Bears' Gameday Links

by Mike Mueller on Dec 28, 2009 10:01 AM CST in Game Day

Some gameday reading for your Bears' gameday.

ESPN's Adam Schefter just threw a bucket of cold water on any Mike Shanahan-to-Chicago speculation. Schefter reported Sunday morning -- via his Twitter account -- that Shanahan won't be the next Chicago Bears coach because he has too much respect for Lovie Smith.

Brad Biggs talks about Bears' draft picks and their poor performances since the Super Bowl. Here's a nugget:

The role Smith and his staff have in the draft process can't be minimized. It would be unfair and inaccurate to assign blame only to Angelo and the college scouts.

Hester is likely out. Bullocks & Steltz to start at safety. Wow. (How many checks out of running plays to pass plays will Favre make knowing that these two are back there?)

2010 schedule is nearly set. Can we win 4 games?

Home: Philadelphia, Washington, New England, New York Jets, Seattle, Detroit, Green Bay, Minnesota

Away: Dallas, New York Giants, Buffalo, Miami, Detroit, Green Bay, Minnesota, Atlanta or Carolina.

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why are we starting those two at safety

is everyone else injured

by DaHamsta on Dec 28, 2009 10:15 AM CST reply actions

The Bears had punter try outs this morning

Brad Maynard is nursing an injury!

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Dec 28, 2009 10:18 AM CST reply actions

You know things are bad, when Maynard puts his foot down!

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.

by SackMan on Dec 28, 2009 11:35 AM CST up reply actions

Bears signed Richmond McGee

> Link’ers <

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"Newbie, if the next two words out of your mouth aren't 'See ya' then the third word will be 'Oh my god. My crotch. You've punched me in my crotch." - Dr. Percival Ulysses Cox

by David Taylor on Dec 28, 2009 1:10 PM CST up reply actions

This can't be good...

by GouldisGold on Dec 28, 2009 3:51 PM CST up reply actions

It's probably just precautionary.

I thought I heard Toub say Maynard should be able to go. Although it’s sad when our punter is one of our best, and most consistent, players.

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"Newbie, if the next two words out of your mouth aren't 'See ya' then the third word will be 'Oh my god. My crotch. You've punched me in my crotch." - Dr. Percival Ulysses Cox

by David Taylor on Dec 28, 2009 6:35 PM CST up reply actions

Damn

If Jared Allen is gonna be in the Bears backfiled all night long, did we really need to see his ugly mug on our front page too?! Here’s to Chris Williams shutting down the mullett!

Space Mountain on Three; One, Two, Three, Space Mountain!

by Mark Saade on Dec 28, 2009 10:18 AM CST reply actions

hey mark

This is a huge test for Williams, and I hope he does well.

"I am not an animal!" - Merrick

by Maelvampyre on Dec 28, 2009 12:03 PM CST up reply actions

exactly vampyre, huge test

Williams is gonna be seeing Allen for years to come. I just hope he plays well tonight so he has confidence against him from here on out

Space Mountain on Three; One, Two, Three, Space Mountain!

by Mark Saade on Dec 28, 2009 12:13 PM CST up reply actions

And he did really well tonight!

And they gave him some help with chip blocks!

by ChiLobo#23 on Dec 28, 2009 11:17 PM CST up reply actions

I can think of 10 million reasons per year why Shanahan isn't coming to Chicago

The McCaskeys are paying Lovie in 2010 and 2011 more money than they have ever paid another head coach. What makes you think that even if they do fire Lovie and eat those years of salary, that they would shell out for a coach who could command top dollar? No way. The Redskins are going to offer Shanahan at least $8M/yeart to coach, maybe as much as $10M. To match that, the Bears would be looking at $13M to $15M/year for the next two years. No way the McCaskey’s sign off on that.

No — your 2010 Bears coach will either be Lovie, or someone they can get for under $2M/year (like they did with Lovie’s original contract).

by Orval Overall on Dec 28, 2009 10:32 AM CST reply actions

Whoever hires Shanahan

Has the benefit of the Broncos picking up most of his salary for remainder of that Denver contract.
So, hypothetically… let’s say Shanahan is due $8 mil next year by the Broncos (I don’t know what the number is). If a team offers him $10 mil to coach… the Broncos are paying $8 mil of it. That’s how the system works in the NFL. A coach can’t be getting paid by two teams under two contracts at once.

