Column: Brainy Bears bring back Vic Fangio as Matt Nagy off to good start
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David Haugh
Chicago Tribune
And on the eighth day, Vic Fangio created football.
Surely, I jest. But the reaction around Chicago to Fangio’s return deified the Bears defensive coordinator like he was the second coming of Buddy Ryan.
Fangio indeed ranks among the best at his job in the NFL, and the Bears will benefit from him staying, but the offseason of a 5-11 team didn’t hinge on whether the 59-year-old curmudgeon accepted new coach Matt Nagy’s offer. That’s how good the week was at Halas Hall.
The Bears acted like one of the smartest teams in the NFL.
Without checking Nexis, something tells me that sentence never, ever has appeared in this space. In a span of five frenetic days, they decisively hired a head coach and three coordinators, all four highly respected men considered dynamic coaches with sharp minds: Nagy, Fangio, offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich and special-teams coordinator Chris Tabor.
Meanwhile, the hiring process dragged on for four other teams still trying to decide on their head coach. Other than the Bears, the only team to fill its head-coaching vacancy was the Oakland Grudens. Sorry, the Las Vegas Grudens — and that bold move represented a $100 million gamble on a coach who hasn’t won a playoff game in 15 years.
Dare I say that no team in transition has gotten off to a better start than the Bears? Nagy followed up a virtuoso performance at his introductory news conference by assembling a staff that reflected well on the 39-year-old first-time head coach. Just as you can tell a lot about a person’s character based on his friends, the assistants an NFL head coach hires speaks volumes about his judgment. And, in Nagy’s case, every move screams louder than the one before that he knows what he’s doing.
Keeping Fangio on board underscored that intelligent approach and suggested how confidently Nagy will operate despite his inexperience. It takes a secure boss to pursue a staff member who sought the same job he took — especially when that guy already has a built-in following in the Bears locker room that might threaten a lesser leader. Wisely, Nagy believed the need for experience and continuity trumped any potential for awkwardness.
To Fangio’s credit, he also likely had to swallow some pride to agree to walk into the building every day to work for a coach 20 years younger who holds the position he wanted. Perhaps it helped that Fangio and Nagy are Pennsylvania natives from small towns about 125 miles apart; Fangio is from Dunmore, Nagy from Manheim. The compromise both men made put the Bears first. Chances are, Fangio will find more autonomy under Nagy than he did under John Fox, a defensive head coach whose internal clashes with his defensive coordinator were disguised as poorly as a third-down blitz. Regardless, Fangio consistently did more with less, often by outscheming opponents and getting the Bears defense to improve gradually over his tenure.
A fourth season in Fangio’s defense also means the Bears will stay in the 3-4 scheme. That ensures Akiem Hicks, their strongest interior defensive lineman, won’t have to switch to a 4-3 system that contributed to his struggles with the Saints.
Overlooked in Chicago’s preoccupation with Fangio’s status was how the Bears’ improved offensive brainpower figures to make their defense better simply by possessing the ball more. As vital as Fangio is to the Bears’ success, the philosophical overhaul offensively presents the biggest reason for excitement for 2018. Say goodbye to safe and predictable and hello to aggressive and progressive. Gone are the days when the Bears allow defenses to dictate what their offense does — the legacy of the Dowell Loggains error.
The addition of Helfrich illustrates how open-minded Nagy is to potentially unconventional ideas — and Helfrich’s Oregon offenses commanded stares for reasons beyond their Technicolor uniforms. Ask several college coaches about Helfrich, as I did, and every impression is connected by one word: cerebral. Helfrich offers Nagy a voice that has commanded a large stage before as a head coach, as well as a reservoir of offensive knowledge that should make the Bears fun to watch and hard to stop.
The Bears have assembled a highly creative offensive think tank. They combined the ideas of Nagy, gleaned from mentor Andy Reid, and of Helfrich, influenced by mad scientist Chip Kelly, in a way that should make quarterback Mitch Trubisky eager to further his football education.
