Hello Windy City,

This is my first post so please bear with me (pun intended).

I'm seeking your feedback.  I was recently watching the NFL network and the topic of discussion was Cutler's $100,000 or $150,000 work out bonus, whichever mostly irrelevant.  Apparently he is eligible to receive it in Chicago though he had missed it in Denver.  Fine with me, hope he earns it.

Made me wonder though, have JA and Lovie implemented a winning strategy?  The timing seems uncannily convenient.  We had our first mandatory team minicamp a couple weeks ago, earlier than usual (pre Cutler trade).  We started our work-out program (post Cutler trade and Pace signing), a little later than other teams.  Seems to me that this has really put Bears coaches in a position to evaluate players from last year, complete trades (Cutler), sign free agents (Pace, Omiyale, Shaffer, Josh Bullocks...), prepare for the draft, evaluate all new players and create a depth chart.

In the past I've been pretty critical of JA and this coaching staff.  Just want to make sure that I'm giving credit where it is due.  It is easy to hate on JA and coaches when I'm considering Benson and the myriad of other 1st round draft picks, the Jones trade, Bob Babich, and a couple of other things that I didn't like.

This time around I like where we are positioned, the 2009 Bears off-season has me generally intrigued, hell I'm excited.

My main question for you is:  Do you all think that JA has gotten lucky in this, or has he finally brought it all together and come up with a winning strategy?  Are you all as optimistic as I am for 2009?  Which years off-season made you feel as or more optimistic than 2009?

I wanted to make more than one poll, one QB related, don't know how to make more than one.