That system benefits the Bears in a situation like this.

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.

by SackMan on Dec 28, 2009 11:34 AM CST up reply actions

great point

now if only the Bears would clean house…

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Dec 28, 2009 11:48 AM CST up reply actions

if they lose to the Lions

…I suspect the axe will fall hard.

"I am not an animal!" - Merrick

by Maelvampyre on Dec 28, 2009 12:15 PM CST up reply actions

I could be wrong...

… and someone will correct me if I am, but I’m pretty sure that the way it works is any money the Bears commit to him is deducted from the Broncos’ obligation, which ultimately doesn’t help unless he agrees to stay below his current salary. Thus, if he agrees to a $2M/year salary from the Bears, the Broncos only owe him 6 of the original 8 on their deal because they get to deduct the 2 the Bears are paying. If the Bears agree to pay him $7 million, the Broncos only owe $1 million. Etc.

But none of that helps the Bears save money unless Shanahan agrees to keep his total comp capped at what the Broncos were paying, and doesn’t mind sticking Al Bowlen with the tab by agreeing to a phony salary with the Bears of $1M or $2M. Much more likely is that he gets the market rate — $8 to $10M — which the Bears would then be stuck paying.

by Orval Overall on Dec 28, 2009 11:52 AM CST up reply actions

I thought it was the other way around. But, who knows... I could be wrong.

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.

by SackMan on Dec 28, 2009 12:07 PM CST up reply actions

I hear he was and still is good friends bowlen.

So he probably won’t stick it to him.

by Jhitt81 on Dec 28, 2009 12:19 PM CST up reply actions

I'm pretty sure money earned from the position he takes comes out of the 8 mil.

so if he takes a 6 mil job the broncos pay him 2 mil. That is why they have to pay him 8 or more. He isn’t going to work for less than he could make sitting on his ass.

by Jhitt81 on Dec 28, 2009 12:17 PM CST up reply actions

we are shooting for another nail biting 6 win season

unbelievable. Lovie will probably get an extension mid next year after beating a hard team, only to fall to the lions the next week.

"Hey, the offensive linemen are the biggest guys on the field, they're bigger than everybody else, and that's what make them the biggest guys on the field." -Madden

by BearNecessities on Dec 28, 2009 10:39 AM CST reply actions

The stuff dreams are made of.

by Jhitt81 on Dec 28, 2009 12:19 PM CST up reply actions

that schedule looks pretty tough

5-6 wins maybe.

by Hatchetm on Dec 28, 2009 10:39 AM CST reply actions

Id be shocked to see

us going back to Atlanta for a third straight year. Is the league trying to put us in the South?
But overall that schedule is a tough one.

by BigDanz2000 on Dec 28, 2009 11:04 AM CST reply actions

It's not

the league’s doing. We’ll play our 3rd place counterpart in the NFC South. Either Atlanta or Carolina.

by Ditka,Sausage,Bears on Dec 28, 2009 11:18 AM CST up reply actions

Has Adam Schefter predicted anything correctly in 2009?

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.

by SackMan on Dec 28, 2009 11:29 AM CST reply actions

2010 schedule doesn't look very promising.

“With the first pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears select….”

by boondock_saint812 on Dec 28, 2009 11:31 AM CST reply actions

Gaines Adams?

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.

by SackMan on Dec 28, 2009 11:34 AM CST up reply actions

Julio Jones

"The phone's for you, I think it's the Devil."

by Acreman20 on Dec 28, 2009 6:48 PM CST up reply actions

Wow. We should just quit right now.

Why is Afalava out? Another DUI charge?

Hester out again? How bad can a calf injury be?

And lastly, bench Cutler.

by GouldisGold on Dec 28, 2009 11:36 AM CST reply actions

calf injury

…can be pretty damn bad since you need your calves to run. Mike Brown had a calf injury that jacked him up for a while.

