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Eh, that's a very specific skill that oversimplifies NFL QB'ing. Sometimes you can place the ball in your receiver's hands and they drop the ball or catch the ball and then fumble it. Sometimes you can win late with your QB just handing the ball off, throwing short passes, making a huge run, and getting the benefit of a 50/50 holding call to win deep playoff games. Plus, the whole thing is Fields may be able to do that with actual NFL talent around him and the only reason they don't know that is because they punted a whole season somewhat purposefully. He's at least as likely to be able to perform your very specific scenario than any draft pick. And his data as an actual NFL QB is more predictive than college data for any QB.

What are the logical reasons to trade Fields? It doesn't really make financial sense. Fields is set to make 11.15Mil over the next 2 years of his deal. The #1 pick stands to make 36.8M guaranteed over 4 years and 15Mil over the next 2 years. So, the QB picked at 1 would be more expensive than Fields in the short term. If Fields is bad, you can walk after 2024. And while you may never have the #1 pick again to take the best QB on the board, the same is true if you draft a QB that doesn't pan out as well. But now you tie up 21M over the last 2 years of his rookie deal. It doesn't really make sense in terms of building the team. You were the worst team in the league. Your most valuable asset you have to turning things around is by far the #1 pick. Granted, if you hit on the #1 pick, you have used that asset to it's maximum potential, but using that pick on a QB doesn't actually get you any closer to building the team because you potentially HAVE a QB already. While you can trade Fields and get more assets, none of the assets will have as much value as that #1 pick. The only reason to trade Fields and take a QB #1 is basically based on a hunch. You have to have a hunch that Fields isn't good enough and the QB you take is the best thing since sliced bread. Based on the 1100 rushing yards, Fields already has something you can use to put together a competent offense, even if he can never throw that well. You don't even have that with a draft pick. And based on everything we've heard from Halas Hall, they believe in Fields. You don't sit him Week 18 to try to get the #1 pick if you want to replace him. You don't trade for Chase Claypool, after purposely shunning all WR talent the previous offseason, if you want to replace him. It just doesn't make any logical sense for many different reasons.

That was the only portion of the game where they were whistle happy. It was a must win for IU. Being at home, and the difference between a win or loss being 3rd place in the conference vs like 9th place. Next 2 are at Michigan St and Purdue so also a potential 4 game losing streak if they lost today. Sounds like Xavier Johnson is coming back before the month is over. And Race looks like he's close to 100% for the first time since his knee injury. Hopefully they can make a run in March. Amazing that they've been able to stay afloat with no true PG.

I'm convinced the Raiders are going vet QB. Now that they cut Carr, they have 48M in cap space. They have ties to a couple of the top QBs that could be available with Rodgers- Adams and Garoppolo- McDaniels and they have the money and willingness to get a deal done. McDaniels has to win soon. He may have been on the hot seat if not for the Raiders not wanting to eat a bunch of money. And IDK if guys like Adams will sit around and wait for a young QB to develop. I think Carolina is a fun team to think about a trade with. They have two 2's, and two 4's from the McCaffery trade. They are also over the cap, so vet QB is probably out for them. And they hired a QB guy in Frank Reich, who I'm sure thinks he can develop a QB and would prefer that over another vet as he had to deal with Rivers, Ryan and Wentz the last few years in Indianapolis. They also have some big salary players that could be of major interest to the Bears like DJ Moore, Brian Burns and Derrick Brown.

Irsay's probably talking about Will Anderson.

Georgia OC, Todd Monken hired for the same position with the Ravens. I really like this move.

Commanders? They're probably the combo of closest to playoffs in 2022 with the most cap space (without restructures) But any team, even the Saints can figure out the cap hit part of it all. Washington was the first team I thought of, also. If they sign Carr, then Payne probably walks. I seriously think the Commanders are going to see what they have in Sam Howell. Seems like it's up to the Saints to lose Carr at this point.

The only guys signing for more than 2 years are like the top 50 guys. Most of the NFL is on 1 or 2 year deals other than guys on rookie deals and star players. I think the expectation that the Bears sign a bunch of top 50 guys, despite the money they have, is a stretch.

Eh. I have to disagree with Eagles rugby part. They had 5 plays of 20+ yards and a couple more 17 yarders to Goedert. And the 2 biggest plays of the game (Brown TD, Smith deep ball to the 2). In comparison, KC had four 20+ yard plays, with 2 of them on the 1st drive, and the only in the 2nd half being the hobbled Mahomes run. KC also had a TD drive of 5 yards and the end of game drive where they completely took the air out of the ball in what was a fun game to that point. Even before the penalty, all KC ran were run plays and quick hitters to Juju and Kelce. They were essentially running out the clock before the kneel downs. The league's leading passer threw for a Justin Fields like 182. If anything KC was playing boring football.

