Bears to sign QB Mike Glennon: 3 yr, $14.5M per

[malk]

I'm about the most optimistic fan there is! Come training camp I'll have my bear tinted glasses on but for now our management is making weird, confused decisions.

Yes we'll be better but we're not closer to being a contender and that makes me sad.

I guess I just don't see these "weird" or "confused decisions" you speak of.
The Bears needed a QB, they went out and got the best player available.
The Bears needed a back up QB, they went out and got the best player available.
The Bears needed DB's, they were very active and signed four.
The Bears needed a WR, they signed Wheaton.
The Bears needed a TE, they signed Sims.

All of these moves allow them to not draft positions of need but draft the best player available. Drafting a player like Allen, Solomon or Hooker can be the piece missing from a defense that's ready to have a break out year.

True, the bears may not be super bowl contenders yet, but I believe they can compete for the north, which would be a huge improvement over the last few years.

If the best available isn't very good then I'm not over the moon at signing them. I've posted my reasoning about why the Glennon and Sanchez signings are poor so there's no point going over that again.

For the rest of the signings I just find them to be a weird mix. From memory, no splash when we need playmakers and have the cap space. One year deals when we're not ready to compete. Three year deals that aren't cheap so don't help the cap in the short term and don't become value over time (due to a rising cap), well one of those.

I get the whole building through the draft schtick but if he's not willing to spend any significant cap space in free agency then why sign Glennon to a three year deal? A "bridge" QB shouldn't be getting starter money. Why sign vets to one year deals at all? Either he rates them sufficiently to sign them to multi year deals or we're just hurting future draft stock.

So it doesn't make a great deal of sense to me at all, I don't get Pace at all in free agency.

[wab]

I don't get Pace at all in free agency.

Me either. And his free agency decisions screw the draft up. His tendency is to sign multiple players in free agency where there's tremendous depth in the draft (CB and WR for example).

He then ends up having to cut younger player still on rookie and/or cheap contracts because the vets he's signed are guaranteed enough money that you can't just cut them.

So in all, it actually goes AGAINST his philosophy of building through the draft. He's hit on what...3 picks in two years?

And I'm sorry but lucking into Whitehair being able to play center doesn't qualify that as a good pick because there was a logjam at OG last season.

He's also terribly mishandled the QB situation...both in FA and the draft.

[malk]

I don't get Pace at all in free agency.

Me either. And his free agency decisions screw the draft up. His tendency is to sign multiple players in free agency where there's tremendous depth in the draft (CB and WR for example).

He then ends up having to cut younger player still on rookie and/or cheap contracts because the vets he's signed are guaranteed enough money that you can't just cut them.

So in all, it actually goes AGAINST his philosophy of building through the draft. He's hit on what...3 picks in two years?

And I'm sorry but lucking into Whitehair being able to play center doesn't qualify that as a good pick because there was a logjam at OG last season.

He's also terribly mishandled the QB situation...both in FA and the draft.

I'll give him an incomplete for the 2015 draft. Lots of unlucky injuries but Amos is starter quality and Goldman has shown very good flashes. Tay Fab and Langford are busts though. I don't see how Grasu can make it with us so it's down to Goldman getting fit and White proving, well, something. 50% starters isn't bad.

For 2016 I think you can give credit for Whitehair. I don't see any reason not to think he'd be as good at guard. Floyd has shown enough promise as a rookie and Howard had a brilliant year. Kwiatkoski had a good rookie year for a 4th rounder too. If Floyd and Kwiatkoski keep improving that's already a good draft and who knows about the others yet, you can't really judge in a year.

But free agency, he's pretty clueless.

[Mikefive]

But free agency, he's pretty clueless.

I think you're ignoring some pretty impactful realities.

1. We are a 3 win team who has missed the playoffs in 6 straight seasons.
2. Our head coach is heading into year 3 of his contract looking like he's on his way out after this year.
3. Our QB is completely unproven Mike Glennon and is effectively on a 1-year deal.

Considering those facts, why WOULD an impact FA with lots of options sign with us?

