NFL 2013-14

[vader29]

Cleveland fired their coach after 1 year?

[ScoopBrady]

Damn you, Lions! You were supposed to extend Schwartz's contract not terminate it.

[MERACE]

Damn you, Lions! You were supposed to extend Schwartz's contract not terminate it.

Lions fans are dancing on the streets of 8 Mile.


-MERACE

[Danimal]

Lovie Smith is one of the Lions candidates.

In even worse news. ESPN inked Tebow to a 3 year contract. More f***in reason to hate ESPN. I'd say pair him up with Ray Lewis and give them a catchy nickname like "The Preacher and the Killer"

[Danimal]

Before the last two weeks I would have agreed with you about Mel Tucker, but now I've got to say that I'd have no problem with seeing him launched. The playcalling and lack of communication on the defensive side of the ball is not just atrocious, but it also has nothing to do with the talent of the squad. There's no reason for an NFL team to field a defense that is so ill prepared and confused on so many key downs.

I won't care if he stays or goes but some of this falls on management. I know you will disagree but letting Urlacher go was a mistake and Emery just trying to make a point. While he couldn't play at the same level, although I doubt he could be worse than Bostic. He would of helped out in the transition to new coordinator and alleviated some of the communication problems you mention IMO. This is hindsight on my part, I said it was a mistake when it happened.

As for Cutler I also won't cry if he stays or goes. I will stand by what I sad at the end of last season, then when Lovie was fired, then at the start of this season. This team needs to be blown up completely. They got that started with the offense, now they need to get rid of this shitty scheme and rebuild the defense. I guess it is possible they could make enough moves to get a good enough defense to make the playoffs next year but making the playoffs and winning a Superbowl are 2 different animals.

[RobVarak]

Urlacher would have definitely helped with the organization and preparedness of the defense, but in 2012 he was a shell of the shell he had been for the last several seasons. (Edit: Still probably better than Bostic though, you're right)

Emery did offer him $2m, they didn't let him go. And that was a cool $1m+ more than anyone else offered him, clearly over the market value. How much should Emery have paid him?

Urlacher's a source of constant amusement for me. He's the most disingenuous character to play for the Bears this side of Ditka. He claimed after the fact that he "might" have taken the offer if they had told him they had a cap issue. This was the same interview where he mentioned that Cutler was supposedly the only person on the 53-man roster not to "reach out" to him after his retirement. lol

The guy he has a problem with is his agent, who should have convinced him to take the Bears offer rather than being humiliated by the Tebow-esque silence that met him on the FA market.

For such a focused, determined player on the field, he was always a whiny prima donna off of it. He clearly had a problem from the word "go" with Cutler and has spent more time corn-holing him through back channels and media leaks than he has doing his day job.

I'm optimistic that the defense can be fixed in relatively short order, but I can't say that it's a sure thing. For one, defensive FA's are generally a better value for money than offensive skill players. The learning curve for players learning a new system of defense is significantly gentler than a new offense, so players they bring in should contribute right away.

My biggest concern is that in his brief draft history, Emery has clearly done better on the offensive side of the football. That might be a function of sample size (there just aren't that many draft picks), but it might also be a systemic issue in the scouting and personnel department. On balance though, the way Emery dealt with the OL this season makes me believe that if he targets an area of the team, he can improve it.

[XXXIV]

Cleveland fired their coach after 1 year?

They are a sad or gan I zay tion. Last four?? new coaches in NFC North in Cleveland?

Damn you, Lions! You were supposed to extend Schwartz's contract not terminate it.

Lions fans are dancing on the streets of 8 Mile.


-MERACE

Im sure they are!

That guy was a total d*****bag and a loser.

Lovie, Im betting winds up in Tampa to complete his circle. Though Detroit might not be a bad spot for him. He will probably be interviewed by everyone to satisfy the rules.

[Danimal]

Urlacher would have definitely helped with the organization and preparedness of the defense, but in 2012 he was a shell of the shell he had been for the last several seasons. (Edit: Still probably better than Bostic though, you're right)

Emery did offer him $2m, they didn't let him go. And that was a cool $1m+ more than anyone else offered him, clearly over the market value. How much should Emery have paid him?

Urlacher's a source of constant amusement for me. He's the most disingenuous character to play for the Bears this side of Ditka.

I don't think they needed to offer him more but I think the way it was handled they knew he would counter it, any player with an agent would and they quickly moved to distance themselves. I wouldn't consider any part of the way the Bears handled that to be normal.

As for what kind of person he is, I'm not the president of his fan club. I met him once and he was kind of a dick but I think he is no better or no worse than other other pro athlete. All I'm saying is he could of helped the team, as could of Roach. Emery grossly miscalculated the defense and he gets a year to fix it, we will see if he is as good as he thinks he is.

[dbdynsty25]

Obviously its the NFL and doesn't mean much but the Bears signed Cutler for 7 years! Ahahahahahahaha.

[Danimal]

Cutler 7 year deal with Bears.

Showing I have no idea what I am talking about OR perhaps I do, we will see...

Emery,
"We want a physical, fast, playmaking defense. I saw that in the first three games."

First 3 games of which team, was he watching someone else?

[wco81]

Obviously its the NFL and doesn't mean much but the Bears signed Cutler for 7 years! Ahahahahahahaha.

That's Kristin Cavalleri laughing.

