Poles had a presser where he said he wasn't in on Brown due to scheme fit. Call that a politician's dodge or GM speak if you must. He also said Braxton Jones is still the LT for now (barf emoji), didn't commit to where the new OG Nate Jones is going, and Whitehair will go back to Center. And I don't think the bears are scared to spend, if you look at what Cinci gave him, its a front loaded 2 year deal to springboard him to a possible huge extension. Now I hope a lot of this is just GM conjecture, particularly the 'for now' with regard to Braxton Jones playing LT. Poles' quote about Whitehair and Center. “He’s got almost 4,000 snaps there. Had some good seasons there. So we’re going to move it around a little bit and see if we can get the best like front three possible.” Bears will try Cody Whitehair at center this summer Poles also signs Robert Tonyan. Hope it doesn't make Erin mad enough to self-sabotage his taking-seemingly-for-fucking-ever deal to the Jets because he told them, when they already have a few weapons--to sign his buddies. I am beyond thrilled to see what Jordan Love can't do.
People are debating who has more leverage now, Packers or Jets, given that Erin has publicly stated what he wants. I'd like to think it's the Jets. We know Erin is stubborn and petty and isn't going to budge. Therefore the Packers have to trade him to the Jets, and the Jets don't have to break the bank for him, since Erin won't accept a trade anywhere else. But I also like watching this play out as long as possible, increasing frustration for all involved parties. I'm also calling it now that the Jets will miss the playoffs next year. Erin's 2023 will be Favre's 2008.
I don’t think the Jets win it all but they make a good run at it. Rodgers is one spiteful SOB. He is gonna play with a big chip on his shoulders. He is gonna have weapons and a great defense.
New York Jets- Where future HOF Green Bay QBs go to die. I find it oddly hilarious that he wants to surround himself with many from the same roster he complained about in Green Bay, and bring them to New York. I am curious to see which developmental QB the Packers will take in this year's draft.
I feared they were going to move Whitehair back to Center, instead of bringing in an actual Center. And if Nate Jones doesn't just replace Whitehair, what are we doing? Stop moving Teven around. Poles is not saying the things that I want to hear. Bears signed TE Robert Tonyan, RB Donta Foreman, and DT Andrew Billings to one year deals. Plugging some depth holes, I guess. I'm not mad about Foreman - he had a good year being leaned on in Carolina, and would be the power back compliment currently missing. I hope he can pass block. Billings is a NT type that's just gonna make sure we don't get gashed on obvious run downs like we did all last year.
I was down the reddit rabbit hole yesterday and Packers fans are CONVINCED they hold all the cards, that they planned for a rebuilding year and to suck it up and take the cap hit. Really some arrogant bastards, it is my fervent wish they are resigned to QB hell for the next century. Much like the Patriots were blessed with Brady/Belichek, the Packers have been blessed with Favre/Rodgers. I guess the Packers have set Erin's price based on the other big QB moves, like Watson, Wilson, and Stafford, but the big difference is these guys were all south of age 34, where Rodger is 39 and was 90% set on retiring before the "darkness retreat". The Jets are right to stand firm, or hell, even persue Lamarr Jackson or a trade with the Cards if the Packers want to play hardball. I hope they get nothing and they eat all his dead money, but they'll get something. They are dreaming at multiple firsts though. I agree and disagree. I'd rather have a legit center, but where do we get one? The draft probably. I am ok with Whitehair being penciled in now as he had his struggles, but he was miles better that the crap we trotted out last year.
