Of course signing big isn't always signing smart but big name players are usually playmakers. We need them.
We need a turnaround next year. Another draft class with a few big signings could do that.
That's what irks me is that the two draft classes we have had HAVE given us decent players. And above average LB. With our schedule, we already should be doing better than we are.
Let's see how Mcphee finishes the season before we talk about cutting him. He already has 2.5 sacks this season. If he can finish with at least 5.5 to 6 sacks I don't think it would be a great idea to cut him. Unless of course we pick up Myles Garrett.
I keep Porter. Unless of course Fuller can prove himself that he can be a #2 CB I rather not create a new hole.
I wouldn't count on all of the money being available before free agency begins. For instance, if Pace wants to get something in exchange for Cutler and considering he's coming off surgery he may delay any decision on him for a bit. Pass rushers like McPhee and Houston may also be subject to some options depending on who might replace them.
Before any of this is decided I want to see what they do about Fox and Loggains and therefore the rest of the staff potentially as well. While I think there's a better than 50% chance Teddy Bear and the McCaskey's will prod Pace to use the injuries as their excuse for not doing another house cleaning or a partial one to me that decision comes before any others.
I wouldn't count on all of the money being available before free agency begins. For instance, if Pace wants to get something in exchange for Cutler and considering he's coming off surgery he may delay any decision on him for a bit. Pass rushers like McPhee and Houston may also be subject to some options depending on who might replace them.
Before any of this is decided I want to see what they do about Fox and Loggains and therefore the rest of the staff potentially as well. While I think there's a better than 50% chance Teddy Bear and the McCaskey's will prod Pace to use the injuries as their excuse for not doing another house cleaning or a partial one to me that decision comes before any others.
Yes that is true Soul. Plus another 11-12M has to be accounted for the rookie pool give or take 1M.
I wouldn't count on all of the money being available before free agency begins. For instance, if Pace wants to get something in exchange for Cutler and considering he's coming off surgery he may delay any decision on him for a bit. Pass rushers like McPhee and Houston may also be subject to some options depending on who might replace them.
Before any of this is decided I want to see what they do about Fox and Loggains and therefore the rest of the staff potentially as well. While I think there's a better than 50% chance Teddy Bear and the McCaskey's will prod Pace to use the injuries as their excuse for not doing another house cleaning or a partial one to me that decision comes before any others.
Yes that is true Soul. Plus another 11-12M has to be accounted for the rookie pool give or take 1M.
It's only about half that much actually. In the offseason it's just the top 51 player cap hits that count against the cap J so only the top three picks are usually in that group.
The other thing with Cutler is that he costs us nothing until the season begins. That $2.5 mil roster bonus is earned on per game basis. It's not due and payable in March provided he's still on the roster. So if Pace wants to trade him but is unable to strike a fair deal they can carry Cutler through OTAs, camp, and all of the preseason if they like before he's due anything from his 2017 contract. So there's no rush that would force him to settle for a bad deal early.
Yes that is true Soul. Plus another 11-12M has to be accounted for the rookie pool give or take 1M.
It's only about half that much actually. In the offseason it's just the top 51 player cap hits that count against the cap J so only the top three picks are usually in that group.
The other thing with Cutler is that he costs us nothing until the season begins. That $2.5 mil roster bonus is earned on per game basis. It's not due and payable in March provided he's still on the roster. So if Pace wants to trade him but is unable to strike a fair deal they can carry Cutler through OTAs, camp, and all of the preseason if they like before he's due anything from his 2017 contract. So there's no rush that would force him to settle for a bad deal early.
If we are moving on from Cutler, then I hope for Jay's sake he gets an opportunity to make the move earlier than later. Let the guy have a chance to have success with the new team by arriving there for OTAs, camp and pre-season - on his new team. He could end up on a team much better than ours and in his last few years have something good happen. I think that could end up being best for both Jay and the Bears.
It's only about half that much actually. In the offseason it's just the top 51 player cap hits that count against the cap J so only the top three picks are usually in that group.
The other thing with Cutler is that he costs us nothing until the season begins. That $2.5 mil roster bonus is earned on per game basis. It's not due and payable in March provided he's still on the roster. So if Pace wants to trade him but is unable to strike a fair deal they can carry Cutler through OTAs, camp, and all of the preseason if they like before he's due anything from his 2017 contract. So there's no rush that would force him to settle for a bad deal early.
If we are moving on from Cutler, then I hope for Jay's sake he gets an opportunity to make the move earlier than later. Let the guy have a chance to have success with the new team by arriving there for OTAs, camp and pre-season - on his new team. He could end up on a team much better than ours and in his last few years have something good happen. I think that could end up being best for both Jay and the Bears.
That "IF" and a whole lot of others will have to be dealt with sometime after January 1st. Before anything else happens I want to hear what they plan to do about Fox and the coaching staff. Then they can move on to player personnel.
What's best for the Bears is to have a plan at QB and since the HC usually wants to have his say in that we need to know who that's gonna be. Fox may have one idea, a new HC may have another, and Pace may have his thoughts as well.
IMHO we're getting way ahead of ourselves here for the moment. Like it or not there's still a 50% chance they keep Cutler if there are still no better options and I'll say it now. They would be fools to simply release him with zero in return.
You may release other players you feel you've replaced early but how many starting caliber NFL QBs do you see that happen with? Teams will hoard QBs looking to get value in trade for them because they know there's a good chance either through injury or raw need for an experienced starter someone will come looking for one. Bradford didn't move 'til camp after Bridgewater went down.
If we are moving on from Cutler, then I hope for Jay's sake he gets an opportunity to make the move earlier than later. Let the guy have a chance to have success with the new team by arriving there for OTAs, camp and pre-season - on his new team. He could end up on a team much better than ours and in his last few years have something good happen. I think that could end up being best for both Jay and the Bears.
That "IF" and a whole lot of others will have to be dealt with sometime after January 1st. Before anything else happens I want to hear what they plan to do about Fox and the coaching staff. Then they can move on to player personnel.
What's best for the Bears is to have a plan at QB and since the HC usually wants to have his say in that we need to know who that's gonna be. Fox may have one idea, a new HC may have another, and Pace may have his thoughts as well.
IMHO we're getting way ahead of ourselves here for the moment. Like it or not there's still a 50% chance they keep Cutler if there are still no better options and I'll say it now. They would be fools to simply release him with zero in return.
You may release other players you feel you've replaced early but how many starting caliber NFL QBs do you see that happen with? Teams will hoard QBs looking to get value in trade for them because they know there's a good chance either through injury or raw need for an experienced starter someone will come looking for one. Bradford didn't move 'til camp after Bridgewater went down.
Jay's a big boy now. He'll manage somehow.
Yeah I agree with that approach. They have to sort out the HC and OC issues first. Then they have until June 1st for CAP cuts.