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Interested to see what a 2-year deal would look like for Mitch. He's in the exact same situation as Mariota. Former #2 pick. Lost his job in his final season with the Titans. Unlike Mitch, he never got his job back and his replacement played great football. But Mariota got 2-years, 19M+ from the Raiders. Only 7.5 guaranteed, but 9M+ cap number this year, and no dead money, so he'll definitely be cut after this season. I think it's a pretty clear overpay for Mariota, who hasn't even played this season. But he was also going to a situation where he was a clear backup. If Mitch re-signs it'll probably be with a shot to start. I'm not sure how much that would factor in negotiations. Tyrod Taylor/Ryan Fitzpatrick got 2 years/ 11Mil/ 5.5 per year. I think Trubisky's situation can be seen as similar to those also. Taylor was originally brought to LA on his deal as a clear backup, but then was the bridge starter this year. Fitzpatrick was brought in as the bridge guy immediately, but in a competition with a young QB (Rosen in 2019, Tua in 2020). But then you have guys like Newton and Winston who got 1 year, 1.5- 1.75Mil. One was a clear backup, other in a competition to start. But if Trubisky is free to choose where he wants to go, and the Bears aren't interested in bringing him back.....that's the type of deal I would imagine he'll get from another team to be a true backup.

NFL hell is when you don't have a franchise QB. Yes, that is exactly what I meant. If you have a top ~12QB there is no NFL hell because you can piece together a contender without necessarily needing a top 10 pick. If you need a great QB you are probably going to find one at the top half of the first round. Bears need a QB but they are going to pick after the first 4 QBs are off the board. So they will have to find a stop gap which doesn’t really work that well in the NFL and try again in 2022. Or resign Mitch which...please no Eh. Tell the Lions, Chargers (Rivers years), and Falcons that having a top 12 QB means no NFL hell. NFC is constantly putting teams in the Superbowl with a middle of the pack starting QB.

Was bound to happen. The Texans aren't very good, and the Bears aren't "lose 10 straight" bad. They also have at least 1 more win coming too as the Jags aren't even trying.

Not to be lost in today's game....the Bears didnt get into the end zone in the 2nd half. Also, Montgomery took his first carry 80 yards and only had 8 more carries until the final draft.

This game was the most important to lose for draft order purposes and the least important to win for playoff chances.

3rd quarter points. This game has everything Sent from my SM-A115AZ using Tapatalk

Keep Nagy, re-sign Trubisky and Robinson. They finally figured this out!!!! Sent from my SM-A115AZ using Tapatalk

Better throw and Robinson may have 20 more yards Sent from my SM-A115AZ using Tapatalk

Watson looks terrible. Mack looks like a God Sent from my SM-A115AZ using Tapatalk

What are the odds? Michael Carter and Javonte Williams combined ran for 544 yards today for North Carolina. Michael Carter-Williams scored a total of 544 points as a basketball player at Syracuse. Odds are pretty slim considering they broke the record for most combined yardage by any pair of RBs in NCAA history.

Pretty clear forward lateral in there. I wonder what the call would have been if not forward. Both teams were on the field, obviously Ball St first and most. I'm assuming both teams would have been called for too many men on the field, and they would have to do the play again untimed, but not even sure. Also not sure all the guys trying to make the tackle were actually on the field when the play started. Same for blockers/lateral-ers.

The thing with Trubisky is he hasn't been a complete failure like many 1st round busts. More importantly, he's on a team that doesn't have a Ryan Tannehill (or Kurt Warner in Leinart's case) type that flat out took his job or the ability to sign a Tom Brady in the offseason or the ability to draft a top of the draft phenom like the Jets do right now. which is probably why if I was Bears GM, I'd rather try to go with him on a prove-it deal and draft what I can at QB knowing I have a shot at some talent this year in the draft. That way, I'm hedging my bet on either QB succeeding with two choices who aren't over 30 years old. If you keep Foles, the guy you draft HAS to work out. Foles' purpose was that he knew the offense. If Nagy's not coaching, I don't see his purpose. Like I said earlier, he's basically Glennon....except he's not a 27 year old that could possibly turn into something, even as long of a shot as it was with Glennon. At that point, you're just playing Foles so your young QB doesn't play, it's not even about developing him anymore.