"I am not an animal!" - Merrick

by Maelvampyre on Dec 28, 2009 12:17 PM CST up reply actions

Here is 04

1 14(14) Tommie Harris* DT Oklahoma
2 15(47) Terry Johnson DT Washington
3 15(78) Bernard Berrian WR Fresno St.
4 14(110) Nathan Vasher CB Texas
4 16(112) Leon Joe OLB Maryland
5 15(147) Claude Harriott DE Pittsburgh
5 16(148) Craig Krenzel QB Ohio St.
7 14(215) Alfonso Marshall CB Miami (fl)

NO LOVIE INVOLOVED

by Jhitt81 on Dec 28, 2009 11:42 AM CST reply actions

And here is 03, again no lovie.

1 14(14) Michael Haynes DE Penn St.
1 22(22) Rex Grossman* QB Florida
2 3(35) Charles Tillman S La. Lafayette
3 4(68) Lance Briggs OLB Arizona
4 3(100) Todd Johnson S Florida
4 19(116) Ian Scott* DT Florida
5 4(139) Bobby Wade WR Arizona
5 8(143) Justin Gage WR Missouri
5 36(171) Tron LaFavor DT Florida
6 18(191) Joe Odom OLB Purdue
6 33(206) Brock Forsey HB Boise St.
7 47(261) Bryan Anderson OG Pittsburgh

by Jhitt81 on Dec 28, 2009 11:46 AM CST up reply actions

my point?

Those drafts suck too. trying to put the drafts on lovie is stupid. We have been drafting horribly since JA took over.

by Jhitt81 on Dec 28, 2009 11:50 AM CST up reply actions

Not sure this proves your point

There are a lot of wasted picks at the bottom of the draft, but everyone has that. In the middle rounds, Berrian and Briggs as 3s and Vasher as a 4 are terrific.

Of the top two rounds:

Haynes as a 1 was an unmitigated disaster, no question.

Grossman as a 1 was ultimately a failed pick, but he QB’d the team during its first Super Bowl run in 21 years, i.e., not a total waste;

BUT both guys were in a year that had a lot of huge busts in hte first round, including the guy (Dewayne Robertson) most people thought the Bears should have taken at #4 before they traded down.

Tillman at 2 was a fantastic pick that paid dividends for several years.

Tommie Harris at 1 looked like a superb pick before injuries and attitude issues ruined him, so call it a mixed bag and a very hard bust to predict (really, the new contract is a bigger misjudgment than the initial drafting of him); and

Tank Johnson at 2 was, and still is, a very good player and a force on the D line, and another guy who flamed out here for reasons that were not terribly obvious, and only manifested themselves after the Bears got a couple good years.

These are not the drafts championship teams are made of, but they’re really not terrible either.

by Orval Overall on Dec 28, 2009 12:01 PM CST up reply actions

25 percent success rate over 2 yrs, in my opinion,

does not constitute good drafting.

by Jhitt81 on Dec 28, 2009 12:13 PM CST up reply actions

We’re in agreement that they at least need more role players coming out of those drafts. Most of those guys survived only one training camp, not two. But you’ve got four pro bowlers (Briggs, Harris, Vasher and Tillman), two solid contributors (Berrian and Johnson), and a QB who is still in the league, all coming from just two years’ draft classes. That’s better than a 25% hit rate in my book.

by Orval Overall on Dec 28, 2009 12:27 PM CST up reply actions

I don't count tank

for the same reason i don’t consider benson a hit. They weren’t very good for us and didn’t develop until they were with another team. i counted berrian, tillman, briggs, harrris, and vasher. thats 5 out of 20, which in my book is 25%.

by Jhitt81 on Dec 28, 2009 12:56 PM CST up reply actions

From 2004 - 2008 (excluding last season) The Patriots

drafted 41 players.

12 (29%) are still on the team.

6 were drafted in the 1st round.
1 in the 2nd.
1 in the 3rd.
3 in the 4th.
1 in the 5th.

For the sake of comparison.

