I'm creating a new thread just because it doesn't feel directly applicable to the preseason game threads, but there are a couple pieces of news worth discussing with these clowns. First, Mitchell Schwartz calling out Matt Nagy isn't really meaningful I don't think, but it is interesting. I don't usually pay any attention to what coaches say, and Nagy even less so. He and Pace lie more often than not, and never say anything important. That said, Schwartz is right to call out Nagy on the way he's handling this whole Dalton v Fields thing. I know some people here who have said so, as well. Specifically, he basically calls Nagy incompetent in that, if Nagy can't properly evaluate his QB's at this point, he doesn't know what he's doing. And I don't think anyone here would disagree with that. He says that it's understandable if the idea is just to protect Fields from some early beatings, but that's not what Nagy's said on multiple occasions, and what he's saying just sounds silly. Agreed. More importantly, though, is the Pace news: apparently, the Raiders came calling asking for Mack back in trade this offseason. This upsets me. I love Khalil Mack, and I'm glad he's a Bear - the guy is a monster. But this team isn't going anywhere this season, and likely for the next several (this is presuming Pace and Nagy do their jobs well). Mack was only a good acquisition for this team based on the assumption that Trubisky was the guy, putting this team over the top. But clearly that failed, and thus Mack is in the same place here that he was on the Raiders - an exemplary player on a bad team. Trade him back and fix your mistakes, Pace. It's insane to me that Pace had a chance for a mulligan and turned it down. Still not understanding how these schmucks weren't run out of town, and I don't anticipate getting answers any time this year...
Saw it. Really needs some context, like if this a beef between former offensive coach and lineman--or if Schwartz is looking for a job/check and got told no for his medicals/whatever other reason. He's right--but whether we like it or not, Nagy's here to stay and until we see it happen, McCaskeys haven't fired a coach mid season... Also needs context/details, specifically what was offered/turned down. I doubt Oakland called offering the kind of deal Pace offered back in 2018, and if you get rid of him you'll have Robert Quinn--who you can't count on but are stuck with for a year and what else at edge rusher? Mack had a down statistical 2020 and oft looked blocked/disinterested and on top of that the Raiders had/have a ton of cash available in the next couple of years while Pace had to make some cuts because of his fiscal incompetence. If every you were gonna try and "buy low" on somebody, this past March/April would have been the ideal time to. Is Mack untouchable? No he's not. Am I giving him away for a mid-round pick? Nope. Now if Pace turned down two high picks and Oakland eating all of the $$,
Just curious, what do you think would be fair for Mack, after the down year? I agree a mid-round pick is nonsense, but if his stock falls to 2 2nds say instead of 2 1sts? I feel his value is still pretty up there and I doubt the Raiders gave him a complete joke of an offer.
I hear what you're saying re: Mack, Pat, but at this point I don't even care about the value. If a team is willing to take the contract off our hands, move him. Pace has screwed this cap situation so badly that he's literally cutting top talent. Right now, Fields is the only player that matters - get him an offensive line, get him weapons, and let everything come afterwards. Mack's contract makes that difficult, and if Pace can get breathing room by moving him, he needs to. The Bears aren't winning any time soon, and Mack is being wasted here. I know it sucks, but this is a lifeline for a team that's been so horribly mismanaged, and Pace needed to have taken it.
My inner shrewd says Oakland initiated talks, so I have negotiating upper hand. A 1st and a 3rd for Mack. Maybe another pick swap like Houston's 5th for Miller for an extra 4th. 2 2nds? I'd want another pick in there, or a pick swap like just mentioned along with Vegas eating his $$$. That means you don't lose Kyle Fuller. So in addition to his contract, there IS a business side of things with a premier name/player like Mack. Trading him away to a team willing to take his contract disengages fans and cuts revenue, something I see ol' Sweaty Teddy not getting behind. The bears will be mediocre again, but the throwback Mack jerseys they use this year will make them big $. Mack also isn't useless. He was the only edge rusher on the field at times last year and that makes opposing OC's jobs a lot easier, especially when your tight end can take Robert Quinn out of a play. Quinn has "dead foot" or whatever it was and Mingo diddled children. I remain unimpressed/curious why James Vaughters keeps getting chances with this team. So the line is probably the one thing that needs improvement and Pace--to his undeserving luck--will get a shot in about a week because big roster cuts happen where everybody goes from 80-ish to 53. As I have a sincere doubt that Peters - Whitehair - Mustipher - Daniels - Ifedi will just truck Tennessee off the ball this weekend--I expect a signing. Hell, at this point because you're so devoid of talent, I'd have psychologists check out that 1st round OT from last year, Isaiah Wilson who the Titans cut to see if his head's in any better spot--because you're now desperate. Maybe somebody unexpected falls to the bears' laps. 30-ish releases multiplied by 32 teams before PS can be formed, there's going to be talent somewhere, and I've seen enough of Arlington Hambright, Lachevious Simmons, Eiselen (trash at the end of both preseason games on the interior OL), Redmond, and Wilkinson to know you can upgrade one/two of them on the OL as depth/back ups. As for weapons--Fields has weapons. The WR staff is fine, RB room is fine, and TE's are fine on paper. I'll get annoyed when Jesse James starts taking reps/plays/catches away from Kmet.
