Splendid Splinter

Posted this over at PSD... Basically what you guys are talking about if Cubs only could get 1 of Sanchez/Stroman and can you make it work? Added the bold part here as I forgot to add that on PSD (edit button is a pain in the ass there for me- once in a blue moon it works). Although my problem is I don't know where I would rank most of these guys in the Cubs system. I feel like #1 becomes Cubs #1 SP prospect, #2 is probably in the 8-12 range, #3 is probably around 15th??, and #4 has a wide range depending on who you get.

That's a #3 SP to me if we're gonna use the #1-5 scale. 3/39 value in the first 3 FA years is basically Edwin Jackson from 2010-2012. They really do want Shark to give them a hometown discount if that's how they view him.

percentage of pass attempts > 15 yards Cutler: 21.4% McCown: 16.8% So a difference of 2 a game? Not meaningful. Agreed. It could be that Cutler just went downfield more as he does like to sling it and not the play calling. Unless someone does know that Bears did indeed call more downfield plays with Cutler.

Show me a NFL star that isn't. Some don't show it or come across as much as others, but they're all divas in some way.

The only part where he gives himself props really was when he was talking about his FitSpeed Athletic Performance, but he then explained about the physical and mental part for Jeffery while being there with him and Bennett and how that translate to the year he's having. Marshall was giving Jeffery props. He did however showed a lot of support to Cutler and what did you expect him to do/say? Cutler is the starting QB for the Bears. They're close and played together for several years. It doesn't hurt that Cutler throws it to him 20 times a game either. It wouldn't surprise me if Cutler is the smartest guy in the room, but I also think he can't exactly translate that on the field like Peyton/Brees/Brady/etc can. You know how people talk about some are "book smart, but not street smart" or vice versa. I feel like Cutler is book smart, but not football smart on the field.

Not really. Uh, he basically said exactly that, especially the bold part He did? I was watching the same thing as you, had closed captions on, and I didn't hear/read that at all or even that close really. So no... He didn't really basically said that. You must not like Marshall that much or something because I don't know how you took his interview like that.

Is this game on easy mode?

My brother just finally told me that Bears should just play McCown the rest of the way and let Cutler go in the offseason. He's not a Cutler hater either as we would defend Cutler against our usually idiot Bears friends the past few weeks.

Cutler is making like 10.3 mil or something this year. Not sure what McCown makes. Then you gotta think McCown would get a sizeable raise if Bears want him back as a starter next so probably like 12 mil? I'm just guessing here.

And maybe Mills if you can improve there... he still needs to develop. Although does anyone know how Mills is rated as a RT by PFF? I agree though. You HAVE to upgrade the C this offseason. I wonder what Bears will do with Slauson. Will he re-sign or is he gone and Long goes to LG or have to get another LG?

Just curious but is Jordan Lynch eligible for this draft? I know he's from a small school and is a runner and all, but I figured I would throw his name out there as a developmental QB possibly?

Heyward/Sims and call it a day... haha

I don't disagree with what you say about the NPB and understand that $20 million is a far cry from what they were expecting, but let's not kid ourselves into thinking that it isn't a lot of money. If he can leave for nothing in two years, he's getting posted. The question is will it be this year or next. I think it's either $20 mil this year or nothing at all. If I'm Tanaka and Rakuten doesn't post me this year, I'll play the next 2 years and leave as a FA and Rakuten will be left with nothing. I believe Rakuten can't post Tanaka next year without his permission. Well it's probably their honor system on that part. Because at that point, Tanaka is only a year away and will be able to talk to any team he want and have a real bidding war.

Weird... They must be sure that Cutler will be a FA.

Scott Baker and Franklin Gutierrez... COME ON DOWN!!!

Kind of a natural fit. Great move for Texans, IMO. Hire a Texan, in Texas, where there is maybe the most football talent in the country, and hiring a guy that players like to play for. He already has some pieces in place in a lot of places. Maybe adding the #1 pick. Anyone halfway capable of running an offense and they'll be contending for a Superbowl by 2015. We're talking about Lovie Smith right?

USSoccer... You do realized that 2011 Cubs won 71 and 2013 won 66 right? Both teams completely sucked so who cares who had the "better" team. What matters (to me anyway) is that I feel a lot better about the Cubs' future/organization/Theo's plan/etc than I was in 2010/2011 even with the lower payroll/Wrigley reno being delayed/etc. That being said... I want to see some type of progress on the MLB roster this coming season. Like Castro/Rizzo improving, Baez/Bryant being ready and called up in the 2nd half of the season, getting Tanaka/trade for impact player, and Travis Wood repeat his 2013 season for example. Getting the minor league system from being bad into top 5 has been fun and great to watch, but it has been long enough that it has to start showing up on the MLB level IMO.

