Sounds like Alex Leatherwood is a goner.

brasilbear
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Sounds like Alex Leatherwood is a goner. Jun 24, 2023 8:07:57 GMT -6 JABF likes this

Post by brasilbear on Jun 24, 2023 8:07:57 GMT -6

Jun 24, 2023 7:50:02 GMT -6 dachuckster said:

Jun 24, 2023 7:40:22 GMT -6 brasilbear said:

To me, its another rebuttal of the "maybe he just needs a change of scenery" argument. Some guys just can't take the next step. Either its a skill thing (like an OLman that dominates lesser talent in college but then can't block an average NFL DE/DT) or a heart thing (content to have been drafted and get paid) or an attitude thing (Miller was an amazing WR in college, but didn't want to play within the strictures of an NFL OFF--too much freelancing on the route tree.) Or some combo of the three.

No change of scenery is going to "fix" these guys.

BUT

If you can get them for cheap or in a situation where they don't impact your cap, take a shot. Just don't expect it to work. I have no problems with the Leatherwood signing. I never expected it to work out.

And that is entirely possible as well.

I'm not worried about it as it seems that all we are into him for this year is just under $2 million. If he doesn't work out, so be it.

www.spotrac.com/nfl/chicago-bears/alex-leatherwood-72397/

Yep. It was a no risk signing despite all the pearl-clutching about "the cap! the cap!" Poles knew he wasn't going to spend any money and knew how much he had going into this season. So, throw a dart and see what it hits.

I view it the same way as I do rounds 6-7 in the draft. Pick who ever you want, no questions asked. They (picked in 6-7th rounds) aren't going to make it anyway...but...ABrown (before he imploded), TBrady, MColston....

If it seems contradictory than so be it.

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brasilbear
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Sounds like Alex Leatherwood is a goner. Jun 24, 2023 8:13:20 GMT -6 AlexM, JABF, and 2 more like this

Post by brasilbear on Jun 24, 2023 8:13:20 GMT -6

Jun 24, 2023 8:04:24 GMT -6 JABF said:

Jun 24, 2023 7:29:25 GMT -6 dachuckster said:

I'm not knocking Poles and the coaching staff for taking a flyer on Leatherwood. More like I am curious about the back story.

If you look at his RAS score (link), it is 9.68 as a OT. Changing his position to guard and it is off the charts at 9.97. So, if what's going on inside Leatherwood's head (or heart as the case may be) is fixable, we could have an outstanding utility OL guy for many years to come.

+1
I agree. They key is obviously, is he fixable? This is often the case with players of great talent. Jalen Carter is a poster boy for that. Is he fixable? If so, then you may have a great talent. If not, then you have wasted a draft pick. The Bears didn't draft Leatherwood, so they took a far less risk. It's a lessor gamble. It's more like kicking the tires on a guy to see if he can help your team. In the case of Leatherwood though, I would have expected to see some spark of promise by this point. After 2 full seasons in the league I really don't see it though. Could he show it this year? Sure. But if he doesn't work out I figure it's not a big deal. It was a big deal with the Raiders though.

I never understood the angst from the Bears fans who protested loudly against the waver claim. Who else where they going to spend the money on in a rebuild/tear-down season? No one worth anything was going to sign for the amount the Bears paid (no one that would have made any difference). Could they have signed a WR or DL to help Fields or the DEF? Sure. But they got the 1st pick and parlayed that into Moore + Wright + 1st 2024 draft. That alone makes the Leatherwood signing worth it.

Could you imagine the uproar if a WR they had signed instead added another win to the Bears total?

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dachuckster
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Sounds like Alex Leatherwood is a goner. Jun 24, 2023 8:20:38 GMT -6 AlexM and JABF like this

Post by dachuckster on Jun 24, 2023 8:20:38 GMT -6

To be a real star at the NFL level takes a lot of dedication, commitment, discipline, etc. In an earlier time, I would use the phrase "intestinal fortitude".

