Author Topic: 2018 Chicago Bears  (Read 27890 times)

Dave23

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2018 Chicago Bears
« on: January 24, 2018, 04:12:10 pm »
To shut jj up...

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Jackiejokeman

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Re: 2018 Chicago Bears
« Reply #1 on: January 24, 2018, 04:20:43 pm »



 
To shut jj up...


 Thanx Hepcat !


 BEARSE now soar into the future !!!

Jackiejokeman

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Re: 2018 Chicago Bears
« Reply #2 on: January 24, 2018, 04:42:37 pm »



 Doesn't being up to date feel better already ?


 Now let's get started !


 What's out there in F.A. ?


 We got money ... where do we play it at ?


 The Combine ... where do we make our mind up about what ?


 NFL is lucid ... if two bangalore WR's come our way while two LB's come our way ...


 what is needed more to advance the TEAM ?


 Isn't it about points scored ?


 Speaking of which ... OL is needed to get points scored also ...


 it can drive us all crazy being CHICAGO BEARS fans.


 That's why we're here.  :D




dallasbear

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Re: 2018 Chicago Bears
« Reply #3 on: January 24, 2018, 05:31:56 pm »

Bangalore WRs?  What's their 40 time?

wmljohn

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Re: 2018 Chicago Bears
« Reply #4 on: January 25, 2018, 06:04:30 am »
I don't know what JJ was bitching about.  We are still in the 2017 NFL calendar year so we are still talking about the 2017 Chicago Bears.   ;D

Bears4Ever

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Re: 2018 Chicago Bears
« Reply #5 on: January 25, 2018, 07:37:42 am »
There are reasons for optimism for this iteration of the Bears, as there are reasons for pessimism:

Optimistic: The new HC and coaching staff brings new blood and new energy to the building.
Pessimistic: Nagy has only called plays for 6 games in the NFL. And he took credit for not running in the second half of the WC game when they  had a considerable lead.

Optimistic: The training staff is in the process of being overhauled. As there have been too many seemingly preventable soft tissue injuries the last 3 years to conclude it is just bad luck.
Pessimistic: Three years is not enough of a good enough statistical sample size.  The injuries could continue the same, get better, or get worse. Changing the staff may even increase it for the 1st year as the new procedures/techniques are applied.

Optimistic: It seems that the offense is being emphasized (as the D is going to stay the same) and with a better offense, the Bears would have won more games with what they put on the field in 2017.
Pessimistic: We have no idea how (or when) the offense will mesh properly (if at all). We may go through a 5-6 game losing streak right out of the gate until things begin to "click".

Optimist: The D will be back better than ever !
Pessimist: They still have no true proven edge rusher that scares the pants off any O or any single player the Offense must key on in order to be successful. As such the D will have good games.... and bad games. When the D broke down this last year it was failure of execution as much as scheme.

Optimist: It appears that finally there is a coaching staff in place that seems to have positioned itself to grow the young talent (indeed, the staff and the talent can grow together as they have a few seasons to mesh).
Pessimist: Talent can only grow if there is some to begin with. With Pace buying the groceries the staff will have no real idea of what they are going to get (especially in FA). For every Hicks acquired, a sub-talent hacks have been paid for (Glennon is a good example) and the remainder are also-rans.

Optimistic: The Bears will make the playoffs next year !
Pessimistic: The Bears are a 4-6 win team at best next year.


I am more of an optimist than a pessimist about the Bears chances for the next few seasons, but having seen a playoff irrelevant team for over half a decade it is a cautious optimism. My pessimistic side comes from discussions with others more than my own conviction.

Here's to a winning Bears' Dynasty ! After all living depressed is not living at all.... :)
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boogie

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Re: 2018 Chicago Bears
« Reply #6 on: January 26, 2018, 01:17:31 pm »
Who Should the Bears Cut and Keep this Offseason?
BY JACK SOBLE ON JANUARY 25, 2018   • ( 9 COMMENTS )
It’s that time of year again. The Chicago Bears recently completed another disappointing season and hope to make dramatic improvements from their 5-11 record in 2017. 

Before the Bears can start to acquire talent from around the league, they must first choose what to do with a good portion of their 2017 roster, thanks to a good number of expiring contracts and an unprecedentedly awful free agent class from last March. It was so pitiful that quite literally every single player who was signed at the start of the 2017 league year will be listed in this article.

Luckily, all of those signings were on team-friendly deals that the Bears can and will easily get out of. So without further ado, here are the players I believe the Bears should cut, keep, re-sign, and let walk (all numbers according to spotrac.com).

Note: the Possible Cut section only includes players with significant paychecks. Players like Hroniss Grasu, who should be cut but are paid very little, are omitted.