And yet Helfrich wasn’t even the most impactful offensive assistant Nagy hired. That would be Harry Hiestand, who is to offensive line coaches what Steven Spielberg is to Hollywood directors. Hiestand, who was on the Bears staff from 2005-2009, left Notre Dame with little more to accomplish after winning the Joe Moore Award honoring the nation’s No. 1 offensive front. Hiestand’s return bodes as well for the Bears offensive line as Fangio’s does for the defense. When you consider Nagy hired two elite assistants, it provides optimism to counter local cynicism that’s deeper than the snow this winter.
Now it comes down to players, shifting the focus from Nagy back to general manager Ryan Pace. The collaborative feel Pace sensed with Nagy once felt right with Fox too — and Pace and Fox collaborated on a 14-34 record. For that to change, the roster must. The Bears desperately require offensive upgrades at wide receiver, tight end and offensive tackle and defensive answers at cornerback and pass-rusher.
Unless Pace successfully addresses those needs, well, no coach is that smart.
dhaugh@chicagotribune.com
Bears Beat Curmudgeon David Haugh Heaps Praise on Bears
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When it was revealed that Pace probably would've hired Dan Quinn the first time around if Dumb and Dumber didn't get involved, I relaxed and realized that he was probably going to get a coach who could be a dynamic dude who could finally take this team to the next level.
When I heard Andy Reid say that Nagy was, of all of his assistants over the years, the best equipped to take over as head coach of a team, I felt pretty damn good about the choice. And when you take into consideration that John Harbaugh, Ron Rivera, Pat Shurmur, and Doug Pederson were among many of the impressive assistants he's had, that's just solid.
And then when I look down in Miami and we have Gase with Dowell Loggains and Jay Cutler.....wow, I am sincere when I say, "I am glad we dodged that bullet." It's hard to fathom that there were many teams in the league looking at Chicago over those years and thinking of how they could replicate that "magic." I don't know if that's what Miami had in mind when they hired Gase, but that's what they got.
So anyway, I feel there has been an evolutionary change made at Halas Hall and although I don't think this is going to be easy, I do think that Pace did his research and I dare say we looked like we knew what we were doing.
When I heard Andy Reid say that Nagy was, of all of his assistants over the years, the best equipped to take over as head coach of a team, I felt pretty damn good about the choice. And when you take into consideration that John Harbaugh, Ron Rivera, Pat Shurmur, and Doug Pederson were among many of the impressive assistants he's had, that's just solid.
And then when I look down in Miami and we have Gase with Dowell Loggains and Jay Cutler.....wow, I am sincere when I say, "I am glad we dodged that bullet." It's hard to fathom that there were many teams in the league looking at Chicago over those years and thinking of how they could replicate that "magic." I don't know if that's what Miami had in mind when they hired Gase, but that's what they got.
So anyway, I feel there has been an evolutionary change made at Halas Hall and although I don't think this is going to be easy, I do think that Pace did his research and I dare say we looked like we knew what we were doing.
Last edited by Wounded Bear on Mon Jan 15, 2018 8:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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I'm a solid free agency away from naming my unborn child Pace. Not Ryan, couldn't inflict the poor bastard with Ryan.
"I wouldn't take him for a conditional 7th. His next contract will pay him more than he could possibly contribute.".
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Pace does need to solidify his FA abilities. Hopefully the absence of Fox and/or more experience will accomplish this. But he's had too few multi-year hits.
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A good amount of that is a chicken-or-the-egg thing. FAs won't come here because we're not winning. We're not winning in part because we aren't signing FAs. Therefore you gotta build through the draft and have a respectable coaching staff. Those are coming around and I think the FAs will start to show up.Middleguard wrote:Pace does need to solidify his FA abilities. Hopefully the absence of Fox and/or more experience will accomplish this. But he's had too few multi-year hits.
I am truly, truly becoming an optimist with this team.
And this time it actually feels different... Which I know sounds like a "Yeah, right!" statement. Except it really does. Nothing we've done recently is anything like the Bears I have known over the past couple of decades.
And this time it actually feels different... Which I know sounds like a "Yeah, right!" statement. Except it really does. Nothing we've done recently is anything like the Bears I have known over the past couple of decades.
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Becoming?Richie wrote:I am truly, truly becoming an optimist with this team.
Mikefive's theory: The only time you KNOW that a sports team player, coach or management member is being 100% honest is when they're NOT reciting "the company line".
