NightLink: Who Are the Most Valuable Bears?

by Dane Noble on May 27, 2009 5:52 PM CDT Comment 53 comments

An interesting premise for an article, this website rates the top-10 most valuable Chicago Bears. Their order:

10: Olin Kreutz

9: Josh Beekman

8: Greg Olsen

7: Alex Brown

6: Brian Urlacher

5: Matt Forte

4: Charles Tillman

3: Tommie Harris

2: Jay Cutler

1: Lance Briggs

You can click the link to see the reasoning behind his order... do you agree? What should be different?

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JOSH BEEKMAN?!

Josh freaking Beekman?

What a damn joke.

I'M A MAN! I'M 23!

by ChiFan13 on May 27, 2009 6:02 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed...

Beekman is way, way to high. If you want to go with another O-Lineman go with C-Will.

by chase17 on May 27, 2009 6:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Or Pace protecting the blind side.

Be nice. Flag comments that you think are offensive. Use the "reply" button. Drink plenty of water. Compliment others. Rec comments and posts you like. Don't call people names. If you don't like someone's comment, attack the comment and not the commentor. Learn the difference in your/you're, then/than, to/too. Exercise. Relax. Stretch often. Find good in the world.

by Dane Noble on May 27, 2009 6:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would think C-Will

because he is young, and is (hopefully) going to be the foundation for or line for years to come

by chase17 on May 27, 2009 6:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

True,

but he might not be top-10 most valuable yet. Hopefully he will be in the future, but I hope he doesn’t end up being like Greg Oden for the Blazers.

by Dane Noble on May 27, 2009 6:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ew

That is a jinx if I have ever seen one sir.

by Qgee on May 28, 2009 9:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

How could one

of the top young QBs in the game be less valuable than Briggs? That is insane. Try getting 2 firsts, a third and a fifth for Briggs.

And Beekman is on the list, but Hester isn’t?

Is this just a way to drum up traffic on the site? I hate when people do crap like that. It’s like reading a Mariotti column.

DEJESUS!!!

by tomas21 on May 27, 2009 6:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

On our site or their site?

I'M A MAN! I'M 23!

by ChiFan13 on May 27, 2009 6:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You can make a case that Briggs is the best outside linebacker in the NFL

You can’t make a case that Cutler’s the best QB

Think With Your Dipstick Jimmy!

by ifuwannacrownem on May 27, 2009 6:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But it is talking about most valuable for the team.

I would have to say that the QB is the most valuable position on any team…

by Dane Noble on May 27, 2009 6:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It should be for every team, but it's not. Case in point

Is Flacco>Ed Reed?
Jackson/Rosenfels>Allen/Williams/AP?
I’m not saying that he is more valuable than Cutler, I’m just thinking where they rank in their position is how they determine it.

Think With Your Dipstick Jimmy!

by ifuwannacrownem on May 27, 2009 8:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll play along.

Flacco is not more valuable than Reed. And Sagenvaris Rosenjackson is not more valuable than JA/Will/AP.

The QB position is the most valuable position on any team… some teams have filled that position with a good player, and some have not.

So in retrospect, we could argue most valuable position vs most valuable player, but I don’t really want to.

by Dane Noble on May 27, 2009 8:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm pretty sure the list is discussing the most valuable player

but according to the the site, Briggs is number 1 because the Bears are a defensive team.

Lance stood out in the 5th best run defense, and was also responsible for making big plays that lead to wins (Colts, Lions)

So in essence, we could argue that it’s most valuable position vs most valuable player vs offensive minded team vs defensive minded team.

Got a cup of coffee?

Think With Your Dipstick Jimmy!

by ifuwannacrownem on May 27, 2009 9:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wouldn't that make Cutler more valuable?

If your offense is bad and your defense is good, wouldn’t a team be better off losing a defensive player? Think about it. Without Cutler, the Bears offense falls apart, but without Briggs, the Bears would still have a respectable defense.

by Poloplaya14 on May 27, 2009 11:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hmmm...never thought about that

good point homie. I guess cutler is most valuable.

Think With Your Dipstick Jimmy!

by ifuwannacrownem on May 28, 2009 5:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

most valuable to me...