Yeah, I didn't think that through until the depth chart. LOL. They do have 3 other guys on futures deals or guys that were added in the Week 18 tank effort that could fill a spot. I think I'd still want more than a futures guy. Maybe J Jones is an overpay, but Dre'Mont played about 80% of the snaps last year for Denver. So it could very well be a 20% snap backup role - definitely a significant role and not like Mike LB or CB where your backup only plays in injury. Once you get outside of the top 30 of DL the snap count % falls below 75% of snaps. So for the average team, most of your line is probably a bunch of guys in the 30-60% snap range and maybe 1 or 2 guys above that. Gaines was getting 90%+ of Rams snaps before getting injured and ending year at about 80% of snaps. So I guess you could aim for all of Gaines, Jones, and Carter to get 67% of snaps, and basically run a 3 man rotation across those spots, with Carter and Gaines spending some of their time at 3T.... But would be very thin. (Snap count data) https://www.fantasypros.com/nfl/reports/snap-counts/dl.php?show=perc Yeah, I did think about those 3 getting like 90% of the snaps combined. Plus, Omenihu could move inside on true pass rush downs. But you'd probably still need a 4th capable guy. Carter has never played a ton of snaps being on a Georgia loaded DL.

Yeah, I didn't think that through until the depth chart. LOL. They do have 3 other guys on futures deals or guys that were added in the Week 18 tank effort that could fill a spot.

Yeah, I had Risner down and changed it to Seumalo. I think Risner's contract projections are way off (showing like 7M AAV, when I think he'll get double digits or close to it). But Risner is a guy I've always liked coming out of the draft. Better pass blocker than run blocker, which is exactly what the Bears need, honestly. Seumalo is good at both, but I worry about his injury history and age (30). I'm a big Chark fan. Not really sure how he fits, because he's not a slot and neither are Claypool or Mooney on a full-time basis. But I don't really want the Bears to commit to a long-term deal for a WR in a bad FA class. They potentially have to pay Mooney and Claypool so you can't have 3 WRs making 12-18Mil each, and if you sign a FA to a long-term deal, you're basically going to have to pick between Mooney and Claypool. Thought about a 1-year deal for Parris Campbell as well, who's more of a slot guy, but also not that good. Maybe he takes a 1-year deal with only 1 year of production, but he's projected right now for 3-years, which is too rich for my blood. As for the #4 pick, I prefer Anderson to Carter honestly as a prospect, but I prefer the DE depth over the DT depth. If they can't get Carter or Anderson, I'd probably look to trade back again. I like Wilson, but don't LOVE him top 5 or top 10 for that matter. Myles Murphy at least has 10 sack potential and is a super athlete, though stats don't back up his talent. If they trade back with say, Carolina at 9, I'd probably be more apt to take a CB like Devon Weatherspoon or Peter Skoronski for the OL. IDK if Skoronski at G with Jenkins back to OT would be an option, but I think he's a guard. Paris Johnson would be interesting. I do think he has star LT potential, but remains to be seen if the Bears move Braxton from LT. So, it really becomes a dilemma if Carter/Anderson are off the board. Bears probably would have to reach for a guy.

QB- Fields, Siemien, UDFA QB? RB- Herbert, Mostert, Johnson, Evans/Ebner FB- Blasingame WR- Mooney, Reed WR- Claypool, St. Brown WR- Chark, Jones Jr TE- Kmet, Chase Allen, Tonges, Mallory LT- B Jones, Diesch/Borom *LG- Jenkins, Leatherwood C- Schmitz, Patrick *RG- Seumalo, J Carter RT- Dillard, Morris *Note- kept Seumalo at the RG position he's played in Philly and made an all Eagles right side and moved Jenkins to left guard. DE- Omenihu, Robinson 3T- Jones, UDFA or late signing NT- Carter, Gaines DE- Gipson, McDonald WLB- Al-Shaair, Dorian Williams MLB- Edwards SLB- Sanborn, Demarcus Gates, Weatherford CB- Johnson, Jaylon Jones CB- Moseley, Wright CB- Gordon, Blackwell SS- Brisker, DHC FS- Jackson, Hicks