Aaahahahaha!! What did i say just a few days ago. Fucking #calledit. Gonna move a guy to C who's already been tried at C(thoroughly) and was so good he got moved back to G in favour of a shitcan UDFA. And you know the best part? Mr Where's My Value will be paying his new(again) C $10mil this season! Basically double the amount several actual starter quality C's just signed for in the last week. Genius. Oh Poles, such a disappointment. Yes he's made some bungles, i thought he had a bad first draft, the Claypool trade, but he also made some good moves. He correctly(if belatedly) committed to Fields. Executed the pain year largely correctly to right the ship for 2023. Made a very good trade down. He had the momentum and then he squandered it. Just another idiot Bears GM who thinks he can corner cut his way to a good O-Line. Good luck dummy. I can't even be arsed ranting this anymore, i've been banging my head against a wall over the OL forever. Me and 3rd & Long were writing essays on this shit 12years ago. I'm tired of it. We here all get that Braxton Jones was poop last season, cos we know what we're looking at. But for anyone in any doubt, im telling you Poles is not looking LT in the draft like we are(sorry pat). Not a chance in hell that #9 goes on a LT. For my next #calledit, that pick will go on either a pass rusher(most likely), or if he's dumb enough Poles will take Jalen Carter. He shouldn't be touching Carter with a Venetian gondola pole, but at this point there's also ZERO reason to waste a top30 visit on him either so hey. Just over here WAITING for the GM to serve me up some crow, not gonna happen sadly. LOL, he wasn't vastly better than Monty, at all. Their ypc was nearly identical for one thing. Williams just got volume carries behind a vastly better O-Line and caught the limelight by running a lot of TD's from the 1. Williams is a v 1-dimensional back, he caught 12passes all season! He's a battering ram. Monty has miles better vision, patience, cuts, hands and even breaks more tackles. The Lions know this, its why they went the way they did. We should stamp this, it'll be interesting to come back to and see how it panned out. Jamal Williams just had by far the best season of his career, barring missed time for injury im calling Monty to cover every major stat he had last year except TDs(obviously). More rushing yards, receiving yards, total yards. I'll throw in forced missed tackles too if we can pull the stat. If Monty gets the same volume as Williams last year which i think he will, then he's nailed on for a 1k rushing season. Behind that OL I expect him to be up around 1,200+. Its very possible that next season will show the Bears(and some of us) never truly knew what they had in Monty.
I really don't think Whitehair will be on the roster in 2023 after June 1st. I think Poles will grab a center with either #53 or #61, and Cody will then be expendable, saving his 10 million in cap with a 4 million dead cap hit. He's sticking to his formula of younger, faster, stronger. I will cut Poles some slack until after the draft and I see that Cody is rostered next year, I doubt he will be. I always say things happen for a reason, but until you hit that proverbial fork in the road with it as is here what do you do? Do you take to heart Carter's recent immaturity and lack of preparation for his pro day as a sign and avoid a mistake, or do you take it as well he fell to us at #9 so it must be the reason? Since the Bears have shown interest by visiting his pro day as they have Skronski's so is there some level of interest there or is it just for show? I don't see Poles as serious about T-Rexski, as Carter because he doesn't check all his boxes. If Carter is still in play at #9 the opportunity to trade down still exists if someone behind the Bears wants him that badly OR will Poles be the type of GM to draft him and sing Kumbya until he gets his head gets straight?
I won't argue with any of this, except I don't think he touches Jalen Carter with a 39 and a half foot pole unless he ends up with a bottom 3 pick at the end of the 1st round in another trade down or its after the 1st round. I've accepted months ago I'm not getting my guy--and I'm going to have to watch someone else get a great fucking player, as unsexy as the OL is. It's the bears, it just makes too much fucking sense to draft a measurably imperfect guy who can block anything and instantly upgrades both OT spots and probably C, which yeah--I'm not sold on Cody Whitehair either--and I sincerely hope Poles is doing his best Pace 'smoke and mirrors' impression, which I would be giving him a lot of unfounded credit especially since you've listed his not-so-bright moves since he started a year ago. I'm aware that I should know better. Instead I'll get the LT with perfect height, weight, arm length, and athleticism who can't pass block to save his fucking life. I'm pretty sure the guy at 9 is Van Ness from Iowa or a trade down to the mid-late teens if one of these QBs fall. If Tyree Wilson or Myles Murphy are in play if they are there at 9, maybe one of them--but these two stop gap short term DTs they just signed to replace Blackson/Watts/other ass players at DT joining Justin Jones, he's done nothing at DE--so I see a double dip with one of these guys early and probably the McDonald guy from Iowa state round late 2-4. Right now is still the process of elimination with FA signings, unless Poles ass fucks the roster and takes a RB at 9. That will be the jewel in the crown, and I would call upon VV to get rid of the 'might' in his avatar. Some true and I won't contest but also some not, I'd be splitting hairs. Monty turns 26 in a few months, Williams turns 28 or 29 at the beginning of next month, was walking into a contract year coming off a career best year only making 3 mil. They both have a lot of mileage. Detroit made a business decision and went with a younger model (albeit with more mileage at 26 than the other guy at 28/29), because if you were Williams, you'd believe you have every right at the negotiating table to get more than 3 mil a year. The bears had the #1 overall rushing attack in the NFL. Run blocking OL the bears beat the lions on. Just because Jared Goff can get 3 seconds in a drop back and Fields cant shouldn't be a factor in the context of a run game, though I understand when it comes to the 'full picture' of the OL, the bears failed masterfully compared to the loins.