…equals the player we can least afford to lose. Who would you rather have step in to replace the injured starter?

Caleb Hanie at QB if Cutler goes down
Jamar Williams at LB if Briggs gets hurt

Don’t get me wrong, Briggs is the man, but…

- Smudgers

I'm gonna come at you like a spider monkey!

by smudgers on May 28, 2009 8:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

you have a really bad definition of valuable

by your definition a marginal player could be most valuable if the replacement was terrible.

by tempchad on May 28, 2009 5:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

not sure if you are reading too much or not enough into my posting...

That is definitely not my only definition of valuable – but between Briggs and Cutler and the other top-tier players on the roster… that helps enforce (to me) that Cutler is more valuable.

In no way, is Corey Graham (or any other mid-level player) the most valuable player on the Bears roster because Josh Bullocks would replace him if he were injured, but it does make him MORE valuable – there’s no denying that.

- Smudgers

"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 smudgers on May 29, 2009 8:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The best OLB

isnt as valuable as any QB in the top 1/3 of the NFL. Hell, the best OLB isn’t more valuable in the top half.

OLBs, like RBs, can be had. They are every where, in every round of the draft. Good QBs come around once a decade, if you are fortunate.

by Santos Sorrow on May 27, 2009 7:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

well, I disagree with your assessment, seeing that defense wins championships

but we’ll leave it at that.

Think With Your Dipstick Jimmy!

by ifuwannacrownem on May 27, 2009 8:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am excited about the Sizzle, don't get me wrong

I just don’t see how you can have him higher than Matt Forte and actually debating he is more valuable than our top defensive player. This is a list of the most valuable Chicago Bears right, Matt Forte pretty much put the offense on his back last year, Briggs had interceptions, fumble recoverys, a crapload of tackles, he was everywhere on the field. I am excited like everyone on this board, like every Bear fan in the city of Chicago, but i am worried that the way things are going we are going to set the bar for this kid into the stratosphere.

People are already calling him the best QB Chicago has seen since Luckman..not McMahon mind you, but Luckman. All of the media and the hype machine needs to take a step back and let nature take it’s course before we make expectations too high for this kid to meet.

by Chitownproduct on May 28, 2009 2:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would replace Beekman with Hester

They make a good point about Cutler, again non-Bears fans want him to prove it on the field and I can’t blame them.

by GallopingGhost on May 27, 2009 6:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Well hell

I want him to prove it on the field too.

I'M A MAN! I'M 23!

by ChiFan13 on May 27, 2009 6:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well me too

It just seems like some people on here think he’s already a franchise QB when he is still on his way to be a franchise QB.

Oh, off-topic maybe but it seems like there hasn’t been a “Weekly Musings from a Confused Blogger” in awhile. Am I wrong or did you stop doing that?

by GallopingGhost on May 27, 2009 9:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hadn't for a while

cuz of my two jobs. Don’t worry, it’s reappearing next Monday.

I'M A MAN! I'M 23!

by ChiFan13 on May 28, 2009 4:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You could’ve called it "Weekly Musings from an Overworked, Sleep-Deprived Blogger"

"They tried to take out the quarterback, and if they managed that, they tried to take out the backup." - Bears SB20 TE Emery Moorehead, on the mentality of *that* defense

by Spongie on May 28, 2009 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's what it'll probably be :)

I'M A MAN! I'M 23!

by ChiFan13 on May 28, 2009 6:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

um tommie harris?

he hasn’t been tommie harris since 06.

not even in the top 10

by tempchad on May 27, 2009 7:27 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

who is tommie harris?

by junkhorse on May 27, 2009 10:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Beekman or Harris should not be on this list at all.

Hester without a doubt needs to be on the list.

Hear about the blind hooker, you gotta hand it to her.

by Bears fan 4-ever!!! on May 29, 2009 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hester definitely needs to be on the list

Even with a drop off in productivity last year, teams were still afraid to kick the ball to Hester. He still impacted field position and was serviceable as a wide receiver. Definitely a top 10 for the Bears. Also need to get Robbie Gould in at 10 or even nine. Don’t ever take an accurate kicker for granted at Soldier Field.

