I didn't expect Monty to come back, but I have a few issues with it: 1) the money wasn't bad. Travis Homer, for example, is not a worthy replacement. You're going to spend similar money and / or draft capital on another back(s). 2) the lockerroom culture is important, and I have questions about how this group is going to cultivate it. Year 2, teardown complete and rebuild underway, so I guess we're gonna see what plan they have. 3) after watching one abysmal season after another, I had to develop personal attachments to players that continued to play the game in a way that I enjoyed so that I wouldn't just burn all my Bears apparel. Monty was one of those guys. Similar to losing Hicks, I understand it, it just sucks. 4) He's going to the fucking Lions. Fuck.
Poles didn’t draft him. We’ll remember him for ‘never say die’ and brute-forcing his way for 3 extra yards when everybody thought he was down. We’ll also remember he never had the speed burst you want from a RB1, and his hands catching passes weren’t always reliable. Furthermore, Herbert wasn’t a strong blocker, hence signing Travis Homer. And Herbert had production slightly go down, you are correct, but that was before Tristan Ebner got replaced by Darrynton Evans. But there were times Evans, Herbert, and Monty all got chunks on the ground, and it felt like you could plug anyone in. That’s how Philly and KC and other successful offensive teams do, not teams that rely on franchise backs. I’m aware Philly and KC prioritize their OL in a way Chicago never has. The more I digest it, it’s probably the right move. Don’t think the wheels completely fall off the way Jordan Howard’s did, but o don’t think he’ll exactly be CJ2K or age like a fine wine.
Exactly how much better is he going to make them? I get it, losing him sucks. Losing him to the lions sucks too. But they’re supposedly cutting Jamal Williams, who was far superior to Monty last year, because they don’t want to extend him. Think bears fans are slightly overvaluing him. We do it to all the guys we like, I’m guilty of it.
It's more just that I now have to cheer for his poor performance. Would rather he go somewhere where I can root for him from afar.
I agree with this but still feel it's a major downgrade from Monty to Homer with more pressure now on Herbert to carry the load. As you said if our o-line was good it wouldn't matter as much who the RBs were. As for taking Bijan at #9, of course that's a bad idea for a number of reasons. But if we are going to go skill position there, call me crazy but I'm not totally against taking Jaxon and adding more talent/depth to WR. It's not going to happen but Jaxon is going to be a game changer, the potential to be better than Moore.
Homer signed for 2 years 4 mil or just under 4 mil. That’s not a contract for a replacement starting halfback or even a rotation halfback taking a quarter or even a third of all carries. That’s what you pay a special teamer and depth. Homer will compete with Ebner for RB3 and probably win easy. I know his one fan here won’t like to hear that. I liked Darrynton Evans, but he was a 1 year deal last year. I don’t think Poles is done at halfback for the off-season. A lot of fans and pundits think Bijan is as good as Barkley or Zeke. I’m aware taking a RB at 9 in 2023 is franchise suicide, but this is the bears—if you were a casual fan who knows history, the bears are probably on your shortlist of teams who would take a RB that high in the era of the game were in. I can’t leave out the possibility, and I’d full on rage quit draft weekend and probably preseason if he’s the guy.
I still haven't gotten over the Cedric Benson ordeal, so I'd really prefer not to take another early pick on a Texas RB...
Apparently it's both, he has a laundry list, AND the Jets/Packers are still hammering it out. Of course he announced his intentions to play for the Jets on McAfee's show. Of course he did. That guy should give him a cut of the take from his show at this point. I still think the Jets have all the leverage. He wants to play for you, you have to take his salary, and if you keep him your organization is hamstrung. On the Jets side, they could run it back with Wilson again, or try to trade with the Cards for Levis/Richardson. Agreed, felt that way to me too. The price was right for me, but clearly not for Poles. He's not a world beater or the greatest ever, but it's another hole we now have to fill. The team is still pretty threadbare. That said, we find someone mid to late round that can fill his shoes, and I'll be ok with it, as far as it goes. I am with you here, we take a RB at #9 overall and I will absolutely lose my shit. This is not happening. I have seen multiple mocks with the Bears getting Skoronski. Here's yet another: 2023 NFL mock draft: Shakeup at the top; how do free agents affect choices? | FOX Sports If not him, then Paris Johnson. Those are the top two OTs, and OT is a massive need as evidenced by so many people mocking this, including Hoge and Jahns. It makes so much sense, of course we would draft Bijan. Could be DL too, but you never know.