Now you can blame Pace for picking the wrong coach or being a poor talent evaluator (you did kinda defeat that argument in your comments) or not getting us a QB, resulting with our decending to a 3 win team. But I'm not sure that the moves you wanted him to make were legitimate options he had. Pace doesn't get to sign whoever he wants to pay. It takes 2 to tango and we're the ugly duckling at the prom.

Statistically, your best bet for getting FAs is re-signing your own. Alshon went on his NFL tour, signed with Philly and never came back to even give us a chance. Now maybe that means nothing in terms of my argument. Or maybe it does. It certainly appears to. It was reported that we were in negotiations with some big name FA CBs. And they signed with better teams and/or teams with QBs. In one case (can't remember which right now) it was reported that we offered more $$$ than the player eventually signed for. And he took less $$$ to NOT sign with us. That's pretty noteworthy.

Now I'm not saying Pace is perfect or anything like that. But I think it's quite a bit more difficult for him than it is for the vast majority of other teams to sign top shelf FAs in our circumstance.

[malk]

I don't buy that Mike. The indications I saw (same as anyone else, rumour and press conferences) indicated that Pace wasn't willing to spend top dollar. Bouye went to the Jags, Wagner went to Detroit, I refuse to believe that we're so much worse than them that players won't sign with us.

Pace's problem seems to be focussing in on value for each individual player rather than the cap overall. For example, he thinks $13.5m is too much for Bouye but doesn't have a problem with spending $12m on Amukamara and Cooper.

Then we've still got Royal on the roster, along with Sutton. Get rid of those two along with Massive and you have more than enough to sign Wagner.

Our roster is chock full of middle tier and depth level talent. Adding more of the same only serves, as Wab said, to take away development time from your draft picks. Which is another confusing aspect, if Pace is so build through the draft, why do we still have Fox? I didn't the hire at the time, it made enough sense then, but after a 3-13 season it was a perfect opportunity to get a new coach with a bevvy of draft picks to work with.

There just doesn't seem to be a massively coherent plan overall.

[wab]

The lack of coherent plan is what bothers me beyond comprehension.

[Funkster]

I don't buy that Mike. The indications I saw (same as anyone else, rumour and press conferences) indicated that Pace wasn't willing to spend top dollar. Bouye went to the Jags, Wagner went to Detroit, I refuse to believe that we're so much worse than them that players won't sign with us.

Pace's problem seems to be focussing in on value for each individual player rather than the cap overall. For example, he thinks $13.5m is too much for Bouye but doesn't have a problem with spending $12m on Amukamara and Cooper.

I think the point you're failing to see is Pace is building this team through the draft and doesn't want to sign players to long term contracts. Here are the 3 players you mentioned contracts:

A.J. Bouye 5 year, 67.5M, 26 MG, 13.5 APY
Prince Amukamara 1 year, 7M, 7MG, 7M APY
Marcus Cooper 3 year, 16M, 8MG, 5.3 APY

You can clearly see the differences in the 3 contracts. It's not as simple as 13.5M vs. 12M. Pace is not playing money ball, he is simply filling positions of need and drafting players. This is the way to successful rebuild a team. Everyone wants the bears to draft a groom a QB, but don't see that same importance in every positions.

The lack of coherent plan is what bothers me beyond comprehension.

Coherent according to who? He's seems pretty consistent and logical to me.

[wab]

Based on this season's schedule, it doesn't matter anyway. Fox and Co will be gone, probably along with Glennon, and I'll be able to pretend this whole thing never happened.

[snake95]

With all due respect to everyone here who post solid football point of views and football acumen I'm stunned at the negativity towards Pace, and especially Glennon who hasn't even played a down yet. Every year is its own entity. I would would encourage people to let things play out and judge the product on results.

[wab]

I would would encourage people to let things play out and judge the product on results.

Anyone who has watched the Bears for the last 5 years will find that very difficult to do.

[snake95]

I would would encourage people to let things play out and judge the product on results.

Anyone who has watched the Bears for the last 5 years will find that very difficult to do.

