Bears Making Fans Cry

by Adam T on Feb 22, 2007 2:42 PM CST in News

Guys and gals, the wheels are coming off this bus at a staggering rate. I have had so many stories open today that just made me want to crawl into a tiny ball and roll down a hill over a cliff to my demise.

Let's briefly go over what is happening this off season. We tagged Briggs, but with Mr. Drew Next question as his agent we are facing what likely will turn out to be ugly negotiations. Now Briggs has mentioned semi-privately that he wants a trade.

One of our other offensive MVPs, Thomas Jones, has a ton of leverage right now. The Bears need him and currently Cedric Benson can't stay healthy long enough to be trusted.

Charles Tillman and Nathan Vashar are both in the final year of their contracts and both want extensions.

What else, is there....OH YEAH!...Bears management is systematically destroying this team. They allowed the very man they were planning to low ball to run out of town the most obvious replacement, Ron Rivera. If Coach Smith leaves, what are the Bears plans? Who exactly is going to come in at such a low price? Ron Turner?

I as well as most of you, based on his record for making shrewd business moves and consistently finding gems in the draft, have given GM Jerry Angelo as much credit as we can without resorting blatant man crushes, but this one is really testing our loyalty. Smith is the man. Give him what he wants. Give him 8 million a year, give him your first born, give him a back rub, give him a Whopper with Cheese No Onions(that is what I would ask for). Whatever it is give it to him.

This window isn't going to stay open forever, we need to take advantage of it while it is here.

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where did you hear this?

Now Briggs has mentioned semi-privately that he wants a trade.

by mike b on Feb 22, 2007 2:43 PM CST reply actions

Oops, didn't post any links

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/cs-070221bearsminute,1,7403581.story

<<But apparently Briggs has mentioned to at least one teammate the possibility of seeking a trade instead of signing the offer-->>

by Adam T on Feb 22, 2007 3:09 PM CST up reply actions

Let him rot!

I say let him sit. Let him be the next Al Harris or Todd Bell. Remember those guys? They held out in 1985 and missed being on that team.

by Chad @ Windy City Gridiron on Feb 22, 2007 4:39 PM CST up reply actions

I'm wondering....

Depending on the outcome of next season -- does anybody think the McCaskey's are exerting influence again? Do you think they might be pulling for -- Mike Singletary in '08, should the Bears falter IN '07? The Bears are the obvious favorite in the division. Excluding terrible injuries, they should at least get to one playoff game. With the chances of going to the Super Bowl 2 consecutive years not especially in their favor -- they could claim -- "Lovie failed.")

Then, you could start over w/a rookie coach AGAIN.
With a minimal salary. AGAIN.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Feb 22, 2007 3:48 PM CST reply actions

Can never take you seriously again...

Really, no onions on your Whopper with cheese? Onions MAKE that burger!

Now pickles I can understand... but no onions is just blasphemy... BLASPHEMY I TELL YOU!!!

by Marked Hoosier on Feb 22, 2007 4:19 PM CST reply actions

Dude

I am the Burger King, don't tell me to enjoy my hamburger deliciousness.

by Adam T on Feb 23, 2007 10:26 AM CST up reply actions

LIES!!!!

by Marked Hoosier on Feb 23, 2007 7:47 PM CST up reply actions

I am getting very depressed

I am not sure what is going on?? Is it Lovie? Is it JA?

Are we getting Toub back?? It seems as though special teams had more than a negligible impact on our season!!

Definitely stinks of the McCaskeys. I am just completely perplexed right now. Are these guys so diabolical to let us build ourselves into a team this good then let it fall apart just for cost purposes . . . and take us Bears suckers for granted to keep supporting year after year. I just don't know . . .

by twaddle on Feb 22, 2007 5:07 PM CST reply actions

Don't let this crap depress you.

Negotiations take a while, don't forget this is the same organization that our beloved coach Ditka said threw around pennies like they are sewer caps. Taub signed a three year contract last week. Angelo is not the money man it's Philips and he is probably just putting on a show to please the McCaskeys. It's only Febuary there is still plenty of time to get this deal done.

by beardown on Feb 22, 2007 6:17 PM CST up reply actions

Snowballing out of control?

Or is there a method to this madness?

I don't think you give a guy anything he wants for losing the Super Bowl. You try and keep him at a price he is worth and deserves but you have to draw a line at some point. I think it will get done soon but if it doesn't, I don't think a lame duck coach gets you to the Super Bowl.

Other organizations are screwing this up for everyone else by way overpaying inexperienced coaches.

Briggs could hold out for a trade and the same with TJ. If they leave, they will need replaced and not for free. It's all screwed up who to keep who not to at what price.........

hit him in his earhole

by draftday on Feb 22, 2007 6:11 PM CST reply actions

While this is all disconcerting...

i do think a large part of it is posturing. If i were Smith's agent, i would definitely go tell the media we were far apart on a deal (even if we weren't far apart). The media's reaction cannot possibly favor the Bears, and it can only help Smith's negotiating position.

I think Smith will sign a contract extension sometime in the next month or so. I don't think the team would have let Rivera walk so easily if they weren't assured Lovie was a long-term answer at head coach.

by Shawn Domagal-Goldman on Feb 22, 2007 8:57 PM CST reply actions

Frequent

i wouldn't stress too hard until something actually happens. If I had a dollar for everytime a an agent or owner made an inflammatory statement during a negotiation, I'd be the one negotiating with Lovie Smith right now.
Remember, it was just like a year or two ago when it seemed Skiles was out of town. The Cubs also regularly come down to the last minute in re-signing players (see, Zambrano).
If it's the regular season and Lovie's not re-signed, then worry. No sense in getting ulcers over the next six months.