Baffoe: Hey Bears, Please Lose To The 49ers

BTW, I notice that you are using many of the same points to defend a higher pick vs winning when the season is lost as I used to use when we were discussing on the old board, except you had the position of wanting to win. Whatever finally changed your mind?

Well, I wasn't really looking for an "I'm right and your wrong" kind of thing. I was more wondering what had changed your mind.

Just to play devil's advocate, haven't there been a number of HOF/Elite players drafted at #3 and #4? Is something special about drafting at #2?

This is a classic case of 3 different groups of invested parties wanting 3 different things.

(1) Current players/Fox/Loggains--they have the shortest term view. Some of them will be gone next year because records/stats indicates they aren't good enough. Some of the players are playing for their next contract with their next team. Loggains might be the sacrificial lamb, he's already looking ahead to his next position. There is no reason for these guys to consider losing as a good thing. However, so many players are out, that unless some of these guys play over their heads, I think the die has already been cast. These guys want to win.

(2) FO/Pace/Ownership--they have a short term view tempered by a long term outlook. These as they guys who can see the silver lining in losing at this point. Improved draft picks, Being able to have coaches at the Senior Bowl...These guys are 'safe' in terms of jobs. A loss is a good as a win if not better, however, a win lets them spin the 'we are getting better and have hope for next year' wheel. These guys also have to show progress, not seasons going backwards. Pace is now 2 years into a 5 year contract, he needs to show progress soon. High draft picks next year might accomplish that, but time is going to start running out.

(3) Fans--admittedly the group with the most invested emotionally but the least financially (don't tell me how much you;ve paid in tickets, and merch over the years, so have I and all of us added up still don't come even remotely close to what the Bears make from the TV contracts.) This group has the longest view, to the point that 'tanking' for draft picks for the next few years is actually considered viable strategy. I'll be watching the game cheering the Bears to win, but if they lose I will be really, really happy as a result.

Besides, Pace is going to trade down from #2 anyway. Its going to NE + our 2nd for Jimmy G.

I will ALWAYS root for a win. I just can't bring myself to want to lose. I get that you guys want a high draft pick, and that would be nice, but my heart is with the team and the players that suit up every Sunday. They go out there and bust their asses every week and I want to be able to celebrate a win with them after every game. I want them to know, and give us fans hope, that the big leap forward might be just around the corner. As far as a draft pick, that is the job of the GM. If your GM is good they will put talent on the field. There are several perennial playoff contenders that haven't had a high draft pick in years yet they are able to stay competitive.