Possible Cuts
Mike Glennon (QB), 2018 Cap Hit: $16 million, Dead Money: $4.5 million
There are a few very easy decisions on this list, but this one tops the rest. General Manager Ryan Pace grossly miscalculated Mike Glennon‘s ability to play the most important position in sports, as well as his leadership skills, evidenced by when he threw wide receiver Josh Bellamy under the bus for an interception against Tampa Bay.

No type of fan was more infuriating last offseason than the “Why would they draft Trubisky if they signed Mike Glennon to a three-year contract?” people, and they are about to see how Glennon’s deal was really only for one year.

Verdict: Cut

Josh Sitton (G), Cap Hit: $8.6 Million, Dead Money: $666,668
Sitton is one of the more difficult decisions that general manager Ryan Pace will have to make. He’s a proven veteran and four-time Pro Bowler, who is one of the more essential leaders in the locker room and on the offensive line.

However, Sitton is on the wrong side of 30, has injury concerns, and would save the Bears eight million if they choose to release him. There were also a few rumors going around that the Bears were shopping Sitton at the trade deadline. Right now I think he’s too valuable of a player to let go for nothing and I don’t think teams will be getting in line to give up a draft pick for an aging guard in the last year of his contract.

He should stay, but the Bears should invest heavily in-depth behind him.

Verdict: Keep

Pernell McPhee (OLB), Cap Hit: $8.1 Million, Dead Money: $1 Million
It saddens me to say, but this is not a hard choice. When McPhee signed in 2015, he won over Bears fans with his violent style of play, sack production, and hatred for Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers. I love everything about McPhee, except for his knees. Constant and somewhat severe injuries have made McPhee a shell of what he once was, and even his defensive coordinator Vic Fangio knows that he’ll never be the same guy on the field.

At this point, McPhee is nothing more than a rotational outside linebacker and he’s being paid way too much for that.

Verdict: Cut

Dion Sims (TE), Cap Hit: $6.3 Million, Dead Money: $666,667
Sims came to Chicago with the hope that he could become more than he was at the time, which is a solid blocking tight end who isn’t enough of a receiving threat to be anything other than a number two on the depth chart. He failed to do just that, and he failed to make a significant impact on the Bears’ offense to justify his hefty paycheck. Sims is a fine backup tight end but there are many players out there who will do his job much better and for much less cash.

Verdict: Cut

Bobby Massie (RT), Cap Hit: $6.1 Million, Dead Money: $500,000
Massie signed as a free agent to a moderately high-paying deal with the Bears banking on him becoming a complete player. With Massie, the question was can he develop his pass blocking ability to compliment his run blocking prowess? The answer was a resounding “No.”

By my count, he was responsible for seven sacks in 2017, the most out of any lineman on the team by a fairly significant margin. He wouldn’t be a bad swing tackle and a team like the Bears could always use offensive line depth, but Massie is earning too much money for that to happen.

Verdict: Cut

Markus Wheaton (WR) and Marcus Cooper (CB), Cap Hit: $5.8 and $5.5 million, Dead Money: $750,000 and $1 Million
Wheaton and Cooper are grouped together here because they had the same general type of season in what will be their only with the Bears. Wheaton was injured for a little less than half of the season and when healthy he caught a total of three passes.

Cooper started off the year semi-promising and then proceeded to fall off a cliff when he Leon Lett-ed himself against Pittsburgh and became cursed. He gave up significant yardage or a touchdown every single time he saw the field for the rest of the season. I will admit that I was a huge fan of the Marcus Cooper signing. I thought he could be the play-making, interception producing cornerback that the Bears desperately needed. I could not have been more wrong.

For his ungodly horrendous fumble alone, Cooper belongs not on the Bears’ roster but in the Pit of Misery.

Dilly Dilly!

Verdict: Cut Both

Willie Young (OLB), Cap Hit: $5.4 Million, Dead Money: $900,000
A rare holdover and somewhat successful signing from the godforsaken Phil Emery era, outside linebacker and fishing aficionado Willie Young, was re-upped by Ryan Pace and company with a two-year extension in June of 2016. He responded with a productive seven and a half sack season in a part-time role in 2016 before missing most of last season with a torn triceps.

With McPhee likely gone, the only other outside linebacker under contract for the Bears is Leonard Floyd, who has monstrous potential but has not been able to stay healthy. Neither has Young, but he’s worth bringing back for depth purposes.

Verdict: Keep

Kevin White (WR), Cap Hit: $5.3 Million, Dead Money: $5.3 Million
White has been best known for his complete inability to stay on the field since being drafted seventh overall in 2015. Now in the final year of his rookie contract, White should get one last chance to contribute to the Bears. However, the mistake that they made last season was approaching the offseason with the expectation that he would.

