Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Bears Notes

The release of Cedric Benson is the beginning of putting the plaster on the cracks of the Bears offense. This unit is brutal, plain and simple.

The idea of drafting Benson was at the time the right thing to do-if Jerry Angelo was going to make a move for a premier wide receiver or younger offensive linemen at the time. That was the only obvious problem as Angelo proved that he can build a defense even after the release of Rosey Colvin and the aging Ted Washington (who both went on to win titles with the Patriots). I admit, I thought Benson was going to be a standout back, but the problems, and the clock, began when Benson held out for a signing bonus. I don’t know why Angelo got forced into signing him for that much, but it set the organization back a long way on player negotiations. The Bears are going to have to start paying players until guys on this unit get released or retire. Urlacher will most definitely get a restructured deal to include another signing bonus, Tommie Harris the same, and Hester will get an extension. Locking up Nathan Vasher, Charles Tillman, and Lance Briggs helps to alleviate this situation. Good to see there are a couple of guys smart enough to figure out the business on the field handles the contracts.

It’s kind of funny that the Patriots and Colts keep dominating the AFC by using virtually the same strategy. True, they do have Tom Brady and Peyton Manning who proved themselves early at the pro level, but they maintain the same strategy. In the words of my good buddy Mark D; “the best defense is a damn good offense.” Signing Marty Booker and Brandon Lloyd are slight improvements. I would use the term lateral move, but it is going to get overused. A lot. Muhsin Muhammad can pack his stuff up and get overpaid by Carolina again, and I though Bernard Berrian’s deal with the Vikings was downright hilarious. Can we say Marcus Robinson all over again? At least Robinson had an excuse; he got injured. Muhammad, contrary to all expectations, was a total flop. Angelo did the right thing when Muhammad took stabs at the front office through the media. Get out of Dodge buddy, but that makes the Urlacher and Harris situation all the more complicated. But it’s not like they are free agents; they both are under contract with Urlacher still having five years and Harris having two. I like Harris even though he was a Sooner. The money should have come out for Randy Moss. Oh that would put too much pressure on Angelo to make drastic moves to get Moss here? Isn’t that what we all want rather than trotting out that offense

Hopefully Matt Forte will get the right mix of reps and time so he can develop into a more complete back, but I maintain the same standard. This is the professional level, and a player has to be able to play. It is tough to jump from college to the pros in football, unlike the minors and MLB, but free agent signings are running wild in the NFL. Signing guys off the street rarely if ever works out, and that would have been the precise position Benson would have been in if he did not get signed after his initial draft. Of course he could have declared for the 2006 draft as well, but a year off would have reduced his status. How is it that the Patriots can Colts can scout talent and the Bears cannot? Ryan Grant and Kevin Faulk are excellent players and provide the extra threat than an offense needs.

The new face of the Players’ Association and the bargaining agreements are the culprit for the problems in the most visible sport in the US. The NFL kills baseball in merchandising and advertising and the players are looking to overstep their boundaries and really make a push at removing the salary cap. My opinion? The executives have to hold their ground, and they can get guys into the game that will help them both win and push for straightening out the game on and off of the field. Angelo inadvertently backed himself into a corner with Benson and I am frankly shocked to see that Lance Briggs signed for the money he did. Kudos to Briggs-only the Raiders, the Cowboys, and the Broncos would deal with that. But here we go…the very argument that the Players’ Association is making is the agreement that is going to be made: raise the cap or lift it altogether. I’m not against players getting paid. Advertising money pays their salaries. I’m saying reward players who go out and handle their business without the mouth. Peyton Manning is a great NFL example and Jim Thome is a great MLB example. MLB does not apply here. Their lack of a salary cap is foundational to the game going all the way back to the days of Ruth. It’s still funny to watch the Yankees shell out over a quarter-billion a year and still not get past the divisional round. Maybe Hank figured I out after all…

This whole thing stems from way too much power in the hands of Lovie Smith.

Jerry, it’s time to put your money where your mouth is. It is still your job to lose.

Daunte Culpepper-still a bad idea see Kordell Stewart

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

SportyJoe: Enjoyed your first two posts, solid stuff. I'll add you to our blogroll in hopes you can get some more traffic.

- Dr. C