"Like a young contortionist, for the first time coming into his own...." -Bert Sugar

by Just Dave on May 27, 2009 7:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

WOW! WOW! WOW! WOW!

Brian Urlacher sixth? are you freaking kidding me! he is the most important player on the team with or without cutler.
What makes briggs number one? i love briggs but hes just a tackler and is not anywhere near versatile as urlacher. Hester needs to be on the list beekman isnt even gonna start lmao
No ogunleye?

by Bear Lovin 21 on May 27, 2009 7:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Really guy?

Really?

You're being very Un-Dude right now.

by IslandBoodler87 on May 27, 2009 7:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Urlacher is not the same player he was

Not remotely so. Still can be a good an integral player if his health is there, but he is ranked about where he should be ranked. In fact, I’d have him lower.

Awww, come on guys, it's so simple maybe you need a refresher course. It's all ball bearings ...

by BLou on May 27, 2009 9:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He has had so many great seasons for us

don’t write him off just because of one average season. I really think he will be back to natural form this season and should be ranked higher.

Hear about the blind hooker, you gotta hand it to her.

by Bears fan 4-ever!!! on May 29, 2009 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Tillman over Forte?

FIRE VDN

by gocubs526 on May 27, 2009 8:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Why?

Why is Matt Forte below Tommie Harris?

by The Beast With the Sugar and Yeast on May 27, 2009 8:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I'd put Nathan Vasher in that ninth hole

His health and ability to play this season will define the secondary

I'm a lefty, maybe Lou should give me a shot for a position in the bullpen!!

by Chanman25 on May 27, 2009 9:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Tommie Harris???

He hasn’t done a thing for two seasons.

I’d say the 5 key Bears are (in no particular order):

Jay Cutler
Matt Forte
Lance Briggs
Peanut Tillman
Greg Olsen (I hope at least)

Awww, come on guys, it's so simple maybe you need a refresher course. It's all ball bearings ...

by BLou on May 27, 2009 9:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Where is Robbie Gould?

by SoulEater7 on May 27, 2009 10:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Funny

by Poloplaya14 on May 27, 2009 11:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is people not understanding

football schemes, philosophy, and how to watch film. Briggs gets to make plays and tackles cuz he is the weakside backer in a 4-3 cover-2 scheme. Remember warrick holdman…. everyone was yelling when we let him go to KC. Its how the defense funnels the offense when they run that causes weakside backers to have opportunities. Yes some are better than others, but not that much, not as much as what the pay difference is. Here comes…“Well, if its no big deal then why did JA pay briggs?” 1 no ready replacement 2 briggs knows the scheme and produces 3 (guessing a little with this one) Prolly b/c of locker room stuff and to show players on the team production is paid and the team is loyal to players
Cutler is and should be #1 on the list as his presence is supposed to make the run game not face constant 8-9 man fronts — quick release and pocket movement/ presence helps take pressure off O-line — is now supposed to produce a top 10 if not top 5 pass attack with talent that is prolly not in top half of league pass catching wise
Tommie Harris (and the other DTs) are probably #2 as if they cant take up blockers then the LBs cant make plays while blocked and the DEs cant effectively rush the QB when constant chip blocking and double teams hamper them
Matt Forte is #3 for the easy reason is HE DOES IT ALL!!!!!! blocking, catching, running He is able to be on the field every down and in every situation. Makes the opposing defense not able to focus in just pass or run

whew… long story short
1 Cutler 6 Briggs
2 Harris (DTs) 7 FS (dont matter who, need it tho)
3 Forte 8 DE(one of em needs to step up)
4 Pace 9 Hester(his ability to stretch field could be huge)
5 Urlacher 10 Gould (think of the games hinged on his leg)

by Chisportfan on May 27, 2009 11:26 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Wrecked

but find a spot for Tillman in there.

by MuleTrain on May 28, 2009 9:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gould should be on the list but...

Olin Kruetz should be top 5 with Forte, Urlacher, Cutler, and Briggs. (In no particular order) Kruetz is the rock that leads the o-line, even with a seasoned vet like Pace joining the pack.