Last season the running game was a thing of beauty. Monty, Herbert and Fields all gashed defenses with the greatest of ease. I don’t see why you fuck with that unless Monty was looking for too much money. $6 mill a year? Come on. So now you make a lateral move to replace him. Talk about fixing what wasn’t broke. There are too many holes to fill in one draft. I really don’t care who we pick at 9 as long as it isn’t Carter. Tackle, Edge, Corner. As long as they are a hit. They are all positions of need.
I'll be pissed off if that #9 pick isn't OL, but i'll lose my mind if its a CB. Unless the 2nd coming of Neon Deion is in this draft i don't wanna hear it. Ignoring the trenches altogether with that pick would a huge huge blunder, but one we can't rule out sadly.
I loved Monty don't get me wrong, but when you're building a team sometimes you need to make these tough decisions. I understand Poles approach, and how he handled it, and while it may be perceived as a lateral move based on stats, it's really not. Foreman can't match Monty's ability to protect Fields in the pocket, and there is no current RB on the roster that can. Saving that 3 million here and 3 million there may sound insignificant, but it will certainly help down the road when it comes to paying the guys they need to pay and staying out of cap hell. Hypothetically if you were to spend 6 million on every rostered player you would be 75 million over the cap, and if you spent 3 million you would be that same number under, and you have some wiggle room. So, yes I believe that number is part of his overall formula. Yes, they still have a hole with their protection, unless their plan is to scheme more two-back sets, or they are more likely looking to plug that hole in the draft, but who knows? I love the patience Pole's has shown and that he isn't making brainless impetuous signings like Pace did with Mike All-Neck Glennon, but time will tell if or when V2 changes his avatar.
The more I learn about Edmunds, the more I like it. He’s essentially filling Urlacher’s role in the Tampa 2, and has the talent to do it. Unbelievable coverage skills and can cover the the deep middle like nobody I’ve seen since 54. I apologize if someone already touched on this but I’ve essentially checked out about 95%
I'm not saying he isn't shifty, but 4.5 40 time and some people want him as a top 10 pick? No thanks. Same with Jordan Addison (4.55 at his pro day). I was wrong about him, thought he was the best/fastest WR. And of course its the guy every time I saw TCU play look slower than molasses that runs the fastest (Quentin Johnston) at 4.4. And he's sideline to sideline when they'll need him on plays in the box, which the bears are going to need this year, seeing as how the DLine is still swiss cheese, just with different, younger names on cheap 1 year deals instead of Angelo Blackson or Armand Watts. I've been there. If Jordan Love is the third HOF franchise QB in a row for those cheesedicks in Green Bay, I will 100% check out and stop watching football. Devil's advocate on Monty--we don't know this yet (and won't until later, usually how these things work) and I'm being purely speculative. How do you know Poles didn't offer Monty what Detroit gave him? Or more and he/his agent hold firm until the market (Detroit) paid him what he chose to be? Because I'm pretty sure Monty/his agent would ahve been vocal if Pace sat on his ass, offered him nothing but played politician-speak with the press corps when asked when he thought of Monty. Even though we have some unicorn halfbacks in the present generation of football, its still a highly de-valued position and Monty is not one of the unicorns like Derrick Henry or Saquan. Hell, a couple years ago when Le'Veon Bell was trying to reset the market, he didn't exactly succeed, and he's far superior to Monty. Again, I think we're overvaluing Monty, and the suckage is just propounded because he went to the fucking loins for money the bears could have seemingly and easily have matched. The bears drafted Kyler Gordon a year ago, still have Jaylon Johnson, and found an undrafted gem in Jaylon Jones--who towards the end of the year looked solid at CB2, as did Gordon when he was asked to fill in later in the year, but it looked like he is more destined for nickel. From a BPA standpoint, I get why CB is in the conversation, but if the bears take a CB at 9, I'll be pretty fucking annoyed--even though 2 names I mentioned earlier in this thread, Christian Gonzalez from Oregon and Clark Phillips from Utah are good enough to be in the top half of the 1st round. Long story short, they better be the second coming of Champ Bailey or Darrelle Revis.
