Sam Hurd Arrested

[GGGG]

For the NFL, I would think Jerry Jones, minus the meddling in player personnel decisions.

Honestly, I know what he means.  I just think there are a lot of ways to be a good owner.  Bob Kraft for instance...or the Rooney family...the Mara and Tisch combo.

And I don't think the McCaskey's have been all that bad.  They don't meddle in personnel decisions.  They devote the resources that the team needs to be successful.  There may need to be a little more clarity over who is calling the shots, but I don't think that has impeded the football product in any way.  I think there problem is simply a GM that has performed below average in the draft room.

[MerrittsMustache]

Honestly, I know what he means.  I just think there are a lot of ways to be a good owner.  Bob Kraft for instance...or the Rooney family...the Mara and Tisch combo.

And I don't think the McCaskey's have been all that bad.  They don't meddle in personnel decisions.  They devote the resources that the team needs to be successful.  There may need to be a little more clarity over who is calling the shots, but I don't think that has impeded the football product in any way.  I think there problem is simply a GM that has performed below average in the draft room.

If you ask Bears fans, most will tell you that the McCaskey's tend to be pretty cheap and they let the city (which owns Soldier Field) push them around. Mike McCaskey is, by just about all accounts, a very intelligent man and a genuinely nice person, but he was never overly interested in being the president of an NFL franchise and was viewed as a bit of a pushover. He's retired now though so he won't be around to announce the hiring of anymore coaches who haven't actually been hired yet. There are numerous examples of ineptiness amongst the front office. Frankly the Bears just aren't a very well run organization, especially when you consider the resources at their disposal.

[muzzwilliams]

I heard Sam Hurd was autographing all his coke bags before selling them.

[RJax55]

If you ask Bears fans, most will tell you that the McCaskey's tend to be pretty cheap and they let the city (which owns Soldier Field) push them around.

Personally, this idea that the McCaskey's are cheap is a relic from the '80s. It doesn't match the realities of the Bears' spending patterns. Under Angelo, and even Rod Graves, the Bears have always been pretty active players in the free agent market.

[GGGG]

Personally, this idea that the McCaskey's are cheap is a relic from the '80s. It doesn't match the realities of the Bears' spending patterns. Under Angelo, and even Rod Graves, the Bears have always been pretty active players in the free agent market.

Exactly.  They signed Peppers to a $90M contract....extended Cutler's contract to a tune of $50M...put a bunch of money into Halas Hall a decade ago.

They're doing what needs to be done.

[jesmu84]

They're doing what needs to be done.

Except putting competent "football' people in the front office. angelo? phillips? ruskell? gross. and how many vps does one front office need?

[GGGG]

Not arguing with that.  Just arguing with the fact they are "cheap."  And Angelo did build a team that got them to a Super Bowl and another NFC Championship.  He's not a great GM, but his track record is better than many of them out there.

BTW, you guys are making me feel a little dirty sticking up for the Bears.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Not arguing with that.  Just arguing with the fact they are "cheap."  And Angelo did build a team that got them to a Super Bowl and another NFC Championship.  He's not a great GM, but his track record is better than many of them out there.

BTW, you guys are making me feel a little dirty sticking up for the Bears.

Other than leaving $19mm in cap space on the table while not signing a back-up QB who had actually started an NFL game and the failure to significantly add to the worst offensive line in the NFL (and to to protect his Cutler investment) or failing miserably in the college draft year after year, Angelo has done a good job. Fact is, other than the Cubs, the Bears are the worst run organization in Chicago...and you can say that the Cubs have changed that this Fall....and that says a lot. Virginia loves Lovie like a son. It wouldn't shock me if he took over as Coach/GM, not that would make things better.

[LON]

I heard Sam Hurd was autographing all his coke bags before selling them.

The more I read about it, the more I think to myself:  This guy has to be one of the dumbest drug dealers ever.

I loved the part about how he thought the Feds wouldn't be able to tap his calls if he got Mexican cell phones.

[jesmu84]

Not arguing with that.  Just arguing with the fact they are "cheap."  And Angelo did build a team that got them to a Super Bowl and another NFC Championship.  He's not a great GM, but his track record is better than many of them out there.

BTW, you guys are making me feel a little dirty sticking up for the Bears.

haha. die-hard bears fan here.  i agree with you that, lately, they haven't shown to be cheap in acquiring players.

my beef more lies with the front office, as well as crap like letting lovie kick ron rivera to the curb and bringing in his buddy babich - what a joke that was. and how is daryl drake (WR coach) still on the staff? watching NFL network/ESPN and seeing countless times the analysts/former players pointing out basic receivers' mistakes reflect on poor coaching to me.

[MerrittsMustache]

haha. die-hard bears fan here.  i agree with you that, lately, they haven't shown to be cheap in acquiring players.

my beef more lies with the front office, as well as crap like letting lovie kick ron rivera to the curb and bringing in his buddy babich - what a joke that was. and how is daryl drake (WR coach) still on the staff? watching NFL network/ESPN and seeing countless times the analysts/former players pointing out basic receivers' mistakes reflect on poor coaching to me.

On the topic of WR, a few years ago the Bears FO publicly stated that Hester was their #1 WR, which was naturally followed by Hester's agent requesting his client be paid like a #1 WR. And there's that botched trade with Baltimore at the draft and the aforementioned "hiring" of Dave McGinnis and the o-coordinator more or less making the decision to trade away the Bears best pass-catcher because Martz - who will be gone next season - doesn't utilize the TE. Getting back to the original topic, the Bears also had no idea that Sam Hurd had been caught with weed in his car and was questioned by Homeland Security the day before they signed him to a $4M deal!