Obviously, that backfired in a disastrous way. They should expect nothing from White but hope for the best, especially because they don’t save any money by letting him go.

Verdict: Keep

Jerrell Freeman (ILB), Cap Hit: $4 Million, Dead Money: $500,000
After the 2016 season, Freeman had supposedly established himself as one of the leaders and top tacklers on an up and coming Bears defense. Even after a four-game PED suspension towards the end of the year. That all went down the drain when he found himself on IR after just one week with a pectoral injury. Later he was suspended another ten games for a repeat PED violation.

I don’t want to speculate but he seems to be in a pretty bad place, and I hope the Bears and the league give him all the help that he needs. However, that help should not include a roster spot.

Verdict: Cut

Unrestricted Free Agents
(i.e. not including Cameron Meredith and other former UDFAs who are now restricted, free agents. It also does not include Zach Miller, who is a UFA. I wish him the absolute best with his recovery, and it was a catch.)

Prince Amukamara (CB)
Amukamara was a bit of a consolation prize for the Bears after missing out on free agent cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore and A.J. Bouye, both of whom they pursued. He had minor injury issues at the beginning of the year but came back and didn’t play like a superstar (zero interceptions, a defense-leading seven penalties) but he was solid enough to warrant coming back for another year.

If they view a free agent corner who produces turnovers to be an upgrade, or if they particularly like one who will be available through the draft, they should take a shot at an upgrade. For now, Amukamara stays.

Verdict: Re-Sign

Dontrelle Inman (WR)
After a promising start to the Dontrelle Inman era, the mid-season trade acquisition from the Chargers disappeared. He produced in garbage time against the Eagles and Vikings but outside of his first two games, Inman did not contribute enough nor does he have reliable enough hands to warrant an extension.

He essentially played the role that Cameron Meredith would have played had he not torn up his knee in a preseason game. Luckily, he did not reach the threshold of 25 receptions that would have forced the Bears to give Los Angeles a seventh-round pick for his services.

He is not worth bringing back.

Verdict: Cut

Kendall Wright (WR)
Wright quickly established himself as Trubisky’s favorite target. That’s not saying much, given that his second option was usually Joshua Bellamy in a very forgettable year for the Bears’ receiving corps. Wright, however, served as Trubisky’s go-to guy out of the slot when the Bears needed a first down, like in overtime against Baltimore. He also proved adept at running those run-pass options that new Head Coach Matt Nagy features in his offense.

The Bears should bring back at least one receiver who has the trust of their young quarterback and Wright should be that guy.

Verdict: Keep (Re-sign)

Kyle Fuller (CB)
Count me in the group of people who didn’t think that Fuller was worth a roster spot last season and had crow for lunch on most Sundays. Fuller responded to missing the entire 2016 season and the Bears signing multiple replacement options with his best year by far.

Was his performance in 2017 enough to give him a long-term extension as a number one corner? In my opinion, no. He needs to continue to prove himself. This is what the franchise tag is for. It’s a lot of money, but only for one year and the Bears have plenty of cap space.

Let Fuller prove that 2017 was not a fluke, then lock him up if he does.

Verdict: Franchise Tag
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WshflThinking

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Re: 2018 Chicago Bears
« Reply #7 on: January 26, 2018, 03:15:55 pm »
Verdict: Franchise Tag

That'll make Dallas happy.

dallasbear

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Re: 2018 Chicago Bears
« Reply #8 on: January 26, 2018, 03:52:54 pm »
Possible Cuts
Mike Glennon (QB), 2018 Cap Hit: $16 million, Dead Money: $4.5 million
Verdict: Cut (Agree)

Josh Sitton (G), Cap Hit: $8.6 Million, Dead Money: $666,668
Verdict: Keep (Agree - he's got another year and he's coming off an ankle sprain - and the guy on the other side is the one I'm more concerned about)

Pernell McPhee (OLB), Cap Hit: $8.1 Million, Dead Money: $1 Million
Verdict: Cut (Yeah, or maybe re-do his deal if he passes a physical)

Dion Sims (TE), Cap Hit: $6.3 Million, Dead Money: $666,667
Verdict: Cut (I guess - we do have 3 TEs but all are receiver types)

Bobby Massie (RT), Cap Hit: $6.1 Million, Dead Money: $500,000
Verdict: Cut (Massie gave up 6 sacks not 7...this is pretty much in line with a typical Massie season - he struggles a bit on fast surfaces but who you going to plug into RT role?  We don't even have a swing tackle)  I'd keep him another year and draft/sign his replacement