It will be interesting to see what they with Edmunds & Edwards. They basically played the same role last season, why Poles felt he needed to do that im not sure. One of them will be playing out of position next season thats for sure. Either could play MLB and i believe both had the green dot last season. Yes measurements-wise(and investment-wise frankly) Edmunds looks made for MLB. Thats probably how it turns out. Only thing is, from what i've seen they could play Edmunds at Mike or Will and he'd be fine, but what about Edwards? Mike obviously, Will i dont know. I wonder if it could even come down to something like leadership? Whoever takes it over during offseason workouts/TC could be the guy you want making the calls which would tend to necessitate him being in the middle. Side Note: I am already having to concentrate to not get their names mixed up and its first thing in the morning and im sober as a judge. This could get annoying when its the middle of a game thread and im pished. Everything i've read about the Bears/CB position from the "experts" just assumes Gordon playing the slot. This is the primary driver for the #9 CB talk. It just misses one thing tho....Gordon was fucking hideous when he played the slot last season. I mean abysmal. When JJ & Vildor both missed time towards the end of the season and Gordon had to move outside....he was pretty darn solid. Yes, the start of last season he might've been in a rookie finding his feet phase and by the end of the season felt more settled, but i can only go with what i saw on tape. Gordon was God awful inside and showed real potential outside. If it was me im keeping him outside and targeting slot in the draft which you def don't do at #9. Two birds, one stone kinda thing.
Bears gotta spend more money just to hit the salary cap floor? Overpay short term for Ngokue. Ev was spot on earlier in the thread he’s a pass rushing specialist only and absolutely sucks donkey balls against the run, but he’d immediately become their best pass rusher and he’s on the right side of 30. That, and the other available pass rushers one would want in FA are being signed, like Davenport to the queens. Then extensions for Kmet and JJ? After DJ Moore, I’m resigned to think Mooney and Claypool have to play for extensions. Cap casualties? We’re already seeing them, and teams had to be cap compliant by March 15. They’re wisely passing on Zeke Elliot, who/what in the cuts wave post draft is somebody Poles can drop a good chunk of change on? Or will it be a redux of last year where he stupidly shoots his load and a half on what’s “best of the rest” IE—Riley Reiff?
Holy shit! That is a serious amount of money at this point in the offseason, most teams had less than that to spend before FA! Surely that $45mil would be before paying draft picks. I figure about $12mil to cover draft picks(the Bears will prob save at least $2-3mil just by trading down from 1 to 9). So to be compliant, Scrooge McDuck still has to spend approx $33mil! Thats a lot. Thats 2 high level contracts at most positions, or 3 above average starter contracts at most positions. If the number really is $45mil after draft picks then frankly that will be hard work. Look for 1 or 2 extensions being signed out of Mooney/Kmet/JJ. But something something paying Monty $6mil was too much something something. Fuck off.
Matt Eberflus names Tremaine Edmunds MIKE linebacker Seems to be confirmed, Edmunds will play the Mike. Eberflus seems to view it much the same way as Bear-man. Only slight surprise is that this was announced so early. Not sure what need there was to do that but hey ho.
The inaction/waiting game is just annoying. Who is going to be let go and available in June but not today? Teams can cut a guy today and designate them as a post June 1st cap to maneuver and save money, and many teams are already doing that. Meanwhile there are still guys now that can immediately help the team and are on the right side of 30. Poles doesn’t give a damn about comp picks, so I don’t understand the inaction. Oh wait. Yes I do…goddammit “I want George and Kevin sign off on it to be on the same page.” So Georgie still has say. Great. Meet new boss, same as the old. (Poles was talking about possibility of drafting Jalen Carter.) https://mobile.twitter.com/AdamHoge/status/1640483791138594816
