How Bad Are The Chicago Bears?

[JuniorCardigan]

Warren Buffett likes to say when a company with a bad reputation hires a manager with a good reputation, the company's reputation wins out.

The Bears will ruin John Fox, Fox will not save them.

The bears are the worst team in football.  On the third head coach in four years, and have been to the playoffs 5 times in the last 28 years.

They will forever be one of the leagues most pitiful franchises until (sorry to say it) Virginia McCaskey dies and the family sells the team.

Until then, watch them continue to take high first round pricks and watch them do nothing.

See ...

2015 Kevin White
2011 Gabe Carimi
2008 Chris Williams
2005 Cedric Benson
2003 Rex Grossman
2003 Michael Haynes
2002 Marc Columbo (who did well at Dallas, after the Bears released him)
2001 David Terrell
1999 Cade McNown
1998 Curtis Enis
(I could keep going back to Salaam in 1994, John Thierry 1994, Alnozo Spellman 1992 and Stan Thomas 1991 but you get the point)

To be fair ...
2013 Kyle Long
2007 Greg Olsen (who only became good after they traded him)
2004 Tommie Harris
2000 Brian Urlacher

How can an organization miss this much with first round picks?

What I also found fascinating was that they dealt Brandon Marshall and then used their high first round pick to get another wide receiver. Don't get me wrong I think Kevin White is going to be pretty good when he's healthy but it just seemed like a total waste of a first round pick. I would have been a lot happier with a d-lineman.

Also, how on earth could you compare Romo to Cutler in that earlier post? They have a completely different game. If anything the closest QB to Cutler in the NFL is Stafford.

[GGGG]

Do you think that has anything to do with expectations?  Many times 1st round picks are expected to immediately deliver and are thrust into spots they may not be ready for.  The bar is set lower for later rounds, so maybe guys get a little more time.

Ron Wolf had the same problem though.  Wolf oversaw ten Packer drafts and only drafted one All Pro in the first round - Javon Walker.  A number of solid players - Simmons, Taylor, Verba, Holliday.  But a number of busts who probably should have never been drafted -Michels, Edwards, Reynolds.

Thompson on the other had has already had four all Pros drafted in the first round.  Rodgers, Hawk, Raji and Matthews.  Bulaga and Clinton-Dix are solid players.  Busts are Harrell and Sherrod (injury) for sure.  Perry and Jones aren't much better.

[GGGG]

What I also found fascinating was that they dealt Brandon Marshall and then used their high first round pick to get another wide receiver. Don't get me wrong I think Kevin White is going to be pretty good when he's healthy but it just seemed like a total waste of a first round pick. I would have been a lot happier with a d-lineman.

Also, how on earth could you compare Romo to Cutler in that earlier post? They have a completely different game. If anything the closest QB to Cutler in the NFL is Stafford.

There are very few receivers IMO that are worth first round picks.  They have to be extremely gifted physically IMO.  (Megatron, Julio Jones)  You can get really good receivers in later rounds.

[brandx]

There are very few receivers IMO that are worth first round picks.  They have to be extremely gifted physically IMO.  (Megatron, Julio Jones)  You can get really good receivers in later rounds.

Very true. Unless it is an elite guy like those you mentioned along with a couple others.

Nelson, Cobb, Jones, Adams, Mongomery - no 1st rounders.

[JuniorCardigan]

There are very few receivers IMO that are worth first round picks.  They have to be extremely gifted physically IMO.  (Megatron, Julio Jones)  You can get really good receivers in later rounds.

This year Amari Cooper definitely deserved to go the first round. He's not particularly physically gifted - but the Raiders really did well with that pick. He absolutely owned Joe Haden last Sunday. I would agree that most of the time they have to be a monster athlete like Julio though

[JWags85]

This year Amari Cooper definitely deserved to go the first round. He's not particularly physically gifted - but the Raiders really did well with that pick. He absolutely owned Joe Haden last Sunday. I would agree that most of the time they have to be a monster athlete like Julio though

Say wha?  He's not that far behind Julio in measurables.  Within 10 lbs of each other despite Julio being 2 inches taller, same speed (fast as hell for a non-burner).  Julio just outdoes him in leaping ability.  Oakland is gonna have Cooper return punts.  That usually doesn't fall to average athletes.

