NFC North/NFL Thread 2016-17

[jesmu84]

Really liked the Bears' moves today.

The best one may have been moving Kyle Long back inside to guard.

[MerrittsMustache]

Agreed. Nice moves by the Bears yesterday. I'd still like to see them land a young CB but that'll likely be in the draft.

From a fan perspective, it hurts to officially lose Forte but at least he's not headed to the Packers.

[Spotcheck Billy]

BJ Raji taking a 1 year hiatus from football, may return after next season.

[jesmu84]

Bears add Akiem Hicks. Good signing. Bears' LB corps looks legit now - McPhee, Trevaithan, Freeman, Young/Houston. Plus Hicks upfront with the other current linemen. 2 above average corners - Porter/Fuller. Gotta get a safety.

Happy with Pace's decisions so far.

[Dr. Blackheart]

BJ Raji taking a 1 year hiatus from football, may return after next season.

HGH

[jesmu84]

HGH

Wouldn't be all that surprised. He's on a team with Clay, right?

[NavinRJohnson]

HGH

Eh. The whole league's taking the stuff, so I'd doubt it's anything like that. He's had plenty of injury issues, and while he was decent, he didn't exactly set the world on fire last year, so I'm taking him at his word on this. That said, I wouldnt be surprised to see the year hiatus turn into a 3-4 month hiatus and he actually ends up playing next year.  Nor would I be surprised to see it turn into retirement a year from now.

[Jay Bee]

SKOL VIKINGS! Looking forward to another trip to the Super Bowl this coming season.

Hope you jerks don't drag our division down.

[brandx]

SKOL VIKINGS! Looking forward to another trip to the Super Bowl this coming season.

Hope you jerks don't drag our division down.

Haven't you guys stunk up the SB enough already?

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Agreed. Nice moves by the Bears yesterday. I'd still like to see them land a young CB but that'll likely be in the draft.

From a fan perspective, it hurts to officially lose Forte but at least he's not headed to the Packers.

Eh, he's a running back with a lot of miles and injuries on the wrong side of 30. Probably good the bears let him walk. Langford should be serviceable.

[wadesworld]

I was in Chicago during a Bears preseason game going into last season and Langford was in there.  Thought he was going to be a stud.  Still think he will.

[MerrittsMustache]

Eh, he's a running back with a lot of miles and injuries on the wrong side of 30. Probably good the bears let him walk. Langford should be serviceable.

Obviously, I have no problems with the Bears letting Forte walk, especially given what you mentioned, but he was a very good player for a long time and an excellent person. I'll be rooting for him to do well with the Jets.

What we've learned recently in the NFL is that there are a handful of "elite" RBs, there are quite a few lost-a-step RBs and the remaining RBs are basically interchangeable. A majority of a RB's success comes as a result of their system.

[jesmu84]

I was in Chicago during a Bears preseason game going into last season and Langford was in there.  Thought he was going to be a stud.  Still think he will.

I think he'll be good. But Bears must have some hesitation with them trying to bring in CJ Anderson as well as talk of them taking Ezekiel Elliot if he falls in the draft.

Note: I would rather them take the ND OT or CB/S in the draft.

[Vander Blue Man Group]

I think he'll be good. But Bears must have some hesitation with them trying to bring in CJ Anderson as well as talk of them taking Ezekiel Elliot if he falls in the draft.

Note: I would rather them take the ND OT or CB/S in the draft.

I think it is BPA at 11, whether it is an offensive tackle, defensive lineman/edge rusher, or a CB.  I haven't been following that closely but I don't think there's a safety that is being talked about as being worth that high of a pick. 

[Blackhat]

TT somewhat abandons his dumbazz policy and signs a free agent TE in Jared Cook.  I like this pick up, an elite athlete at TE who finally has a qb throwing to him.   

[brandx]

TT somewhat abandons his dumbazz policy and signs a free agent TE in Jared Cook.  I like this pick up, an elite athlete at TE who finally has a qb throwing to him.

I think he followed his policy to a 'T'. He is willing to sign FAs at his price. He will never overpay.

[Blackhat]

Lord knows he doesn't need too much money lying around to sign most of his crappy draft picks after their initial contract.    Maybe he was saving up for the those big kicker contracts he wanted to give.

[wadesworld]

Lord knows he doesn't need too much money lying around to sign most of his crappy draft picks after their initial contract.    Maybe he was saving up for the those big kicker contracts he wanted to give.

So he never signs free agents and "most" of his draft picks are "crappy," yet since he took over the Packers are a contender year after year and a top 5 organization in his time. Must be all luck.

[GGGG]

Guy wins a Super Bowl with his philosophy yet people still bitch.

[Anti-Dentite]

Lord knows he doesn't need too much money lying around to sign most of his crappy draft picks after their initial contract.    Maybe he was saving up for the those big kicker contracts he wanted to give.

What is it like in your alternate universe?

[mu03eng]

Obviously, I have no problems with the Bears letting Forte walk, especially given what you mentioned, but he was a very good player for a long time and an excellent person. I'll be rooting for him to do well with the Jets.

What we've learned recently in the NFL is that there are a handful of "elite" RBs, there are quite a few lost-a-step RBs and the remaining RBs are basically interchangeable. A majority of a RB's success comes as a result of their system.

If you view NFL positions as commodities I think the RB position is the most overvalued and oversupplied position in the NFL. IMO, the glut of adequate talent is due to the current players growing up in the heyday of the running back era (Emmit Smith, Thurman Thomas, etc). Teams are much better placed looking for QB and offensive line talent which is rarer and taking just a step behind the rest RB talent

[MU B2002]

Eh, he's a running back with a lot of miles and injuries on the wrong side of 30. Probably good the bears let him walk. Langford should be serviceable.

"lot of miles and injuries"

8 seasons
16 games: 5 times
15 games: 1 time
13 games: 1 time
12 games: 1 time

8 games missed out of 128.



I understand the decision to let him leave, but let's not pretend it was a durability issue.

[Blackhat]

How many years do you have to wait until you can critique TT again?  5 years?  10?

It's obvious he hit the jackpot with Rodgers and that's why we won the SB and should have won another by now.  TT has been unable to draft a good defense and now o line.   

At least McCarthy finally called out TT for his ineptitude in free agency personnel decisions this offseason.  Bout time.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/01/24/report-mccarthy-fed-up-with-thompsons-approach-to-free-agency/

[wadesworld]

How many years do you have to wait until you can critique TT again?  5 years?  10?

It's obvious he hit the jackpot with Rodgers and that's why we won the SB and should have won another by now.  TT has been unable to draft a good defense and now o line.   

At least McCarthy finally called out TT for his ineptitude in free agency personnel decisions this offseason.  Bout time.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/01/24/report-mccarthy-fed-up-with-thompsons-approach-to-free-agency/

If McCarthy wouldn't have completely effed up the Seahawks game we would have another SB.  Maybe Mac should worry about coaching the pieces he has in place instead of worrying about the pieces Ted isn't going to overpay to get.

I can guarantee you about 30 other NFL franchises would kill to have TT as their GM.  I don't think you can come close to 30 other NFL franchises who would kill to have Mike McCarthy as their head coach.

[Blackhat]

No way bro.   

I'm definitely excited about the Cook signing though.  He's gonna blow up next year.