I feel the pessimism....However...going into year 3 with a coaching/GM/QB turnover, I guess I just don't see where Pace has sabatoged the team the way others do. I see quite a few solid pieces in place and a pretty stout defense on the upswing, and a team that were suprinsingly in games last year with a pre-season roster. I'll hold my water

[G08]

I feel like I'm burnt out from all this stuff... normally draft week is one of my happier weeks and I feel like Thursday's going to get here and I'm going to go "meh".

[wab]

I feel like I'm burnt out from all this stuff... normally draft week is one of my happier weeks and I feel like Thursday's going to get here and I'm going to go "meh".

I'll text you and we can hate everything together.

[wab]

I would would encourage people to let things play out and judge the product on results.

Anyone who has watched the Bears for the last 5 years will find that very difficult to do.

I feel the pessimism....However...going into year 3 with a coaching/GM/QB turnover, I guess I just don't see where Pace has sabatoged the team the way others do. I see quite a few solid pieces in place and a pretty stout defense on the upswing, and a team that were suprinsingly in games last year with a pre-season roster. I'll hold my water

I wouldn't say that he's sabotaged it. I don't think any of it is intentional. I think he's a young GM that is still learning how to do his job. I think he's panicked a few times and made some questionable moves.

[Funkster]

I would would encourage people to let things play out and judge the product on results.

Anyone who has watched the Bears for the last 5 years will find that very difficult to do.

I feel the pessimism....However...going into year 3 with a coaching/GM/QB turnover, I guess I just don't see where Pace has sabatoged the team the way others do. I see quite a few solid pieces in place and a pretty stout defense on the upswing, and a team that were suprinsingly in games last year with a pre-season roster. I'll hold my water

Couldn't agree more!

I feel like I'm burnt out from all this stuff... normally draft week is one of my happier weeks and I feel like Thursday's going to get here and I'm going to go "meh".

The way I see it, this draft could be pretty exciting! The impact of this draft has huge implications of how the team will look in the near future. I would be happy with either of these 5 players if selected at 3.

Allen
Garrett
Hooker
Mahomes
Solomon

One of my favorite quotes "many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." Hang in there guys, building something from the ground up takes time. I believe the bears are close to success and we'll get a glimpse of what's in store this season.

[wab]

I guess I just refuse to look at this team through rose colored glasses any longer. Until they prove that they aren't garbage, I'll continue to assume they are.

[Otis Day]

Hard not to look at this team/organization any other way when you have endured more losing seasons than winning ones. While others may look at the potential of some players and how well they played the year before, my Bearsness makes me look at it this way, "there is no way that player can have 2 good years in a row." Also I take into account there are going to me major injuries, the Bears don't disappoint in this area. I don't look at what is on paper, I look at what is actually on the field, where it counts. Right now I am seeing a below avg team.

[G08]

I feel like I'm burnt out from all this stuff... normally draft week is one of my happier weeks and I feel like Thursday's going to get here and I'm going to go "meh".

I'll text you and we can hate everything together.

still reminds me of me depressed at a bar after our pick and us texting back and forth about how much we hate Leonard Floyd and Ryan Pace

[G08]

I have no emotional attachment to this roster anymore. They gutted a WR who I loved during the draft process (Alshon), a RB who I loved during the draft process (Forte), the best QB in Chicago Bears history (Cutler) and we philosophically are trying to do what worked in the 80s and 90s instead of 2017.

I hope something changes but... man... I haven't felt this apathetic about the Bears maybe ever.

[wab]

I still don't think Floyd will ever be more than a situational player...assuming he can stay healthy.

I think that's why I have taken the Glennon signing so hard (and so personal) because with Watson (or Biscuits or Mahomes) there would have at least been a player I could get behind.

I mean is an aged, injured, and possibly declining RG really my favorite player? A RG...is what gets me to tune in.

[Passepartout]

Just hope that Glennon can and will be the man at the center. As really think he is trying also to make the effort to be personable in Chicago. Something Jay Cutler kind of lacked. Not just in Chicago but in Denver.