Then Olsen, Hester, Tillman, Gould, and Tommie Harris. Pace will likely surpass someone throughout the year to hit that list, but not yet.

by sirus19x on May 27, 2009 11:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Forte's overrated too in my opinion

Just based on the fact that RBs are a lot easier to find than a WR or an OT
My top ten most valuable
1)Cutler – a top QB is more valuable than anything else in this league. Period.
2) Charles Tillman – good corners are much harder to find than good LBs. They probably make more of an impact too.
3)Lance Briggs
4) Tommie Harris – can single-handedly make this defense go from good to great. If healthy, he’s number 2 only to Cutler.
5) Devin Hester – he can alter the game in so many ways. Being able to contribute on special teams as well as on offense definitely boosts his “value.”
6) Alex Brown – good D-linemen make the cover-2 go, and he is the Bears most consistent one
7) Matt Forte – I guess he’s valuable to the Bears because they have nobody else, but in this league, RBs aren’t that valuable anymore.
8) Brian Urlacher – the energy and leadership he brings to the table are irreplaceable. If only he were still in his 20s…. sigh.
9) Chris Williams – good young tackles are at a premium nowadays. If he lives up to the hype, he shoots up a few spots. Otherwise, he plummets.
10) Greg Olsen- there aren’t a lot of TEs that I would consider that valuable, but his youth and talent makes him one of them.

by Poloplaya14 on May 27, 2009 11:58 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Forte Overrated? Are you a Bears fan?

Cause that sounds like something a cheesehead or viqueen would say. Did you watch any games last year? Forte was without a doubt our best offensive weapon and teams knew it and STILL couldn’t stop him. He was 4th in the league in carries, 7th in yards, 12 total touchdowns, 1st in receptions and 2nd in receiving yards for a running back only 1 fumble the entire season, had 63 first downs running and 23 first downs receiving which means he had the vast majority of our total first downs last year, 8 20+ yard runs and 2 40+ yard runs, and all this with teams stacking 8 in the box against us at the least cause they knew Forte was the only one that was going to beat them. Rushingwise, there were 6 backs that had more rushing yards than Forte but all purpose yards he was 3rd, he accounted for 37% of the Teams offense and he was in his rookie year. So Matt Forte is overrated you say?

Name me more important player on the bears offense, please.

by Chitownproduct on May 28, 2009 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It might just be semantics but

are we talking about Most Valuable or Most Important? MVP, in my opinion, can only be determined after the season is over based on his performance and how it affected the success of that season, i.e. Devin Hester would have been my choice during the Super Bowl year. The MIP would be the player whose responsiblities, coupled with the way he plays and how plans are built around him, can cause the team to succeed or fail, which for this upcoming season I think would have to be Cutler. After you gave up quite a bit for him (which I think was totally justified if he plays the way we think he can) and are now counting on him to rejuvinate a stagnant offense and help keep the defense off of the field by sustaining drives and scoring points, I feel he has to be the Most Important going into 2009. Let’s face it, if he gets injured or is a complete bust, it doesn’t matter what the rest of the team does. We know that defense and running games win championships, but if you don’t have an effective QB, I don’t care how good your defense is, you probably are not going to win it all. We proved that with Rex in ’06 and the Vikings have proven it the last few years with their D & Adrian Peterson.

by BearFan611 on May 28, 2009 12:24 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Losing in '06 had nothing to do with Rex

It had to do with our D getting outmatched by an even better offense.
Trent Dilfer’s Baltimore Ravens in ’01 proved that super bowls can be won with average QBs. I still like having Cutler, though. A lot, I might add.

by Poloplaya14 on May 28, 2009 12:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree that the D wasn't very good

but to say that loss “had nothing to do with Rex” is a little strong. He couldn’t sustain drives, which helped kill the defense and threw 2 interceptions. The Dilfer comparison speaks to exactly my original point, you need an “effective QB”. That doesn’t necessarily mean a guy who will go out and win the game for you, but “effective” could mean he just doesn’t lose it for you by not turning the ball over and pick up a few 1st downs along the way.

by BearFan611 on May 28, 2009 8:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs