Splendid Splinter

This is interesting... From Mike Silver, I'm not sure how to take this. Does anybody know what he means by that exactly? It sounds like the avg payroll of all 32 teams has to be 99% of the cap, not every single team has to be at 99%. So there are teams that will be spending less than the 99%. At least that's how I'm reading it. Maybe someone here can explain it better???

Welp.... Dahl went to the Rams so there goes another OL....

Yeah... I like the zone in the middle of the screen more than that tracker in the corner. The zone is really not blocking anything, but what really gets me though... is when they show a line for the path of the ball when it's live. I'm fine with showing the whole path on a replay, but It's really annoying during a game.

To be fair, the guys that have signed so far at positions of need for the Bears have either gone back to their former teams (Free, Yanda, Holmes, S Moss) or got overpaid (Rice). But I don't think the Bears are going to make a big splash this year, which is the norm for the Bears. I think they are really going to build up depth. As long as it's quality guys, I'm ok with that. I agree with raw here. I don't think Bears NEED to make a big splash this offseason as Bears just need a couple of key pieces and then building up depth. They don't really NEED to get that impact player either. Just getting above average players (but not great players) is a HUGE improvement at key positions for the Bears. The only question here is that the quality of the depth guys like raw said. The only big splash (or a position that can make a HUGE impact) that Bears would get is at WR or OL and possibly DT. I didn't think any of the WR this offseason qualify really (you could make a case for Holmes, but I don't IMO- I'm thinking like Fitz/Andre Johnson/V Jax/Megatron level and Holmes is below that). At least I don't think Holmes or Rice are worth of the contract/argeement they agreed to. I just rather take a flyer on a 1 yr deal on Roy Williams or Braylon Edwards and hope that Fitz will become a FA next offseason or give MSW a contract at half the price it took to get Holmes or Rice (I'm not sure how much $$$ MSW is looking for). There are a bunch of OLs out there... Again there's no LEGIT LT that is a FA (unless Gathier is somehow completely healthy and back to his old self). And the guys who can make a HUGE impact were franchised (Nicks/Mankins). But there are several guys out there worth getting. Most of these guys might not be GREAT, but they would make a HUGE improvement over what the Bears had last year. Joseph/Dahl/Colon/Lutui/etc... all would make big improvement. Heck just even getting average OLs would be an improvement. I'm pretty certain Bears will get a OL or 2 here. They just might be trying to find someone that is the right price. Carimi will be a big boost to the OL this year IMO. It's the same with DL. Guys like Ray Edwards/Jenkins/Mebane are still there. That's about the only DLs that I would like the Bears to sign. Paea will be a boost to the DL this year as well plus they can resign AA and whoever else to back up and I would be fine with that. All of the other positions that are needs (CB/LB and depth everywhere)... they don't NEED to make a big splash there. A solid, quality player at those position will be a big improvement. At LB, they just need to sign a solid durable guy to play at the SAM position. I like Justin Durant as the 3rd LB, but he isn't that durable. If you get Durant and resign Roach and get another depth guy, then I'm ok with that. I would call Barrett Ruud and see what his asking price is, but I'm sure he's asking for a lot and Tampa has more money to spend than anyone else. It's the same thing for CB. I'm hoping Bears will go after Carlos Rogers. Asomugha would be nice, but he's just gonna cost too much. If Bears were 1 or 2 pieces away from being a LEGIT super bowl contender for the next couple years, then yeah I would go after Asomugha, but they need more pieces than that. Overall, I would want the Bears to spread the wealth and get quality key and depth players. Yeah getting like Holmes or Asomugha would be great, but then you're getting a couple other guys and then filler. I rather get 4-5 2nd tier guys (if it works out $$$ wise) and then depth guys. Getting back to what Ryno said about "the names we are being associated with aren't likely to have a serious impact". The player doesn't have to be great or even very very good to make a serious impact. For example, going from Tim Jennings to Carlos Rogers would make a serious and big impact even though Rogers isn't considered "great". Another example... basically from Omiyale/Williams/Garza/Webb/Olin to most of the FA OLs would make a serious impact as well. Bears got impact players on their team (Cutler/Forte/Hester/Peppers/Urlacher/Briggs). They need to make sure they get complimenary, quality players around them.