Most teams would be somewhat along these lines. It’s kind of a myth that teams load up every year in the draft.

by axthelm on Dec 28, 2009 12:28 PM CST up reply actions

How many 1st rounders are on our team and have actually worked out from

03 to 08?

by Jhitt81 on Dec 28, 2009 12:52 PM CST up reply actions

I'm not arguing with you

I’m just pointing this out.

Beyond that, there is this: Coaching matters.

That means that a guy (first round or otherwise) will have a better chance of success with a better coach.

Vernon Davis is a perfect example of this. Drafted #3 overall in 2006 he was almost reviled by 49er fans as a classic underachiever. He wasn’t a bust to them but considering where he was drafted and his enormous potential he wasn’t that far off to them.

The first game he played under new HC Mike Singletary changed everything. Singletary threw him off the field after (another) stupid penalty and completely melted down after the game. Since then:

A). Davis has said that Singletary is/was the BEST coach he ever had.
B) . Admitted that nobody held him accountable as did Singletary.
C). Is one TD reception away right now from tying the NFL record for most TD’s in a season by a TE.
D). Will be the starting TE in the NFC Pro-Bowl for the first time in his career.

Coaching matters.

by axthelm on Dec 28, 2009 1:15 PM CST up reply actions

I was actually asking the question.

by Jhitt81 on Dec 28, 2009 1:17 PM CST up reply actions

nevermind it is

Harris, olsen, and williams.

by Jhitt81 on Dec 28, 2009 1:27 PM CST up reply actions

I understand

It’s a combination of evaluating talent and then coaching that talent up.

IMO the Bears fall short on both ends. They’re not terrible but not good enough to consistently excell.

by axthelm on Dec 28, 2009 2:35 PM CST up reply actions

But the Patriots have the ability to plug veterans in their system and they work...

We obviously can not do that

(Asshole Sr) "If you learn one thing here, NEVER pass out in Ohio."

by ThorCo on Dec 28, 2009 1:03 PM CST up reply actions

Because the Patriots are well coached

and they go after veteran football players who are versatile and coachable…

On the other hand, Lovie prefers to have fast athletes… who usually aren’t very coachable… not that it would matter because we’re poorly coached anyway.

Here’s a bright idea: nest time you run a draft, ask your scouts to identify football players… not athletes.

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.

by SackMan on Dec 28, 2009 2:23 PM CST up reply actions

I liked the tommie pick

and berrian was good but not worth what the viqueens payed him.

by Jhitt81 on Dec 28, 2009 12:01 PM CST up reply actions

Shanahan is saying he won't PURSUE the Bears head coaching job...

…because of his respect for Lovie Smith. That’s all Adam is reporting. But if Lovie is fired and is no longer the head coach, I can’t think of a reason why Shanahan wouldn’t consider it.

I think more legitimate obstacles in getting Shanahan to Chicago are Washington’s interest in him, their ability to pay him top dollar, and the low likelihood that we would make the expensive decision to eat what’s left of Lovie’s contract and also pay Shanahan what he wants. But stranger things have happened.

by Kyle75 on Dec 28, 2009 12:29 PM CST reply actions

Well said Kyle

by axthelm on Dec 28, 2009 12:43 PM CST up reply actions

Atlanta

Atlanta away in 2010 ????
That would 3 years in a row of Atlanta away….do they ever have to play us at home ??

Not watching tonight…not worth it !!

by rowtroll on Dec 28, 2009 1:10 PM CST reply actions

Who knows maybe the bears will step up

and show us all that they have a little pride. Also if we win i think that locks homefield up for the saints.

by Jhitt81 on Dec 28, 2009 1:19 PM CST reply actions

It does.

It also loses them the ability to control their own destiny for the #2 seed, since they’d be tied with the Iggles and Philly holds the tie-breaker. That would taste even more delicious!

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"Newbie, if the next two words out of your mouth aren't 'See ya' then the third word will be 'Oh my god. My crotch. You've punched me in my crotch." - Dr. Percival Ulysses Cox

by David Taylor on Dec 28, 2009 2:14 PM CST up reply actions