While I have no experience with this caliber of athlete, I had the privilege (or the challenge as the case may be) of working with some really first-rate corporate executives and entrepreneurs. I believe there is a lot of similar personality traits between the two groups (really high-level corporate guys and NFL stars). The level of focus and intensity is simply incredible. As is the work ethic. And the competitive drive is just off the charts.

Most of us mere mortals are not capable of performing at that level for as much as two decades or more (I'm including college and pro careers together in that estimate). I certainly couldn't do it. So if Leatherwood is a bust out in the NFL, it probably wasn't meant to be.

I just wish that all these guys have wonderful careers and hope life treats them fairly.

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weneedmorelinemen
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Sounds like Alex Leatherwood is a goner. Jun 24, 2023 9:20:50 GMT -6 via mobile AlexM, JABF, and 2 more like this

Post by weneedmorelinemen on Jun 24, 2023 9:20:50 GMT -6

I think Leatherwood is on the bubble, and should be. It's his second year here, and he doesn't have mono anymore. He's had the off-season to get himself right. If he can't, then they move on to the next guy. The Bears offensive line depth is not so great they need to dump him immediately.

I remember when the Bears signed Vernon Gholston to come to camp with like a 500k signing bonus to be a Bears for one month of training camp.

It happens. You have to pay to kick the tires on some of these players.

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brasilbear
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Sounds like Alex Leatherwood is a goner. Jun 24, 2023 15:22:48 GMT -6 weneedmorelinemen likes this

Post by brasilbear on Jun 24, 2023 15:22:48 GMT -6

Jun 24, 2023 9:20:50 GMT -6 weneedmorelinemen said:

I think Leatherwood is on the bubble, and should be. It's his second year here, and he doesn't have mono anymore. He's had the off-season to get himself right. If he can't, then they move on to the next guy. The Bears offensive line depth is not so great they need to dump him immediately.

I remember when the Bears signed Vernon Gholston to come to camp with like a 500k signing bonus to be a Bears for one month of training camp.

It happens. You have to pay to kick the tires on some of these players.

100% certain he's on the bubble. Along with at least 40 other guys currently on the roster.

I'd still have kicked the tires regardless.

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bears40
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Sounds like Alex Leatherwood is a goner. Jun 24, 2023 15:27:52 GMT -6 JABF likes this

Post by bears40 on Jun 24, 2023 15:27:52 GMT -6

Jun 24, 2023 8:04:24 GMT -6 JABF said:

Jun 24, 2023 7:29:25 GMT -6 dachuckster said:

I'm not knocking Poles and the coaching staff for taking a flyer on Leatherwood. More like I am curious about the back story.

If you look at his RAS score (link), it is 9.68 as a OT. Changing his position to guard and it is off the charts at 9.97. So, if what's going on inside Leatherwood's head (or heart as the case may be) is fixable, we could have an outstanding utility OL guy for many years to come.

+1
I agree. They key is obviously, is he fixable? This is often the case with players of great talent. Jalen Carter is a poster boy for that. Is he fixable? If so, then you may have a great talent. If not, then you have wasted a draft pick. The Bears didn't draft Leatherwood, so they took a far less risk. It's a lessor gamble. It's more like kicking the tires on a guy to see if he can help your team. In the case of Leatherwood though, I would have expected to see some spark of promise by this point. After 2 full seasons in the league I really don't see it though. Could he show it this year? Sure. But if he doesn't work out I figure it's not a big deal. It was a big deal with the Raiders though.

It was a good risk/ reward signing and while it’s still an ongoing process, it still may work out. If it doesn’t, so be it as it was an interesting, and relatively cheap, gamble.

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Sounds like Alex Leatherwood is a goner.

Post by brasilbear on Jun 24, 2023 8:07:57 GMT -6

Post by brasilbear on Jun 24, 2023 8:13:20 GMT -6

Post by dachuckster on Jun 24, 2023 8:20:38 GMT -6

Post by weneedmorelinemen on Jun 24, 2023 9:20:50 GMT -6

Post by brasilbear on Jun 24, 2023 15:22:48 GMT -6

Post by bears40 on Jun 24, 2023 15:27:52 GMT -6