UMFan83

I'd like to keep both. Tough to lose Gase just because right now the offense is the more talented side of the ball and having continuity seems important. This would be their 5th offensive coordinator in 6 years. As a team, statistically the results might not show a great job, but considering the influx of WR injuries and the fact that Jay is having his best season statistically in a Bears uniform, I'd say he's done a good job. The one downside has been the line, and I'm not sure how much should be pinned on him (like I have no idea, should a lot of blame be put on him?) Fangio seems like the better coordinator of the 2 but for some reason I don't see him leaving after this year...for a coordinator with his level of success in recent years he doesn't seem to be mentioned as a head coaching candidate, except in SF.

I'd add Grasu. Depending on how liberal you want to be with the word potential there's some other young guys too. On the other hand, an older guy like Slauson could fall off quickly. Not sure if your count Royal or just don't see him in their future. Obviously assuming Bennett is not part of the future in that analysis. But anyways, even super bowl winners start some average and below average players. Getting a couple impact players could go a long way in lifting up a whole unit. Another top 10 pick and $60M goes a long way in a quick turnaround if done right. Exactly. 11 guys he likes with 5 of them added over Pace's first year seems like we have a long long way to go? When there are like 22 starting positions on the units that matter (yeah yeah special teams matter blah blah...that's not what we're talking about here)? It's not like you need those types of players at every position. No you don't but there's a difference between above average and elite, and there's a difference between the rest of the starters being "mostly average or slightly below" and mostly below average. Also there's depth, of which the Bears are currently filling many backup roster spots with scraps. Look at the 2006 Bears, probably an average Super Bowl team at best (going off gut I could be completely wrong statistically). Backup DL? Mark Anderson, Alfonso Boone, Israel Idonije, Ian Scott. Backup DBs? Daniel Manning, Ricky Manning, Todd Johnson. Offensive depth was less but they still had guys like Griese, Benson, Metcalf, St. Clair in backup roles. Not a ton of depth at LB but you can't be deep everywhere and if the Bears lost Briggs or Urlacher that year the season probably goes a lot differently. Finally of the 11 guys, Cutler, Young and Slauson are all over 30 so while they are currently part of the short term future they may not be when the Bears fill talent holes. So yeah I do think they have to add a lot of talent to be a super bowl contender, but am happy with the progress we've made and do think we can contend for playoffs next year.

So ignoring my dumb comment about Fales... How many players do the Bears have that are in their future and either are above average at their position or have the potential to be above average? I have: Long, Slauson, Cutler, Langford, Jeffery, White, Goldman, Young, McPhee, Amos, Fuller So that's 11 guys, with 5 of them added over Pace's first year. It seems like we have a long long way to go in terms of adding talent before we consider ourselves a team that can legitimately contend for a super bowl. Im happy with Pace's first year overall, aside from the issue with Ray McDonald, but he needs to get some more talent on this team quickly or I feel like we are going to be similar to the 96-2000 era Bears

4 playoff appearances in the last 21 years. I know we aren't even in the conversation for most pathetic franchises of the last 20 years but still we aren't much higher.

2nd time in 3 weeks he is picked off on a screen pass inside their own 20. Just a brutal game all around from all phases except ironically special teams Let's get Fales out there and see what weve got

Thought we were finally building something at least halfway decent on the line but now I think we are back to having one of the 2-3 worst lines in the league.

I think any goodwill and positive vibes the Bears got this season are being washed a way. Fairly or not. 5-6 start the last two seasons and looking like a similar ending this year.

At least we have our kickoff return man

Cutler is really holding onto that football. Not sure if WRs aren't getting open if he doesn't want to screw up his good statistical season during meaningless games (joking)

That is 6 TDs on the opponents first offensive possession in their last 9 games. They've also given up one TD in each of their last 10 first quarters (1 was a pick 6 by Jay, 1 was a punt return for a TD, the rest were given up by defense)

This might come as a shock, but the Bears gave up an opening drive TD

IMO a misguided attempt to motivate his team.

JFC you stupid troll

A lot of weird stuff in this one. Both teams have opted to take wild shots rather than take TOs to advance the ball multiple times, Pau is clanking everything off the front rim and Fred doesn't consider giving him or anyone else a breather etc. First Bulls game I've watched in about 3 weeks. Was a fun game to watch overall.

Wrist surgery, at least four months When he goes on LTIR, it will be ~$1.5MM in salary cap space. Combined with the ~$1.1 from the Daley/Scuderi trade (puuuuuuke), we're approaching $3MM in space available. Here is a list of 2016 UFA D-Men with their salary: http://www.hockeybuzz.com/cap-central/freeagents.php?team=all&type=UFA&year=2016&pos=D Hilarious that the top 2 were 2010 Hawks (Campbell & Buff), that team was LOADED. Roman Polak do anything for you? Didn't think so. Luke Schenn? No, he sucks, too, but is at least young. Anyone know anything about Medvedev from the Flyers? Here are the 2016 UFA Forwards with their salary: http://www.hockeybuzz.com/cap-central/freeagents.php?team=all&type=UFA&year=2016&pos=F Isn't the re-return of Versteeg obvious? LOL. If they put him on LTIR and reap the benefits of the cap relief, that means they wouldn't be able to bring him back until game 1 of the playoffs right? Just curious, it doesnt sound like he'd be ready until around that time at the earliest anyways. Maybe he can take Kane's healing serum and come back quickly.

Certainly feels like 3 meaningless play out the string games are coming up.

There is literally no reason why this guy should be in the majors. In his prime he was 2-3 win defensive player but the last 2 years has a combined 0.2 defensive WAR. He's 33, so only expect that to get worse. He's a neutral base runner. And of course the hitting...he doesn't hit for average, he doesn't walk, he doesn't hit for power, he strikes out in 30% of his ABs. For a team this good, a player like him is quasi-acceptable only if he does one thing well that happens to be a weak spot for an otherwise strong team. Other than the ability to not completely embarass himself at 6 positions, I don't see any reason he should be on a roster. Anyways, this is likely a moot point and he won't be on the Cubs roster.

Yeesh, I don't know...he loses a ton of value if he's not behind the plate.

They now have 6 pitchers who will be MLB ready in 2016 but no rotation spots for them. Urias,De Leon,Cotton,Anderson,Lee and Montas. That is an enormous amount of value sitting in AAA/AA waiting for a space to open. Good observation. That has to be what's going on here.

Can Rizzo catch?

I've gotten sick of live sports talk radio so what I've been doing lately is downloading the Score Interviews podcasts, so for example, they had Starlin's interview, the other day, an interview with Jed, an interview with Tom Ricketts, etc. Better to pick and choose what you want to listen to. Obviously there are some great podcasts out there these days as well. Definitely plenty of options out there if you arent in the mood to listen to music.

Well there was a chance he would remain on the active roster so he could practice but not play, but that was probably unlikely.

Read the book Entangled in Ivy if you haven't. I know some people don't like George Castle as an author, but its a pretty good look into the Tribune Ownership and MacPhail FO through the 90's and early 2000's.