Stewart was a second rounder. And was still the starter when he resigned for a new deal. Leinart did not resign with AZ for a second deal. if we draft a QB, Trubisky would also likely still be the starter at the point of resigning. Like I said, different situations, but just because this situation hasn't happened exactly the same way before doesn't mean it couldn't work out The thing with Trubisky is he hasn't been a complete failure like many 1st round busts. More importantly, he's on a team that doesn't have a Ryan Tannehill (or Kurt Warner in Leinart's case) type that flat out took his job or the ability to sign a Tom Brady in the offseason or the ability to draft a top of the draft phenom like the Jets do right now.

Funny, I was thinking about this when I went to bed last night. Foles contract isn't really that rough to get rid of. He'd get 6.67M (cap hit) next year to stay on the team. If you designate him a June 1 cut, you only have to pay him 1M more to get rid of him. And it isn't unprecedented for the Bears to have a large dead cap hit on their payroll. Trey Burton counted 5.75M against the Bears cap this year to not be here. Throw in another 1.75M from Burton in 2021 and you're talking similar money overall (though Foles would cost another 2M in 2022). Assuming a new coaching staff, with a coach (HC or OC) that is an experienced playcaller that has demonstrated multiple years of success (Daboll, Arthur Smith come to mind), I would MUCH rather have that new coach trying to make something out of the talented Trubisky than throwing Foles back there as a lame (and sitting) duck. Foles is what he is. And I'd rather bank on new eyes tapping into Mitch's potential over hoping Foles gets another hot streak. And if you draft a QB and want him to sit, Foles is more likely to get hurt or be Glennon 2.0 and get the rookie in there before you want him to. The biggest issue is the lack of cap space. Trubisky's situation is most similar to Ryan Tannehill's a couple years ago, and Mariota this past offseason. Mariota probably got overpaid at 7.5M this year (10M hit next year). Tannehill's deal was confusing w/ the Titans but looks like he got around 2.5-4M after incentives, but the Dolphins ate a ton of money. So, if Mitch would take 4-7Mil to come back under a new coaching staff it would definitely be doable, but you're talking about it at the expense of an offensive line improvement or maybe an Allen Robinson return/replacement.

Before the season, this was probably the non-division game I wanted to win more than any....mainly because the Bears are 0-4 all time vs. the Texans franchise. Now it's probably the most important game for them to lose for draft position purposes. Of course, if the Bears manage to win this and the Vikings game, and Arizona just loses 1 of the games vs. the 2 hot NFC East teams....the Bears will control their playoff destiny. LOL. But yeah, the Texans' games have all been gut wrenching. 2004- Bears score 5 points. Cut the lead to 7-5, then allowed 17 points in a 9 minute span in the 4th quarter. 2008- My personal favorite, win and in the playoffs. That year, Christmas was on a Thursday, and the day after went out to a nightclub w/ my friends. Sure I told the story before, but saw Lance Briggs in the makeshift VIP section w/ a ton of wings and 2 ugly girls. Briggs and the Bears flew to Houston w/ him likely hung over and proceed to lose and end their season. 2012- The 7-1 Bears lose 13-7. First half, Bears would get past midfield pretty easily and then turn the ball over like 5 times. Cutler gets hurt early in the 2nd half and Jason Campbell happens. Bears would go on to lose 4 more times in the final 7 and end Lovie's tenure despite a 10-win season. 2016- Season opener. Rebuilding Bears showed promise in 2015. Cutler coming off his statistically best season. Bears are led by Cutler, Forte's promising replacement (Jeremy Langford), sure to be future all-time Bears leading WR (Alshon Jeffery), and stud #1 pick Kevin White. Bears score on their opening drive, score to take the lead seconds before halftime, but then get wiped out by Bears' (and only Bears) killer, Brock Osweiler. Cutler gets hurt, Bears season is a disaster, Cutler is cut, and the Bears go into the 2017 draft looking for a new franchise QB......and here we are.

Never a good sign with the 10th string RB is getting the rock.

With his performance on Sunday, Mitch Trubisky overtook Jay Cutler with the franchise's best career QB rating for anyone over 300 passes. His rating is 86.1.

A 5-0 Ohio State team is a playoff caliber team. They have the win over Indiana which is nice but if they only play 5 games that may hurt them when it comes to playoff discussion. If they don't play in the Big Ten championship does the conference get two teams in? Or does Ohio State go over whoever wins the championship game? All this probably is moot as I expect the conference to bend their rules and let the Buckeyes play anyway but it's interesting to think about. I just meant in the sense that they are clearly one of the best 4 teams in the nation, without any more games. I understand if it's not enough for the committee to pick them, but they seem to be pretty good at picking the actual best teams. But yeah, the B1G would be stupid not to do whatever it can to get Ohio St in the playoff.

