The American football offseason thread

[Andrew_TSKS]

Hah, since she's a Patriots fan, we'd all just understand that to be her feeling even if she didn't express it.

For the record, I agree. Fuck Peyton Manning. Yes, I drafted him in the first round of fantasy football last year, but BOY did it pain me to do so.

[davy]

Peyton Manning

 

[Andrew_TSKS]

Davy, you should never have let me know that. I could easily have spent the rest of my life having no opinion of your beloved Vols. Now I kinda hate them.

Course, really, my opinions concerning college teams are way less set in stone. For example, I hate Miami now but 25 years ago they had Bernie Kosar, whom I loved unreservedly.

[dieblucasdie]

hahaha awesome.  This is so going to backfire on the Bears.

[davy]

Davy, you should never have let me know that. I could easily have spent the rest of my life having no opinion of your beloved Vols. Now I kinda hate them.

You didn't know he played for the Vols? He broke just about all the major NCAA passing records with them, and getting passed over for the Heisman--it went to Charles Woodson--was one of the all-time biggest travesties in the history of the game.

[DCDave]

The only team with worse management/ownership meddling than the Washington Redskins are the New York Knicks

[YojimboMonkey]

hahaha awesome.  This is so going to backfire on the Bears.

Doesn't everything?

Just weird to see them make a big move like this, it's basically counter to the culture of the organization as it has existed for the past few decades.  Totally out of character for Jerry Angelo.  And it's just probably the wrong time to do it, since their defense has disintegrated, their offensive line has seen better days and there isn't really a receiver corps to speak of.  There have been so many times in the past when the addition of a good quarterback would have really helped out--like the Superbowl run a few years ago for example--but there are a lot more holes on the team right now than just that one.

[Andrew_TSKS]

Hah, yeah, they definitely need someone for him to throw to. Devin Hester's improvement over the latter half of last season makes him one decent target, but who else have they even got?

Course, they also picked up Orlando Pace, so I guess the idea that they might need a pocket for Cutler to stand in has occurred. That's a step in the right direction, at least.

[YojimboMonkey]

Well, Hester can get behind a secondary, that's for sure, and if Cutler has a strong and accurate enough arm to throw the long ball (and I think he does) then that means...




...this will really open up defenses for the running game. POUND THAT BALL BEARS STYLE

[Andrew_TSKS]

Yeah, you're right, he doesn't really fit their current game plan, does he?

If they're anything other than totally stupid, they'll change their game plan to fit an A-list QB like Cutler rather than having him hand off to Matt Forte 400 times next year, but I know no one has confidence in the Bears coaching staff not being totally stupid.

[dumbfish]

Seems to me you need two things to win: a good defense and a consistent passing game. And, of those two, it's easier to patch together a decent defense with scheme, late-roound draft picks, and duct tape.
They paid a bunch, but if he's healthy and sane, I think it's a winner.

[YojimboMonkey]

There are 2 sides of that debate too.

People outside Chicago / unfamiliar with Bears history: 2 first round picks?  The Bears got robbed!
Bears fans: Have you seen what the Bears have done with first round picks for the last 15 years or so?  Cedric Benson, Rex Grossman, these names mean anything to you?  Rashaan Salaam, David Terrell, Michael Haynes, Cade McNown?

[popquizkid]

that's so true.  bears gems come from the latter rounds anyway.  and i'm partial to the camp of thinking first round picks are becoming more and more of a burden because of guaranteed money.

i'm cautiously optimistic about the move, being a bears fan.  i'd be a lot happier if they had a decent receiver corps (and moved hester off of it).

[Andrew_TSKS]

I swear to god Hester is worthwhile as a receiver. This year will tell the tale for sure, but I'm expecting good things.

[popquizkid]

he may be worthwhile as a receiver... but he has a much larger impact as a special teams-only person.

imagine if the bears had a decent qb when he was on special teams only and regularly returned the ball to the 40.  imagine!  20 yards and you're in field goal range every time!

[mriley]

Dang!  John Madden retired.

[Ignatius]

That's too bad... I understand he wasn't the greatest commentator, but his broadcasts were way more entertaining than most others. And he was one of the last few NFL announcers who was not a total dick. I hope he enjoys his retirement and takes his RV around as slow as he wants to. Or hangs out with grandkids or whatever he wants to do.

[Andrew_TSKS]

I'm really sorry to hear that. Fuck the conventional wisdom--Madden's the most entertaining pro football broadcaster that has worked in the industry in my lifetime (with the possible exception of Howard Cosell, who retired from Monday Night Football before my parents would let me stay up late enough to watch it). He's also the only one left from when I was a kid. I don't even want to think about who they're gonna replace him with, either. With my luck, Tony Kornheiser will get the gig. Sigh. At least Madden outlasted Joe Theismann.

Oh god, what if they replace Madden with him? If that happens, fuck it, I'm committing seppuku. I can't live in that nightmare world.

[dumbfish]

It'll be Collinsworth. More football, less turducken. Y'all can decide for yourselves whether that's a good thing.

[Andrew_TSKS]

Oh, that is ALL good. I like Collinsworth quite a bit.

[YojimboMonkey]

It'll be Collinsworth. More football, less turducken. Y'all can decide for yourselves whether that's a good thing.

less turducken, more turkey neck/

[Andrew_TSKS]

Hah, yeah, that dude's neck is ridiculous.

[Ignatius]

That guy is king of the dicks, but he has less of a penchant for determining absolutely that games are over/x player has turned in a shitty performance midway through the second quarter than the other dicks.

[Andrew_TSKS]

Really? You think Collinsworth is that much of a dick?

[Ignatius]

Absolutely. Maybe he's just got it in for the Giants, and that's all I notice? Generally speaking that happens with the Yankees and the Cowboys and sometimes the Lakers when it comes to national broadcasters, but I didn't think the Giants met the requirements for hating.