NFL Season 2012-2013

[vader29]

[dbdynsty25]

Given the fact that Urlacher is really only a 2 down linebacker now makes it a little easier for the Bears to cut ties with him from a football standpoint, but how do you Bears fans feel about him not coming back?

[Danimal]

Given the fact that Urlacher is really only a 2 down linebacker now makes it a little easier for the Bears to cut ties with him from a football standpoint, but how do you Bears fans feel about him not coming back?

I think they owed him a little more respect to be honest but this just furthers my point I made when Lovie got fired. For any Bears fans who thought getting rid of Lovie meant instant contender you're f***in insane in the membrane.

This is what I expected a complete and utter destruction of the Bears I knew over the next several years while a GM and unproven coach try to make their mark.

I've got a hunch right now that says Cutler is in the same boat next season.

[RobVarak]

Glad to have had him. Glad he's gone.

He was overpaid for the last couple years and it would be insane to pay him like a full-time player when he can't cover a traffic cone. 100% of his value was in his speed and athleticism and that's been gone for 2+ years now. Even when they played Cover-2 last year they had Briggs covering for Urlacher as often as not, a square-peg/round hole situation but better than having Urlacher hobble around after TE's twice his speed.

Not to mention the fact that he's a Grade-A ass hat, something I was happy to endure when he was a pro bowl player....not so much now.

[Danimal]

Not to mention the fact that he's a Grade-A ass hat, something I was happy to endure when he was a pro bowl player....not so much now.

He was an ass hat because he didn't suck up to the fans and put up with their s***? Is this why he was an ass hat to you? Just curious I didn't peg you as one of those Chicago fans so I'm curious what leads you to that opinion.

Anyway they offered him 2 million for 1 year to do the same job. There were no reports they were reducing his role. Let me know if you go into your job and someone says we want you to do the same work but we're cutting your salary 70% or 50% or 25% and if you'll continue to work there.

He is not worth what he has been paid the past few years but he is worth more than 2 million for 1 year, especially when there is nothing on the FA market to replace him.

If the Bears draft f***in Manti T'eo I'm done.

[RobVarak]

Not to mention the fact that he's a Grade-A ass hat, something I was happy to endure when he was a pro bowl player....not so much now.

He was an ass hat because he didn't suck up to the fans and put up with their s***? Is this why he was an ass hat to you? Just curious I didn't peg you as one of those Chicago fans so I'm curious what leads you to that opinion.

Anyway they offered him 2 million for 1 year to do the same job. There were no reports they were reducing his role. Let me know if you go into your job and someone says we want you to do the same work but we're cutting your salary 70% or 50% or 25% and if you'll continue to work there.

He is not worth what he has been paid the past few years but he is worth more than 2 million for 1 year, especially when there is nothing on the FA market to replace him.

If the Bears draft f***in Manti T'eo I'm done.

He was an ass hat because he behaved like an ass hat. I'm on record as generally not every wanting to hear a word from athletes. But if an athlete consistently behaves like a jerk to the media, it's hard for me not to take notice. His career-long justification for monosyllabic non-answers and dismissive grunting in response to routine questions was always some thin-skinned BS like "The media doesn't respect me or my teammates." He's a boob.

As for no reports of reducing his role:

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/03/20/ ... wn-for-us/


It's pretty clear from this and other media reports (and from the entirety of the game films from the last year) that no reasonable evaluator of NFL talent is going to let that guy play on passing downs any more.

Agree about Te'o, unless they snagged him in the super-late rounds.

[Danimal]

Can we agree that offering him 1 year at 2 million is making an offer you know is going to be refused which immediately allows you to shut the door and not look as bad. They could of offer him 4 and done any number of salary cap tricks to not make it hurt. Or 2 million with incentives.

They basically offered him something they knew he would turn down. Essentially he would be making the same money as the punter or back up running back and be on the field a hell of a lot more than them.

This is what bothers me about the whole situation. The Bears are just slimy.

[RobVarak]

Can we agree that offering him 1 year at 2 million is making an offer you know is going to be refused which immediately allows you to shut the door and not look as bad. They could of offer him 4 and done any number of salary cap tricks to not make it hurt. Or 2 million with incentives.

They basically offered him something they knew he would turn down. Essentially he would be making the same money as the punter or back up running back and be on the field a hell of a lot more than them.

This is what bothers me about the whole situation. The Bears are just slimy.

I would have non-tendered him out of the gate, telling him to retire or go elsewhere. They could have handled it better, but I'm a Branch Rickey devotee, I'd rather lose him with a good year left (although I don't think we are) than pay him for a year too much. Plus there's really no defending the insane money they gave him after the holdout. Hard for me to be judgmental of the Bears as slimy unless I want to judge Urlacher as being slimy years ago for holding out when he really wasn't entitled to do so. No real interest in drawing either conclusion.

It worked out best for the team on the field, which is more important than sleights real or perceived.

[Danimal]

Well we have a marginally improved offense, a new coaching staff and scheme fresh from the great white north and 1 remaining LB.

Yep going to be a great year.

[Brando70]

Given the fact that Urlacher is really only a 2 down linebacker now makes it a little easier for the Bears to cut ties with him from a football standpoint, but how do you Bears fans feel about him not coming back?

