Soul

The Bears hired 8 scouts last year, and promoted others to new positions. Sure, he can say they still have many of the same scouts, but they also have a lot of new voices, and it was a significant change to the organization last year. I disagree it is "effectively the same scouts in place" as they have had all along. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-06-05/sports/chi-bears-add-scouts-expand-personnel-department-20120605_1_area-scout-national-scouts-kevin-turks

Need to win it again, quick

Yeah, but he DOES seem really dumb. Or, he's not very excited about the team and what it can accomplish. i think that's a much worse thing to say about him in regards to his return I know. His brother opened the door to it. I shouldn't repeat it, or attribute it to Derrick, but I can't help but wonder since it isn't making much sense to me right now.

Yeah, but he DOES seem really dumb. Or, he's not very excited about the team and what it can accomplish.

Heh.

Bobrovsky was a monster tonight. Not sure if he is just good or had a great night, but that was definitely impressive.

Kane & Cutler are my heroes now.

Oh dear lord. What a save dammit.

Only my teams.

What do you mean? Doctors don't order players to play games.

My understanding is, the medical doctors cleared him awhile back and it's just that he isn't comfortable dunking off his injured leg yet. Rose also said his hamstrings hurt after every practice -- don't know what that really is.

Agreed, although I will settle for just making better solid value picks overall, rather than ridiculous reach picks that have so little chance of working out. The other thing is, there is a lot of room to improve what happens in between late April and early September. Especially on the offensive side of the ball. It's fine to bring in a new crop of fresh faces. Everyone does that. It's quite another thing to develop those players into productive pros, that work well in your system, fill in effectively for hurt stars, and limit game-killing mistakes. I really feel we've been lacking in the player development part of the equation, especially on the O.

That's at least a more balanced look at things than Walter :). Looking at the difference between Bushrod's grade for 2011 vs. 2012, I've got to believe at least some of that had to do with just the overall situation with the Saints last year. That whole season for them was in the tank before it even began, and everyone knew it. There was no way they were going to overcome it, and that's got to translate down to individual performances somewhere. Bushrod graded very well in 2011, the last season where the Saints offense & scheme was intact. Not saying Bushrod is going to be incredible, but definitely some of the bashing comments out there have been ridiculous and over the top. Everyone knew the Bears needed to acquire a tackle who can play the left side. That was a complete and total given. We had 2 FA choices, and one of them was demanding a heck of a lot more money and has serious injury concerns. It was clear that the draft was not going to yield more than a development prospect @ LT, because the best candidates are all going to be gone. I don't see what other option the Bears should have taken that was so much better than this. Emery signed the player who has familiarity with the new coach, has shown skills at the position in the past -- and he did so without destroying the Bears ability to make another needed move.

Webb was also compensated for, greatly. He may look decent in some numbers, but people need to remember that the Bears spent an awful lot of time giving him help, and Jay spent a lot of time keeping an eye out to his side for free runners. Sure, he got a little better -- just as anyone would. But he's one of the worst LT's in the league, and I've got to believe Bushrod is a significant upgrade -- even if Bushrod only brings the position back to average. Also, with the signing of Bennett, it seems clear that Emery & Trestman are determined to protect Jay Cutler. Through Bushrod blocking, or Bennett helping with his excellent pass blocking. The priority is now clear, and I'm definitely happy about that.

I also heard Long to StL was all but done, but Banedon's right, should just wait for the official word.

So it's really down to Bushrod or nothing at LT.

Nix on his QB, and having a good QB in general, was pretty great. Fitz knows where he stands now, that's for sure. Also, he reminds me of Roscoe P Coltrane, which is also great.

Are you suggesting Jay Glazer is dumb?

Well, the LT available targets aren't ideal, so there's a real danger of overpaying for mediocre performance here. I'm not going to be thrilled if we have to back up the truck for a league-average LT, and it hurts the rest of our offseason.

If he's not even talking like he expects to be back this season, then I'm just going to assume he's not.

I don't like that whyshysynnyki guy. His name is an optical illusion.

The whole damn thing is a root.

It'll be interesting to see what Long actually gets. He's asking for a team to take a pretty big financial risk for a player who has declined, and especially poor in his contract year.

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.

Good signs of life in the 2nd & 3rd. A welcome rest now -- we don't play again until Thursday, which feels like an eternity.