Alright, I wanted to try a mock offseason as well and since it's officially the offseason...... I tried to do a mix of moves I would do, but also moves I project Poles could do. I tried to get guys I know would be fits based on a number of different factors, some that could just be in my head. Cuts: Cody Whitehair, G He's not terrible, but not worth 14.1M cap hit. I pre June 1 cut him, which only saves 5.8M instead of 9.9M post June 1, but the Bears can afford to carry the dead money and it doesn't allow dead cap to linger into next year when they don't need to do that. Justin Jones, DT He's not terrible either. But I'm going to hit the DT position pretty hard, which would make him a depth player. At 7.4M, he makes too much to be depth. So, save 4.9M by letting him go. Al-Quadin Muhammad, DE He is terrible. Almost 4M savings (3.96) from cutting him. 500K dead, seems like a no brainer. This gives the Bears right around 109M in cap space. Extensions: Cole Kmet, TE- 4 years, 55M, 30M guaranteed, 14M signing bonus Darnell Mooney, WR- 4 years, 70M, 32M guaranteed, 13.5 signing bonus Re-signings: Deandre Houston-Carson, S- 2 years, 4.3M, 2.3M guaranteed Khari Blasingame, FB - 1 year, 1.195M Darryton Evans, RB- RFA 1-year, 1.1M Josh Blackwell, CB- ERFA tender, 875,000 I'm not bringing back very many from the back end of the roster. The Bears CAN and SHOULD get better depth at the end of the 53. Free Agent Signings Dre'Mont Jones, DT- Denver 4 years, 58Mil, 37.5M guaranteed Ideal player I think Poles will go for. Ascending player, played a career high in snaps in 2022 and put up career high numbers across the board. Goes from 3-4 DE to 4-3 three-technique TJ Edwards, LB- Philadelphia 3 years, 40.5Mil, 25M guaranteed Makes a lot of sense. Chicago area player. UDFA signed by Cunningham's Eagles. Former running mate and mentor of Jack Sanborn at Wisconsin. Isaac Seumalo, G, Philadelphia 3 years, 33Mil, 22M guaranteed Don't love that he turns 30 mid season in 2023, but doesn't have a ton of wear and tear (I say this even though he's had literal muscle tears) coming off just his 2nd season of more than 600 snaps and 1st since 2019. Lot of tread on the tires and playing lights out football since November. 0 sacks allowed, great run blocker last 2 months. Andre Dillard, T/G, Philadelphia 2 years, 11.5M, 6.5M guaranteed Another Eagle with little wear and tear. Former 1st round pick with 700 snaps in 4 years. Has been solid when he's played, but got hurt and couldn't get his job back on an absolutely loaded OL. He takes a small deal in hopes for a starting job and big future payday. DJ Chark, WR, Detroit 2 years, 25Mil, 12.5M guaranteed This is a guy I've always wanted on the Bears since before he was drafted. Not a game-changer, but a big play option that fits in with Fields desire to throw the ball down the field. Took a 1-year deal last year coming off ACL tear, didn't really earn a big contract so basically takes a 1-year with an option. Plays well enough, gets a big deal. If he doesn't, goes elsewhere and tries to earn a multi-year at still just 27. Charles Omenihu, DE, San Francisco 2 years, 17.5M, 11.5M guaranteed Unsure about him after the suspected DV arrest before the NFCC. But research shows he had interest from both the Chiefs (Poles) and Colts (Eberflus) coming out in 2019. He did play in Houston under Lovie in the same D, but then was traded to SF. So there may be fit questions here? 280lbs and Flus seems to like his DEs around 260, but he also has shown to like guys that can potential move inside as well. Azeez Al-Shaair, LB, San Francisco 2 years, 11.5Mil, 5.5M guaranteed Another 49er. Another ascending player. 