WrigleyField 22

This makes more sense right. This was before the Watson stuff. This would have been during Brady's final season in NE though so meeting with him before FA would be tampering which is why Flores refused?

Trade Cousins for whatever and sign like Mariota and draft a guy. I think Harbaugh can make that worth as you'd free up a decent amount of needed cap space by trading him.

The QB GOAT is retiring. For real this time Doesn't mention the Patriots at all in his announcement, lol.

Oh yea

I was somewhat high on Harbaugh as a possibility, but I do get it. Especially if you felt strong about a GM candidate. Bringing in Harbaugh almost certainly would have raised the floor while he was here, whether that was 6,8, 12 years, whatever. But a strong GM at the top of the org is much more likely to bring long term org building to the plate. Even a failed GM like Pace will leave behind a legacy of org improvements that should stick. So if GM first/on top was the preference, it probably did require a unique set of circumstances to make a Harbaugh happen instead. Will be very interesting to see if he ends up in Minny or Miami. In both cases it looks like it'd be an owner forcing a marriage between GM and HC and that GM losing autonomy. Harbaughs 49er run ended in part to inability to work with FO.

This. I’m no puckhead, but Gretzky played in the least popular major sport, for a Canadian team, in the western time zone, well before the surges of the 24 sports programming, the internet and social media. The NHL was forced to change the rules of hockey because Gretzky (mostly) and the rest of the Oilers were so dominant on power plays. Gretzky was probably the greatest/most dominant singular player of any team sport in the history of sports. And I don’t even think it’s close. As far as TB being the greatest champion, Bill Russell disagrees. I didn't move to Canada until the late '80s and am not a hockey fan at all but I've had friends tell me that for much of '80s you were not allowed to draft Gretzky at all in most fantasy leagues because his stats so far surpassed everyone else. Not sure if that rings true for anyone who was in a league during that time. They had fantasy leagues in the 80s? Anyways my middle school gym teacher said once Gretsky is like if an MLB player hit 100 homeruns in a season. That's always stuck with me even if I don't know that's is accurate per se.

I mean if Olave drops, okay. But he isn't Chase,like you said. I'm generally a proponent of "surround your QB with weapons" though. Shore up Center and make a decision on Daniels/Whitehair (but I don't think the gross investment has to be large) to make the line solidly median. But it's a pretty interesting WR FA class too. And at 39 it's just so hard to bank on too much. And if nothing matters more to Fields development than legit weapons, grab certainty in FA. I figure they need to go 3 deep if Getsy prefers to run 11 personnel, as I've read. So grab two strong weapons next to Mooney. If an Olave drops its a great addition and you run 4 deep for 3 spots. But your Fields support isn't dependent on it then. You're way more confident in Jenkins and Borom than me. Eh, throw a chip block, they'll be fine.

I mean if Olave drops, okay. But he isn't Chase,like you said. I'm generally a proponent of "surround your QB with weapons" though. Shore up Center and make a decision on Daniels/Whitehair (but I don't think the gross investment has to be large) to make the line solidly median. But it's a pretty interesting WR FA class too. And at 39 it's just so hard to bank on too much. And if nothing matters more to Fields development than legit weapons, grab certainty in FA. I figure they need to go 3 deep if Getsy prefers to run 11 personnel, as I've read. So grab two strong weapons next to Mooney. If an Olave drops its a great addition and you run 4 deep for 3 spots. But your Fields support isn't dependent on it then.

