jersey cubs fan

Wouldn't they be better off with a guy like Holt or Harrison then? Those guys don't offer near the risks and won't complain about Peterson running the ball 30 times per game. I don't think Harrison has much to offer. He's been in the ideal place for a WR that past couple years and hasn't been healthy enough to play or perform.

Shawn Hill? I knew he was injured 4 years ago.

The thing about Tank and Cedric is gun/dui/police problems vs TO's divaness. I agree that he doesn't seem to be very Bearslike, but TO works hard and doesn't get into trouble with the law.

Best record in the league?

You have to wonder what Harbaugh's impression of TO from his time there. He was special teams coach then, right?

I feel like there's a good amount of defensive backs who do well out of small schools. I don't know if there are very many linebackers or lineman who have succeeded out of these schools though. Your theory would make sense, because I believe you have to be a much better athlete to compete in the NFL on defense, and those guys usually go to the best schools. Whereas some of the offensive positions require a little more subtle skill set. But I've never seen the numbers.

Childress dealt with TO in Philly, and supposedly has ruled out his team's interest. I've heard talk about just about every team but Oakland saying no, but I haven't heard anything from the Bears saying such a thing. Personally I think it's no lose for the Bears. If this was a 12 win team, I could understand not wanting to upset the apple cart and bring in a misfit who could ruin things. But if Owens came here, what could he ruin? Is the fear that they fall from .500 to a 10 loss team? Big freaking deal. The last thing we want is to be stuck in mediocrity. I would rather risk disaster (which is an exaggerated description of the negative things that could happen) while trying to create the best team possible than settle for the mediocrity we are assured of from this offense without a massive influx of talent. TO doesn't really help a team like New England. With Brady, they are great, and TO isn't going to make them better. TO needs 2 things if you want to maximize his value, a chance to be THE GUY and an ability to win. The Bears are clearly not very good. But if they sign TO, suddenly they can concentrate on the offensive line and defense in the draft, significantly improve their passing game and probably turn into a 10-11 win team, or potentially a 12 win homefield advantage type team. Lovie isn't a disciplinarian, but we do know his players love him. If there is one thing they've done under him it's give their all, with few exceptions. The problem has been a combination of talent (primarily an offensive issue), strategy, and on defense especially, health. Give him a big one year contract with incentives and the chance to earn big money if he comes back. Give him incentive not to get himself cut this year, and to play 16 games, and you might get the most out of him. His career is winding down, and a lot of times these guys want to make one last splash. Again, what's the worst that could happen? Miss the playoffs again and draft a little higher? I'll take it. This isn't a juggernaut that we can't risk ruining.

I know he was a 2nd rounder, I was talking about 1st and 2nd round picks, which is why I discussed Manning and Hester. But your reasoning is awful. Tank was the starter be default. He never came close to living up to the hype. Everybody said if he could stay out of trouble and on the field he'd be great, but he was nothing special. Rex Grossman was the starting QB of a Super Bowl team and that was far from a solid pick. The defense was great for many many reasons besides Tank Johnson. He wasn't even the 4th most important defensive lineman on that team.

Okay that makes even less sense now. What did he say? it says he grew up in jersey, i'm assuming that's why he's a giants fan. and uses the term skyball. No, I understood that he lived in Jersey, what I don't understand is the meaning he attaches to skyball. I've lived in Jersey for 10 years and have been around north and south jersey for 14 and I've never heard the phrase. I also don't know any Giants fans from Jersey. Every Giants fan I know is from NY or PA. Jersey is jetsland, outside the southern part, as you well know.

this guy reminds me of Neifi

Well, they just agree with Warner yesterday or today. They've had no time to try and deal him, and the draft is over a month away. The fact that it hasn't been reported that they haven't tried yet tells me absolutely nothing. As comfortable as they may appear to be, they still have to deal with the Boldin situation, and figure out a way to add something to the defense. Teams coming off deep playoff runs run across all sorts of salary demands and cap issues. Arizona may seem fine with their situation now, and they may eventually stay that way. But paying that much money to your backup, when your starter makes as much as Warner and you have huge money tied up in receiver, can be tricky.

This seems like really weird reasoning. He was a rookie QB who was unimpressive, but hardly incompetent. He got beat out by a potential Hall of Fame QB. He's not going to get a chance to earn any of his incentives, and he's not going to get a chance to earn a big free agent contract when this one ends. He can be cut at anytime. If he asks to be traded and another GM holds that against him and tries to equate it to being a malcontent, well, that's an unreasonable person.

Would the other teams do it though? Right now he's an apparent busted pick who can't get off the bench against a (granted, very talented) 40-year-old QB. If he starts pitching a fit because he's not earning a chance, would other teams jump at acquiring a malcontent apparent busted pick who can't get off the bench against a (granted, very talented) 40-year-old QB? I really doubt they'd give an early pick. I realize he's stuck on the bench now, but I think the chances are high that he would piss off more teams than he would entice by whining now. Warner's earned his starting jobs, but Leinart hasn't played particularly well. I doubt teams would be turned off by a QB in his situation asking for a trade. You can ask for that trade without being a complete malcontent. He's in a bad situation, because he's going to hit free agency without any playing time under his belt. Playing the good guy isn't going to drive up his eventual price, the only way he can do that is by playing right now. AZ has a ton of cash tied up in QB, and will have a ton tied into WR. They should be motivated to deal the guy. Given Warner's health, it could be enticing to keep a guy like Leinart around to backup, but that's a luxury at this point. As a Bears fan, would you trade for Leinart, assuming a reasonable cost? Yes. I would like to see him trying to steal Orton's job, and hopefully pushing Kyle, than just about any other rumored QB. His numbers are unimpressive, but he's only had about a season's worth of games under his belt, primarily as a rookie.

