Tag: Chicago Bears (Page 36 of 49)

      Should the NFL change its draft seeding?

      March 20, 2009 /

      ESPN.com’s John Clayton brings up an interesting debate about whether or not the NFL should change the current way it does its draft seeding.

      NFL DraftThere is one idea that came from last year’s 8-8 Chargers season that does have merit. The Chargers defeated the Colts in overtime in the wild-card round and advanced to the divisional round. Yet, in the draft seedings, the Chargers select 16th, the Colts 27th.

      Under a competition committee proposal, playoff teams would be reseeded based on how deep they go in the playoffs. Teams eliminated in the first round would be seeded from 21 to 24 based on their record. Also, non-playoff teams wouldn’t suffer at the expense of playoff teams in the draft, the tool that is vital for improving the talent base of a team.

      This rule is broken. Having the Chargers draft before 9-7 non-playoff teams such as the New York Jets, Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers isn’t right. Chargers fans enjoyed a playoff game, while the Jets’ poor finish left fans heartbroken. Those fans shouldn’t have to see the Chargers get a pick before them.

      Couldn’t agree more. If the Chargers were good enough to get past the Colts in the first round of the playoffs, then technically they’re the better team and should have a lower draft seeding. It doesn’t make sense to reward the Chargers in the draft when they were already good enough to get the second round of the playoffs.

      Clayton is on the money in this instance.

      NFL

      2009 NFL Mock Draft Version 1.0

      March 19, 2009 /

      It would probably be good for me to do an intro to this piece, but I’m going to skip all the foreplay and just get right to the action. And let’s be honest – you probably wouldn’t have read the intro anyway.

      Below is my first mock draft of the year. You can disagree all you want, but just make sure you go into detail in the comments section so I know you care. I hate those bastards that trash my work and don’t have the common courtesy to tell me how much of a moron I am in print…

      Let’s mock!

      1. Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia
      Jason Smith (Baylor), Eugene Monroe (Virginia) and Aaron Curry (Wake Forest) are all possibilities for new GM Martin Mayhew with this pick. But the offensive tackle and linebacker positions are deep in this year’s draft – the quarterback position is not. Mayhew can get his franchise quarterback in Stafford, select an offensive tackle at No. 20 and then fill the middle linebacker need in the second or third round. There, I just fixed the 0-16 Detroit Lions in less than 100 words.

      2. St. Louis Rams: Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
      If Smith goes No. 1 to the Lions, then I fully expect the Rams to take Virginia offensive tackle Eugene Monroe. With the jettison of long-time veteran Orlando Pace this offseason, St. Louis needs to address their need at left tackle and they’ll do so with either Smith or Monroe depending on who’s available. If it’s Smith, then they land one of the most athletic offensive lineman in the draft.

      3. Kansas City Chiefs: Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest
      The Chiefs could really use a right tackle to pair with last year’s first round pick, Branden Albert, but Curry would be too good to pass up here. GM Scott Pioli put a premium on versatile defenders while he was in New England, and that’s exactly what Curry is. The Wake Forest product could play either outside or inside in a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme and is easily the best defensive prospect in this year’s draft.

      Continue reading »

      NFL, NFL Draft

      Bears need dramatic upgrade at wide receiver

      March 18, 2009 /

      Earl BennettAccording to the Chicago Sun Times, the Bears are giving former third round pick Earl Bennett every opportunity to start at wide receiver opposite Devin Hester this season. Bennett, mind you, is the same dropped-prone receiver who didn’t catch one pass last year because he was inactive for seven of the 16 games and couldn’t beat out stalwarts Marty Booker, Rashied Davis and Brandon Lloyd on the depth chart.

      The Bears need to do something about their receiving corps and soon. Torry Holt has lost a step, but he would be an instant upgrade at the position and could serve as a tutor for guys like Hester and Bennett. Holt is apparently out of the country right now on vacation and won’t be visiting teams for the next couple days, but the Bears would be wise to get the 32-year old’s agent on the phone, like, now.

      The draft is also littered with receivers and while I certainly don’t advocate the Bears taking one in the first round (everything GM Jerry Angelo touches in the first round turns to rabbit turd anyway), prospects like Hakeem Nicks (North Carolina) and Brian Robiskie (Ohio State) should be there in the second.

      I had a chance to watch the scouting combine on the NFL Network in February and Robiskie was impressive. Out of all the receivers who worked out, Robiskie seemed to run the smoothest routes and was very fluid in his motions. He’s not the fastest prospsect (his 40 is a good but not great 4.51), but Robiskie is the son of an NFL assistant (Falcons’ wide receiver coach Terry Robiskie), so you know he’s received a fair amount of coaching throughout his playing career. The Ohio State product looks like one of the more polished receiver prospects in the draft.

      Whatever route the Bears want to take in acquiring a receiver doesn’t matter. But they dramatically need to upgrade the position this offseason because I highly doubt Hester and Bennett give quarterback Kyle Orton the best chance of succeeding.

      NFL, NFL Draft

      Bears interested in Torry Holt?

      March 6, 2009 /

      Torry HoltSeveral sources including the NFL Network and Chicago Sun Times are reporting that the Bears could be interested in wide receiver Torry Holt, who the Rams have been shopping over the past couple weeks.

      First things first, The Bears would be wise to wait for the Rams to release him. He’s due a $1.25 million roster bonus on March 17 and while St. Louis would love to trade him before then, no team in their right mind will want to give up compensation knowing full well that the Rams will want to part ways before he’s due the bonus.

      Secondly – why not? There’s no doubt Holt has lost a step and at 33 years old, he’s certainly not the long-term answer. But the Bears have been trying to get by with Devin Hester, Marty Booker and Brandon Llyod and it just hasn’t worked. Some fans might scoff at the idea of adding another band-aid fix to the position, but Holt would prove to be a solid mentor for guys like Hester over the next one or two seasons and the Bears could still target a receiver in the second or third round of the draft in April.

      If Chicago is committed to quarterback Kyle Orton, then they need to give him more weapons outside of running back Matt Forte. Plus, Holt still runs some of the best routes in the league and if there has been one thing Hester has dramatically struggled with in his transition to receiver, it’s been his route running

      Considering what’s left on the market in terms of wideouts (D.J. Hackett, Bobby Engram, Amani Toomer), Holt is the best of the bunch. T.O. and Marvin Harrison are available as well, but unless the Bears want to deal with a potential headache or overpay for a 36-year old with declining skills, Holt seems like the best fit at this point.

      NFL

      Redskins release DE Jason Taylor

      March 2, 2009 /

      The Redskins have released defensive end Jason Taylor.

      From Rotoworld.com:

      ESPNews reports that the Redskins have released DE Jason Taylor.

      So much for benefiting from Albert Haynesworth’s presence. Taylor’s $8 million salary ultimately wasn’t worth keeping for a team short on cap room after their big signings. The two sides attempted to come to a restructured deal, but Taylor probably preferred to see what the market will bear. Washington is very thin at defensive end now.

      Regular readers know I’ve been questioning what other players would get released in the wake of the Skins signing Albert Haynesworth. A team with only $8 million in cap space can’t sign three players (Haynesworth, DeAngelo Hall and Derrick Dockery) without making a few cuts.

      Even at 34-years old, Taylor should garner some interest on the free agent market. He might only be able to land a two-year deal, but teams are always looking for capable pass-rushers so Taylor will find a home.

      The Bills, Bengals, Texans, Raiders, Lions, Cardinals, Bucs, Falcons and Bears might be in the market for a defensive end, although it’s unclear at this point which teams will emerge as true suitors for Taylor.

      NFL

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