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He hasn't really signed too many multi year guys, yet, at least not too many high priced ones as rarely does that work at all in the nfl unless you are close and need one or two pieces.Middleguard wrote:Pace does need to solidify his FA abilities. Hopefully the absence of Fox and/or more experience will accomplish this. But he's had too few multi-year hits.
Glennon, while a multiyear contract really was a one year and see deal. - miss, sort of, it was a gamble and it was a way out of Cutler. It sucks that its wasted money, but in reality any FA worth similar money signed then is probably over the hill when they are really ready to compete in a season or two.
Sitton - good
McPhee - ok, injuries have sucked it down, but productive, just not up to the contract.
Hick's - awesome
Trevathon - good
Freeman - ok, suspensions and injuries derailed him, but he was good for a bit, and cheap.
Unrein - cheap and good depth
Massie - while we like to hate him at times, fairly productive and not overpriced, he ain't Webb that's for sure.
Royal - bad, never regained form and couldn't stay healthy
Rolle - injuries
Wheaton - bad so far
Sims - I scratched my head on this one when they signed him. No real history of production but young. Doubtful this one works out.
Porter - was ok for a year then didn't live up to the extension.
Demps - ??? injuries, will they even bother keeping him.
Wright - ok
Basically, aside from McPhee and Glennon these guys were brought in fairly cheap to plug gaps while Pace is filling the lineup with the draft or were simply a severe point of need making them worth the risk. Hicks is the lone long term star that was brought in cheap and proved to be great and got an extension. He has also got some productive starters too so I would say he is hitting about average to above average on FA's as he was plugging gaps in the team not looking for all-pro's.
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The reality of it is now clear. He was NEVER trying to have multi-year FA splashes. He was trying to fill gaps until he hired his coach and got his QB. There was no reason for him to do otherwise. In the process he has put the Bears in a VERY favorable cap position. I expect that the FA signing that start happening this year, will look very, very different. He said that this is a multi-year process, and that was all part of it. Again, I refer to the Cubs. theo signed shit the first couple years of the re-build. But it was all part of the plan. He was building through the draft. When he had his players in place, he signed big FA's (Lester, Zobrist, Chapman, etc.). Pace is doing the same thing. Kudos to him.southdakbearfan wrote:He hasn't really signed too many multi year guys, yet, at least not too many high priced ones as rarely does that work at all in the nfl unless you are close and need one or two pieces.Middleguard wrote:Pace does need to solidify his FA abilities. Hopefully the absence of Fox and/or more experience will accomplish this. But he's had too few multi-year hits.
Glennon, while a multiyear contract really was a one year and see deal. - miss, sort of, it was a gamble and it was a way out of Cutler. It sucks that its wasted money, but in reality any FA worth similar money signed then is probably over the hill when they are really ready to compete in a season or two.
Sitton - good
McPhee - ok, injuries have sucked it down, but productive, just not up to the contract.
Hick's - awesome
Trevathon - good
Freeman - ok, suspensions and injuries derailed him, but he was good for a bit, and cheap.
Unrein - cheap and good depth
Massie - while we like to hate him at times, fairly productive and not overpriced, he ain't Webb that's for sure.
Royal - bad, never regained form and couldn't stay healthy
Rolle - injuries
Wheaton - bad so far
Sims - I scratched my head on this one when they signed him. No real history of production but young. Doubtful this one works out.
Porter - was ok for a year then didn't live up to the extension.
Demps - ??? injuries, will they even bother keeping him.
Wright - ok
Basically, aside from McPhee and Glennon these guys were brought in fairly cheap to plug gaps while Pace is filling the lineup with the draft or were simply a severe point of need making them worth the risk. Hicks is the lone long term star that was brought in cheap and proved to be great and got an extension. He has also got some productive starters too so I would say he is hitting about average to above average on FA's as he was plugging gaps in the team not looking for all-pro's.