3rd LB for a team that has 2 top 10 off-ball LBs. Has had injuries, but also has played every spot. Played SAM in SF, but I'd play him at the Will and move Sanborn to SAM. Plenty of snaps to be had between both in the nickel, with Edwards, depending on if true pass downs or you want some run flexibility. Greg Gaines, DT, LA Rams 2 years, 11M, 5.5M guaranteed Jones is a great interior pass rusher, but he's not much of a run defender. Gaines has played 3-4DE as well, but would fit as 4-3 NT. Stops the run, rushes the passer just enough to not have to come off the field on passing downs. Solid hedge if you trade down and miss out on Jalen Carter. Emmanuel Moseley, CB, San Francisco 1 year, 4.75M Good #2 type CB who is worth a much bigger contract than this, but tore his ACL in October. May be more interested in a 1-year prove it on a contender, but maybe he takes a clear spot to start on a young, improving team. Raheem Mostert, RB, Miami 1 year, 2.35M I don't LOVE this move. He is a 31 year old RB, but this is a move based on speed. His ability to break the long run is what I want paired with Fields. And I don't think any of the teams that have Barkley, Jacobs, or Pollard are going to let them walk. Sanders and Singletary don't really move the speed needle and would require multiple years and keep Herbert as a backup. Herbert was the most efficient RB in the league in 22 and he needs a shot as the lead back. Poles wants to build thru the draft, but also has to spend money. This gives them only long-term commitments on the OL and ever important 3T and Mike LB positions. Every other signing is 1 or 2 years, fit a very specific role, and most give you potential as long-term answers if they perform well in 2023 Draft: I'm going to do the Colts trade as well. Just makes too much sense. But I don't think the Colts give up their 1st 3 picks of this draft to do it or multiple picks next year. So, Colts get #1 pick, Bears get #4 pick, #35 pick 2023 and 2024 1st round pick. 1.4- Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia I've heard a lot of "he's the ideal 3-tech" in this defense, but I like him better as a 1T and part of a potentially dominant middle of the defense. 2.35- John Michael Schmitz, C, Minnesota I don't love him athletically, but damn if he doesn't masterfully execute the reach blocks Getsy's offense will require him to make. Also has ties as a Chicago area guy, who was coached at Minnesota by an OL coach Getsy worked closely with at Mississippi State. And was a standout at the Senior Bowl on the team coached by Getsy. 2.54- Will McDonald, DE, Iowa State IDK if he will be on the board still, hearing whispers he could go end of Day 1, but I really like him. Another Senior Bowl guy coached by Getsy. Smaller than typical Eberflus DEs, but has the length and speed. Dominique Robinson was also not quite as big as Flus likes, but was his 1st draft pick at DE as a HC. 3.64 Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State Another Senior Bowl guy, this one NOT coached by Getsy, but a guy who showed speed, hands, route running and a release package that would be desirable in the offense. Should compete for slot reps early in his career. 4.103 Wanya Morris, OT, Oklahoma Another guy I think could be gone by this pick, but if the Bears liked Braxton Jones, they should love Morris. Exact same height, arm length and hand size as Jones. Same level athlete. Biggest difference is Morris was a 5 star recruit instead of a small school guy. Morris also has a bit more weight and much better anchor than Braxton last year. Never lived up to his billing for various reasons (transfer, coaching changes), but better pro than college player, IMO. Coached him at Senior Bowl as well. Also shares a name with a member of Boyz II Men. 4.134 Roschon Johnson, RB Texas Another Senior Bowl guy, but on the opposite squad. One of my draft crushes. Ultimate team player that moved from QB to RB and took a backseat to the top RB in this class. Will lead block, pass block, can catch, run betweeen the tackles, and is a little faster than 5.137 Dorian Williams, LB Tulane Williams is depth at WILL and special teams, good speed and coverage potential. Another American team Senior Bowl member. 5.150 Will Mallory, TE Miami Didn't intend to just recreate the American Senior Bowl roster with the draft, but a lot of good fits just happen to have been there and on the board. LOL. Not the biggest or best blocker, but very willing and has a 2nd gear to get up the seam in a hurry, which Kmet lacks. 7.220 Rejzohn Wright, CB Oregon St In reality, I think this spot will go to the fastest CB the Bears can find. KC drafted a top 5 speed guy in the draft every year Poles was there. They drafted Velus last year. Wright probably won't be top 5 fast, but he is a big CB. He may go higher than this as well, but he was on the board here in my mock and was on Last Chance U, so one of the few late guys I've watched.