The business part is definitely why I think the trade doesn't happen, even though it should for football reasons. I agree with you there, but didn't want to write it out first thing this morning because I needed to not hate life right away. From a football standpoint, there is no doubt this team has zero talent at OLB besides Mack. It's really astounding. But this team also isn't going to win anything, so... why do we need Mack? I know, Pace has to win to save his job, but I would argue a smart GM would see freeing up money and assets as a more valuable thing than keeping Mack, because clearly the formula you've been using hasn't worked. So I guess I just stated my case for exactly why this would never happen - we don't have a smart GM. It is definitely desperation time on OL. It was desperation time months ago, years ago... As to the weapons, I'm not convinced - not because they're devoid of talent, but because I have no idea what this offense needs out of its position players. From simply a talent standpoint, WR is adequate, RB is Monty and whenever Cohen comes back, and TE is a red zone Jimmy Graham with a mediocre Kmet that has to convince me of his ceiling. But even if you're convinced of that group, you still need money to retain them, and that's helped by losing Mack's contract. I love Mack. All I'm saying is that at this point, the team is defined by Justin Fields the same way it was by Trubisky years ago. The difference is that the team, at that time, was a QB away from being very good. Now, this team needs a lot more than that, and Fields needs support immediately. If you can flip Mack for assets and cap flexibility, I think it's a no-brainer. But Pace has no brain and still hasn't done it, so... I don't know.
Mack should have been traded for a mid-round pick, especially if the Raiders agreed to take on all of his salary. Mack has been severely overrated the last 2 years and given our cap situation and lack of draft capital, the move should have been made. With no knowledge of the deal or why it was rejected, I will stubbornly believe that Pace didn't move on it only because of how he'd look given what he gave up for Mack only 3 years ago.
pat really hit the nail on the head though, I don't think it's just Pace and ego, it's also the business side. Jersey sales and the appearance that they are "trying" to keep fans in seats. I mean shit, they get to spin that the Bears were a playoff team last year, despite the fact of the expanded format and that they literally did their best to try to not make it in. I wouldn't want to move Mack for a mid-round pick, we can do that NEXT year when the cap pressure hits us. A 1st/3rd or 2 2nds and some lower round swaps + they take his salary? There's a lot of ways it makes sense to move him. I think Mack is going to rebound, especially with Goldman back to take some pressure off him. And maybe the refs this year will finally call some holding. But I would like to know what Pace turned down.
Andy Dalton comes with a much higher pedigree than say Mike Glennon. I understand the logic of redshirting Fields. I might not agree with it but I understand it. So if the plan is to start Dalton than yea I am going to need to see him shit the bed in the regular season with the full set of weapons before I bail on the plan. It’s not like Fields is just destroying him out there. It’s Nagy’s offense that looks exactly the same as it always does. Inept. The Raiders were idiots for trading away Mack. We would be idiots for trading him unless the trade included a new GM,Coach and top 5 pass rusher in return.
Even if Mack returns to all pro form, we don't really gain a whole lot. The team is going no where in 2021, we all know it. Our ceiling is maybe 8-9 wins. An all pro season does increase his trade value for next offseason. And if he's the same player as he was the last 2 years, this trade from the Raiders was a missed opportunity to shed some cap and add some draft capital.
Hey guys. As much as I like the idea of getting picks back for Mack, I don't think a reasonable offer would be worth it. The Bears are in a rough spot in terms of cap space and Macks contract is here to stay regardless. I've never been one with much insight into contracts but my understanding is that trading Mack wouldn't do anything for the cap issue as he has so much dead money. Also, doesn't the NFL still do revenue sharing? Meaning jersey sales is split with the other teams. Or do the Bears get to keep a higher percentage if it's sold at the stadium?
I quite like Baldinger's film breakdowns and he dropped one last week. Meant to post sooner but was busy. lol at the 3 WR's all in the same spot, great play design there Nagy.
Yeah, it's disgusting, and everyone can see it. OL getting walked back into your QB every play or whiffing on their guys completely. Plays being drawn up that don't help your QB at all... We all knew Trubisky had nothing in his head, but he certainly didn't get help from the guys running the show. Every single week, we will pray that Fields survives Nagy and Pace. Not just physically, but as Baldinger said, whether or not he develops bad habits. Because he's right - on those three plays, the only possible way to rescue the play was Fields' athleticism. 3 WR's running into each other in the middle of the field. Nagy over here in film review, "Alright guys, great mesh point, we worked hard out there". You visor fuck.
A) Always good to see you, buddy. I hope all's well. B) You are absolutely right about the dead money, and I hadn't thought about it. We know Pace has done this for multiple massive contracts, including Mack and Eddie Jackson. I think Mack's dead money this year would be north of $10 million, no idea what the impact would be in future years. Very good point. So even when a team called to rescue Pace, he can't take advantage because he's penned himself into the corner with his continuous f*** up's. I really, really hate this guy.
Patriots release Cam Newton, Mac Jones to start. Jags trade Minchew, Trevor Lawrence to start. Zach Wilson will start for the Jets. The Niners intend to play Trey Lance right away (once he's healthy). Matt Nagy is the lone HC of teams who drafted a first round QB who doesn't think his guy is ready. Genius. Absolute Genius we have.
What makes it worse, I’m not convinced he doesn’t think your guy is ready. He keeps falling back on the fact he told Dalton he was being brought in to be the starter week one and he doesn’t want to answer the questions that start with “you said earlier”. If he wants to keep his job, he needs to be able to identify what combination gives you a better chance to win games. I don’t think he’s smart enough to figure that out.
It's very important that the backup QB we signed in order to cut Kyle Fuller starts behind an offensive line that hasn't been adequately invested in, for a head coach that has insisted on play calling for an offense even he hasn't figured out yet. In fairness, I don't want Justin Fields to start. Mostly because I want him to be as safe from Nagy and Pace as possible.
Agree with all of this. The one thing I fall back on is not wanting Fields to get obliterated too much too soon. If Pace does fire Nagy after this season, I don't think too much damage will have been done to Fields development, assuming the right guy is hired for next year (I don't assume that will happen under Pace).
EXACTLY! Wouldn't want a borderline top10 starter in a passing league when we can pay a guy to sit on the bench and jerk off watching porn on his team ipad.