I've been using the Cubs analogy for a while with Pace.Bears Whiskey Nut wrote:The reality of it is now clear. He was NEVER trying to have multi-year FA splashes. He was trying to fill gaps until he hired his coach and got his QB. There was no reason for him to do otherwise. In the process he has put the Bears in a VERY favorable cap position. I expect that the FA signing that start happening this year, will look very, very different. He said that this is a multi-year process, and that was all part of it. Again, I refer to the Cubs. theo signed shit the first couple years of the re-build. But it was all part of the plan. He was building through the draft. When he had his players in place, he signed big FA's (Lester, Zobrist, Chapman, etc.). Pace is doing the same thing. Kudos to him.southdakbearfan wrote:He hasn't really signed too many multi year guys, yet, at least not too many high priced ones as rarely does that work at all in the nfl unless you are close and need one or two pieces.Middleguard wrote:Pace does need to solidify his FA abilities. Hopefully the absence of Fox and/or more experience will accomplish this. But he's had too few multi-year hits.
Glennon, while a multiyear contract really was a one year and see deal. - miss, sort of, it was a gamble and it was a way out of Cutler. It sucks that its wasted money, but in reality any FA worth similar money signed then is probably over the hill when they are really ready to compete in a season or two.
Sitton - good
McPhee - ok, injuries have sucked it down, but productive, just not up to the contract.
Hick's - awesome
Trevathon - good
Freeman - ok, suspensions and injuries derailed him, but he was good for a bit, and cheap.
Unrein - cheap and good depth
Massie - while we like to hate him at times, fairly productive and not overpriced, he ain't Webb that's for sure.
Royal - bad, never regained form and couldn't stay healthy
Rolle - injuries
Wheaton - bad so far
Sims - I scratched my head on this one when they signed him. No real history of production but young. Doubtful this one works out.
Porter - was ok for a year then didn't live up to the extension.
Demps - ??? injuries, will they even bother keeping him.
Wright - ok
Basically, aside from McPhee and Glennon these guys were brought in fairly cheap to plug gaps while Pace is filling the lineup with the draft or were simply a severe point of need making them worth the risk. Hicks is the lone long term star that was brought in cheap and proved to be great and got an extension. He has also got some productive starters too so I would say he is hitting about average to above average on FA's as he was plugging gaps in the team not looking for all-pro's.
It's so different! Theo had a plan!
Really? Do you know how easy it is to say that AFTER THEY'VE won? It started somewhere, is the point and it wasn't pretty for a few years. If you think Pace has just been aimlessly shooting from the hip, you're a dolt.
He's going about this the right way. Will he execute it? I don't know. I hope, and think we're headed for better days. Although, I really have no idea.
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I disagree with either the approach or the execution. Firstly, I don't think we're in a very favourable cap position. It isn't bad but, without doing a comprehensive analysis of other teams' cut candidates, we're middle of the road. In pur cap space at present we're 15th at $7.5m. It's slightly frustrating that we're not in the same postion as the Titans or 49ers with a huge war chest to use for signing up our own and adding to the roster.Bears Whiskey Nut wrote:The reality of it is now clear. He was NEVER trying to have multi-year FA splashes. He was trying to fill gaps until he hired his coach and got his QB. There was no reason for him to do otherwise. In the process he has put the Bears in a VERY favorable cap position. I expect that the FA signing that start happening this year, will look very, very different. He said that this is a multi-year process, and that was all part of it. Again, I refer to the Cubs. theo signed shit the first couple years of the re-build. But it was all part of the plan. He was building through the draft. When he had his players in place, he signed big FA's (Lester, Zobrist, Chapman, etc.). Pace is doing the same thing. Kudos to him.southdakbearfan wrote:He hasn't really signed too many multi year guys, yet, at least not too many high priced ones as rarely does that work at all in the nfl unless you are close and need one or two pieces.Middleguard wrote:Pace does need to solidify his FA abilities. Hopefully the absence of Fox and/or more experience will accomplish this. But he's had too few multi-year hits.
Glennon, while a multiyear contract really was a one year and see deal. - miss, sort of, it was a gamble and it was a way out of Cutler. It sucks that its wasted money, but in reality any FA worth similar money signed then is probably over the hill when they are really ready to compete in a season or two.
Sitton - good
McPhee - ok, injuries have sucked it down, but productive, just not up to the contract.
Hick's - awesome
Trevathon - good
Freeman - ok, suspensions and injuries derailed him, but he was good for a bit, and cheap.
Unrein - cheap and good depth
Massie - while we like to hate him at times, fairly productive and not overpriced, he ain't Webb that's for sure.