This was a fun offseason builder tool. I think some of the valuations need work. But cool, nonetheless. https://ontapsportsnet.com/2022/01/12/fix-chicago-bears-roster-customizable-document-offseason-cuts-trades-free-agents-draft/ Has a link to an excel download that you can use to sign players and build a depth chart while tracking the cap. Did the following mock offseason. Tried to fill each spot in FA so as to leave draft as open as possible. But DT, LB, DB, and OL stick out as biggest needs into draft. So I'd try and hit two of those areas in Rd 2/3, maybe with a trade down to pick up another top 100 pick Strategy was to "splurge" on a just few FA spots and fill with cheap depth elsewhere. Each of the cheap fillers estimated contract comes in under the ~1.8m that would count as a 7th comp debit. I think this strategy maxes my chances at netting a ARob comp pick. Cut Whitehair, Goldman, Cohen. Ran a PFF mock to finish. QB- doing nothing here. Foles for his savings to cut is a fine backup. Would add a young PS QB. RB- Ty Montgomery is an ideal 3rd RB and has familiarity with Getsy as a plus WR- read that we can expect Getsy to go heavy 11 personnel. So we really wanna go 3 deep and I decided to avoid the top end of the market where things may get dicey. Kirk will play best out of the slot and him and Mooney both give good horizontal separation that Fields I think thrives with more than vertical separation. Wilson is a solid 3 with potential to be more and the size to play the outside and give a different look than Mooney/Kirk. Grant is gadget/PR. Goodwin a fine 4/5 WR on min salary. Sherfield I was just looking for someone with proven ST experience as the 6th WR. You'd still have Newsome as 7th WR, maybe practice squad. If the right draft value presents itself you can go that route still. This is now a young 3 WR core locked up for 3 years to grow with Fields until he ascends to superstar status TE- just rounding out depth behing Kmet. I imagine not a lot of 12 personnel. OL- stabilize the interior. Not married to Allen, but that spend allocation is about right. I showed cutting Whitehair, but he's really a wait and see approach. For much cheaper I think they can hopefully replace his contributions with a stopgap vet. And getting some solid swing tackles as backups is important. Compton/Spriggs fit the bill. DL and LB are more or less the same story. Just went after bodies and going for depth. Find good fits for Eberflus and let them coach up the scheme. Read he only used his Sam backer about 20% of the time. That was Franklin for him in Indy, as well as being a core special teamer. Then grab some fliers to compete for the Mike job cheaply. I think 2/3 round could be a great place to grab an immediate starter at Mike though. Trevathan probably is a post June 1 cut, but keep him for depth until the draft. DL, uh, yea just some cheap rotational bodies. But wouldn't mind a draft pick there either. Eberflus will have to make sure his scheme can function with most of his pressure from the edges. Cb2 is the only spot on D I made any decent investment. Haden as a 1 year stopgap works. Bring in another vet and also bring back Tabor to compete at slot with Graham. SS is another vet stop gap for cheap role. Again, anywhere in the DB I'd be open to a draft investment. But really counting on Eberflus to coach up the D. And it's looking like he'll have the staff to do it. So just focus on fits for his scheme. Once I got to the draft, I liked the way this mock fell. There were enough good options that a trade down looked favorable. But at 39 there's always a chance a blue chipper falls. But as it was I think I get a day 1 Mike LB and two other future potential starters on D. Then good depth at RB and OL in the 5th as solid development prospects.

Official All signs point to Williams as DC. And one other Colts assistant. I guess Reich wants new ideas in his D, and have a DC bring his own guys. Very lucky for Bears as Eberflus isn't hiring down as much on his side of the ball now.

I'm not worried, although interestingly I saw on Twitter someone ask the question and I had to look it up. Has a first time GM hired a first time HC and that pair eventually won a Super Bowl. I could only find one example. Not saying it's predictive, but kind of an interesting stat. Ron Wolf and Mike Holmgren Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy Thompson technically inherited Sherman for a year, but I guess you could asterick that one. But I didn't count other first time GMs who may have inherited a coach and eventually hired another on their first own hire.

I'm not worried, although interestingly I saw on Twitter someone ask the question and I had to look it up. Has a first time GM hired a first time HC and that pair eventually won a Super Bowl. I could only find one example. Not saying it's predictive, but kind of an interesting stat.

I wouldnt necessarily expect any college scouting changes until after draft. But will be intersting to see what happens to Sadowski and Summerville. By all accounts, keeping Champ would be awesome.

Don't think it means anything, but interesting connection: https://onwardstate.com/2019/11/21/looking-back-at-justin-fields-whirlwind-recruitment-by-penn-state/

Also people are going crazy at this tweet, but it's the same number of high level roles. So hopefully theres more (like per above)

Piecing together some Twitter rumors and it sounds like maybe Joe Brady as QB coach? Either Getsy or Pep as OC. I'd assume Brady would get passing game coordinator too.

Justin Fields's conference :beg:

Think I saw that Alan Williams, currently Indys DB coach will interview. No other specific names that I've seen Wouldn't be surprised if he goes outside of his immediate connections. https://www.windycitygridiron.com/2022/1/28/22907415/report-chicago-bears-matt-eberflus-3-indianapolis-colts-assistant-coaches-williams-rowe-borgonzi I threw out Kris Richard as an interesting name they could look at. Spent 2 years under Marinelli so knows the scheme. Brings great knowledge of the Seattle cover 3 scheme and has spent the last year under Allen in NO who's obviously done great work. Could bring a nice mix of experiences to meld into the Bears own unique style with Flus.

Jason la Canfora reporting Bradys retirement is imminent. If Rodgers is traded to Denver, the NFC is gonna be so wide open. They may wanna consider splitting up the NFC West lol.

If that is real, he also just gave his credit card number to everyone that sees the photo. Might cancel my card when I found out I did that anyways.

I was not impressed with his running at all this season. I wouldn't heavily rely on that if we want him to stay healthy. A little that, but also not sure it plays to his throwing strengths. I mean I know every team will use it a little, but I don't wanna see the scheme center on it.

Goatse seems incredibly uninspiring. Not sure how you can be considered a disciple of a guy you coached under for one year. I'm guessing he's saying that since he played under him at Akron too.

I know this will sound weird, but I don't know if heavy RPO is gonna be the best use of Fields talents. Some speculation Pep would still be in play for QB coach and passing game coordinator.

Except when he worked for us lol. I guess he turned Orton into a servicable QB Like Daboll or Shannahan in CLE, no candidates past ties to Chicago should be held against them lol.