He was a great player, and in his prime he was the most athletic linebacker I've ever seen. Watching him play live really showed how freakishly quick he was, when you could see him in relation to the other players. He was also one of the toughest Bears players ever. I'm sorry to see him go.

At the same time, he should retire. That knee injury in 2011 really finished him, and leadership doesn't help you move around the field or shed blocks. I agree with Rob that I would probably have just let him walk rather than low-ball, but there's never a good way to handle a franchise player who wants to keep playing when the needle is on empty.

[pk500]

He was a great player, and in his prime he was the most athletic linebacker I've ever seen.

I take it you were too young to see Lawrence Taylor play?

[RobVarak]

He was a great player, and in his prime he was the most athletic linebacker I've ever seen.

I take it you were too young to see Lawrence Taylor play?

That's an interesting comp. Fast-twitch versus straight line speed. Taylor couldn't cover anything close to the ground that Urlacher could, but Urlacher was always a lousy blitzer and certainly didn't have the block-shedding ability of LT. Taylor was a better player in terms of impact, but that's hardly a condemnation of Urlacher who was asked to do a much wider variety of things on the field.

Then again in the hyper-accelerated evolutionary environment of the NFL, even an average player today is almost always a superior class of athlete to all but the most elite of players from 20 years ago. LT is one of those elite, though.

[Brando70]

I consider LT the best linebacker of all time and maybe the best defensive player ever. He was a terror. But the range of Urlacher's athletic ability was really something through the first half of his career. He was literally like having a strong safety and middle linebacker in the same person.

[pk500]

I'm not ripping Urlacher at all. He's Canton-bound. But no defensive player has blown my mind like Taylor.

That said, I've never seen a faster linebacker from sideline to sideline during his era of play than Cornelius Bennett. Freakishly quick. Too bad at times he was a numbnuts who overpursued far too often. Still enjoyed him on the Bills.

[wco81]

I think Patrick Willis may have clocked faster times.

And maybe Ray Lewis. Supposedly he was much lighter in college and surprised (?) people when he added mass and retained speed when he entered the NFL.

Speed is great but not the main asset for an inside LB. Slower, less-athletic inside LBs thrived in the league with good technique, always taking on the OL or FB blocker with the correct shoulder and making the tackle.

Urlacher broke out the year they had those stud DTs. He was rarely blocked. Lewis benefitted from great DL play at various times too.

Nowadays, with converted basketball players or WRs playing TE, LBs and even many DBs have problems in coverage.

[XXXIV]

Ray Lewis was the great version of urlacher. Better player and better killer.

I loved Hacksaw. Too bad he got the win with the niners. What a play at the goal against Pete Johnson. Wait for it.....Leg en dary.

[10spro]

Romo signs an extension to stay in DAL while there's rumors that Seahawks' M. Flynn may be dealt to the Raiders. Considering how well R. Wilson has played, freeing up some $$$ is not a bad idea at all to sign other FA.

[dbdynsty25]

Romo signs an extension to stay in DAL while there's rumors that Seahawks' M. Flynn may be dealt to the Raiders. Considering how well R. Wilson has played, freeing up some $$$ is not a bad idea at all to sign other FA.

Unfortunately that's not how it works really. As Flynn already is going to count against the 'Hawks cap for this year. They'll save on his actually salary, but not cap space.

Romo getting that kinda cake for failing in the playoffs constantly is laughable. The Cowboys are a joke w/ that contract. 55 mil guaranteed!

[Rodster]

I don't disagree with what's been said of Romo. What a helter/skelter QB. Sometimes he plays like an elite QB and pulls out a game and at other times when you need him to step up you either get a version of Aaron Rodgers or Mark Sanchez. You never know with Romo.

The Cowboys decided there weren't any QB's better than Romo in FA. Is Geno Smith that guy in the draft?

[pk500]

The Bills are about to sign Kevin Kolb. This could be the last straw with me and this team after 40 years unless Kolb is keeping the spot under center warm until either Barkley or Nassib is ready to play this fall.

[dbdynsty25]

The Bills are about to sign Kevin Kolb. This could be the last straw with me and this team after 40 years unless Kolb is keeping the spot under center warm until either Barkley or Nassib is ready to play this fall.

Why, that's a great signing...for the rest of the AFC East.

[Diablo25]

$55 mill guaranteed for Romo. I love it that Jerry Jones is a clown.

[Rodster]

Revis Island heads to Tampa, 96 mill, 6 yrs and no guarantee pay. The Jets get their #13 1st rd pick. Revis' knee is the big ? mark. The pay may have been too high on the draft pick.

[Rodster]

What do you guys think of the new Dolphins uniforms? I'm not too crazy about them. Kinda reminds me when the Jets changed their uniforms back in the 80's.

[icvu42]

What do you guys think of the new Dolphins uniforms? I'm not too crazy about them. Kinda reminds me when the Jets changed their uniforms back in the 80's.

As a Dolphin fan, I think the new logo is horrible! Just horrible! The uniforms are okay, but they shouldn't have taken the orange stripe off the helmet. If they had their recent logo or went back to one of their earlier versions of the logo, I would be fine with it. But this new one is just awful!

Rick