Royal - bad, never regained form and couldn't stay healthy
Rolle - injuries
Wheaton - bad so far
Sims - I scratched my head on this one when they signed him. No real history of production but young. Doubtful this one works out.
Porter - was ok for a year then didn't live up to the extension.
Demps - ??? injuries, will they even bother keeping him.
Wright - ok
Basically, aside from McPhee and Glennon these guys were brought in fairly cheap to plug gaps while Pace is filling the lineup with the draft or were simply a severe point of need making them worth the risk. Hicks is the lone long term star that was brought in cheap and proved to be great and got an extension. He has also got some productive starters too so I would say he is hitting about average to above average on FA's as he was plugging gaps in the team not looking for all-pro's.
Regarding not making multi year splashes, is it that much better to keep whiffing on non multi year deals? Sims, Cooper and Wheaton have cost $18m between them and contributed virtually nothing. In 2016 we used $13.5m on getting not a great deal from Young, Porter and Royal. In 2015 it was $13.5m on Rolle, Royal and Ball.
I understand that we need some players on the roster and, plus this is the key bit, we were attempting something very different in 2015 with Cutler, but those low risk/low reward vets quickly chew up 10% of your cap and don't bring that much even if they don't bust out like the players I've mentioned (somewhat harshly, Young and Porter weren't awful).
Building through the draft isn't just about securing the top end talent to resign at great cost later. It's about keeping a constant flow of decent starters and quality depth at under a million a year on their rookie deals.
I like Pace's talent evaluation, I hope he now uses it (trusts it?) in free agency to pay a few players he likes a lot rather than more of the ones he's ok with some.
"I wouldn't take him for a conditional 7th. His next contract will pay him more than he could possibly contribute.".
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(2020 update, wait, was I right...)
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(2020 update, wait, was I right...)
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Pace is using FA as a band aid until he can get a roster full of players he likes through the draft. I have no problem with that. Most FA signings are essentially 1 year deals. While the players they have signed haven't always worked, the contract structure protects the Bears.
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And this is the point. He's not committing to anyone, until he feels like he has his drafted players in position, the #1 of that group being the QB. In order to attract high-caliber, splashy FA's, you have to give them multi-year deals, which he wasn't going to do. Granted, he did take some chances on players like Freeman, Trevethan, and Sitton. But those were calculated chances on proven players. He is building through the draft. What was the statistic that was thrown around in 2014, when the Packers were going 12-4? 70% of their roster was brought up through the organization?wab wrote:Pace is using FA as a band aid until he can get a roster full of players he likes through the draft. I have no problem with that. Most FA signings are essentially 1 year deals. While the players they have signed haven't always worked, the contract structure protects the Bears.
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Look at the homegrown talent on the Vikings defense. And even the Saints, who finally seem to have beaten a decade of defensive futility by drafting the right guys.
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And when did the Packers or Vikings or Saints last win the Super Bowl?Bears Whiskey Nut wrote:And this is the point. He's not committing to anyone, until he feels like he has his drafted players in position, the #1 of that group being the QB. In order to attract high-caliber, splashy FA's, you have to give them multi-year deals, which he wasn't going to do. Granted, he did take some chances on players like Freeman, Trevethan, and Sitton. But those were calculated chances on proven players. He is building through the draft. What was the statistic that was thrown around in 2014, when the Packers were going 12-4? 70% of their roster was brought up through the organization?wab wrote:Pace is using FA as a band aid until he can get a roster full of players he likes through the draft. I have no problem with that. Most FA signings are essentially 1 year deals. While the players they have signed haven't always worked, the contract structure protects the Bears.
There's only one reason for deifying building through the draft and that's that you have a very good idea of the player's ability, scheme fit, and character. By all means prioritise those but you simply improbable tp get a good enough roster if you exclude free agency.
I'm in no way saying we need to give Suh like contracts but I'd also strongly advocate avoiding those for our own drafted players too. Even for the tier below Pace needs to be careful not to tie down the cap for too long if he does whiff but that's eminently possible.
I return again to AJ Bouye www.spotrac.com/nfl/jacksonville-jaguars/a.j.-bouye-12795/.