Would the other teams do it though? Right now he's an apparent busted pick who can't get off the bench against a (granted, very talented) 40-year-old QB. If he starts pitching a fit because he's not earning a chance, would other teams jump at acquiring a malcontent apparent busted pick who can't get off the bench against a (granted, very talented) 40-year-old QB? I really doubt they'd give an early pick. I realize he's stuck on the bench now, but I think the chances are high that he would piss off more teams than he would entice by whining now. Warner's earned his starting jobs, but Leinart hasn't played particularly well. I doubt teams would be turned off by a QB in his situation asking for a trade. You can ask for that trade without being a complete malcontent. He's in a bad situation, because he's going to hit free agency without any playing time under his belt. Playing the good guy isn't going to drive up his eventual price, the only way he can do that is by playing right now. AZ has a ton of cash tied up in QB, and will have a ton tied into WR. They should be motivated to deal the guy. Given Warner's health, it could be enticing to keep a guy like Leinart around to backup, but that's a luxury at this point.

I caught the last two swings out of the corner of my eye and had no idea who that was at the plate. But I could tell he wasn't a major leaguer.

Okay that makes even less sense now. What did he say?

Is he a Giants fan? How did that happen? Just make the pick.

fuld goes full count, fouls a couple off and walks on a close one high

MLB Network is airing this game, will it be the WGN feed or another crew?

I'm not sure about that goal. Why not draft offensive line? Mainly because as far down as the Bears will be picking, there probably won't be an impact lineman that can step right in and start. If there is one, then by all means, pick him up. But, I think the focus of the draft should be on defense, and then look to improve the offense through free agency. The Bears are definitely not going to land a stud receiver through the draft, so they need to push for one of these big name guys that still has a bit left in the tank. Any first round offensive lineman should have the ability to come in and start from day 1. And as much as it would be nice to find the next impact Bears defender in the first, at least the defense has starting caliber guys at every position, including multiple pro bowlers. The offensive line has backups and backup caliber players at multiple spots. They don't have the bodies to field an offensive line at this point. They have a reputation of doing well drafting defenders, but save for Tommie Harris, they haven't had luck drafting them early. Michael Haynes, Tank Johnson, Danieal Manning and Dan Bazuin haven't exactly justified their picks. Add to that another 2nd round, Hester, who was drafted as a DBack but has had his success only as a returner and WR. I don't think they are any better equipped to draft defense in that first round. If anything, they might stand a better chance drafting guys who can contribute in the 3rd or 4th round. There biggest weaknesses remain on the offensive side of the ball, and I think line is an obvious choice.

I'm not sure about that goal. Why not draft offensive line?

When will The Sports Guy write that he believes this is a hush-hush suspension by Bud Selig?

I'm not sure he feels confident enough to go out and scout other FAs vs. his own. I doubt that is the issue. Angelo prefers to build his team through the draft and pay his own players before they hit free agency. But he's spent big on Moose and Tait, and paid Wale when he was holding out from his other team. Of those three, Moose was the only one I'd think is remotely close to being a "big name" free agent, and that's really stretching the definition imo. Well he was certainly a big name, not as big as TO, but TO isn't as big now as TO was a couple years ago. Tait was a very big name offensive lineman at the time, and the Bears overpaid because they were desperate for line help. Ogunleye wasn't a top notch end, but he was a Pro Bowler coming off a huge season looking for big money that his team wasn't willing to offer. The Bears were very hungry for pass rush help and made the deal. They've gone outside the organization for help at positions they were desperate for in the past, and they've paid guys more than they were worth (none of them took discounts to come to Chicago). I highly doubt TO gets top notch WR money at this point. He's no longer the player he once way. But I bet he'd take 2nd tier money in the right situation, and the right situation probably involves going to a team where he is the clear number 1 guy.

Spreading touches between TO, Moss and Welker seems like it could be a tough fit. Winning, along with a strong chance of going undefeated, cures a lot of those ills. Especially when you have Belichek to lay the smack down if needed. And I could be wrong, but I don't think Welker is as demanding about getting the ball. He seems to just enjoy playing and wants to win - a true gritty team player. Yes, Welker is white. But it's not about him whining, it's about him getting 100 catches, Moss getting 90, and then TO what? TO caused trouble when Philly was winning and when Dallas was winning. The key to TO is making him the focal point and winning. TO would be the 3rd option in New England.

I'm not sure he feels confident enough to go out and scout other FAs vs. his own. I doubt that is the issue. Angelo prefers to build his team through the draft and pay his own players before they hit free agency. But he's spent big on Moose and Tait, and paid Wale when he was holding out from his other team.