[wab]

I don't want my QB to be personable. I want him to be, you know... good.

[G08]

I don't want my QB to be personable. I want him to be, you know... good.

Exactly. I'm ruthless with my teams, I don't care if dude clubs baby seals in his off time, just get me fucking Wins.

[malk]

I don't buy that Mike. The indications I saw (same as anyone else, rumour and press conferences) indicated that Pace wasn't willing to spend top dollar. Bouye went to the Jags, Wagner went to Detroit, I refuse to believe that we're so much worse than them that players won't sign with us.

Pace's problem seems to be focussing in on value for each individual player rather than the cap overall. For example, he thinks $13.5m is too much for Bouye but doesn't have a problem with spending $12m on Amukamara and Cooper.

I think the point you're failing to see is Pace is building this team through the draft and doesn't want to sign players to long term contracts. Here are the 3 players you mentioned contracts:

A.J. Bouye 5 year, 67.5M, 26 MG, 13.5 APY
Prince Amukamara 1 year, 7M, 7MG, 7M APY
Marcus Cooper 3 year, 16M, 8MG, 5.3 APY

You can clearly see the differences in the 3 contracts. It's not as simple as 13.5M vs. 12M. Pace is not playing money ball, he is simply filling positions of need and drafting players. This is the way to successful rebuild a team. Everyone wants the bears to draft a groom a QB, but don't see that same importance in every positions.

The lack of coherent plan is what bothers me beyond comprehension.

Coherent according to who? He's seems pretty consistent and logical to me.

I'm not failing to see that point, I've addressed it in previous posts (this is a conversation, not an arbitrarily consecutive list of independent statements!).

We aren't contending next year right? I'm taking that as axiomatic so do correct me if that's where this falls down. If so, what is the point in a one year deal? What does it get us in the short to medium term? It absolutely takes away development time from the draft picks we're supposed to be building around and, in the best case scenario where he's good, means we have worse draft picks next year.

And what's wrong with getting good players on the roster for multiple years? Yes Bouye might not work out but there's no guarantee for any draft pick either. Even our own draft picks have to be resigned at some point too so it's just baffling that he won't pull the trigger on real quality when it's available and we have cap space.

Plus look at your numbers, Bouye has $26m guaranteed on a five year deal. We're giving $13m (Cooper only has $6m guaranteed) to, likely, lesser players over three years. Hell, $12m of that is in year one. So sign Bouye instead of those two and get rid of Royal plus Sutton. That's $19m towards the $26m guaranteed for Bouye and I'd much, much rather have him on the roster than those 4 combined, especially since only one of those will be on the roster in 2018 anyway.

Pace does not get free agency, at all. Why? Well you point it out yourself, he's "not playing money ball, he is simply filling positions of need and drafting players.".

That's why we're further away from winning a superbowl now than we were at the end of last season.

So yeah, he's consistent. I'd much rather he was good.

Plus, oh my lord plus, if you're building through the damn draft, don't panic buy the worst value position in the NFL when you have the #3 in the draft. that's just plain stupid.

[Boris13c]

I don't want my QB to be personable. I want him to be, you know... good.

we're never going to see those old school guys any more ... someone like Ken Stabler - partied hard, played harder, and always carried an attitude against the opposition into every game ... his glory days with the Raiders were pretty special

our own Jimmy Mac could have followed in his footsteps had he been able to stay healthy ... he was never going to light up the stats book, but the team always played measurably better when he was taking the snaps

Glennon seems like a Boy Scout, and there's nothing wrong with that ... he can still be a leader and still be effective ... and I certainly hope that is the case

[Funkster]

Pace has added talent to the team. Injuries might have accelerated when they saw the field but nonetheless, his diligent work can be seen. His plan of attack is pretty easy to see for those who are looking. “You get yourself into trouble if you’re not sticking to our philosophy of taking the best player available."

He is using the tried and true formula for a total rebuild:
Use FA to fill holes.
Don't cripple the team with big money long term contract.
Draft best available player.

