Question for Ed B?

[BW52]

Whats the latest from Chicago? Any rumors on who the Bears are leaning towards?

 

[Ed B]

The papers continue to speculate the same things they've been saying for a long time.........Based on what the Bears are saying, they're definitely going to take a D-lineman. But based on common sense, there's no way they can pass Leftwich. They need a QB so badly it hurts.

As far as the linemen go, rumor is that they like Kennedy to replace Ted Washington and are a little down on Suggs because they already have an undersized guy who is a Jerry Angelo pet project in Alex Brown.

There is also a lot of talk of trading down and taking Boller.



At this point though, I don't know what is "fact" (IE coming from the Bears) and what is sports reporters starting rumors.

 

[BW52]

Thanks for the update.

 

[AZCB34]

I have been saying all along they would go defense in round 1...probably a DT to take Traylor's place since it appears he likely will be a cap casualty. Had Suggs killed on his workout...or if he does with his second try...the Bears may consider him but they want beef up front so Urlacher can make plays thus the DT pick.

They really could use a QB but they won't draft a QB until round 2 at the earliest. They are still feeling stung by McNown and that waste of a pick so they will roll the dice later (I have predicted round 2 for awhile).

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

Originally posted by AZCB34
I have been saying all along they would go defense in round 1...probably a DT to take Traylor's place since it appears he likely will be a cap casualty.

So you're thinking Traylor would be available as a free agent after the June 1st cuts? He's a hulking two-gap type of DT isn't he? I'm not familar enough with his play lately, does his motor still run? Does he have gas left in his tank? What kind of money would he command if released?

Sorry, sometimes I get excited when the prospect of a good DT or DE comes up for the Cardinals to snap up...

 

[Ed B]

Originally posted by AZCB34

They really could use a QB but they won't draft a QB until round 2 at the earliest. They are still feeling stung by McNown and that waste of a pick so they will roll the dice later (I have predicted round 2 for awhile).

I disagree.

My opinion all along (based only on my own hunch, nothing substantive) is that they are blatantly lying through their teeth about all of this and are going to take Leftwich.

Every year at draft time, it amazes me how fans are willing to believe what GMs are saying. So Angelo has said 1000 times that the bears aren't taking a QB at #4......big freakin' deal! It's called a smokescreen.

 

[AZCB34]

Originally posted by Ed B
I disagree.

My opinion all along (based only on my own hunch, nothing substantive) is that they are blatantly lying through their teeth about all of this and are going to take Leftwich.

Every year at draft time, it amazes me how fans are willing to believe what GMs are saying. So Angelo has said 1000 times that the bears aren't taking a QB at #4......big freakin' deal! It's called a smokescreen.

Here is why I believe they will take DT and not QB (like you it is my hunch as I have heard next to nothing of what Angelo has said).

First, I stand by the idea that McNown has given them the jitters about sinking all that money into a QB at #6. I know it is a new front office in essense but the organizational memory is still intact and the check signers may have something to say about it.

Second, there is QB value in round 2. If it was Palmer and Leftwich and then things fell off dramatically, I would be singing a different tune but the Bears can still pick up a QB in round 2...or even later who may end being as good or better than either of the top 2 QBs...since it really is just a crapshoot.

Third, CHI is a running the ball/defense team, always has been always will be thus they draft like that...hence all their REAL interest in McGahee before he got hurt. They will draft D in round 1.

Fourth Angelo is from TB which also does things strong on the defensive side and I believe he will try and get a DT which would somehow equal Sapp in the TB organization. GMs who have success take that success and try to duplicate it in other organizations...thus Angelo will draft DL in round 1, my guess of course being DT.

Quite frankly, I could care less what Angelo, or any GM for that matter, is saying right now. I develop my own thoughts on it without their input basing it solely on how I think their thought process will play out and their team needs. Like I said, this is all my hunch...nothing more and I haven't kept up at all with what Angelo is saying.

 

[AZCB34]

Originally posted by Cardinals.Ken
So you're thinking Traylor would be available as a free agent after the June 1st cuts? He's a hulking two-gap type of DT isn't he? I'm not familar enough with his play lately, does his motor still run? Does he have gas left in his tank? What kind of money would he command if released?

Sorry, sometimes I get excited when the prospect of a good DT or DE comes up for the Cardinals to snap up...

Alot of the word out of Chicago early on in the offseason was about Traylor being a cap casualty...Washington was mentioned too but I find it hard to believe both will be cut. Traylor is OK but he fell off quite a bit when Washington went down last year. Alfonso Boone could measure up

Traylor can still play pretty good and if the Cards didn't address DT in the draft to their satisfaction, I could see them looking at him.

 

[Ed B]

Good points, CB.

The only thing that makes me skeptical about Angelo's comments is that not drafting a QB will further alienate a fan base that is already severely alienated by a couple years in a row without anything better than a mediocre QB. Frankly the average Bears fan is just plain sick of seeing the Jim Millers and Henry Burrises and Shane Matthews of the world under center. You listen to the sports call in shows here and it's just hours on end of Bears fans complaining about how the team has no QB.

Kordell Stewart is comforting no one.

 

[AZCB34]

Originally posted by Ed B
Good points, CB.

The only thing that makes me skeptical about Angelo's comments is that not drafting a QB will further alienate a fan base that is already severely alienated by a couple years in a row without anything better than a mediocre QB. Frankly the average Bears fan is just plain sick of seeing the Jim Millers and Henry Burrises and Shane Matthews of the world under center. You listen to the sports call in shows here and it's just hours on end of Bears fans complaining about how the team has no QB.

Kordell Stewart is comforting no one.

You are correct in that respect. Sadly, Stewart is probbably a decent improvement over what they had but he isn't anyone to get excited about.

The one flaw in my theory, which I didn't mention and should have, is the overall depth of DL in this draft. That very factor could mean they draft QB in round 1 knowing they can likely still get some DL value in round 2. I still believe it to be the other way around but....

I knew people are concerned about the QB but I didn't realize how bad things are with the fans. Several of my friends who are still back there talk about it.

While just a rumor awhile ago, at one point the word was the Bears were shopping their #4 overall. Any updates on that at all?

Also, I would like to see the Cards go after Marcus Robinson...I think he has alot left and alot to prove...and I know they gave his agent a chance to work up a trade. Any updates there?