[Brando70]

The terms haven't been disclosed but the length of the Cutler deal will probably help a lot with the immediate cap issues the Bears face. I'm not doing cartwheels over it but think it makes sense to bring him back. The odds of the Bears getting a better QB were much less than the Bears getting a worse QB if they let him walk. Offensively, they played very well, and it makes sense to keep the core strength of the team together while trying to find ways to get money to sign some defensive free agents.

[dbdynsty25]

The odds of the Bears getting a better QB were much less than the Bears getting a worse QB if they let him walk.

As much as I think Cutler is mediocre at best...this is pretty much what it comes down to. But the terms that have leaked are the first three years guaranteed at 18 mil. Sheesh.

[Brando70]

The odds of the Bears getting a better QB were much less than the Bears getting a worse QB if they let him walk.

As much as I think Cutler is mediocre at best...this is pretty much what it comes down to. But the terms that have leaked are the first three years guaranteed at 18 mil. Sheesh.

My guess is his deal will be pretty similar to Romo's. It's a lot but that's what starting QBs can command.

I was not super keen on bringing him back after the Eagles game, but at the same time, there just wasn't another realistic option if the Bears want to compete next year. The FA market for QBs is not good. The draft is a crapshoot and will waste time with the solid offensive starters the Bears have. There's no realistic trade possibilities.

The Bears offense performed well this year and this was the best option for keeping it at that level. Cutler will have consistency in terms of the system and his personnel, which I think gives him significant upside. He's a top 15 QB right now, but I think he could be a top 10 one for the next few years.

[Danimal]

It's not a matter if he can compete, he can at times. The Greenbay game was won except our defense can't stop 3 4th down conversions. The problem is you our out of money to field a decent defense and it is very alarming that Emery and Trestman think the defense played will in the first 3 games, it did not.

My only reason for getting rid of Cutler was that the team needs a complete rebuild, if they can somehow get a middle of the road defense next year they have a shot. If not expect more of the same.

[pk500]

Your franchise does NOT need a complete rebuild. I know desperately necessary reconstruction projects better than anyone in the NFL.

Signed,
Buffalo Bills Fan

[RobVarak]

As much as I think Cutler is mediocre at best...this is pretty much what it comes down to. But the terms that have leaked are the first three years guaranteed at 18 mil. Sheesh.

That's an average of $18m guaranteed not an $18m cap hit, which as I said a few pages ago, is the benefit of the long-term deal.

They need to accomplish two things for next year: Rebuild the defense and capitalize on the Forte-Marshall-Bennett-Jeffery axis that probably only has 1-2 years left with all of them at productive levels.

This deal lets them do the former by accomplishing the latter with the smallest possible cap hit. Cutler is the best FA QB by a country mile and drafting a rookie would mean jeopardizing the latter goal. Not terribly complicated, IMO.

Now the onus is on Emery to do with the defense what he did with the OL this past off-season. I like the fact that he had the stones to admit today that he had failed to acquire adequate DL depth. I also like his recognition that Shae McClellin might be better in a spot where he doesn't have a huge "Run At Me" sign on his chest.

[ScoopBrady]

I totally agree, Rob. I like the signing a lot. People forget what it was like before Cutler got here. I would gladly overpay than risk that again. And it was that bad. The offense put up points this year and they are stacked with talent. The defense needs a lot of work but IMO it is easier putting together a decent defense quickly (see Saints) than it is to build an offense.

[ScoopBrady]

Crazy comeback for the Colts.

[wco81]

I'd say neither of those teams are a threat after this game but none of the AFC teams have that dominant a defense except Cincy.

There may be more shootouts in the AFC before it's over.

[Danimal]

Philly fans were all over the Chiefs loss on social media.

Karma as they say, is a b*tch.

[Diablo25]

Philly fans were all over the Chiefs loss on social media.

Karma as they say, is a b*tch.

Or the Saints simply outplayed the Eagles and it had nothing to do with karma. I could attach the social media argument to literally any issue.

PS. I'm just annoyed at the Eagles loss so ignore my mild sarcasm

[Danimal]

Or the Saints simply outplayed the Eagles and it had nothing to do with karma. I could attach the social media argument to literally any issue.

You think?

The point was when you take joy in somebodies misery like many did after the Chiefs game, then you should expect the same treatment when the shoe is on the other foot.

[XXXIV]

Philly fans were all over the Chiefs loss on social media.

Karma as they say, is a b*tch.

Or the Saints simply outplayed the Eagles and it had nothing to do with karma. I could attach the social media argument to literally any issue.

PS. I'm just annoyed at the Eagles loss so ignore my mild sarcasm

Grats to the Saints. I didnt think they had that in them.

As for the chiefs colts game? That was a f***in disgrace! Goodell thanks for ruining the nfl you piece of s***.

Arena football baby!

[RobVarak]

Philly fans were all over the Chiefs loss on social media.

Karma as they say, is a b*tch.

Or the Saints simply outplayed the Eagles and it had nothing to do with karma. I could attach the social media argument to literally any issue.

PS. I'm just annoyed at the Eagles loss so ignore my mild sarcasm

Grats to the Saints. I didnt think they had that in them.

As for the chiefs colts game? That was a f***in disgrace! Goodell thanks for ruining the nfl you piece of s***.

Arena football baby!

Amen! And the refs just add to the problem by not calling holding or PI 75% of the time. I blame EA for this.