I think we should figure out a way to play tOSU like BYU & Coastal Carolina did. Either way someone will likely earn a playoff berth with a win. It would be good for Ohio State, too. There’s no rule that says they have to win the Big Ten championship to go to the playoff. A 6-0 O$U with wins over Indiana and TAMU is a playoff caliber team. A 5-0 Ohio State team is a playoff caliber team.

They’ve both been a lot better lately. 2nd and 3rd longest current winning streaks in the league after the Saints.

Right now, I'm feeling: Rick Smith- President of Football Operations (former Texans GM before O'Brien) Ed Dodds (Colts asst GM) or Joe Hortiz (Ravens asst GM)- GM Brandon Staley - HC (Rams DC, former Bears asst under Fangio) Shane Waldron- OC (Rams QB coach, passing game coordinator) Jay Rodgers- DC (Current Bears DL coach, former asst under Fangio) Dodds seemingly was a package deal with Robert Saleh last year when Cleveland was interested, but Cleveland went with another HC. So, he may be of a lot of interest to Detroit. If that's still the case, give me Hortiz. But yes, I went with a defensive head coach. He has Bears ties and his name is Staley! But the ideal pairing is a Fangio disciple led defense with an offensive coach from the Shanahan tree. Best of both worlds. Waldron could bring in a veteran consultant since all these guys are young. But Rodgers and Staley overlapped under Fangio, and allows the Bears to keep and promote maybe their only good position coach.

Brian Daboll is a pretty interesting candidate. He has worked wonders with Josh Allen who looked like Trubisky 2.0 after his rookie year. From mid 60s QB rating, to mid 80s, to over 100 this year. Allen looking really good tonight.

I don't think borrowing from the future will be a thing you have to worry about. Ryan Pace did that because he was desperately trying to win to save him and his coach's jobs. Assuming he's fired, I don't know of too many situations (maybe some past Cleveland GMs) where a guy comes in and starts throwing tons of money around.

Going to finish with the best record for the regular season (10-3). It's the 6th year in a row I've finished with either the best (2020, 2018, 2015) or worst (2019, 2017, 2016) regular season record in the league. Of course, I have not won the championship since 2012 and the best 2 records get a bye. So inevitably, my team will put up about 180 points this week and follow up a semifinal game with a 78 or something. I'm middle of the pack in scoring for the season, but 9-3 without my #1 pick for all but 2 3/4 weeks works for me. I've been very lucky with my waiver pick ups all year (big games from Kalen Ballage, Curtis Samuel, Jimmy Graham, and got 25 from TY Hilton this week) and add McCaffery to a team that has performed pretty consistently all season.

Yeah, I get that. But there's also Garoppolo, Daniel Jones, Lamar Jackson and Kyler Murray run good offenses without great throwing ability, Jared Goff (another #1 pick that hasn't lived up to billing), Bridgewater, Tannehill, etc. Even guys like Brees, Brady and Rivers aren't great anymore. Like 3 of these teams have more talent around them, but most of these guys are borderline average QBs who are leading offenses that run circles around the Bears. how many of those teams have offensive lines that are built with talent better then 7th rd picks? my point is this (and why I hate trading up for a QB): you an either draft a once in a lifetime QB (good luck) or you can surround a QB with talent with even better or equal talent. I just don't think the Bears can afford to trade up. The Bears OL to start the season was a 1st rounder, 2 2nd rounders, a 4th rounder, and a 7th. Granted that 1st rounder was a failed pick playing a new position, but they paid both their tackles good money, paid their C, and used a 2nd round pick on a guard. Also, what you say isn't really true. SF doesn't have receiver weapons (outside of Kittle, who was a 5th round pick), they had a UDFA RB leading them to the SB. Ravens probably have the worst WR group in the league. Arizona's weapons were pretty bad until they traded for Drake and Hopkins and they still were the 16th offense. OL isn't great either. Goff doesn't have amazing weapons or OL. Titans lost their best 2 OL (both tackles) to injury early on and free agency before the season. Only the Saints and Browns really fit into a team surrounding their QB with great talent. What these teams have is a great scheme that plays to their strengths. I'm not even completely unconvinced a good enough coach couldn't scheme to Trubisky and Foles' strengths. It looked like Nagy was doing that with Trubisky and a coach actually won a SB with Foles. And they can afford to trade up for a QB. What they can't afford to do is pick the wrong QB.