Biggs gets really hung up on stupid crap like this. He spent like three weeks last year lamenting the James Starks draft day thing. Yeah... That's a great package for the 37th pick. I would've done it as well. It just happened to be where none of the picks for the Bears made an impact really so it looks bad NOW 4 years later...

Didn't he have microfracture surgery on his knee??? If so, that's a tough surgery to come back from... esp. for a WR. I doubt he'll ever be the same again. Yeah, I just read that. He says he's open to a one year deal to rebuild his value and prove he's healthy. Microfracture isn't what it used to be and it may be worth it to take a flier on him since it looks like the big fish are off the table. Ok... say he's dirt cheap and everything. How soon will he be ready? Can he start doing football related activities right now? Pretty sure he had that surgery like Dec. or Jan. and it usually takes awhile to recover (most athletes I know takes like 7 months to a year- Chris Webber was 8 months and Amare Stoudemire came back after like 5-6 months several years then sat out til next season after a few games of having discomfort). These are NBA players so can't really compare the sports, but they are athletes like Steve Smith. Plus it's the NFL and Steve Smith would get hit/tackled by players unlike the NBA athletes. Does anybody know of any NFL players who had microfracture surgery and came back while playing at a skill position (basically not an OL or DL)???

Didn't he have microfracture surgery on his knee??? If so, that's a tough surgery to come back from... esp. for a WR. I doubt he'll ever be the same again.

Good... Rather get Ray Edwards or a DT instead of Babin. Has anybody heard anything about Carlos Rogers yet? He's a CB I like the Bears to get if he doesn't cost too much...

Ahhh... I missed that part. Wow... that's a lot.

From chicagobears.com website.... 26 confirmed UDFA signings for the Bears Isn't that a lot? I mean at least more than usual anyway? I like the idea of inviting/signing as many as you can and hopefully you luck out with a couple of them....

670 radio reporting Bears may pursue Mike Sims-Walker It was spoken over the radio so no link yet although I'm sure there will be one later today. Does that help? LOL

Heard that Noel Devine didn't sign with the Falcons and that he is still a UDFA... anybody want the Bears to get him like I do?

The Chicago Bears agreed to terms with the following 19 undrafted rookie free agents today: Kyle Adams, TE, Purdue Tressor Baptiste, LB, Texas A&M JC Brignone, C, Mississippi State Antareis Bryan, CB, Baylor Corbin Bryant, DT, Northwestern Travis Cobb, WR, Arizona Josh Davis, T, Georgia Ricky Henry, G, Nebraska Mike Holmes, CB, Syracuse Robert Hughes, RB, Notre Dame Ryan Jones, CB, NW Missouri State Alex Linnenkohl, C, Oregon State Jordan Miller, DT, Southern Deron Minor, LB, McNeese State Sean Murnane, DT, Central Michigan Andre Smith, TE, Virginia Tech Winston Venable, S, Boise State Anthony Walters, S, Delaware Jimmy Young , WR, TCU source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-pompei-bears-may-strike-gold-with-undrafted-freeagent-lode-20110726,0,902097.story *EDIT* Brad Biggs also have these guys signed with the Bears... S Dom DeCicco, Pitt LB Mario Addison, Troy Then I've seen reports on WR Dane Sanzenbacher, OSU being signed as well....

The guy is 6'3" and runs a 4.4. To not have gotten drafted, he must have been the first receiver in history to play without hands Height: 6’3 Weight: 195 College: UTEP 40 Time: 4.50 Class: Senior Stock: Projected: 7th-FA Stats 2010 – 47 catches, 1070 yards, 22.8 avg, 14 TD’s 2009 – 42 catches, 580 yards, 13.8 avg, 2 TD’s 2008 – 50 catches, 958 yards, 19.1 avg, 14 TD’s 2007 – 5 catches, 49 yards, 9.8 avg, 0 TD’s Overview: Kris Adams is a WR that will probably not make an NFL roster but should stick around on the practice squad. While he does have some nice areas to his game, he isn’t a very polished WR. If he is given the time to improve and get some good coaching, he may develop into a nice 4th or 5th option on a team, although he will probably never be a starter. Scouting Report: Positives - Tall - Good athlete - Deceptive quickness - Productive - 3 year starter - Great deep threat - Tracks the ball well over his shoulder - Doesn’t let the ball get into his pads Negatives - Needs to get a lot stronger - Plays small - Isn’t very physical and doesn’t use his 6’3 frame - Lacks explosiveness off the LOS - Doesn’t run very many routes - Has trouble with concentration and it leads to drops - Looks disinterested at times - Won’t offer much as a blocker - Won’t get much after the catch - Level of competition could be an issue