[jesmu84]

Very true. Unless it is an elite guy like those you mentioned along with a couple others.

Nelson, Cobb, Jones, Adams, Mongomery - no 1st rounders.

Of course, this is always like the Chicken/Egg argument. Are those WRs great? Or did Rodgers make them great? What happened to Eric Decker after he left Denver? Same for Julius Thomas. What would Demaryius Thomas look like post Manning?

Not to say those WRs aren't talented, but I tend to think the QB makes the WR more than the other way around.

[JuniorCardigan]

Say wha?  He's not that far behind Julio in measurables.  Within 10 lbs of each other despite Julio being 2 inches taller, same speed (fast as hell for a non-burner).  Julio just outdoes him in leaping ability.  Oakland is gonna have Cooper return punts.  That usually doesn't fall to average athletes.

I probably worded that incorrectly. What I probably meant to say is he isn't quite the best athlete in the 2015 WR class but he is easily the best receiver.

[brandx]

Of course, this is always like the Chicken/Egg argument. Are those WRs great? Or did Rodgers make them great? What happened to Eric Decker after he left Denver? Same for Julius Thomas. What would Demaryius Thomas look like post Manning?

Not to say those WRs aren't talented, but I tend to think the QB makes the WR more than the other way around.

I can't argue at all with your point.

What I was saying though is that there is plenty of talent outside of the 1st round with WRs and it is a complete waste to take one in the 1st if you don't have the QB to throw to him - Sammy Watkins being the best example i can think of.

[martyconlonontherun]

Very true. Unless it is an elite guy like those you mentioned along with a couple others.

Nelson, Cobb, Jones, Adams, Mongomery - no 1st rounders.

Those guys were all pretty high picks, though, for a team with an already solid offense. Kind of crazy the Packers to think the have very little need on the offensive side of the ball and can almost go straight D. Besides a possible offensive linemen just for the purpose of trying to have the deepest/best line to protect the franchise, I don't see any holes if they can sign Quarless and Starks cheap.

2016 Free Agents
Offense

QB Scott Tolzien
RB James Starks
TE Andrew Quarless
G/T Don Barclay
G Lane Taylor*

Defense
DE Mike Daniels
CB Casey Hayward
S Sean Richardson
OLB Mike Neal
OLB Andy Mulumba*
Specialists
K Mason Crosby
LS Brett Goode

[MU82]

Very true. Unless it is an elite guy like those you mentioned along with a couple others.

Nelson, Cobb, Jones, Adams, Mongomery - no 1st rounders.

Shyte ... Jones was on the waiver wire available to any team just a few weeks ago. He has looked like a star this season. The QB might have a teeny, tiny bit to do with that, but damn!

[JWags85]

I can't argue at all with your point.

What I was saying though is that there is plenty of talent outside of the 1st round with WRs and it is a complete waste to take one in the 1st if you don't have the QB to throw to him - Sammy Watkins being the best example i can think of.

Poor Sammy.  An elite talent, who has actually looked good in the NFL, but was screwed from the start.  If he didn't go to Buffalo, he was going to end up in Cleveland.  Though, there is a decent chance that Tyrod Taylor could turn out alright, so maybe there is a silver lining.

[PBRme]

There is no way that they would have had 10 consecutive punts if Cutler had been playing.  No more than 8 because he would have thrown an interception and botched a handoff for a fumble or something.

[Plaque Lives Matter!]

There is no way that they would have had 10 consecutive punts if Cutler had been playing.  No more than 8 because he would have thrown an interception and botched a handoff for a fumble or something.

So we aren't even going to pretend like we watched the games before making these statements eh?

[jficke13]

[...]
2011 Gabe Carimi
[...]

I remember that draft because he was a Badger and everyone was really high on him around these parts. I recall having two thoughts: 1. He was (is?) a giant, like 6'7"+ and strong as an ox. 2. Shouldn't it be easy to get under his pad level if he's that tall?