In the deal he signed (again to the 3-13 Jags with a very poorly regarded QB) he had $26m guaranteed, really $27m and could be cut at the end of 2018 for a doable $6m in dead cap over 2019 or 2019 and 2020. That's not a deal that ruins you even if he doesn't pan out. I'm not entirely sure why the Jags structured it that way either rather than just using their 2017 cap space to fully guarantee his base salary rather than giving a signing bonus. Perhaps he wanted to make an end of 2018 cut hurt enough to think about keeping him on if he was average rather than a bust but I digress.
Is drafting the most important thing? Yes. Does that mean you should completely ignore the higher end of free agency? Hell no!
"I wouldn't take him for a conditional 7th. His next contract will pay him more than he could possibly contribute.".
Noted Brain Genius Malk, Summer 2018.
(2020 update, wait, was I right...)
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(2020 update, wait, was I right...)
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... Theo said that before anything even happened. We are tearing it down and building it back up, it's going to take time. I believe he even mentioned 5 years, and wouldn't you know it we won the whole God damned thing that 5th year.Richie wrote:I've been using the Cubs analogy for a while with Pace.Bears Whiskey Nut wrote:The reality of it is now clear. He was NEVER trying to have multi-year FA splashes. He was trying to fill gaps until he hired his coach and got his QB. There was no reason for him to do otherwise. In the process he has put the Bears in a VERY favorable cap position. I expect that the FA signing that start happening this year, will look very, very different. He said that this is a multi-year process, and that was all part of it. Again, I refer to the Cubs. theo signed shit the first couple years of the re-build. But it was all part of the plan. He was building through the draft. When he had his players in place, he signed big FA's (Lester, Zobrist, Chapman, etc.). Pace is doing the same thing. Kudos to him.southdakbearfan wrote:He hasn't really signed too many multi year guys, yet, at least not too many high priced ones as rarely does that work at all in the nfl unless you are close and need one or two pieces.Middleguard wrote:Pace does need to solidify his FA abilities. Hopefully the absence of Fox and/or more experience will accomplish this. But he's had too few multi-year hits.
Glennon, while a multiyear contract really was a one year and see deal. - miss, sort of, it was a gamble and it was a way out of Cutler. It sucks that its wasted money, but in reality any FA worth similar money signed then is probably over the hill when they are really ready to compete in a season or two.
Sitton - good
McPhee - ok, injuries have sucked it down, but productive, just not up to the contract.
Hick's - awesome
Trevathon - good
Freeman - ok, suspensions and injuries derailed him, but he was good for a bit, and cheap.
Unrein - cheap and good depth
Massie - while we like to hate him at times, fairly productive and not overpriced, he ain't Webb that's for sure.
Royal - bad, never regained form and couldn't stay healthy
Rolle - injuries
Wheaton - bad so far
Sims - I scratched my head on this one when they signed him. No real history of production but young. Doubtful this one works out.
Porter - was ok for a year then didn't live up to the extension.
Demps - ??? injuries, will they even bother keeping him.
Wright - ok
Basically, aside from McPhee and Glennon these guys were brought in fairly cheap to plug gaps while Pace is filling the lineup with the draft or were simply a severe point of need making them worth the risk. Hicks is the lone long term star that was brought in cheap and proved to be great and got an extension. He has also got some productive starters too so I would say he is hitting about average to above average on FA's as he was plugging gaps in the team not looking for all-pro's.
It's so different! Theo had a plan!
Really? Do you know how easy it is to say that AFTER THEY'VE won? It started somewhere, is the point and it wasn't pretty for a few years. If you think Pace has just been aimlessly shooting from the hip, you're a dolt.
He's going about this the right way. Will he execute it? I don't know. I hope, and think we're headed for better days. Although, I really have no idea.
Theo is a God.
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I'm convinced that as the meteor comes hurtling into the atmosphere and the sea begins to boil...right before the sky turns blood red... Malk is going to log on and complain about not signing AJ Bouye.
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Our cap number in January is irrelevant. It's our cap number when FA opens that matters. We'll be freeing up a ton of space between now and then by cutting Glennon and several others.malk wrote:Firstly, I don't think we're in a very favourable cap position. It isn't bad but, without doing a comprehensive analysis of other teams' cut candidates, we're middle of the road. In pur cap space at present we're 15th at $7.5m. It's slightly frustrating that we're not in the same postion as the Titans or 49ers with a huge war chest to use for signing up our own and adding to the roster.