I don't think it could be both Shark and Howie to Royals unless Cubs are getting back something like Zimmer/Ventura+ Angels/Royals prospects... Yeah I don't get this. Our FO wants prospects, or MLBers that are young 24-27ish maybe. Kendrick is a nice upgrade at 2B from Barney but he is 30. Could he be part of the package? sure. But to list him as your only name implies he's the headliner? And I'm sorry but that is stupid. The Cubs would be the ones wanting guys like Starling, Zimmer, etc. . Howie is a 2nd piece to upgrade 2B in the near term? Sure I can buy it. But we want prospects to add to our already huge wave of prospects that are about MLB ready. Well ABTY7 only listed Shark/Kendrick/Hoch with Starling being thrown out there so that's all I was working with. That why I put plus whoever else is involved (ABTY7 did say others) at the end of the quote, but we have no clue who they are. Just because I had Kendrick to the Cubs, it doesn't mean he's the headliner. Maybe 1 of Zimmer/Ventura is involved and going to the Cubs. At least I wasn't trying to imply it. I'm not sure, but I was just trying to get an idea of what the 3 way trade would look like with ABTY7's info. Now I could be wrong and maybe it means BOTH Shark and Kendrick are going to the Royals, Starling to Angels, then Cubs getting a ridiculous prospect package from Royals/Angels. I'm not sure what kind of package it would be to make that work, but it does mean that Royals system would be worse than the Angels after this 3 way trade.

I put this at PSD so it's easy to see what it looks like... I don't think it could be both Shark and Howie to Royals unless Cubs are getting back something like Zimmer/Ventura+ Angels/Royals prospects...

Hahahaha I had a post yesterday that was very similar to this except it seems like one long giant rant so I didn't post it. This is how I feel about Walter. I feel like Charlie is better at the picks/analysis part than Walter. At least it seems like he get guys in the general area of where they're projected and doesn't go crazy like having 7 QBs in the 1st (Walter had something like this in '11). I love the scouting reports/pro days/positional rankings/etc that Walter does though. Having said that, that's the first place I go if I want to check out a NFL mock draft. Draft-Tek is 2nd.

If I'm Emery, I would put a non-exclusive tag on Cutler. I know I've said it a couple times before already. It wouldn't bother me one bit if Cutler gets all pissy about not getting the actual franchise tag. You can still try to work out a deal, but Cutler can also see what other teams are willing to give him. If he signs an offer sheet, either you match it or you decline it and get 2- 1st round picks. If you can't come to a deal and Cutler doesn't sign an offer sheet, Cutler can play on a 120% of last years salary for 1 year (something like 12.5 mil I believe) and let him prove that he's worth a long term contract. That being said... Has anyone actually got this non-exclusive tag and ended up on another team (so the original team got 2- 1st)??? It seems like either they got their contract, played on the 1 yr 120% deal, or the original team matched the other team's offer sheet.

Has Hundley declared early or were those just rumors as of now?

Depends on where they set the max bids? We could be talking about like 60 mil as the max bid. Has anybody heard what it could be yet?

Yeah, you'll have to draft a speedy WR, but I agree that it's not necessary, especially early. The Bears have been just fine without a blazer. You're talking about the 5th option in the passing game. At least at TE, you could get a guy that could block at times and create more matchup problems vs. a base defense. Obviously if a speedy WR falls into your laps early, you take him, but I don't see that as a priority. Oh and DeAnthony Thomas is not very good. I'll scream if the Bears take him in the 2nd. He's a 3rd day pick to me, though I will admit I've seen plenty of places having him as a top 60 pick. Sproles and Vereen are significantly bigger than Thomas though. And you'd be getting him touches at the expense of Forte, not in addition to him in that role. Yeah, that's exactly why that's not a good fit for the Bears. They already have a guy who is capable of being out there all 3 downs and the Saints and Pats don't have that, which is why those guys become valuable. That's just not a commodity they need to waste a pick to acquire right now. I don't see it as a big priority either, but I can easily see the Bears picking early on a WR/TE just to get more offensive weapons. Sproles is "significantly" bigger than DAT??? In my situation, Bush would be cut (I said it in the first post) and basically his carries would to go to DAT so it wouldn't be "getting touches at the expense of Forte" really. I think a guy like him would be a very good fit for the Bears. You make him your primary KR/PR (letting Hester go), give him 3-4 carries (what Bush gets on avg this year- cut him in the process and save $1.8 mil), and let him take Earl Bennett spot whenever the Bears want to go 3 WR sets (only 24 catches so far for Earl so he's not that big of a factor and you could cut him to save $2.4 mil). So on a good day, he probably see 12 targets/carries, but most likely see 6-8. A guy like DAT would THRIVE in that role IMO as the 5th option on the offense. You do have to utilize him right though or you would end up with someone like McCluster or worse. Maybe I shouldn't have said in the "Sproles/Vereen role" as those guys consistently get a lot more touches than I would give DAT so maybe Tavon Austin is a better comp with a few more carries. The thing is... you can't deny that DAT is a playmaker and you can never have enough of those. Anybody know where Dri Archer could go? He's another guy I was thinking of who could thrive in this kind of role and probably be there in the later rounds.

You're in Indiana and bitching about ONE jerk Cowboy fan at work? I'll trade spots with you in a heartbeat. You would be surprised by how many Cowboys fans there are in Indiana... esp. from my area (Lafayette). There's a ton of them and it's extremely annoying.