Markus Wheaton (WR) and Marcus Cooper (CB), Cap Hit: $5.8 and $5.5 million, Dead Money: $750,000 and $1 Million
Verdict: Cut Both  (Wheaton was so underutilized and I have no explanation - but I agree )


Willie Young (OLB), Cap Hit: $5.4 Million, Dead Money: $900,000
Verdict: Keep (no brainer)

Kevin White (WR), Cap Hit: $5.3 Million, Dead Money: $5.3 Million
Verdict: Keep (no brainer)

Jerrell Freeman (ILB), Cap Hit: $4 Million, Dead Money: $500,000
Verdict:  Cut (He's the best MLB on the team - I'd do some research on the PED thing but I like him)

Prince Amukamara (CB)
Verdict: Re-Sign (solid guy but he was in the top 10 as most penalized corners in the NFL and rarely intercepts the ball- if we cut Cooper and Fuller's status is up in the air - Bears might have to get 3 or 4 new corners)

Dontrelle Inman (WR)
Verdict: Cut (Bring him to camp with Meridith, White, Inman, and Wright and bring on 2 or 3 more new faces - let the best men win)

Kendall Wright (WR)
Verdict: Keep (Re-sign - he's so slow but he gets open on those short routes)

Kyle Fuller (CB)
Verdict: Franchise Tag (he's 25 and it's not like he was horrible in 2014 and 2015 - the entire defense was epicly bad back then - sign him long term)

dallasbear

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Re: 2018 Chicago Bears
« Reply #9 on: January 26, 2018, 04:20:09 pm »
Helfrich, for his part, indicated he feels good about the linemen Hiestand has at his disposal. He singled out tackles Charles Leno (26 years old) and Bobby Massie (28) in explaining why he believes the Bears are close to being successful. Specifically, he referred to quarterback Mitch Trubisky’s supporting cast.

But...but...Massie needs to be replaced???   I mean, I can go and pull a RT out of my a$$ that's better than he is....

Massie, meanwhile, is under contract for next season at a modest price. He is scheduled to earn a non-guaranteed base salary of $4.25 million, and he has a $1 million roster bonus due March 16.

Not saying he can't be upgraded.  But you better have a bonafide replacement in free agency cuz you don't want to go into a draft with no RT.
« Last Edit: January 26, 2018, 04:23:19 pm by dallasbear »
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Dave23

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Re: 2018 Chicago Bears
« Reply #10 on: January 26, 2018, 04:29:03 pm »
Freeman is such a stud when healthy, and his head on straight...it's a shame that the latter is going to get him cut...

I wouldn't hesitate to bring him back at a cut rate if no other teams were willing to take a chance on him, just on the off chance that he could get right.

dallasbear

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Re: 2018 Chicago Bears
« Reply #11 on: January 26, 2018, 04:46:41 pm »

So he was on IR and failed his drug test afterward:

"I hate to say I'm sorry again, but I'm sorry," Freeman posted on his Twitter account. "I've been on IR all year and you try and stay out of sight, but sorry for the distraction.
 
"I had been lying to friends, family and loved ones when it came to the question of, 'Are you OK?' Knowing my career may be over due to everything that came with the head injury (that's been purposely downplayed by me), memory loss and all, has actually been a bit of a struggle. That being said there's no excuse to cope with any problems by taking any kind of pills. I don't know my future but a big thanks to the Bears and the NFL, if I would have used their programs and services earlier than I did I wouldn't be in this situation. Sorry again for the distraction."

@JerrellFreeman
12:53 PM - Oct 30, 2017
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boogie

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Re: 2018 Chicago Bears
« Reply #12 on: January 26, 2018, 11:02:43 pm »
I cut Freeman and McPhee all day long.

Grizzlybear34

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Re: 2018 Chicago Bears
« Reply #13 on: January 27, 2018, 06:13:23 am »
I agree with the article except releasing Massie.  There has been much talk about releasing him and Sitton.  Our line was probably better than average last year - compared to the league.  In my opinion, 32 is still pretty young for a guard, you often see them playing into their late 30's if their play doesn't drop.  Sitton had a problem with injuries, but he may be in for another good streak, and why create a hole.  It also masks your draft intentions by keeping him and Massie.  Massie was adequate, he played all 16 games and he is only 28.

It's too bad you can't put McPhee's drive and skill into Acho's body.  Acho doesn't miss a shap, but he is slow.  I love hearing him on the radio, you couldn't find a better representative of the team off the field.

If I waffled on any of the cuts, it was Sims.  We don't have a lot of depth there already, but he was no more than a solid blocking option.  He costs too much to do just that as his feature skill.