[jesmu84]

the o-coordinator more or less making the decision to trade away the Bears best pass-catcher because Martz - who will be gone next season - doesn't utilize the TE.

i would argue the best pass-catcher on the Bears' roster the last few seasons has been earl bennett. i hope martz isn't gone after this year, if nothing else, just for the sake of cutler/the offense to not have to learn yet another offensive scheme. when does it finally occur to the bears staff that winning comes from consistency and consistency isn't changing things when it doesn't work perfectly after 1-2 years?

[MUMac]

i would argue the best pass-catcher on the Bears' roster the last few seasons has been earl bennett. i hope martz isn't gone after this year, if nothing else, just for the sake of cutler/the offense to not have to learn yet another offensive scheme. when does it finally occur to the bears staff that winning comes from consistency and consistency isn't changing things when it doesn't work perfectly after 1-2 years?

Martz reminds me of Bob Schnelker.  He often outstays his welcome.  Even learning a new system, I think the Bears would be better off with a new OC.  As a Packer fan, I hope he stays.   

[marquettejr]

the bears just cut his ASS!!!   how can people be so stupid!!

[MerrittsMustache]

Martz reminds me of Bob Schnelker.  He often outstays his welcome.  Even learning a new system, I think the Bears would be better off with a new OC.  As a Packer fan, I hope he stays.   

Martz reminds me of a "chucker" on your team in basketball. He can play under control for a while but eventually he's going to do something stupid with the ball, often at the most inopportune time (i.e. screen to the TE in Oakland or end-around to Bennett in the NFCCG).

[MU B2002]

or end-around to Bennett in the NFCCG

Thanks, I had almost completely blocked this memory out of my mind. Frack.

[Dish]

Following up to a few points...

Bears are not cheap. I understand where the perception comes from, but they are in no way cheap. Halas was as cheap as they come, after he died and the family took over, they stayed cheap because they could, the run of success and larger than life personalities enabled that.

As both their run of success ended in the 80's, and NFL free agency started to evolve, the family slowly realized they needed more 'football' people. Since the McGinnis debacle, the McCaskeys have stayed more or less out of football decisions. Although, believe it or not, Virginia still has final say on all front office hirings/firings.

I've always thought the best thing that could have ever happened for the Bears is to have an AFC team in town.

If/when the family sells, and Pat Ryan does not buy, would be interesting to see the team on the open market. They'd get in excess of $1 billion for the Bears, only the Cowboys/Giants/Jets/Skins might be worth more (no team is as valuable as the Cowboys). Most sports business people believe the Bears are a sleeping giant in terms of untapped revenue potential.

[MerrittsMustache]

Following up to a few points...

Bears are not cheap. I understand where the perception comes from, but they are in no way cheap. Halas was as cheap as they come, after he died and the family took over, they stayed cheap because they could, the run of success and larger than life personalities enabled that.

Can you elaborate on this point? I'd disagree but if there are some facts out there to back this up, I'd have no trouble being wrong.

[GGGG]

A better question would be, why do you think they are cheap?  They shell out for free agents...coaches...facilities...scouting staff....

[MerrittsMustache]

A better question would be, why do you think they are cheap?  They shell out for free agents...coaches...facilities...scouting staff....

They actually don't, which is why I asked.

[GGGG]

They don't?  I listed earlier in this thread the free agents they paid for.  The coaching staff certainly isn't underpaid.  They just built Halas Hall the past decade.

[MerrittsMustache]

They don't?  I listed earlier in this thread the free agents they paid for.  The coaching staff certainly isn't underpaid.  They just built Halas Hall the past decade.

No, they don't. They paid Peppers and Cutler. Who else ya got? They have had major weaknesses at WR, o-line and safety for the last several seasons but have made no significant upgrades despite being nearly $20M under the cap. They also didn't want to pay money for a solid back-up QB and it's going to cost them a playoff spot this season. They're 14th overall in team payroll despite being the league's second-biggest market and Lovie is the 10th-highest paid coach. Halas Hall was built in 1997.

[Dish]

No, they don't. They paid Peppers and Cutler. Who else ya got? They have had major weaknesses at WR, o-line and safety for the last several seasons but have made no significant upgrades despite being nearly $20M under the cap. They also didn't want to pay money for a solid back-up QB and it's going to cost them a playoff spot this season. They're 14th overall in team payroll despite being the league's second-biggest market and Lovie is the 10th-highest paid coach. Halas Hall was built in 1997.

I can understand your frustration, but the points made don't reflect cheapness. When quality players have been available, the Bears have thrown money around. Peppers, Cutler, Chester Taylor (full disclosure, at the time I thought it was a great signing, clearly I was wrong), Colon (Bears offered him the most $ this offseason). When Moose was on the market, they pounced on him. Sometimes things don't workout, some guys they sign just suck, some just don't want to play here. Could they make better decisions? Of course. Are they cheap? I'd say no.

[GGGG]

I agree with Dish here...the Bears WR issues are not due to cheapness.  Frankly it is due to them having "issues" identifying talent.  If you want the Bears, or any NFL team, to spend a bunch of money on FA talent, you will be like the Eagles.

[MU B2002]

...you will be like the Eagles.

Speaking of...  Would like to see the Bears go after Desean Jackson.