Roy Williams is a classic underachiever and a bit of a douchebag, but I would put him below Edwards & Santonio Holmes, but above the old receivers discussed earlier. Probably on par with Sims-Walker and probably cheaper at this point. I'd say his more than a bit of a douchebag. I think his attitude probably puts him in less demand than he'd otherwise be. The only thing that interests me about him is 1) he's still young enough at 29 that he can turn his career (and attitude) around if he really wants to and 2) had his best year under Martz with the Lions... But again... I think I have probably at least 5-6 WRs that I would look at or go after before I get to Roy Williams... I would say PASS unless he is like dirt cheap.

Interesting tidbit... I think someone already said something about UDFA, but this has more... I'm really glad to see they made a deal with Linnenkohl (although there are other Cs like Kirkpatrick/O'Dowd/Barnes as I think they are UDFA as well) as Bears needed to get a young C that can either start or most likely learn under Olin for a year (or whatever his contract will be- hopefully Olin will be ok with being a backup after this year if it's a multi year deal).... I don't know about the other guys so I couldn't tell you anything. Just thought I would throw this out there for you guys.

Right. I have no idea but given this is a weak draft at the college ranks and Taillon/Bundy are considered 2 of the best HS RHP prospects ever, it seems like it could be a case of right place, right time for McCullers. The 2013 draft is looking pretty good right now in the college ranks considering who went to college instead of going pro last year (RHPs Karsten Whitson, Dylan Covey, Ryne Stanek, Adam Plutko & AJ Vanegas, 3Bs Dominic Ficociello & Kris Bryant and OF Austin Wilson). This is how this years draft became so strong - tons of the top HS kids from 3 years ago went to college. Both of these are at Arkansas right now, and IF Baxendale doesn't decide to sign after next years draft, there could very well be three first rounders in the 2013 draft out of U of A. Also Ficociello has become a very good defensive first baseman this year. Awesome... I'll be watching them then since I go to U of A now. I went to a couple games this past spring and can't wait for next season.

I have faced Neal Musser/Clayton Richards/Josh Lindblom (made it to MLB) and Dan Sattler (Arkansas Travelers- AA Angels team)... I also had 2 cousins who played college ball as pitchers as well (one of them was drafted by the Cubs twice- Drew O'Connell, but he never signed). I'm sure there are a lot of people on NSBB who has faced someone who can bring it. Even if that someone didn't even get drafted or anything. Don't know why you think it's something special to say or it's the only way to understand what you are saying. I've never said who I faced before on here before (at least not that I remember anyway) because I assume some/most of these guys on here have played baseball/faced good pitchers/etc...

have you read the biography of old hoss radbourn? it's pretty amazing the weird stuff that happened during games back then. like stopping the action in the middle of a game so a player can be presented with a bouquet of flowers from the fans for a job well done. Or make a movie of Rube Waddell's life... That would be something to see... Heck you can make a movie of him on just the year 1903. Cooperstown historian Lee Allen encapsulated Waddell's erratic behavior: "He began that year (1903) sleeping in a firehouse in Camden, New Jersey, and ended it tending bar in a saloon in Wheeling, West Virginia. In between those events he won 22 games for the Philadelphia Athletics, played left end for the Business Men's Rugby Football Club of Grand Rapids, Michigan, toured the nation in a melodrama called The Stain of Guilt, courted, married and became separated from May Wynne Skinner of Lynn, Massachusetts, saved a woman from drowning, accidentally shot a friend through the hand, and was bitten by a lion." That's not counting him chasing firetrucks during games, alligator wrestling in the offseason, etc...