IMO, ownership is onboard and won't rush this one. I believe they have a plan mapped out and all signs point they will stick to it. I also believe this draft could very well put the team into position to be very competitive. If Pace selects Allen or Hooker mixed in with the FA signings, this defense could look nasty! Is it Thursday yet?

I'll say it one more time, Hoyer and Barkley looked more than serviceable in Loggains system. Shit, even made them a hot FA commodity. Barkley, Cutler and Hoyer combined for 4,115 yrds and 18 tds, that's basically the production of Dak Prescott (3,667yrd/23 tds), only difference was Cutler and Barkley were a turnover factory. I mention Prescott because I believe the bears could most resemble the cowboys next season. Glennon is more than capable of leading this offense. I say give him a chance and let it play out, I think he might surprise some of you.

[wab]

IMO, ownership is onboard and won't rush this one. I believe they have a plan mapped out and all signs point they will stick to it.

Going on three years with 9 wins. Yeah, I'd say they aren't rushing it. And whatever plan they have mapped out isn't working.

I also believe this draft could very well put the team into position to be very competitive. If Pace selects Allen or Hooker mixed in with the FA signings, this defense could look nasty!

Have you seen the schedule? Nasty...as in good or bad? This defense is only going to be "ok" if the rookies are ready to play right away. It also hinges on the health of Amukamara, Floyd, McPhee, and Goldman. All guys that can't stay on the field.

I mention Prescott because I believe the bears could most resemble the cowboys next season.

Lol. No.

Glennon is more than capable of leading this offense. I say give him a chance and let it play out, I think he might surprise some of you.

What exactly has Mike Glennon done in his career that leads you to actually believe this. Was it the handful of starts he had before getting replaced, or his time spent backing up Winston?

[malk]

He is using the tried and true formula for a total rebuild:
Use FA to fill holes.
Don't cripple the team with big money long term contract.
Draft best available player.

Who else has done this?

[Funkster]

Going on three years with 9 wins. Yeah, I'd say they aren't rushing it. And whatever plan they have mapped out isn't working.

Did you think it was going to happen overnight? I would say we're seeing all we can really expect in a total rebuild, not forgetting about the major injury bug that clouded the bears last season. They were competitive and lost 7 games by a TD of less.

Have you seen the schedule? Nasty...as in good or bad? This defense is only going to be "ok" if the rookies are ready to play right away. It also hinges on the health of Amukamara, Floyd, McPhee, and Goldman. All guys that can't stay on the field.

I guess we will have to agree to disagree! I believe they will be a strong point and actually start to create turnovers. I'm excited to see the improvements.

Lol. No.

The cowboys base their offense on running the ball and not turning the ball over. Sure sounds like what the bears are attempting to do and IMO, is why they had to dump Cutler and Barkley. Like I said, the bears QB's combined yards and TDs very much resembles Prescott's production and is an indication of what Loggains system can do.

The cowboys defense finished the season ranked 14th, the bears finished 15th.

What exactly has Mike Glennon done in his career that leads you to actually believe this. Was it the handful of starts he had before getting replaced, or his time spent backing up Winston?

What exactly has Barkley done in his career? He sure looked serviceable didn't he? Like I said, I'm basing the bears offensive production on Loggains system, it is very QB friendly. From what I've seen, Glennon has all the tools to excel in this offense. He will take the check down and isn't scared to work the vertical stretch. Handful of starts? Glennon has 18 starts under his belt. I understand you don't like him as the bears QB but at least lets talk real facts.

He is using the tried and true formula for a total rebuild:
Use FA to fill holes.
Don't cripple the team with big money long term contract.
Draft best available player.

Who else has done this?

You're kidding right?

[malk]

He is using the tried and true formula for a total rebuild:
Use FA to fill holes.
Don't cripple the team with big money long term contract.
Draft best available player.

Who else has done this?

You're kidding right?

Nope, I genuinely wonder which team (teams presumably) you're basing this on? It's easy to type, I suspect less easy to point to where it's been successful without the major factor being something different (like drafting a franchise QB in round three or four).