Just like last offseason the beginning to FA has been meh! Ok so we nailed down some big upgrades at LB. Looks like we added a decent guard. Walker could be a nice pickup maybe. Yes theses are all young players but I’m sorry I just can’t get that excited. I do t want Poles wasting money but I expected a bit more from the team best set up to make a big FA splash.
You're right, it would cost more than a 5th. It would cost less than a 2nd. The Bears have a pick at around 103 i think(top of the 4th round), i'd offer that. Even that might not be enough, maybe they want more. LA isnt in that strong a negotiating position, Ekeler is only under contract 1 more year and doesnt want to be play for them anymore. On the other hand everyone knows the Bears have a big need at RB and Ekeler is regarded as a very good player. It'll probably not happen cos it doesn't meet up with head of the federal reserve Poles' "value". He'll look elsewhere. Luckily Poles has already shown he has a great eye for late round RBs......
Signing PJ Walker when you already have Trevor Simien for less than 2 mil as a back up QB? Priorities. C’mon Poles, you don’t need to spend every last penny but the DL especially can be upgraded with plenty of younger options, since the theme so far in FA is sign guys under 30.
People will cry that Orlando Brown Jr was too expensive. He wasn’t that good. Blah blah. Well he’s good enough to protect Burrow. If you’re scared to spend it get the fuck out of the way and let someone else step up.
I think he has his sights on someone in the draft at this point whether it's Peter or Paris I don't care, but I sure hope it isn't relying on the mentality that he's the smartest man in the room and waiting till the late rounds.
Does anyone think the Bears would draft Jalen Carter at #9 given the red flags he's put up with his legal issues and now coming into his pro day 9 pounds overweight and only doing position drills, and possibly falling to #9? I mean there is no denying his talent, and the perceived value he would hold at #9 and while I endorsed him previously over Anderson when the Bears sat at the top of the draft, this causes me grave concern and has bust written all over him at this point. He has never played a 400-snap season with Georgia given their talent and substitutions, but how will his effectiveness translate to the NFL if given more? I just have a bad feeling about this kid now given how he's approached these critical months that could possibly define his future.
I think his pro day sealed any chance of Carter being a first round pick. Personally I wouldn't even draft him in later rounds, it's obvious his priorities are a mess. Dude has nobody but himself to blame for his downfall and loss of millions of dollars.
I mentioned this in the main draft thread elsewhere on the site. This is a problem. The most important position on the field, and the hardest to find talent at, is QB. Just behind that, though, is OT (LT, specifically). This is the guy that protects your franchise QB, and finding top talent here is almost as difficult. Pay this position. You have to invest in your offensive line if you want them to get better. Through two seasons so far, Poles has fundamentally not done that. Ev expressed it earlier, but I wasn't in anger mode while Orlando Brown was still out there. I considered Brown and Taylor to be LT's that were worth paying big money to, and was hoping Chicago would get one of them. With that gone, I have to seriously question Poles' priorities and competency. Right now, Braxton Jones is your starting LT, and you don't have a starting C. The draft can only plug so many holes - you've got multiple starters needed on the OL, DL, and then vital spots elsewhere (RB, CB, etc). If the plan is to draft a starting LT, that is an ambitious plan for the #9 overall pick with that many other holes on your roster. Color me concerned, here. The Bears came into this offseason with the most money and best draft capital of any team, and yet are still falling short of adding the necessary talent to the roster.
I regret that I can only like this post once, it really needs an award. Fuck off Mustipher, maybe Olin can simp for you on some other team. This is my hope, but my fear is that this is the Chicago Bears. The fear that we will look at Braxton Jones and say, "yeah, good enough, just needs to grow". "The line was great at the run". Maybe I will be proven wrong on draft day, but years of this shit. ESPECIALLY because Jones is a Poles draftee. If I were a betting man, I'd say it will be DL, because that has also been completely ignored in FA and it's also a huge pain point. RB I lose my shit, OT I am happy. But if DL is the plan, then OT should have been a target in FA. The plan should not fucking be Jones.
Heh, just read this on CBS: NFL Mock Draft 2023: QBs taken with top four picks after Cardinals trade back; Cowboys select pass-catcher - given the red flags and the fact I just said it will be DL, I could see it. Keep that bears draft pick thought process alive tuna.
As much as I wanted Carter with an earlier pick a few weeks ago I'm really not sure I want him now at #9. His low snap count has weighed heavy on me since that time, and now how he fucked up his pro day tells me to steer clear. He could really be a beast, but I don't know where his head is without talking to the kid because it sure doesn't appear to be where it needs to be.