Yeah the only thing that would've been close to that is if Josh Hamilton won in 2008... With his batting practice coach from when he was a kid I believe right? The guy was like 70 or something at the time...

Gregg was also pissed that Ortiz swung on a 3-0 count when Red Sox were up 7 as well. Apparently when being up a bunch, swinging at a 3-0 count is a baseball no-no. What Gregg has said after the game... “I think you show them that we’re not backing down,” Gregg said. “We’re not scared of them—them and their $180 million payroll. We don’t care.” “Apparently, he didn’t like me telling him that stuff and he came out there. That’s part of the game—he has the right to come out there,” Gregg said. “I’m going to defend myself if he comes out.” “There’s 17 inches on the plate. You’ve got to use all 17,” Gregg said. “That’s what I was doing when I was out there. They’re going to whine and complain about it because they think they’re better than everybody else, but no, we have just as much right to pitch inside as they do. “This is a team sport. I take offense to every run scored off every one of our pitchers. I take offense to every one of our hitters that’s hit every time I’m out there.” “You get tired of getting your butt kicked every night when you come in here and I’m going to stick up for what’s ours and try to get the plate back.” "We are playing the game of baseball," Gregg said. "You got to go ask David what he was thinking. It's 3-0 and you are up seven runs and the opposing pitcher gets upset with you for hitting a weak fly ball and not running. If he thinks there's something with me saying that, than he's got other things he needs to figure out in this game."

I believe the railing is at like 40-50" (can't remember exactly but its somewhere in there) from the ground. The Rangers raised all of the railings either after the first time someone fell (late 90s I believe????) or this past offseason when the guy fell from club level. It was like 32" (way too low IMO and railings should never be that low in the first place) or something before they raised it. Maybe someone else can help me out here. I'm going by memory here, but I'm pretty darn sure they raised the railing already. http://deadspin.com/5819404/of-rangers-and-railings I don't think that area is 40". http://fastcache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/11/2011/07/dal_a_rangers_fan_fell_b2_600.jpg Here we go... In 1994, on the day the ballpark opened, Hollye Minter of Plano fell from Home Run Porch in right field while posing for a picture after the game. The railing on the upper deck of Home Run Porch was raised to 46 inches. Minter sued the Rangers and the architects who designed the stadium. Ryan said the railing where Morris fell last season is 30¼ inches high, which exceeds the 26-inch minimum requirement in the adopted 2003 International Building Code and the 1988 Uniform Building Code, which were used during construction of the ballpark. The railing is 42 inches high at the bottom of the aisles. "We feel like what we have is adequate," Ryan said after Morris fell. "We feel like this was strictly an accident. The ballpark, when it was built, was built above specs as far as what is accepted, so we feel good about it." On Friday, Arlington's Dryden said the railing height where Stone fell is 33 inches above the walking surface. Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/07/07/3207691/fan-at-rangers-game-falls-to-his.html#ixzz1RYFFpptB It's the railing in the upper deck and in front of the aisles that I was thinking of. Thought it was the same for the rest of the railings. Can't believe 26" is the minimum though as that's WAY too low.

Be interesting to see who would rather have who: Lets just have some fun with this... Who would you rather have on your team in their prime? (Lets say their prime was 6 years long and these # are the avg of the 6 years) A gold glover caliber CF who hits in the 20s in HR and 40 SB with .300-.310 AVG and .380-.390 OBP or An above average (not quite GG caliber) SS who hits 15-20 HR and 20 SB with .320-.330 AVG and .360-.370 OBP Again... These are just projections. They could be better or worse... Just curious to see who people would rather have on their team if they had to pick one...

I believe the railing is at like 40-50" (can't remember exactly but its somewhere in there) from the ground. The Rangers raised all of the railings either after the first time someone fell (late 90s I believe????) or this past offseason when the guy fell from club level. It was like 32" (way too low IMO and railings should never be that low in the first place) or something before they raised it. Maybe someone else can help me out here. I'm going by memory here, but I'm pretty darn sure they raised the railing already.

Because Aramis chooses to hit HR that benefit him and not the Cubs? Because you don't know the definition of sarcasm/sarcastic... You really believe that she was being serious??? Although that was a nice little rant you went on there...