I think the pass was probably uncatchable, even if he isn't touched, considering Juju's lack of speed, I doubt he gets there. But a holding call is pre-throw and that doesn't factor into the penalty. The flag was thrown really late, but it was the right call.

So this is kind of an interesting scenario for Carr. On one hand, he stood to get 121Mil over the next 3 years. But on the other, he only had 5M in guarantees. Obviously, he's going for more guaranteed money and putting himself in position to have a bidding war over him with every team having a shot at him before the rest of the FAs have a chance to hit the market. I have no idea what his value is on the open market, though I'd imagine it'd be closer to Jared Goff money (33.5M AAV) than to the 40M AAV he was set to make over the next 3 years. But he was never going to see that money anyway. But then again, he would at least have had his 34M+ 2023 salary paid as the Saints weren't going to trade for him and then not pay him. Seems like the Saints would though, renegotiate to guarantee him a 2nd season at least. So, this kind of feels like Carr sticking it to Vegas and not allowing them to get any assets for him.

My picks are for entertainment purposes only.

Hope you betters took this gem.

The last 9 players who have won MVP and then played in the Superbowl have all lost. This is the 4th time an MVP and the runner-up have faced off in the SB. All 3 other times, the runner-up has won. If I were a bettor, I'd bet on the Eagles. I also think Hurts rushing TD will be the first score. So, I'd bet that on just a hunch.

They did NOT get it right as Devin Hester did not get in. 2023 and #23 didn't get in. Literally undisputed as the best at what he did.

Minor nitpick but they lost in the West semis last year. Warriors beat the Mavs in the West Finals. Doesn’t change your overall point of course. Yeah, my bad. I knew they lost to the Mavs but I forgot it was semis not finals, even though I also knew GS won it all. SMH

This reads more to me like a list of players who can maybe get them some more first round picks to stockpile now that, for example, all the West teams have a new team to try and chase down. Yeah, I'm an NBA idiot but it reads like a list of guys who are 3rd/4th options on a championship caliber team. A fairly deep list of those guys, but still, the types that everyone gets excited about only at the trade deadline because teams are looking to patch a hole rather than build a title contender. Well yeah, I wasn't saying they'd win a play-in game or a playoff series, but if I was a Nets fan* (assuming the bleach drinking didn't take) I'd be somewhat interested in watching this team if they stay together thru the year. *caveat is if I was a Nets fan I wouldn't have existed 4 years ago, but you get the point.

So obviously, the Suns have to be championship favorites. I still think Boston/Milwaukee have a shot to win it all if either comes out of the East, but the Suns have gone to West finals game 7 or NBA finals the last 2 years. But the interesting team to me is Brooklyn. Am I crazy or do they still have a pretty decent team? They are 5th in the East and it'll be interesting to see if they can hold on to a playoff spot. I'd imagine they'll at least get into the play-in. But this isn't a terrible squad G- Dinwiddie (17.7 ppg, 40.5% 3pt), Ben Simmons (he rebounds and passes and stuff) G- Cam Thomas (best player in NBA history the last week, 42.7% 3pt for season), Seth Curry (46% 3pt) F- Mikal Bridges (17.2 ppg, 38.7% 3pt), Joe Harris (40.6% 3pt), Cam Johnson (14 ppg, 45.5% 3pt) F- Finney-Smith (9 ppg, 35.5% 3pt), Royce O'Neal (9, 4, 4, 40% 3pt), Jae Crowder (imagine he's traded again?, 9 ppg, 35% 3pt) C- Nic Claxton (13ppg, 9 rebs)

The Bulls situation Jordan came in the league to was just as bad as the Cavs situation LeBron came in to.

I've stopped weighing in on the GOAT debate. My opinion, even if correct, is biased. A huge chunk of the people chiming in either weren't around for most or all of MJ's career or are old enough that MJ was more of their generation so they remember it fondly. I supposed I would be in the age range of someone qualified to comment as the Bulls dynasty years were basically my teens and the LeBron years were my 20s and 30s, but being a Bulls fan gives me bias. I honestly don't mind people calling Jordan and LeBron 1 and 1a. I think Jordan was better but if you get into those arguments there are numerous statistics and things you can point out that can make either side look better. All I know is that even LeBron was gawking when MJ showed up at the ASG last year for the 50 greatest players thing. Jordan's mere presence freezes everyone in the room in a way that no other past or present NBA player has. He carries himself like he knows he's the GOAT and doesn't care what you think (though surely he does care). Does that alone make him the greatest? Not at all of course. But I do think it keeps him in the conversation with LeBron for the rest of his life at least. That ASG thing last year is when the debate officially ended for me. Granted, like you, I am completely biased as a Bulls fan who was a teenager thru the double 3-peat. But that night, they announced the greatest players of all time, calling them out 1-by-1. The last player called out was Michael Jordan. Which in and of itself doesn't mean much. But the fact that Jordan was the last player out, got the biggest cheer from fans and players alike, and throw in the fact that LeBron was wearing a Jordan brand logo on his all star jersey and it was in Cleveland! LeBron's home town where he brought the only major sports title in the modern history of the city and Cleveland was the place where Jordan took his greatest to GOAT level by sticking a dagger in all those fans' hearts.