontenot's at bats, and some of DeRosa's. But my bet is Miles will have more PA than Fontenot will have increased PA.

This, and they'll look better now that they'll be paired with the all-blue hat. one fan's opinion- the grey set with the all-blue hat will never look better because all grey sucks. and so did ditching the road hat. The greys absolutely do suck.

Management transition

He's signed through 2011. That gives a team three seasons to build around him, make their team more attractive, and sign him. There's no reason why any team should be worried about him up and leaving.

I highly doubt they will take less just to get back at them. That organization is in disarray. They can't afford to screw around sending messages. If they perceive equal value between the Bears and Detroit, I could see sending him to Detroit as an added insult, or maybe giving Detroit the opportunity to match any other offer that's made. But I doubt they actually take less just to screw him. I didn't mean drastically less. But if the packages are close, I think they'd take the Lions deal. Maybe if it's Jets vs Detroit, where they don't want him staying in the AFC.

I highly doubt they will take less just to get back at them. That organization is in disarray. They can't afford to screw around sending messages. If they perceive equal value between the Bears and Detroit, I could see sending him to Detroit as an added insult, or maybe giving Detroit the opportunity to match any other offer that's made. But I doubt they actually take less just to screw him.

This team has "maybe 2 playoff wins" written all over them. The likelihood of them winning 4 of 7 at this point has to be very low.

If I'm Denver, I don't want the #1, and I especially don't want the #1 and use it on Stafford. That guy is not worthy of #1 draft pick QB money. I'd much rather take multiple picks and a player or two than the #1 overall. Without a Peyton Manning available in the draft, the #1 overall pick just is not worth what it once was. It costs too much money and risks too much cap space on an unknown quantity.

I blame Cutler a little. He has gone overboard with the whining. But if that's what it takes to get traded, so be it. McDaniels really screwed up here. He had a franchise QB but tried to upgrade that with "his guy" when "his guy" had very little track record of success. He should have immediately praised Cutler for being the franchise QB, instead of hedging like he did at the beginning by saying things like everybody is tradable.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-01-bears-chicago-pace-apr01,0,1624787.story Showing interest in Orlando Pace was intriguing. But reports that they are seriously targeting him and planning on using him at left tackle raises an eyebrow. This suggests to me they have serious doubts about Williams. Pace would be a nice addition at RT. But his elite LT days are over.

In 2003 they might have won less games, missed the playoffs, but kept Woody and Prior's arms attached to their bodies for a few more years. Wood yes, Prior no. Prior had some freak injuries not caused by overuse. And some not so freak injuries clearly related to the absolutely insane abuse.

I highly doubt that. Some in the media have already gone on record saying they don't want that crybaby/quitter on the team. I'm sure there's a significant portion of the fan base that doesn't have any interest in "some primadona QB".

The title of this thread would make for a horrible online video.

Now what the heck am I supposed to read tomorrow morning?