Mikefive's theory: The only time you KNOW that a sports team player, coach or management member is being 100% honest is when they're NOT reciting "the company line".
Go back to leather helmets, NFL.
Go back to leather helmets, NFL.
- wab
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I don't care about winning free agency.
High priced FA acquisitions usually only pan out when the team is ready to compete for the Super Bowl IMO. Until then, they usually just set the franchise up for cap troubles. I totally agree with Pace's philosophy and I hope he continues following it.
The only way to get players playing above their contracts is usually on rookie deals.
The only way to get players playing above their contracts is usually on rookie deals.
- G08
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Know who would be a solid fit here?
Randall Cobb, and I don't think he's going to break the bank.
Randall Cobb, and I don't think he's going to break the bank.
9 PLAYOFF APPEARANCES IN THE PAST 35 SEASONS
"Wallet white, phone is pink, case is clear, nails are clear, lips are pink – your girl LOVE 'em!"
"Wallet white, phone is pink, case is clear, nails are clear, lips are pink – your girl LOVE 'em!"
- malk
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I agree, that's pretty much what the bit you quoted says!Mikefive wrote:Our cap number in January is irrelevant. It's our cap number when FA opens that matters. We'll be freeing up a ton of space between now and then by cutting Glennon and several others.malk wrote:Firstly, I don't think we're in a very favourable cap position. It isn't bad but, without doing a comprehensive analysis of other teams' cut candidates, we're middle of the road. In pur cap space at present we're 15th at $7.5m. It's slightly frustrating that we're not in the same postion as the Titans or 49ers with a huge war chest to use for signing up our own and adding to the roster.
@wab. I want to win free agency but win it based on a judgment three years later. I.e. exactly the same way I want us to win the draft.
"I wouldn't take him for a conditional 7th. His next contract will pay him more than he could possibly contribute.".
Noted Brain Genius Malk, Summer 2018.
(2020 update, wait, was I right...)
Noted Brain Genius Malk, Summer 2018.
(2020 update, wait, was I right...)
- malk
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1920 Chicago Bears & Football Drive
Lake Forest
IL
60045
USA
Dear Ryan (if I may),
Apologies for brevity, the sea is boiling.
Remember free agency 2017 when you signed Prince Amukamara and Marcus Cooper for $12m. Well you could have had signed AJ Bouye and maybe things would have turned out differently.
Yours sincerely,
Malk.
13.5m London Street
London Town
London
England.
"I wouldn't take him for a conditional 7th. His next contract will pay him more than he could possibly contribute.".
Noted Brain Genius Malk, Summer 2018.
(2020 update, wait, was I right...)
Noted Brain Genius Malk, Summer 2018.
(2020 update, wait, was I right...)
- UOK
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malk wrote:
1920 Chicago Bears & Football Drive
Lake Forest
IL
60045
USA
Dear Ryan (if I may),
Apologies for brevity, the sea is boiling.
Remember free agency 2017 when you signed Prince Amukamara and Marcus Cooper for $12m. Well you could have had signed AJ Bouye and maybe things would have turned out differently.
Yours sincerely,
Malk.
13.5m London Street
London Town
London
England.
[video][/video]
Dearest Malk,
I don't give a shit. I wield the Masamune, and intend to X-Strike the draft, rendering your complaints pointless.
Sincerely,
Pace
- Rusty Trombagent
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Man, if only pace had got more high priced free agents last year, he could have saved John Fox's job!
- malk
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It's all good, in the past couple of weeks Cyrus' spirit has upgraded the Masamune so we can overcome the mistakes of the past.
"I wouldn't take him for a conditional 7th. His next contract will pay him more than he could possibly contribute.".
Noted Brain Genius Malk, Summer 2018.
(2020 update, wait, was I right...)
Noted Brain Genius Malk, Summer 2018.
(2020 update, wait, was I right...)
- Bears Whiskey Nut
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malk wrote:It's all good, in the past couple of weeks Cyrus' spirit has upgraded the Masamune so we can overcome the mistakes of the past.